Alpha's Ruin: He Betrayed Me, I'll Make Him Kneel

Rhea shifted her gaze from the empty iron gates back to the elders. Deep in her chest, she knew that Adam’s intentions had not been evil, but her pride refused to let her voice the truth aloud.

"I think we should go inside now," Rhea said instead, her voice tight. "Eli needs to rest. He spent the night scratching and fighting off grown males."

The three elders looked down at the dirty, tired boy and offered small, warm smiles.

"He has his mother’s fierce bravery," Elder Seraphine murmured, her eyes softening.

Elder Magnus looked at Rhea, his expression turning serious. "We will leave a small part of the council guard here for the time being. And before you bare your fangs to refuse, they are only here to act as eyes and ears for the council. Nothing more."

Rhea let out a slow, heavy sigh and nodded. "Fine. That is acceptable."

"We will take our leave now," Elder Magnus said, turning his shoulder toward the path. "But do not forget, Rhea. You are not alone in this. This council has your back."

Rhea offered a stiff nod. "Thank you."

She stood on the stone steps, watching until their long robes disappeared past the heavy gates. But she had barely taken five steps toward the inner sanctuary doors when a sharp, unfamiliar voice cut through the cold morning air behind her.

"Luna Rhea!"

Rhea whirled around, her brows pinching tightly together.

Three men were marching across the gravel toward her. The leader was flanked by two burly guards, their shoulders broad and their scents heavy with a strange, dark pine musk.

Rhea’s pulse instantly spiked, the skin on her back prickling with warning. Without a second thought, she stepped in front of Eli, shielding his small body with her own.

"Stay behind me, Eli," she whispered, her hand reaching back to keep him close. "Mama needs to speak with these strangers."

Eli nodded, his small fingers grabbing a handful of her skirts. Inside her mind, River stood on all fours, her tail held low and her fangs bared, ready to spring if a single one of them made a sudden move. Rhea’s heart hammered against her ribs as the three men closed the distance.

Before she could demand their names, the leader of the trio dropped to his knees on the damp dirt, bowing his head in deep respect.

"Good morning, Luna," he said, his voice smooth. "I bring greetings from my Alpha."

Rhea’s eyes narrowed. The man did not carry the scent of BloodVeil, nor did he wear the Ironfang mark. He was entirely foreign to her.

Then, her eyes locked onto the embroidered crest on his leather vest. It was a coiled black serpent. Who the hell was he, and what was he doing at the sanctuary?

"What does your Alpha want with me?" she asked, her voice hard and flat.

The messenger turned slightly, nodding to his companions. They immediately stepped forward, handing him a polished wooden box and a small, rolled piece of thick parchment.

The messenger held them both out, his head still bowed to her. "Alpha Draven of the Serpent-Spine pack requests that I present these to you on his behalf."

Rhea’s frown deepened. She reached out and took the wooden box and the scroll from his hands.

She flipped the latch on the box first. Resting inside on a bed of black velvet was a heavy, rare ruby necklace that gleamed like fresh blood in the morning sun.

River let out a sharp, disgusted growl in her head. Rhea closed the box with a sharp snap and unrolled the parchment.

As she opened the scroll, a heavy, artificial scent of musk and sweet amber hit her nose. She rubbed her nostrils, her stomach turning at the unpleasant smell as she scanned the elegant, looping ink.

"Alpha Draven offers you sanctuary, wealth, and protection. In return, he asks that you become his mate and bear the Serpent-Spine mark," the messenger explained, lifting his eyes to meet hers.

Rhea kept her eyes on the page, but her ears twitched. She could sense the man was not finished.

The messenger stepped closer, his smile growing thin. "And your son will be raised as one of his own."

Before she could stop herself, a cold, mocking laugh burst from Rhea’s throat. The sound echoed off the stone walls.

None of the three men looked surprised. It was almost as though they had expected this answer.

Instantly, Rhea’s laughter died. Her face hardened into a dangerous scowl. She looked back down at the scroll, her upper lip curling in sheer disgust at Draven’s bold, demanding words. She squeezed the parchment until her knuckles turned white.

"What shall I report to my Alpha, Luna?" the messenger asked, his tone too polite to be genuine.

Rhea stared at the three men, her jaw locked. Then, slowly and deliberately, she raised the parchment and tore it down the middle.

The sharp, ripping sound of the paper was loud in the quiet yard. She tore it again and again, until it was nothing but scraps. She popped open the wooden box, stuffed the shredded paper over the ruby necklace, and slammed it shut.

"Tell your master that this Luna does not need an Alpha," Rhea said, her silver eyes flaring with a lethal light. "And she certainly does not need an Alpha known throughout the valley for his greed and tricky nature."

The messenger did not look angry. Instead, he exchanged a dark, knowing smile with his guards.

Rhea’s chest tightened. Did they not hear me? Do they think this is a game?

The leader took one bold step forward, his voice dropping into a low, warning purr. "My Alpha anticipated your pride, Luna. he was certain you would refuse. That is why he asked me to remind you of something." He paused. "You only have one son, and not every Alpha is going to ask nicely. "

River slammed herself against the inside of Rhea’s mind. "Let me out! I’ll feed him his own tongue!" she snarled.

Before Rhea could unleash River’s fury, the man bowed his head slightly and turned on his heel.

"You have until dusk," he called over his shoulder as the three of them walked away.

"Or?" Rhea stood frozen on the steps, her heart hammering wildly against her ribs.

"Be ready to deal with less polite Alphas," the man said, not turning to look at her.

Less polite Alphas. The words echoed in her mind like a curse.

She watched their shadows disappear through the iron gates, realizing with a cold dread that the quiet of the sanctuary was officially gone.

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