Chapter 3 Let me out

Elena POV

I instantly relaxed my body to make him think I'd given up on struggling. The moment he let down his guard, I would strike.

He smiled, the smell of alcohol oozing from his breath as he said: "Good girl, I knew you'd come to your senses." He immediately began lifting my dress up, fumbling and letting it slip out of his hands a few times.

Good girl. Good girl. Good girl.

Just another word for doormat. They knew I would take whatever they did to me. I would accept it without a word because I was too scared to try to defy them.

I grabbed the bottle of bleach and splashed it on his face. Then I pushed him off me and took to my heels. I could hear his screams and curses as I ran out of the bathroom.

"Get back here!" He yelled, his rage bouncing off the bathroom walls.

I ran faster.

My eyes were blurry as I ran, and I touched my cheeks. Wet. I hadn't even been aware that I was crying.

I wiped my eyes furiously. None of them deserved my tears. They had killed the only family I had left, stolen my position, and framed me with their crimes.

For ten years, I'd suffered in silence, hoping that one day the moon goddess would come to my rescue and help me prove my innocence.

I had prayed countless times, begged even for just a chance. But the moon goddess had kept silent and left me to rot.

I stopped running.

I was in the pack house now. I must have been a sight with my bruises and torn clothes.

As I moved, I heard whispers of 'murderer' and what's she doing?' But I ignored them, moving straight to the center where everyone would see me.

One pair of golden eyes remained on me with intensity from the moment I entered. Alpha Draven.

I hadn't seen him before, but I knew he was the only alpha king with golden eyes. He was dressed simply in black, but the way he looked menacing just sitting there made up for it.

His black hair fell in thick waves to his broad shoulders, framing high cheekbones, a strong jaw, and lips that looked like they rarely softened into anything resembling a smile.

I bowed my head to him, seeking his permission. He nodded once, and the guards who had been stealthily approaching me instantly melted away.

Everyone was paying attention now; they all wanted to know what the pack slave had to say.

I cleared my throat and began speaking, my voice steady and strong.

"Ten years ago, my mother was murdered, and I was framed as the murderer."

I looked straight at Sophia. "Since then, I have been forced to pay for a crime I did not commit.

Every single one of you here turned your backs on me at the moment I needed you most. I wasn't even allowed to mourn for her.

So today I renounce myself as a member of Windborne Pack. From now on, I owe you nothing."

They started laughing, a few pack members even threw in words like 'good riddance to bad rubbish', and 'no one wants you here anyway.'

Luna Sophia watched everything with a smile, not bothering to counter my words. This must have been what she wanted all along; she couldn't kill me herself, but if she could force me to leave, her goal would be accomplished anyway.

I breathed in deeply and continued in a louder voice, " Today, with the moon goddess bearing me witness and under the eyes of everyone here, I hereby reject Alpha Carter as my mate."

The hall went silent, pack members turning to each other in confusion. Luna Sophia was on her feet, glaring fiercely at me. But I wasn't paying attention to her. The moment I'd renounced the mate bond, it felt as if something that had been tightly bound inside me had loosened. I could finally breathe a little easier.

I turned to Alpha Draven to thank him when he suddenly got up to his feet and started walking towards me. He's a very tall man, at least 6'2, towering over my 5 feet.

As he got closer, the scent of sandalwood and cold pine flooded my nostrils. It washed over me and soothed my injuries. I inhaled deeply, longing to breathe in more of that scent.

Suddenly, a voice that had long been silent within me, the voice of my wolf Lara, roared back to life.

...Mine.

Alpha Draven reached out to touch my face, his voice soft with surprise as he said, "Mate."

"Where is she! Someone, drag her out for me!" Alpha Carter yelled as he walked into the hall with red eyes. A large part of his black shirt had turned brown because of the bleach, and it had even gotten torn in several places.

His eyes roamed the hall searching for me. Once he caught sight of me, he immediately stalked towards me and stretched out his hand to drag me away from Alpha King Draven. I flinched, but by the time I looked at him again, his hand was caught in the grip of Alpha King Draven, and he was squeezing fiercely.

Alpha Carter's face flushed, and I could swear I heard a few bones pop. He opened his mouth to speak, gritting his teeth.

"You're the Alpha King, but surely you wouldn't interfere in the resolution of pack disputes between an Alpha and his pack members? This is a private matter between my pack member and me, Alpha." He sneered.

Alpha King Draven replied slowly, as if tasting his words, "No, I won't interfere in your pack matters."

Alpha Carter shot me a triumphant look, ready to grab me again, when Alpha King Draven continued, "But I will interfere when my mate is being threatened."

"Mate?" Alpha Carter choked, his eyes bulging."How could she be your mate? She's obviously..." He cut himself off, realizing he had been about to expose himself.

His eyes flashed to me, and I saw anger within them. He sneered. "So that's what that pain was."

Luna Sophia, seeing her husband at a disadvantage, finally came forward to try to ease the situation.

She bowed deeply to Alpha King Draven first before speaking, "My mate has offended you, Alpha King. I ask for your mercy.

He wasn't aware that she was your mate. You see, Elena here has been unable to find her mate for over a decade; we believe it's the moon goddess's punishment for the murder of her mother."

I knew what she was doing. She was acting as if she was easing the situation while secretly accusing me. She wanted Alpha Draven to reject me.

But I held back, I wanted to see how Alpha King Draven would respond.