After My Alpha Rejected Me for My Mother’s Killer

The pack clinic corridor stretched before me, dimly lit and eerily quiet. My heart hammered against my ribs as I pressed myself against the wall, inching toward the archives room. The scent of antiseptic and old paper grew stronger with each step.

"We need proof," Aria whispered within me. "Without it, no one will believe us."

I nodded slightly, my fingers trembling as I reached for the door handle. The archives room held all medical records, including toxicology reports. If Marcus had run tests on my mother's body before Dexter ordered the cremation, there might still be evidence of wolfsbane poisoning.

The door creaked softly as I pushed it open. Moonlight filtered through the small window, illuminating rows of filing cabinets. I moved quickly to the most recent section, my breath shallow with anticipation.

"Jolene Matthews," I murmured, scanning the labels. "Here."

I pulled out a thin folder, my hands shaking as I opened it. Inside were several papers—a death certificate listing "heart attack" as cause of death, and beneath it, a toxicology report.

My eyes widened as I read the results. "Detectable levels of aconitine and other alkaloids consistent with wolfsbane toxicity."

"Yes!" I whispered, clutching the paper to my chest. "Proof!"

A shadow fell across the desk. I looked up slowly, my triumph freezing into horror.

"Looking for something, Luna?" Dexter's voice was deceptively soft.

I scrambled to my feet, backing against the wall. "Dexter, look at this. Marcus lied—"

"Marcus did exactly what I ordered him to do." Dexter stepped into the room, closing the door behind him. His eyes gleamed with cold fury as he snatched the report from my hands.

"You knew," I breathed. "You knew she was murdered."

"I know what's best for this pack." He held the paper over a nearby lamp, setting it ablaze. "And a scandal involving our former Luna isn't it."

I watched in horror as the evidence curled and blackened in his hands. "Stop! That's all we have!"

"There's nothing to stop," he said calmly, dropping the ashes to the floor. "Your mother's body was cremated this morning. No evidence remains."

The room spun around me. "You... you cremated her? Already?"

"Pack tradition dictates immediate cremation upon death." His smile didn't reach his eyes. "I merely expedited the process."

"You bastard," I choked out, tears blurring my vision. "You're covering for her."

"Careful, Sierra." His voice dropped dangerously. "Accusations like that could be considered treason against your Alpha."

---

Hours later, I stood in Dexter's office, my body trembling with rage and grief. The Pack Council members had dispersed after Dexter's final ruling on the matter.

"If you're quite finished," I said coldly, turning to leave.

"Not quite." Dexter's voice stopped me at the door. He moved to his desk and opened a drawer, removing a small silver urn.

My blood froze in my veins. "What are you doing with that?"

"Insurance." He caressed the urn lovingly. "You see, Sierra, I know you won't let this go. You'll run to the Lycan Council with your wild accusations."

I stepped forward, reaching for the urn. "Give me my mother."

He jerked it away, holding it higher. "One more step and I'll dump these ashes in the Rogue Badlands."

The threat hung in the air between us. The Rogue Badlands—a desecrated wasteland where rogues disposed of their victims, a place where even wolves wouldn't go.

"You wouldn't dare," I whispered.

"Try me." His eyes were empty of any emotion. "Either you drop this matter now, submit to my authority, and apologize to Andie for your harassment—or your mother's remains will be scattered among the filth of our enemies."

---

I wandered the corridors like a ghost, my mind numb with shock and grief. How had everything fallen apart so quickly? My mother murdered, my mate complicit, my son turned against me.

"Luna Sierra."

I turned to find Andie standing behind me, her eyes glittering with malice. Around her neck gleamed my mother's emerald pendant—one of the pieces she'd been stealing.

"That's mine," I said flatly.

She smiled, touching the jewel. "Not anymore. Nothing is yours anymore."

I stepped closer, noticing how she'd masked her Omega scent with my perfume and clothes. "What do you want?"

"Just to chat." Her voice dropped to a whisper as she opened a private mind-link between us. "You know, woman to woman."

The link snapped into place, her thoughts invading my mind with sickening clarity.

*I killed her, you know. One teaspoon of wolfsbane in her evening tea. She never suspected a thing.*

I stumbled back, my hand flying to my mouth.

*And now I'm going to take everything else that should have been mine. Your mate. Your son. Your position.*

"You're lying," I said aloud, but doubt gnawed at me as I recalled Zyaire's strange behavior.

*Ask Dexter who he really wants. Ask him who warms his bed at night.* Her mental voice dripped with satisfaction. *He's my chosen mate now. You're just... in the way.*

Something snapped inside me. With a roar of pure rage, I lunged forward, my hands reaching for her throat.