She Alpha Bullied Me-Now They Kneel

My heart tore with pain, tears spilling as I clutched my chest.

"Mr. Colton, your one-way ticket to Cloud pack is issued. Choose a seat?"

I wiped my face, voice wind-soft: "Window, please."

The door creaked open.

Jessie Bancroft entered, her heels striking the floor like drums. "Who was on the call?"

"An old mate," I said, placing the comm aside.

She loomed over me: "The pineapple incident was Byron's doing. He didn't know theirallergy."

My heart clenched. For me, she'd sought blood; for him, a mere "unaware."

I opened my mouth, but only a hollow "mm" escaped.

"Next week's lunar camp: Byron and I will chaperone. You stay," she ordered, emotionless.

"Understood," I nodded.

She frowned at my compliance. "Pack matter." She left without a backward glance.

Alone, I released my fist.

Days later, Byron's messages flooded in-lunar camp photos, videos.

In one, Liam beamed: "This is our father!"

Classmates cheered: "He's handsome! Your family's lunar-blessed!"

When asked who fetched them from school, they stammered: "Oh, the. steward."

The cup slipped from my grasp, shattering.

As I crouched, I laughed-all these years, a mere free steward.

A week later, the cubs burst into home.

"Father! Byron sprained his ankle at the lunar games-Mama was so worried!" Nora cried.

Liam added: "She closed the entire healers' for him, canceled all pack meetings!"

I donned heat-gloves as the oven dinged. Chocolate lava deserts aroma filled the air. But at the sight of slight browning, I dumped it in the refuse.

"No!" Nora shrieked.

"Burned," I said flatly.

Liam kicked the bin: "Liar! You're still angry-you're a wicked father!"

Nora yelled: "We disown you!"

Removing my gloves, I studied them-strangers, these cubs I'd raised.

"Good," I said. "I disown you too. Seek Byron Hawke henceforth."

As I turned for the stairs, their howls trailed: "We hate you! Forever!"

A violent shove struck my back.

"Die!"

Vertigo seized me as I crashed down the stairs. Pain exploded through my body, warm lunar blood blinding my vision.

Propping myself up, blood dripping onto the floor, I saw my cubs at the landing-smirks twisting their faces:

"Deserved!" Nora clapped.

"You denied us deserts!" Liam jeered.

My claws scraped the wall, but I couldn't reconcile these imps with the cubs I'd saved in the healers' .

The door burst open:

"What transpires here?"

Jessie's voice cut through, Byron Hawke at her side, both frozen.

"Mama!" Cubs wailed, flinging themselves at her.

"Father tossed our deserts-and disowned us!"

Jessie's gaze flicked from the refuse to my bloodied form.

"Aidan Colton, why war with your own cubs?" Her tone iced: "Disowning them-are you fit to sire?"

I staggered up, blood soaking my tunic, and laughed:

"When have I ever been'fit' in your eyes?"

"Was I not always your nursemaid?"

Her pupils shrank.

"Since you desire Byron as mate, and cubs crave him as sire- I yield. Take your quartet."

Silence crackled. Jessie's snarl ripped the air:

"Our alliance was just arranged. Love? I gave none."

Laughter turned to tears. Foolish me, to think a deity could love.

"Jessie, enough," Byron soothed, pulling her arm.

"Cubs are frightened."

She glared once more, then swept up Nora, took Liam's hand, and vanished with Byron.

I vowed: No more regrets.

No more Bancroft. This life, I live for me.

Three moons later, Liam's birthday banquet blazed in the pack's grandest hotel.

Crystal chandeliers flared as Jessie hosted, but I lingered in shadows.

Liam and Nora clung to Byron, chirping like fledglings.

Jessie's gaze never left him, her softness a dagger to my heart.

Whispers sliced through the crowd:

"Ms. Bancroft's devotion to Mr. Hawke is timeless."

"Cubs follow her lead-only see Uncle Byron."

Under the crystals, my shadow stretched alone.

At last, I saw the truth: in their world, I'd always been replaceable.

"Classmates with Ms. Bancroft and Mr. Hawke-their courtship blazed bright, near-marriage before graduation."

"No wonder-first love shines eternal. Mate or not, he's her core." Another chimed.

In the shadows, my heart froze solid. I turned for the lift.

As doors closed, a hand stopped them-Byron Hawke.

Polished boots crossed the threshold, his smirk confident:

"The bond break cooling period ends in three moons. You'll leave as agreed?"

"Without question,"

"Good." His smile broadened. "Jessie and cubs care not for you. They'll forget swiftly."

The lift descended. Suddenly-

"BOOM!"

It jolted, lights failed, plunging us into dark.

"Ah!" Byron shrieked, phone light flaring on his panic.

"Jessie! Help! Lift collapse!"