After My Mate Stole My Rogue Kill, I Defied Him Chapter 09

After My Mate Stole My Rogue Kill, I Defied Him Chapter 09

I reached down and grabbed Colin by the scruff of his neck, hauling him up until his eyes met mine He was still in his wolf form, trembling and whimpering, blood matting his fur The crowd watched in stunned silence as I lifted him like he weighed nothing

“I accept your rejection, Colin Phillips, I said, my voice carrying across the ballroom.

His eyes widened in confusion. He’d expected tears, begging-the reaction of a rejected Omega Not this cold acceptance from a warrior who’d finally shed her disguise

“I’ve carried you for three years, I continued, tightening my grip slightly ‘I’ve funded your lifestyle, killed your enemies, and buried your mistakes But now,

I’m done.

I felt my wolf surge forward, lending me her strength The golden Alpha power coursed through my veins, pooling between my palms where i gripped

Colin

“The mate bond you tried to sever?” I smiled, feeling the connection between us pulse weakly. “I’ll show you how it’s really done

I channeled my Alpha power directly into the bond, visualizing it as a golden thread connecting us. With a sharp mental command, I snapped it-violently, deliberately

The backlash was immediate and devastating.

Colin’s scream pierced the air, high and agonized. His body convulsed in my grip as he felt the true source of his power-my power-being ripped away from him. Blood trickled from his nose and ears as the severing took its toll.

“Freya,” he gasped, his voice barely human. “Please-

But it was too late

I felt nothing but a weight lifting from my shoulders. Three years of suppression, of playing weak, of hiding my true nature-all of it washed away in that moment. I was free.

Colin collapsed to the floor, his wolf form trembling uncontrollably. The pack doctor rushed forward, but I waved him back.

“He’ll live,” I said dismissively “He just needs to adjust to his true strength.”

I turned my attention to the shredded remains of Colin’s uniform. The Beta insignia-a silver crescent moon with a wolf’s head-was still pinned to what remained of his jacket lapel

“Such a shame, I murmured, reaching down.

With one swift motion, I ripped the insignia free The metal pin tore through the fabric with a satisfying sound

“He didn’t earn this,” I said, holding the badge up for all to see

I tossed it across the room toward Alpha Marcus, who was still recovering his composure on the edge of the stage. He caught it reflexively, his eyes wide

with fear

“Your Majesty, he stammered, looking between me and the Lycan Prince “I didn’t know-

“Clearly,” the Prince interrupted, his voice cold “The Council will discuss your oversight at a later date

Alpha Marcus paled further “Of course, Your Majesty’

He straightened his shoulders, attempting to salvage some dignity “In light of recent revelations, he announced, his voice carrying across the room. “I hereby strip Colin Phillips of his Beta rank

He looked directly at Colin’s trembling form “You are demoted to Omega Cleaner, effective immediately You will report to the maintenance division

tomorrow at dawn’

The finality in his tone was absolute Colin’s military career-the one I’d secretly built for him-was over

I turned away from the pathetic sight of my former mate and scanned the crowd. My eyes locked on Mrs Phillips, who was cowering behind a banquet

table, her face ashen with horror

I didn’t approach her I didn’t need to

“She knew,” I addressed the crowd, my voice calm but carrying ‘She spent the money I earned killing rogues She forged the reports Colin couldn’t have

written. She orchestrated every lie

The room fell silent as every wolf present turned to stare at Mrs. Phillips.

“Tell them,” I challenged “Tell them how you bragged about your son’s ‘genius’ while spending my bounty money

Mrs Phillips opened her mouth, but no sound emerged. Her eyes darted around the room, searching for allies, for sympathy.

She found none

One by one, the pack members physically stepped away from her Friends of twenty years turned their backs. Acquaintances crossed the room to distance themselves. Even her closest allies pretended to be suddenly fascinated by the patterns on the ceiling

The social death was instantaneous and complete.

Mrs. Phillips stood alone in a sea of wolves who refused to acknowledge her existence. Her eyes met mine across the room, filled with a hatred that would have once wounded me.

Now, I simply smiled.

“Isolation suits you,” I said softly. “You always were a parasite, feeding off others while contributing nothing.”

I turned away from her, leaving her to face the consequences of her actions. As I did, I felt the weight of hundreds of eyes following me-some fearful, some admiring, all of them finally seeing me for who I truly was.

The Shadow had returned.