Chapter 9
Chapter 8 Bella…”
Chapter 9
Bella’s POV
“Have you seen what happened earlier? The Alpha and the Beta got into a fight.”
The sun was setting as the pack gathered in the clearing. Tension buzzed in the air like a live wire, everyone on edge, waiting for whatever chaos was about to unfold. I hovered just behind Jacob, watching him pace in front of the gathered wolves, his expression unreadable but heavy with something dark.
Lucas stood beside him, but the bond they once shared as Alpha and Beta was shattered. They didn’t even look at each other. The
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fight from earlier still hung between them, a divide that no amount of pack loyalty could fix.
The murmurs grew louder as Mandy and Marco were dragged into the center of the circle, their hands bound. I could feel the fear rolling off them, but neither of them said a word.
Mandy‘ s cheek was still red from where Jacob had slapped her, and Marco wore his usual smug expression, but even he couldn’t hide the nervous flicker in his eyes.
Jacob finally stopped pacing and turned to face the pack. His eyes swept over them, his once confident gaze now clouded with doubt. “I’ve called you all here today,” he began, his voice low but commanding, “because there has been a betraval.”
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A ripple went through the crowd. Eyes darted toward Mandy and Marco, whispers
spreading like wildfire. I floated closer, unable to tear myself away from the scene.
He pointed at Mandy, his voice rising with anger. “Mandy has conspired against me, against this pack. She ordered the death of my mate, Bella, and allowed a rogue to attack her.” His voice cracked, but he quickly swallowed the emotion. “And Marco… he
carried out the order.”
The pack erupted. Gasps, growls, and shocked cries filled the air as they tried to process what they’d just heard. The wolves were restless, their eyes flicking between Jacob, Mandy, and Marco, waiting to see what would happen next.
Lucas, standing silently beside Jacob, didn’t
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say a word, but I could feel the distance between them, the broken bond. He was there, but not for Jacob. He was there for me.
Mandy finally broke her silence. “Alpha, please,” she pleaded, her voice trembling,
“I didn’t mean for things to go this far. You have to believe me! It wasn‘ t supposed to happen like this-”
“Enough!” Jacob’s voice boomed, silencing her instantly. He turned to face the pack again, his expression hard. “I, as your Alpha, have no choice but to exile both Mandy and Marco. They are no longer part of this pack and are to be cast out to face a death sentence.”
The pack was stunned.
Mandy‘ s eyes widened in horror. “You
can’t do this! Alpha pleasel T I love you!
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We were supposed to be together!”
“Love?” Jacob laughed bitterly, the sound harsh and cold. “You think this is love? You ordered the death of my mate! You betrayed me and this pack. You were never worthy of my love.”
Mandy‘ s face crumpled, tears spilling down her cheeks as she dropped to her knees.
“Please… I didn’t mean for it to happen like this. I was scared, Alpha. Scared of losing you.”
But Jacob didn’t waver. He looked down at her with nothing but disgust. “You lost me the moment you chose murder.”
The pack was watching closely, waiting to see how this would end. But then, something unexpected happened. Marco, who had been
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silent this whole time, finally spoke up, his voice dripping with contempt.
“You‘ re no better than us, Alpha,” Marco sneered. “You let it happen. You chose Mandy over Bella from the beginning. You‘ re just as guilty. Exile and kill us if you want, but it won’t change the fact that you‘ re a failure. You failed as an Alpha. You failed as a mate.
Jacob’s jaw clenched, his fists trembling at his sides. I could see the cracks forming in him, the guilt and shame rising to the surface. He wanted to deny it, to fight back, but he couldn’t. Marco’s words hit too
close to the truth, and everyone knew it. Lucas finally stepped forward, his voice calm but firm. “Alpha,” he said quietly, “this isn’t about them anymore. It’s about you.
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The pack doesn’t trust you. They‘ re afraid. They need a leader who can keep them safe and a leader who doesn’t keep secrets.”
Jacob shot him a glare, but the anger was fading, replaced by something else—fear. He could feel it slipping away, everything he had worked for. His pack, his power, his authority. It was all crumbling around him.
“What are you saying, Lucas?” Jacob‘ s voice was shaky now, the confidence gone.
“You think you can do better?”
Lucas looked him straight in the eye, no longer the loyal Beta, but an equal. “I‘ m saying it’s time for you to step down.” The pack fell silent, the tension so thick it was almost suffocating. I could see the fear in Jacob’s eyes now. He was losing control, and
he knew it
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he knew it.
“You can’t do this,” Jacob whispered, his voice barely audible. “I’m the Alpha. This is my pack.”
Lucas didn’t flinch. “Not anymore.”
The words hung in the air like a death sentence. Jacob looked around, desperation creeping into his expression. But the pack wasn’t with him anymore. Everyone was protesting against him.
And the elders, they agreed.
Jacob’s shoulders stiffened, his eyes darkening as he faced Lucas, who stood unflinching, “So, you want me to step down?” Jacob‘ s voice was thick with challenge.
Lucas took a step forward. his gaze cold and
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unyielding. “I challenge you, Alpha. For
everything.”
The pack watched in tense silence as the two locked eyes, power clashing in the air
between them. They launched into a brutal fight, neither one holding back. But with each blow, it became clear–Jacob was losing. His strength, worn down by guilt and grief, was no match for Lucas‘ s determination.
Finally, Lucas dealt a decisive strike, sending Jacob staggering to his knees. The pack fell silent, and Jacob looked up, breathing hard, the weight of defeat settling in his gaze.
He lowered his head, beaten. “Fine. Take it. Take it all,” he murmured, his voice empty as he accepted his loss.
