From Rejected Mate to Luna Chapter 62

Nathan's POV

I slouched on the genuine leather couch in my family's living room, trying to catch a few minutes of sleep. My head pounded with frustration. The last few days had been a blur of rage and betrayal. I vaguely remembered Eric being with me several nights ago, but the details were foggy. What wasn't foggy was his subsequent betrayal.

"Fucking traitor," I muttered, pulling out my phone to check again. No new messages, no missed calls. Eric had been ignoring me for days now, choosing that pathetic excuse for a sister over our friendship.

The thought made my blood boil. Eric had been my best friend since childhood, my most loyal ally. We were supposed to lead the pack together—me as Alpha and him as my Beta. Without my influence, Eric would never have been positioned to become Beta. And this was how he repaid me? Throwing away years of friendship for what? Some second-rate female who couldn't even accept her place in the pack?

My thoughts were interrupted when my father strode into the room, his face a mask of controlled anger.

"Sit up," he commanded.

I barely glanced up from my phone. "I'm comfortable like this."

My father's eyes flashed dangerously. "I said, sit up. Now."

When I still didn't move, I felt the unmistakable pressure of an Alpha command through our pack connection. My body reacted before my mind could resist, forcing me upright on the couch.

"What the hell?" I snarled, fighting against the compulsion.

My mother entered the room then, her face tight with disappointment. She held a tablet in her hands, her knuckles white from gripping it too hard.

"We need to talk about what you did," my father said, his voice deadly calm.

I rolled my eyes. "If this is about Julia again—"

"This is about Daniel Wright," he interrupted, taking the tablet from my mother. He turned it to face me, displaying a security camera video. The footage clearly showed me shifting partially, attacking that punk in the forest.

My stomach dropped, but I kept my expression neutral. "So what? He was interfering with pack business."

"Pack business?" My father's voice rose slightly. "Eric and William have provided us with everything. Blood samples from Daniel Wright. Photos of his wounds. And this—" He tapped the screen, and I heard my own voice admitting to the attack.

The recording was damning. I remembered the conversation now—I had been bragging to Eric about putting Daniel in his place, about showing him what happened to wolves who tried to steal from an Alpha.

"You not only rejected your Moon Goddess-given mate," my father continued, "which has been a source of shame for our family, but you attacked an innocent guest on our territory. You've violated two of our most sacred laws."

I stood up, anger overtaking my shock. "He's not innocent! He was trying to take what's mine!"

"Julia is not yours," my mother said quietly. "You made that choice long ago."

"I've made my decision," my father said, straightening to his full height. "You will be taken to the pack detention facility to reflect on your actions until the pack council determines your fate."

I stared at him in disbelief. "You can't be serious."

The front door opened, and two members of the pack security team entered. I recognized them—Rick and Mason, wolves I'd grown up with, men who would one day serve under me as Alpha.

"This is bullshit!" I shouted, backing away. "I'm your son! I'm the future Alpha of this pack!"

"Not if you continue down this path," my father said grimly.

I lunged forward, but the security team was prepared. They grabbed my arms, twisting them behind my back. Rick produced silver-infused restraints.

"You'll regret this," I spat as they secured my wrists. "All of you. Especially Eric. Where is that coward? Too afraid to face me himself?"

Neither my father nor mother answered as the security team dragged me out to a waiting SUV. As we drove through the territory, my mind raced with thoughts of revenge. Eric had betrayed me, chosen Julia over our friendship. My parents had chosen pack law over their own son. They would all pay.

The detention facility was at the edge of the pack territory, a small, unassuming building surrounded by trees. Inside, the walls were reinforced with silver alloy, designed to dampen werewolf abilities. The cell they pushed me into had silver bars and a simple cot.

"Alpha's orders are for you to remain here until the council meets," Mason said, avoiding my eyes. "The facility dampens shifting abilities and mindlink communication. You're under 24-hour surveillance."

After they left, I paced my cell like the caged predator I was. How dare they treat me this way? I was Nathan Reynolds, son of Alpha Reynolds, future leader of the Star Shadow pack.

As night fell and the facility grew quiet, I felt something strange stirring within me. The Alpha power I'd been cultivating, waiting for the day of succession, seemed to be growing stronger with my rage. I could feel it pulsing through my veins, demanding release.

When the night guard—a younger wolf named Trent—came by on his rounds, I seized my opportunity. I'd known Trent since he was a pup. He was young, impressionable, and had always looked up to me as the future Alpha.

"Trent," I called out softly. "Come here for a second."

He approached cautiously, staying a safe distance from the bars. "I'm not supposed to talk to you, Nathan."

I put on my most sincere expression. "I understand. My father's upset. But you and I both know this is all just a misunderstanding, right?"

Uncertainty flickered across his face. "I don't know about that. They say you attacked a wolf."

"A wolf who was trying to steal from our pack," I countered, my voice hardening with authority. "I was protecting what's mine, what's ours. Isn't that what an Alpha does?"

Trent shifted uncomfortably. "I guess so, but—"

"My father's overreacting because of pack politics. You know how these things work." I stepped closer to the bars, lowering my voice. "You've always been loyal to me, Trent. I remember when those older wolves were giving you trouble during your first shift. Who stepped in?"

"You did," he admitted.

"And when I become Alpha, I remember those who stood by me." I let that sink in before continuing. "All I'm asking is for you to open this door and turn off the surveillance for ten minutes. No one will know it was you."

Fear and temptation battled in his eyes. "I could lose my position... or worse."

"Or you could gain the favor of the future Alpha," I countered smoothly. "Think about it, Trent. Do you really want to be stuck on night shift forever? I can offer you a place in my inner circle."

His resolve was crumbling. I could see it.

"The pack council hasn't even met yet," I added. "They might decide this whole thing was justified. And then what? You'll be the one who kept the rightful Alpha heir locked up."

After a few more minutes of persuasion, threats thinly veiled as promises, and reminders of his debt to me, Trent's resistance broke. With shaking hands, he disabled the surveillance system and unlocked my cell.

Within minutes, I was walking out of the detention facility, my restraints removed. I moved swiftly through the trees, putting distance between myself and my captivity. At the edge of the forest, I stopped and looked back at the pack lands that should have been my birthright.

"I'll be back," I promised the darkness, rage burning in my chest. "And I'll take back everything that's mine."