It had been three long weeks since that day in the Alpha’s office. Three weeks that felt like years—three weeks of humiliation, of whispered insults, of isolation that gnawed at her spirit like a hungry wolf.
The moment she stepped out of the Beta home and into her new life at the edge of the territory, she ceased to be Elaine, daughter of the Beta. In the eyes of the pack, she had become something else entirely—an outcast, a warning, a walking reminder of what happened to those who defied the Alpha.
The very first day she reported back to the pack house for duty, she could feel their eyes on her. Dozens of stares that pierced into her skin, their whispers carrying across the halls like poisoned arrows. Some murmured “rejected… unwanted…” as she walked by. Others didn’t bother lowering their voices at all. They laughed, they mocked, they cursed her under their breath, enjoying her downfall as if it were their entertainment.
To them, she was not Elaine the scholar, Elaine the Beta’s daughter, or Elaine the woman who had once been celebrated for her accomplishments at Wolf School. No.
She was now only the interloper, the obstacle that had stood between their beloved future Alpha Michael and his chosen Luna, Kathy. The fact that she was the mate the Moon Goddess had given him did not matter anymore. The pack saw only what the Alpha had declared. That she was no longer family, no longer worthy.
Every morning at the dining hall was the hardest. Attendance was mandatory for all wolves not on guard duty, which meant she could not escape the public eye. After collecting her food, she always sat alone at the far end of the long hall.
Once, her presence in the Beta family’s circle had given her a place of honor near the front. Now, the benches around her remained empty, as though she carried a sickness they might catch by sitting near her.
Her solitude was a spectacle in itself. Whispers grew louder when she walked past, laughter followed her like a shadow, and eyes—judging, pitying, or cruel—never left her back. She kept her head high, even as her heart ached, refusing to let them see her break.
That morning, as the hall filled with chatter, the atmosphere shifted the moment the Alpha and Beta families entered. All eyes turned toward them with admiration and respect, the noise fading into greetings and bows. Smiles blossomed across faces like flowers seeking the sun. That was the power of their presence. The respect and loyalty Elaine had once been part of are now denied her.
As always, the families moved through the hall, exchanging morning greetings with their pack. When they reached her, Elaine forced herself to her feet, her tray of food untouched before her.
She lowered her head, exposed her neck, and spoke with a steady voice that belied the storm in her chest. “Alpha, Luna, Beta, Ms. Lucille… good morning.”
Her throat tightened as she added the final greeting, her voice soft but firm. “Future Alpha and Luna, good morning to you as well.”
It was a ritual now, this forced display of respect. One more chain binds her.
Lucille’s eyes found hers, filled with sorrow that words could not express. The older woman’s hands trembled as if she wanted to reach out, to pull her daughter into her arms and whisper comfort like she once did. But she didn’t. She couldn’t. The eyes of the pack were watching, and in their eyes, Elaine was no longer her daughter. She was only another wolf.
The Alpha gave her a curt nod, his expression unreadable.
“Good morning, Elaine,” said Kathy—future Luna, her sister in blood but no longer in name. She smiled softly, as if trying to remind Elaine that, deep in her heart, the bond of sisters still lingered.
Elaine’s lips curved faintly, but her words were devoid of warmth. “Good morning to you as well, future Luna.”
The title was a dagger. She will never call her “sister”. She is not a family member. She is nothing but a reminder of her pain, of her ripped bond from her fated mate.
The group moved on to their seats, their conversation resuming as though nothing had passed. Not another word was spoken to her.
The rest of the day was no better. Her work had become a constant test of her endurance. Once, she reported only to her father, but now she was required to give her updates directly to the Alpha himself, and sometimes to Michael, the future Alpha, who had begun taking on more of his father’s duties.
Each interaction was a fresh wound, each report another reminder of what she had lost. Michael’s future Beta was still away at school and wouldn’t return until next month, so for now, Elaine was forced to fill the gap—forced to serve, forced to pretend.
Pretending was the hardest part. Pretending that her heart did not shatter every time she stood before them. Pretending that the whispers didn’t sting. Pretending that the respect she offered came freely, and not because it was demanded of her.
Three weeks of this endless cycle.
Three weeks of swallowing her pride and burying her pain so deeply that no one would see.
Three weeks of carrying herself with dignity, even as the world around her laughed.
And through it all, she had never once disrespected them. Not the Alpha, not the Luna, not even the ones who had taken everything from her. Her voice never wavered, her posture never faltered. She gave them the respect they demanded, though she knew they had not earned it.
It was her last weapon, her last shield. The dignity they could not strip away from her, no matter how hard they tried.
Aksara