The door slammed open.
"Get up."
Two guards.
No patience.
I stood without a word.
Chains clicked around my wrists.
Cold. Tight.
I didn't resist.
Not yet.
"Move."
They led me out.
Down a long corridor.
Up stone steps.
Voices grew louder.
A crowd.
Of course.
The doors opened
And the noise hit me.
The entire pack.
Watching.
Waiting.
Judging.
I walked forward anyway.
Head high.
Back straight.
Let them look.
At the front stood a raised platform.
The Alpha.
Beside him the Beta.
And
Him.
The enemy stood slightly apart. Silent. Observing.
Always watching.
"Diana," the Alpha's voice cut through the noise.
Silence followed instantly.
"You stand accused of rejecting sacred mate bonds," he said.
I said nothing.
"You defied pack law."
Still nothing.
"You caused a disorder."
I exhaled slowly.
"Are you done?" I asked.
A ripple went through the crowd.
The Beta smirked faintly.
The Alpha's gaze hardened.
"You will answer properly."
"No," I said.
Clear.
Firm.
"I won't."
Gasps.
Whispers.
Shock.
Good.
The Alpha stepped forward slightly.
"You don't have that choice."
"I already made it."
Silence dropped again.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
"You rejected your Alpha," he said.
"Yes."
"You rejected your Beta."
"Yes."
A pause.
"You rejected a bonded claim."
I held his gaze.
"Yes."
The word landed like a strike.
The Beta's jaw tightened.
The enemy
Still watching.
Still unreadable.
"Why?" the Alpha demanded.
Finally,
A real question.
I tilted my head slightly.
"You really want to know?"
"Answer."
I took a step forward despite the chains.
"They weren't choices," I said.
Quiet.
But clear enough for all to hear.
"They were in control."
Murmurs spread.
I continued.
"You rejected me in front of everyone," I said, looking directly at the Alpha. "Was that fate?"
His expression didn't change.
"Or power?"
Silence.
I turned slightly.
"And you," I said to the Beta. "You didn't want me. You wanted to own me."
His smirk disappeared.
Truth stings.
Then
I looked at the enemy.
A brief pause.
"You didn't even ask."
His eyes darkened.
Interesting.
I faced forward again.
"So no," I said. "I didn't reject fate."
A beat.
"I rejected all of you."
The crowd erupted.
Voices clashed.
Anger. Shock. Disbelief.
"Silence!" the Alpha commanded.
Instant quiet.
His gaze locked on me.
Cold.
Sharp.
"You speak boldly for someone on trial."
"I speak honestly."
"Honesty won't save you."
"I'm not trying to be saved."
That landed.
I saw it.
A flicker.
Gone quickly.
The Alpha turned to the elders seated behind him.
Low murmurs passed between them.
Judgment.
Already decided.
Of course.
After a moment, he faced me again.
"You have broken sacred law," he said.
My grip tightened against the chains.
"Punishment is required."
Here it comes.
"You will be stripped of pack protection," he continued.
A pause.
"And exiled."
The word hit the crowd like fire.
Exile.
Permanent.
Final.
My heart skipped
Just once.
Then steadied.
Freedom.
Dressed as punishment.
"You will leave these lands by nightfall," he added. "If you return"
His voice dropped.
"You will be executed."
Silence.
I held his gaze.
Then
I nodded.
"Fine."
That caught them off guard.
I saw it.
The surprise.
The confusion.
No tears.
No begging.
No fear.
Just acceptance.
The Beta stepped forward. "You think this is a victory?"
I met his eyes.
"I think it's the end."
His jaw tightened.
"Don't be so sure."
I didn't respond.
Because I didn't care.
The Alpha raised a hand.
"Remove her chains."
The guards hesitated.
Then obeyed.
The metal fell away.
My wrists burned.
I didn't react.
Didn't rub them.
Didn't show weakness.
I turned.
No goodbye.
No hesitation.
Just one step
Then another.
But before I crossed the edge of the crowd
"Diana."
I stopped.
Didn't turn.
I knew that voice.
The enemy.
Of course.
"Run," he said.
Soft.
Low.
Just for me.
"Because next time…"
A pause.
"You won't get the chance."
A chill ran down my spine.
But I didn't look back.
I walked forward.
Out of the pack.
Out of their control.
Out of fate.
Or so I thought.