FAYE'S POV

"Faye, you need to get yourself together and accept that Alpha Timerante doesn't love you. It's the only way for you to get rid of him for good," my wolf said to me.

In front of me, Timerante was holding his injured lover, blaming me for her injuries. He even demanded my blood and even my heart to save that despicable third party.

How absurd!

"I, Faye Martinez, reject you, Alpha Timerante Thompson, as my mate! Forever!"

Upon hearing my words, Timerante seemed momentarily disbelieving, then sneered. "Faye, it is only I who rejects you. You have no right to reject me."

"Is that so?" I looked at these detestable shit heads.

Under my dominance, the mate bond between Timerante and me finally shattered. For the first time in over half a year, I felt free, as if I could finally breathe.

And this time, it was Timerante's turn to look shocked. "Who... Who are you? How could our mate bond break without my permission?"

"Moon Goddess, I, Faye Martinez, am willing to answer your call and become the Blood Priestess!"

As I spoke, I looked at William. Flames appeared alongside my white wolf, accompanied by an even more powerful crimson light.

Finally, I gazed at them and uttered indifferently. "Submit or die?"

***

Six months ago.

I, along with a group of rogue werewolves, was confined in a truck. We were covered in dirt and disheveled, too weak to move. My face was swollen, so I could hardly open my eyes. But deep down, I held onto hope because the Pack we were headed for was where I would meet the man who had saved me.

I had no idea how long the truck had been driving until it finally came to a stop, and the rear doors of the truck opened.

Screams filled the air.

Then, rough soldiers dragged my body and those of a dozen other rogue werewolves out of the truck. The soldiers' hands reached for me, throwing me violently onto the ground.

My body hit the hard concrete with a thud, and soon I felt blood flowing from my tongue, dripping down my chin.

"Get up, you rogue!" A soldier stood beside me, kicking my stomach.

I had to curl up, my consciousness starting to fade. But I still tried to open my eyes, searching for the source of the captivating scent. As soon as I arrived at the heart of this pack, I caught a whiff of that scent. I knew it was the mate bond, and I was elated because rescue was imminent.

I struggled to open my eyes. Finally, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a handsome man in a black suit slowly approaching.

It was him!

I attempted to stand up, leaning forward. But a soldier kicked me down soon.

I tried to cry for help, but my hoarse voice made my pleas barely recognizable.

Amidst my desperate actions, the soldier's beating intensified. It wasn't until he grew tired and saw that I no longer resisted that he stopped.

I could only breathe slowly, trying to keep myself conscious.

"Is this all?" I heard him say, his voice sounding familiar from our phone conversation. I could never forget that voice... He was my mate!

"Yes, Alpha!" a soldier responded.

"Take them to the dungeon for questioning!"

"Yes, Alpha!"

Just as he gave the order, the soldier who had beaten me dragged me towards the staircase, heading to the dungeon.

No! I didn't want to go to the dungeon!

I wanted to resist, but my body, my voice, couldn't truly call for help. I could only let the soldier drag me away.

No, I was not a rogue! I was Luna of their Dark Pack, Alpha Timerante Thompson!

My true identity lay as the dear sister of Alpha Faye Martinez, the most esteemed princess of The New Arctic Pack.

A month ago, I spoke with Alpha Timerante over the phone and was told that he was my mate. Due to the influence of The Dark Pack, my brother had to agree to Timerante's request and send me to The Dark Pack for the betrothal. However, the convoy was attacked along the way, and I got separated from the entourage. In a twist of fate, I was mistaken for a rogue werewolf, captured, and mistreated by soldiers of The Dark Pack.

I understand their actions. After all, rogue werewolves were considered evil and disorderly, deserving rough treatment.

But that was not who I was!

Just as they were dragging me towards the staircase, I heard a command from Alpha Timerante.

"Hold on!"

The soldier dragged me to freeze.

Hope sparked within me. Did he discover that I was his mate? Was he here to rescue me?

However, what I heard was...

"Those rogue werewolves are the trickiest, and I believe they deserve the most venomous punishment!"

The dominant and merciless leader's voice echoed through the room.

"Yes, Alpha!"

As the soldier replied, he forcefully dragged me down the stairs in a hurried frenzy. Each step caused my battered body to jolt with unbearable pain. It felt as if a mere second separated me from meeting the Moon Goddess herself.

Finally, we reached the bottom step, and the soldier dragged me in. I had to try to breathe. That was when my nose smelled the stench of blood and bodily fluids.

The guard stopped outside a cell, opened the door, and threw me in. I collapsed onto the hard concrete floor, my head hitting it with a sickening crack. Warm blood trickled down my face, mingling with the stench of blood and bodily fluids in the air.

I was unable to move due to the wolf poison coursing through my veins, exhaustion consuming my body. My body was super prostrate after I was force-fed with wolfsbane. My wounds remained unhealed, and darkness encroached upon my fading vision.

Time became an elusive concept as I lay there, unaware of its passage.

A sudden splash of cold water jolted me awake. Every cell in my body screamed with agony, and even the simple act of opening my eyes proved challenging.

"Get up, you rogue bitch!" a soldier barked, but my feeble attempts to rise were futile.

Without warning, a foot stomped on my stomach, robbing me of breath. I struggled to gulp down the air, fighting against the searing pain.

"Forget it. Just carry her to the interrogation room! We must complete the questioning before the Alpha arrives," another soldier commanded.

Utter dread coursed through me. Were they planning to subject me to the cruellest form of punishment?