176

176

CALLISTA

Cutlery clinked with the plates. Everyone was trying to avoid the look Orlando had in his eyes. We were all trying to avoid the conversation that he wanted to happen. My father stepped down from the alpha's seat. And instead of choosing Orlando, my father named Alexander as his successor. That didn't sit well with Orlando. Especially after the new royal king, his brother in law, told him clearly that he was no longer welcome to the capital.

The speculations about him becoming the next king didn't sit well with the new king. And my brother and his future bloodline have been banned from the capital. “Are you gonna ignore me for the rest of your life, dad? I am supposed to be the Alpha. I am your blood.” I fought the urge to roll my eyes. It'd only add fuel to the fire.

“You need to quiet down and eat. That conversation would never have taken place if you wouldn't have messed up this bad.” Dad growler back at Orlando.

I couldn't understand the reason why dad couldn't move on from Althea and everything that happened. It angered me how she never left the pack even after going rouge. A year had passed. Yet dad can't accept that fact. In fact, he was the one who let her go. She threatened him somehow. We never found out how she was able to convince dad to let her go.

I was happy. She left and I got my love back. Alexander and I marked each other a few days after. It took a month for Alexander to get his strength back, to be able to mark me back. No one had any idea why it hurt Alexander the most. Because Althea was marked right after she broke the bond. The rejection was the hardest on Alexander. He couldn't even walk straight for weeks.

“You can't do this to me. It's not fair, dad. Just because of that stupid woman.” And there it was. We all knew that dad was punishing Orlando because of what he did to Althea. He broke her heart. In a way, all of our troubles started because of Orlando. If he hadn't shown up with princess Freya long ago, nothing would have gone down.

Alexander would never have seen me with Dylan. Althea would have stayed with Orlando. Everyone would be happy. He did it and now, he was paying the price of his stupidity. Princess Freya left him right after my father named Alexander the Alpha of the pack.

Hearing Althea's name, mom got angry, and dad was furious as well. He slammed his hand against the table so hard, all the glasses shattered while sitting on top of the table. “Don't you dare pull her into the mess you have created. You are not worthy of being an alpha when you can't keep promises. You got greedy and that's why you got demoted. And look at you now. You are not even as useful at the omegas of the pack. You don't even know how to fight a war. Let alone, make strategies if we are ever under attack.” My jaw fell on the table as I heard dad finally speaking up.

Orlando glared at me. Then he stood up and walked away. Mom followed him but dad stayed at the table. It was awkward but we kept eating. “I have got you admitted at the royal academy, Callista.” I was suddenly choking onto the porridge I was eating. Alexander offered me juice and was rubbing my back.

“What? Me? At the royal academy? Dad! My scores and GPA was nowhere near enough to get me accepted to the royal academy. I am not Alth…” before I could control it, her name was already halfway out of my mouth. I covered my mouth and narrowed my eyes as my dad was now glaring at me. And Alexander was doing the same.

Ever since the rejection, her name had become a forbidden word in our pack, especially under this roof. “Alexander needs a strong willed Luna by his side. Not a woman who will spread her legs whenever she wants, whomever she can do it with.” I gulped hard at that insult. Dad never let it go. Always reminding me that I was a cheap slut.

He never brought it up before. Until Althea left the pack. Then I was listening to this word, slut, from my father's mouth, every single day. “Dad! You can't bring this up every single time. It was a long time ago. I was immature back then.” I tried to defend myself when Alexander remained quiet.

“It's not immaturity when you take advantage of a man when his mate is away from him. And sleep with him. Call it love. You two should be grateful that I didn't punish you for adultery.” My father's voice was low. And it made me zip my lips. I knew he was angry.

Maybe that was the reason why Alexander always remained quiet whenever my father brought that matter up. Insulated me whenever he wanted. “You leave tomorrow. And you will not be coming back home for the next two years. So make sure you have your man under control.” Alexander narrowed his head in shame and I couldn't even argue back.

Dad stood up and walked away, leaving me and Alexander at the table. “You should stop arguing with him. We did something unforgivable. I am grateful that he never told another soul about our mistakes.” Alexander scolded me as he stood up from the tables, wiping his lips with the towel.

“I don't want to go.” I tried to argue with him. He turned to glare at me and I zipped my mouth again. Those two had ways to make me stop talking. After everything, I even lost the privilege to defend myself in front of either of them.

“Pack up your bags. I will be driving you to the capital tomorrow. As your dad won't do it. And Orlando is banned. I don't want to hear you argue about it again.” Alexander growled at me angrily. Before I could say anything, he was already walking away from the dining room.

I grabbed the jar of jam and threw it on the ground. The shattering sound brought omegas to the dining room. “It slipped from my hand.” I lied, getting up from my chair and walking out of the dining room.