Four

Astella’s pov

Admist the shocked whispers and murmurs, I closed my eyes with grinded teeth as I felt the impact of the wall behind me very hard.

I opened my eyes slowly, almost loosing my consciousness right there looking into the blood red crimson eyes of my once loving husband. Someone who had never laid a single finger of me had his whole class wrapped around my neck and had me trapped between him and the wall Infront of anybody.

His eyes were dark…blood red and we're glaring hard at me and his mouth snapped, his canniness so sharp, I felt my head would come clean off any second.

“Tell me you're lying Astella.” His growl travelled across the silent hall.

I burst into tears, knowing I wasn't willing to continue with the lie. “I'm not lying, I'm sorry.”

“Liam, we can all talk about this, but it doesn't involve you hurting her. She's pregnant.” I could hear Ryan say behind him.

“And of what use is she to me if she has another man's child growing in her womb.” he growled ferociously, sending all the guards and elders who had come to pry him off me staggering back, but Ryan stood his ground.

After a few seconds of making me forget what breathing felt like, he finally let go of me, and with a gasp, I fell to the ground, touching my neck instinctively to feel my own blood running down. My eyes were filled with tears, and my heart hurt from the sting of his words, but I couldn't blame him.

Not able to look at his face or the face of anyone's, I remained in my position, staring at the floor.

“How could you even had fallen in love with another man. We've been betrothed to each other since we were children. We've been close since then… even until we got mated. What haven't I done for you Astella. Have I ever hurt you in anyway… tell me!”

I shuddered under his growl and felt him walk towards me again. I dropped to my knees and wrapped my hands around in a pleading stance, shaking with tears.

“I'm sorry… I'm really sorry. I did love you, but I wasn't In love with you. I liked us as just Best friends and was obliged to marry you, but in actual fact… “

“You're a betrayer… a disgusting whore.” he snapped, and a gasp left my lips as I was forcefully lifted up from the ground my just my hair. “And today will be the end for you the disgusting man who had the guts to touch you.”

“Alpha Liam!” Ryan's voice held a hint of hostility, followed by shocked gasps and murmurs travelling around the room as he tossed me to the floor, right Infront of them all.

No one could dare say a word or refute him, knowing how he was when he was angry, so they all helplessly watched, but I could see the disappointment and anger in the eyes.

I couldn't blame them.

“I will only ask this question once… and all you have to do is mention the name. Who got you pregnant Astella. If I'm not the father, then who is. I might spare you and let you have the child, but rest assured I will not spare the bastard.”

Hearing his words sent shivers down my spine and I was forced to keep mute. Seconds after however, he said,

“However, if you insist on not exposing him, you'll have just yourself to blame, because I'll make you go through a punishment worse than death. I'll banish you, and you'll have no choice but to roam around as a rogue, and you'll have the rogues to deal with you.”

The whole hall erupted in murmurs this time, which grew even more louder, like a silent conflict was going on. Some people from the crowd, scared for my life as they knew how ruthless and evil the rogues were silently pleaded I expose the man.

“Silence!” Liam growled, rendering the hall silence once more.

He finally knelt beside me and I could see an evil smirk on his face as he shook his head. The disappointment and hurt in his eyes broke me.

“You're protecting him? He will live while you die. Is that what you want.” He suddenly shook me hard and I could only cry. “You claim you're in love with him but does he even feel the same way. Answer me!!!”

“Alpha Liam please that's enough.” I look up to see it's Ryan again. Liam suddenly got up and grabbed Ryan by the collar, pushing him up against the wall. I felt my breath leave my lungs completely as I watched them with eyes wide in shock and horror.

Why was he going after him now? Did he perhaps know?

“You're her uncle aren't you? How come you weren't aware of what your own niece was up to behind your back, huh? And here you are, supporting her. Do you think I've done anything to receive such cruelsome embarrassment from her?”

Ryan was steady and calm and he kept eye contact with the Alpha. The next words he uttered was something I would have never even dreamed of. “I did notice she had a close personal relationship with her previous personal guard, but I had fired him, leaving him no choice but to find another pack. I would never have suspected that they'd already have been intimate with each other already.”

The shock on my face was evident, I couldn't even hide it as I stared at Ryan. He didn't even give me one look even as Alpha Liam released him and turned to me.

The betrayal, shock and anger on his face was evident that I feared for my life as I got up, Intending to rum away from him If i had to.

Whatever sort of betrayal he felt however couldn't even hold a candle to how shattered and broken I felt by what Ryan had just said. Yes, I did have a persona guard which he had fired, but that was because Ryan was possessive of me and couldn't bear seeing me get close to another man.

Nothing ever happened between us. How could Ryan blame an innocent man. How could Ryan do this to me. All just so he wouldn't have to defend me. Did he really not love me as I did to him.

“Guards throw her out immediately. She can go and find the father of her child out there if he isn't already dead.”

“Your Alpha, it's pouring heavily outside and… “

One flare at the elder sent him staggering back as the aura was too strong to only get a fear reaction out of him.

He turned back to the guards and without a word, briefly glanced at me and went upstairs.

I screamed, struggled, begged and protested but the men ruthlessly dragged me out. Helpless, I began calling o to Ryan but he threw his face away ignoring me.

I was so shattered by how everything turned out that minutes after, I was walking under the rain, only shivering in the cold, still in shock.

As I approached the rogues territory, I felt my connection with Liam's pack cut off, and I fell to a puddle beneath my knees, soaking up withy tears, feeling my heart grow heavy as I cried.

I was scared, heartbroken and angry, but overall, I knew I was going to die. Funny how I've made so many wrong decisions with Ryan and yet, I was the one pregnant, banished and about to be dinner to the rogues around.

Despite being aware of what was going to happen next, I still felt my heart palpate when I heard the growl of a wolf behind me. He approached me, upper lip drawled back as he snarled at me.

I fell to my bottom, crawling back under the rain with tears running down my cheeks and I frantically threw him dirt and debris in an attempt to throw him off, but he only seemed to grow angry and was just about to pounce on me when something hit it right in the forehead and I watched, screaming as It fell next to me, shaking the earth.

Realizing it was dead, I got up intending to run but hit a hard brick wall. Wincing, I staggered back, pushing my drenched hair out of the way only to raise my eyes to meet cold green ones that protruded into mine.

My eyes widened as I immediately recognized him. It was dark and pouring heavily, but I would recognize those green eyes anywhere. Alpha Thane. He was Alpha Liam's worst enemy, clearly hated and detested in all of Rhinestones pack for his tale as a bloodthirsty evil person.

And I just encountered him, with no guards to protect me. I turned, a helpless attempt to run, but he suddenly grabbed my wrists and pulled me to him. I bit back a scream and closed my eyes as he leaned down to inhale my scent, fugitively licking the side of my neck just as he whispered with a growl, “ Mate!”