Rejected by the Beta, Claimed by the Alpha

Chapter 173: Chapter 173

Derrick paced around his chamber, his mind racing with thoughts about Elena.

He had barely rested from all that was happening around him, and the uncertainty of her whereabouts gnawed at him.

His instincts told him that something was off about the entire situation, but he needed to hear Mona’s report first.

Mona entered the room, her face twisted in an expression of false sadness. She had rehearsed her words carefully, knowing that one slip could make Derrick suspicious.

"Mona," Derrick said, his voice heavy with impatience. "What did Katherina say?"

Mona let out a deep sigh, lowering her gaze as if struggling to find the right words.

"I... I spoke to Katherina, Derrick. She was as shocked as we are. She swore she has nothing to do with Elena’s disappearance."

Derrick narrowed his eyes, watching her closely. "Are you sure? Katherina isn’t exactly known for being... uninformed."

Mona nodded quickly, forcing a sad smile.

"She promised to look into it. She said she would use her powers to search for any signs of Elena. But she truly seemed unaware of what happened."

Derrick clenched his fists. *Lies. This doesn’t add up.*

* Katherina always knows what’s happening. If she really didn’t know, it could only mean one thing... She was hiding something.* Derrick thought.

But he didn’t call Mona out on her deception. Not yet. Instead, he nodded, his face betraying no emotion. "Alright. I’ll wait for her feedback."

Mona internally sighed in relief. *That was close.* She bowed slightly before leaving the room, unaware that Derrick had already made a decisio contrary to his reply.

The next morning, as the sun barely peeked over the horizon, Derrick set off alone towards Katherina’s lair.

He left his men behind, not wanting any unnecessary eyes or ears on what was about to happen.

Meanwhile, in her dark chamber, Katherina sat cross-legged in deep meditation.

Candles flickered around her, their flames dancing unnaturally. Her mind was reaching into the unseen, searching for hidden truths.

Suddenly, a blinding light illuminated her wall. She opened her eyes abruptly, watching in shock as an image formed within the light... it was alpha Theo.

His figure radiated power, an aura of greatness surrounding him. And then, as if the universe itself whispered to her, the prophecy unraveled before her.

"Theo... waiting for activation... Kimberly... moon goddess reborn... three tests... The words came to her like an unrelenting storm."

Her hands trembled.

"No. This cannot happen. If Kimberly succeeds in her trials, Theo will become unstoppable. They will be the ultimate force against me." Katherina said angrily.

Katherina gritted her teeth. "I will not allow this," she whispered fiercely. "I have come too far... I have sacrificed too much."

A sudden presence disrupted her thoughts. She turned sharply as Derrick entered her chamber, his expression unreadable.

"You came alone," Katherina observed, her voice eerily calm despite the storm raging within her.

"I need answers," Derrick said bluntly. "About my sister. About everything."

Katherina studied him for a long moment before exhaling.

greater at stake now, Derrick. Your sister’s disappearance is only a small piece of what

are

fading light on the wall.

her

be the

her three trials, Alpha Theo will awaken into his true

will be unstoppable. And once

I despise? The same Theo who already stands in

powerful?* His hands curled into fists.

into a dark smile. "Good. Then we are in

do you suggest we do

strength, and her heart. All we need to

"You make it sound easy.

chuckled. "Everyone has a breaking point, Derrick. We just have

between them as Derrick processed her

is the moment where everything

If Theo and Kimberly win, my

the exit, his steps slow but heavy with

called, making him

"What?"

smirked. "When the time comes, do not hesitate. Hesitation is weakness. And

time comes... I’ll burn everything

stepped out of Katherina’s chamber, his mind sharper

running out." With a

★★★

found herself standing in a strange place, a place where darkness moved like living shadows, whispering secrets she could not

energy, and every breath she took felt heavy, as though it carried the weight of unseen

moved forward, the louder the mysterious chant became. It was deep, rhythmic, and filled with something ancient,

though a part of her screamed

for her beyond the mist of

ten women became visible, all draped in long

glowed with revenge, their expressions carved with the grudges of the

she noticed the lifeless body in the

felt her legs tremble, but she

chanting grew louder. The dark magic thickened, pressing against her like an unseen force trying to push

shook as she finally got a clear view

Theo.

her entire world crashing down around her. He lay motionless,

him was stained with something dark

toward him, but the women’s chant suddenly shifted, their voices rising

wind slammed into her, sending her staggering

hands reaching out, desperation clawing at

slightly as if

a horrifying picture of his suffering. His body jerked once, and then,

wake up!" Kimberly

the power within her surge, but no matter what she did, she couldn’t pull

tried reaching into the very core

as if something, someone had completely severed his connection to

in her ears,

like a knife, and she let out a

Then darkness.