Rejected by the Beta, Claimed by the Alpha

Chapter 179: Chapter 179

Derrick and Mona stepped into the grand hall of their pack house, their footsteps echoing against the silent walls.

Neither spoke as they walked side by side, their expressions unreadable.

Mona cast a sidelong glance at Derrick, wondering what was going on in his mind.

*He finally seems ready to do whatever it takes to win, but is he really as committed as he claims?* She thought to herself, her lips pressing into a thin line.

Derrick, on the other hand, was lost in his own thoughts.

*Katherina claims she has everything under control, but why do I feel like I’m simply a pawn on her chessboard?

I need to secure my future on my own terms.* He clenched his fists briefly before relaxing them.

Upon reaching the stairs, they finally exchanged glances.

"We both need rest. The coming days will be important," Derrick said calmly, his voice betraying none of the suspicions swirling in his head.

"Yes. Rest," Mona echoed with a small smile that didn’t reach her eyes. "Goodnight, Alpha."

Derrick nodded and turned towards his quarters, while Mona ascended the staircase to hers.

The moment she closed her door behind her, she let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.

No sooner had she sat on the edge of her bed than her phone vibrated.

A private number flashed on the screen. Frowning, she hesitated before answering.

"Who is this?" she asked cautiously.

A deep, distorted voice came from the other end. "Mona, I know what you want. I can help you get it."

Mona narrowed her eyes. "Who are you, and how do you know what I want?"

The voice chuckled darkly. "Come to the old ruins beyond the eastern woods at midnight. If you truly desire power, you’ll come alone."

Before she could respond, the line went dead.

She stared at her phone, suspicion and curiosity warring in her mind.

*Who was that? How did they know I was searching for an edge?* Her grip on the phone tightened.

Unknown to her, Derrick was having a similar experience.

He sat in his dimly lit room, pouring himself a drink when his own phone rang.

The caller ID was hidden. He hesitated but answered anyway.

"Who is this?" Derrick demanded.

you need," the voice on

jaw tensed. "And what exactly do I

The power to shape your own fate without being someone’s

in his hand.

do you

at midnight. Come alone. Only then will you

call then

*Someone wants to help me... or manipulate

gain the upper hand, I have to take it.* Derrick thought to himself with a

region in an undisclosed, heavily guarded location,

with exhaustion, but their

decided to let you go," Katherina announced, her voice carrying an eerie

each one hesitant to

catch?" Lisa asked, her voice

catch. No

the stress to

arms. "Why now?

"You’ll find out soon enough. But for now,

forward. "If you’re really

walked past

back at the fortress-like

murmured.

nodded. "She wouldn’t just let us go for

don’t have time to figure it out now. We need to regroup

the night,

Katherina watched them leave

gone, a slow,

and let out a long, chilling

her voice dropped to a whisper, but every

worries and unknown fear, till I strike into them like

★★★

sat in the dimly lit living room, a large map spread across the wooden table before

were locked on the markings and notes they had scribbled down, strategizing on how to

storm in. Katherina will be expecting that," Theo

a way to outsmart her," Elijah said,

don’t act soon, who knows what she’ll do to

Derrick not saying anything in recent

as she finished speaking, voices echoed from the entrance of the

before Elijah stood

of the guards stepped in, his expression

there are visitors at the gate. They insist on

arched a brow.

much. But they traveled in two

Elijah

them in," Theo finally said, his voice