Chapter 65

Emmaline stilled on the spot. She could feel the heated gazes of every soul trained on her that were laden with a deep hatred.

Was being a rogue considered an abomination?

With a clenched jaw, she directed her eyes towards Dylan who approached her with calm and calculative steps. His murky eyes and the sinister look on his face were screaming danger. She knew he wasn't up to something good. Her rejection must have marred a huge blow on his male pride. Of course, he would plan on hitting her below the belt.

But again, the question was how come he came to know about her darkest secret.

"WHAT?? SHE IS A ROGUE?"

"THE HELL, OUR LUNA IS AN OUTCAST!!"

Disgusting and scathing remarks filled the hall within a few seconds. Her silence was the confirmation though. Emmaline was embarrassed but she didn't have words to deny that too as it was the truth.

"Silence."

Dylan hollered turning everyone silent. He then looked at Emmaline who was waiting for him to humiliate her more, after all, that was his intention.

"I wouldn't deny that my wife, the Luna of Shadow Banes has impure blood in her veins." He drawled out the last word.

Emmaline turned red, "HOW DARE-"

"It's because her mother was a rogue." Dylan didn't let her complete and continued.

"That's why Edward was able to forge an alliance with the rogues." He addressed his people who also nodded in understanding.

"But we can’t deny the fact that she is an Alpha's daughter."

Dylan's jaw ticked as Ryan interrupted him from behind.

Ryan was on his way to meet Dylan to inform him about the guests' arrival when he heard the commotion. He was also shocked with that revelation but that wouldn't stop him from defending Emmaline. He had made a very strong bond with her in just a short meeting. And a friend is required to stay by his friend's side no matter what the circumstances are.

Ryan stopped near Emmaline and gazed at the girl who had glassy eyes. His heart clenched at the sight. Turning to Dylan, he gave him a sharp glare.

"Seraphina's family were purebloods until Alpha Xander attacked them and ousted them from our world. She wasn't born a rogue and you know that."

"And when Dad came to know that Xander deliberately attacked them just to widen the outreach of his dominance in the world that's when he allied with the rogues and fought for their rights. It was the right thing any sane person in this world would do," Emmaline also snapped back and glared at Dylan with raging eyes, just like Ryan.

"Wow!!"

Dylan chuckled as he started clapping, startling both. He sashayed to them while the smile on his face never wavered.

"Ryan," he said and shifted his eyes to the man who was watching him confused.

"I didn't know your friendship is that deep." He mocked and then looked at Emmaline.

"Perhaps that was the reason behind your denial that night, right love?"

His words were like a tight slap on her face.

Emmaline’s jaw dropped, her blue eyes widening in disbelief.

How dare he accuse her of something that cheap? What does he even think of her?

Dylan knew he crossed the line after witnessing the hurt and pained look on his face. But the little devil on his shoulder encouraged him to denigrate her further.

"Tell me, Emma, wasn’t Ryan, your new friend the reason you backed out and ruined our blissful nigh-"

*Slap*

Before he could complete it, Emmaline slapped him hard.

Shocking gasps fell on his ears as he closed his eyes with his face turned to the right. The stinging sensation was the clear evidence of his insult that too in front of his entire pack which served as the cherry on the top.

"You're a disgrace, the worst mistake your Mother made, the sin of God by choosing you as my mate." Emmaline sneered with trembling lips. Before Dylan could react she again slapped him on the same cheek drawing blood out of his lips.

Ryan on the other hand turned pale in response. He had no idea what was the matter between the couples but Dylan’s words were clear like a sky. They shot straight into his heart.

How could he even doubt him? Linking the names of his own friend with the girl he loves? Pathetic. He has literally become pathetic.

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE??"

A fierce roar reverberated terrifying the walls of the mansion. The maids quickly scurried and hid behind Janice who was looking at Emmaline with resentment and rage-filled eyes.

Emmaline turned to her left only to see Isabella and Xander standing near the entrance gazing at her with a murderous expressions.

Isabella flitted her eyes between her and Dylan but a loud gasp escaped her mouth when his red cheek came into her view.

"OH, MY GOD! SON??"

She yelled grabbing Xander's attention before running to Dylan.

"What the… Who did this to you?" Her eyes welled up as she examined the fingerprints carved on his handsome face. Her eyes then fell on the blood trickling near the corner of his lips. Collecting some on her right thumb, she turned to Emmaline and glowered at her.

"You." She snarled in a low voice. Emmaline eyed the menacing tinge in her eyes as she bared her fangs and threw her a predatory look.

Emmaline also didn't back down and matched her glare head-on. Ryan sensed the tension and immediately jumped to intervene.

"It's nothing, Madam. I assure you it was just-"

"It was nothing?" Xander growled before clutching his collar. He then roughly pulled to face him and threw a hard punch in his face.

"What are you doing?" Emmaline screamed as she quickly held Ryan who staggered back due to the impact.

"So, this is what is going on HUH?" Isabella spoke gruffly as she eyed the two with contempt.

"Of course, it is, mother."

Emmaline immediately whipped her head towards Dylan. She couldn’t believe he was lying and even making others believe his false story. Dylan on the other hand smirked after gaining her attention and crossed his arms over his chest.

"I fucking knew it." Isabella huffed as she stomped her heels before marching towards Emmaline who was looking at them like a lamb who was caught between hungry wolves.

"First Jasper, then Dylan, and then you jumped to Matteo, and now Ryan. Maybe Zion would add to your list soon. God knows how many have you seduced. Well, it didn’t come as a surprise to me. Guessing you have Seraphina’s blood in your veins, how come you won't inherit her femme fatale's talents?" She rasped.

"I am warning you. Don't you ever offend my mother." Emmaline threatened her revealing her golden swirls.

"Or what you're gonna do, little bird?" Isabella snorted and took a step closer to her, "Do you even realize that you're in my territory? Just the title of Luna doesn't mean you’re worth it. Your mother also used your charms on every Alpha as she didn't want her husband. Of course, you’ll stoop to the same methods." She grated out and wiggled her brows.

"ENOUGH!!"

Everyone was rendered speechless as it was Xander’s voice. Even Emmaline was left staggered but she quickly composed herself. Her blood was boiling and her hands were itching to murder the woman standing in front of her but she refrained herself. She had already added trouble to her platter by slapping Dylan because no matter what he was the Alpha and her act wasn't justifiable, no matter what.

"I am not here to listen to your bickering Bella." Xander scolded while glaring at Isabella who lowered her eyes in return.

Squaring his shoulders, he then strutted to Emmaline and looked at her sternly.

"Submission is something that prevails in my pack and especially when it comes to the women of the Shadow Banes. I despise women who run their mouths too much and are ballsy to look in the eyes of the man when they talk to him. SO EYES DOWN!!" He abruptly blared when Emmaline didn’t drop her gaze. His anger surged to ten folds when Emmaline didn't flinch a bit and continued glaring into his eyes.

She was well aware of the conservative mindset of this family. And now she was just witnessing it in reality. That wasn’t so shocking to her.

Ryan looked at Emmaline through the corner of his eyes. Worry settled in his heart because she had a rebellious look which would definitely lead her to great trouble.

Emmaline was fuming silently when suddenly she felt someone squeezing her left hand. She glanced at Ryan sideways only to find him gesturing to her to obey the old man.

'I WOULDN'T BACK DOWN RYAN!!" She growled in her mind as Ryan mind-linked her.

'Trust me. It's not the time to act warrior.' He tried to make her understand.

While they continued arguing, someone had his eyes focused on them the whole time.

Dylan whose mood was already sour since the night Emmaline rejected him, it only got worse after watching how comfortable his girl was with the man whom she barely knew. How Ryan took a stand for her, how they both were protecting and speaking for each other.

Just like two lovers.

Fuck.

Xander's temper flared with Emmaline's defiance. He suddenly grabbed a chunk of her silver hair in a fist before jerking her head down roughly.

Emmaline froze. She was too stunned to react. Ryan was also taken aback as he hadn’t expected Xander to hurt her. But unlike them, Isabella smiled in delight.

Emmaline had her eyes glued to the marble floor. A tear escaped her lone eye, her hands curling into a fist, her body trembling in rage as the beast inside her couldn't brook the way Xander manhandled her.

He crossed the line of her tolerance.

Her veins throbbed as she shot her head up. Dylan saw how her blue crystals completely got replaced with the golden fiery balls. The Luna was enraged and vindictive.

Emmaline stormed towards Xander like a deranged woman ready to snap his neck like a twig when he pierced his wooden cane in her right shoulder blade. A painful grunt escaped her mouth as a balloon filled with red crimson liquid burst through her skin and stained her shirt.

Xander didn't stop there. He twisted the cane more inside her flesh before wresting it out splattering her blood all over the white marbled floor.

Doused with pain, Emmaline slumped on the floor while holding her bloodied shoulder. The pain was excruciating and numbing. With droopy eyes, she examined the lower part of his cane that was bathed in her blood. It was sharp like a knife and the luster was her answer. It was made of silver.

"LUNA!!"

Ryan screamed in horror and tried to run for her aid but got pulled back by Dylan. A frown settled on his eyebrows as he turned to face him who was looking at him blankly.

"D-Dyl- Alpha, the Luna is in danger. She is in pain."

He couldn't understand that the man who can't even tolerate a scratch on her face was today standing idly when she was lying on the ground whimpering in pain.

Dylan said nothing. Clutching the hem of his shirt, he pushed him back like a sack. Ryan was lost in a daze so he failed to comprehend his move and thus went flying back into the wall before getting knocked on the head. The impact instantly threw him into a pool of darkness and his body slumped to the floor with a loud thud.

"N-No... R-Ryan..."

Emmaline groaned as she watched the injured Ryan with blurry eyes. She felt her lungs constrict as her breathing labored. Her head rolled back as she eyed Dylan who was watching her coldly. His eyes held no tint of guilt nor his face showed any ounce of rage. Didn't his father just raise his hand on his wife? Was that supposed to be okay in their world?

"You're too spoiled and not at all fit the standards of being the woman of our clan. Dylan married you but that doesn't mean you can skip the training. We're done with the leniency but I can't wait for an eternity to stamp out the seeds of revolt in your veins." Xander spoke daggers breaking her trance.

Grabbing his stick, he then advanced towards her with Isabella following his trail. Her eyes were gleaming and the smug smile on her face clearly spoke that the woman was sadistic.

"My son was the one who was holding me back because I have no hesitation in disciplining bitches like you. But today when he himself witnessed the result of his indulgence then I suppose there is no reason left to dally further. Right son?"

Xander completed and looked at Dylan for approval. Emmaline followed his eyes as she looked at Dylan whose gaze was already zeroed on her.

His jaw was set and the hollowness of his eyes were the clear signs that he would legitly sign on her death certificate with no hesitation. She closed her eyes and eventually a tear escaped her eye when she heard his answer.

“Right Dad.”

Dylan spoke in his deep voice.

Emmaline let out a shuddering breath. He just unlocked the doors of her Hell.