The Omega's Retribution

LIANDREN'S POV

"I swear on my life. I didn't do it!" I mumbled softly, the rapid pacing of my heart drumming against my ears as my pulse raced.

Bile rose inside my throat, but I forced it down, my eyes narrowing to meet the one person I thought would always stay by my side... Alpha Rowan, my mate.

"Shut up. Why do you have to keep lying, even in front of the elders?" he snapped, his jaws hardening with each second as he stood a few paces from the podium.

I shook my head, tears filling my eyes, desperation clawing at my chest.

"I didn't do it. Please, you have to believe me," I swallowed hard.

The silver chains burned against my skin as I tried to take a step closer with my hands outstretched.

"Urgh!" I yelped in pain.

The chains that strapped my hands and feet tugged slightly, and my knees buckled, causing me to crash to the floor.

Rowan grunted. His steps were steady—I could hear the slow thud of his heart as he crouched to my level.

His eyes were red, igniting with a guttural gaze I had seen countless times before—but those looks were always meant for his enemies, never for me.

Even though Rowan never loved me, he had at least shown me some level of respect. But now, it was all gone.

I was his enemy.

Rowan bit his lip, his hand cupping my neck with a tight squeeze, and I gasped for air, my nails digging into his iron grip.

"Ro—"

"Liandren, you stand accused of murder and treason against your Alpha and the Howl Pack," he said coldly. His grip tightened, and I gasped for breath.

"How do you plead?"

He was in pain—I could feel it through the mate bond—but it was nothing compared to the hollow feeling brewing within my chest.

Anger. Fear. Hate. It all nudged at my ribs.

But the question I asked myself, even now, was—how did we get here?

"I'm innocent. If you don't believe me, you can check the surveillance footage."

A tear slid down my cheek as I swallowed hard.

"I would never hurt Father. You know that..." My teeth gritted.

"Rowan, you know me!"

Rowan pulled his hand from my chin, and I collapsed onto the floor. The chains clinked sharply as a rough cough ripped through the air.

"Do I?" He stood up, pacing with his hands dug into his hair.

"I don't even know your last name. You just showed up, and I had to marry you because we were fated mates. Who would've known you were a snake?"

"No..." I shook my head. "Rowan, that's not true and you know it."

"You're a liar. A manipulator. And you murdered my father. There's no way in hell I'll ever forgive you."

I turned quickly toward the elders who were watching everything, my eyes roaming over the faces of people I had cared about—people I thought cared about me too.

Now their faces twisted in snarls, their lips curled in disgust as whispers echoed louder and louder.

I scrambled to my feet, drenched in sweat, forcing the words from my throat.

"Elders of the Blood Howl Pack, if you had any regard for me as your Luna, please, this matter needs to be investigated!"

"Your request is denied," Elder One sneered from his seat as the others glared at me.

My stomach dropped.

"Everyone saw you with the silver dagger that was driven into the former Alpha's chest. What is there to investigate?" Elder One continued.

"Exactly. We all saw you," the rest echoed in unison.

"That... that was because I was trying to pull it out," I stuttered, my heart clenching tighter. "I was trying to help him."

"Stop fucking lying. I'm sick and tired of your games," Rowan snapped, and I pressed my lips together.

One year of being together—and he still didn’t trust me. After everything we’d been through.

I let out a hysterical laugh. So this was how my story was going to end.

The orphan omega who got lucky enough to be mated to an Alpha... then framed for murder.

"I see now that no matter what I say, none of you will believe me," I scoffed bitterly, my teeth biting into my bottom lip until the metallic taste of blood pooled in my mouth.

"Even though I was an omega—weak, powerless—I never once faltered or neglected my duties. And now you think I’m a monster, without confirmation?" I let out another bitter laugh and slowly turned to face Rowan, his eyes locked on mine.

Those piercing jade-blue eyes that still made my heart race, even now, in a room thick with menace.

I could feel my wolf nudging at my chest, wanting to close the distance between us, to feel our mate again.

I wanted to bury my face in the crook of his neck and hear him say everything would be okay.

"Rowan, I'll ask you one question..." My lips quivered, tears blurring my vision.

"Even if it was just for a fleeting moment... did you ever truly love me?"

I searched his face—deep into those blue eyes. His expression tightened, his shoulders stiffened. For a split second, his face turned pale.

His eyes were red as we stared at each other, intensity burning between us.

"I, Alpha—"

"No..." I could hear the low groan in my throat as I shook my head.

Rowan swallowed hard and continued, the veins bulging from his forehead, his teeth clashing together.

"I, Alpha Rowan of the Blood Howl Pack, reject you as my mate and Luna."

One deep breath was all it took for the tears to break free.

I stumbled, hands clutching my stomach as pain rippled through me.

It lurched, twisted, and bile rose again—the metallic taste clinging to my tongue.

Rowan staggered, clutching his chest. We both felt it—the mate bond snapping.

Blood dripped from the corner of my mouth as I arched my back, holding onto the last of my strength.

Rowan held his chest, his face pale as he gasped, his chest rising and falling.

He took a quick step toward me—like he wanted to close the distance—but he turned away.

"Alpha Rowan, now that she is no longer your mate, how do you suggest we punish the criminal?"

"You know the rules that govern the Blood Howl Pack," he huffed, his broad shoulders straightening.

"Blood for blood."

My lips parted in horror as I gasped.

He tilted his head toward his Beta.

"Take her away. She will be executed by midnight."

My pulse spiked. He was really going to kill me?

Footsteps rattled beside me as the guards grabbed my hands, yanking me away. I struggled.

"Wait!" I yelled at the top of my lungs.

Rowan snapped his gaze to me, fury in his eyes.

"What other games do you have to play?" he growled.

"You... you can’t kill me because..." I swallowed the lump in my throat. "I am carrying your child, Rowan."

His face dropped, eyes narrowing to my stomach as his entire body trembled.

"What?"

"I wanted to tell you sooner, but I never really found the right—"

Suddenly, a harsh bang echoed across the trial grounds, reverberating against the walls, sending chills down my spine.

All heads spun toward the direction of the fast-approaching footsteps.

"Stop the trial!" a voice yelled.

It was Melody—Rowan’s childhood friend. Since she was close to Rowan, we became close. If anyone could prove my innocence, it would be her.

"Melody, what are you doing here?" Rowan yanked her aside.

"Mel!" I called softly.

She offered a small smile before collapsing into Rowan’s arms. Something twisted inside me.

The way she panted against his chest... the way he held her close...

He had never done that with me.

Tears filled Melody’s eyes as she shoved her phone into Rowan’s hand, still leaning against his chest.

"I told you countless times that Liandren isn’t what she seems. Check the photos—they’ll show you what kind of fraud she really is."

I blinked in confusion. What was going on?

Something inside me told me—something was off.

Rowan didn’t hesitate. He took Melody’s phone and gasped.

My heart sank. What was he looking at? I had so many questions.

He growled, smashing the phone on the ground a few steps from where I stood. I jolted with a squeak.

Before I could breathe, Rowan’s hand gripped my throat, claws sinking deep, and I screamed as blood pounded in my ears.

"Tell me—who’s the father of the bastard inside you?"