Rejected By The Beta, Claimed By His Alpha Uncle novel Chapter 29

Being punished

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Being punished

Jenna sat on the edge of her bed, still in the same dress from last night. She hadn’t changed, hadn’t eaten, or slept.

Her eyes were dry now, not because she wasn’t crying, but because she had nothing to give.

Ryker’s words haunted her.

Not even a chance to defend herself. He carried Nina out like some wounded goddess and left her like a villain.

“I thought I knew you. I didn’t know you could stoop so low.”

The whispers at the dinner had stung. But it was the silence afterward, the way no one came to her room, no one knocked, no one asked if she was okay-that was what cracked her open.

She didn’t even know where Ryker had gone after the fall. The villa had been hushed since. As if the walls themselves were waiting for a verdict.

When a knock finally came, Jenna flinched.

It wasn’t Ryker.

It was Mrs. Anderson.

Her expression was stiff, like she didn’t want to be there either. She looked at Jenna’s disheveled dress and unbrushed hair but didn’t comment.

“You’re being summoned to the study room.”

Jenna’s fingers curled around the blanket on her lap. “Is Nina okay?”

“She and the twins are fine.” There was no warmth in the old woman’s voice. “You should come. Now.”

Jenna stood. Her legs ached, her back burned from hours of sitting in silence. But she followed.

The hallway felt longer than usual. Too quiet. Each step is heavy. She noticed staff lingering by doorways, glancing at her with barely disguised curiosity or judgment. She wasn’t sure which.

The study room wasn’t grand like the ballroom. It was simple, where Ryker studied or held smaller gatherings.

He stood by the window now, arms crossed, back rigid. He didn’t turn when she entered.

Nina was there, of course. Draped on a fainting couch like someone recovering from a trauma. She wore pale silk, her wrist wrapped in a dainty bandage.

Jenna stood near the door, feeling small. Her hands hung uselessly at her sides,

Ryker finally turned.

His face was blank. Not angry. Not compassionate. Just… hard.

“You embarrassed this house,” he said plainly. “And you humiliated someone I care about in front of our allies.”

“I didn’t push her,” Jenna said softly. “You weren’t there-”

“She said you did. The council believes her. And right now, public perception is everything.”

Jenna stepped forward. “Ryker, you know me. I wouldn’t hurt her. I might not like her, but I wouldn’t risk her pregnancy or her life. You know that.” She called him by his name for the first time.

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Being punished

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It’s Alpha to you! He growled.

Nina let out a quiet sniffle and dabbed her cheek with a lace handkerchief. Jenna saw right through it, but Ryker didn’t even look her way.

“She’s unstable,” Nina whispered, not even trying to lower her voice. “I don’t feel safe with her here.”

Something inside Jenna snapped. “You don’t feel safe? You staged the whole thing! You fell on purpose-”

“Enough,” Ryker cut in sharply.

Jenna’s throat tightened. “I’m telling the truth.”

He met her gaze then, finally. And that was somehow worse. Because there was anger in his eyes.

“I don’t have time for drama,” he said. “Not now, not with everything at stake.”

“So you’ll just believe her?” Jenna asked. “Because she’s carrying your chosen heirs?”

Nina made a sound like a wounded bird, and Ryker’s jaw ticked.

“I gave you the benefit of the doubt,” he said coldly. “But this isn’t the first time you’ve caused problems. You’re emotional and reckless.”

“I’m pregnant too!” Jenna snapped. “Or does that only matter when it’s her?”

The silence that followed was icy.

“You’re not being cast out,” Ryker said after a long pause. “But until further notice, you lose the special privileges you get.”

Jenna blinked. “What?”

“You’ll remain here in the villa. You’ll work with the staff. Assist Mrs. Anderson. You’ll serve meals, clean, and follow orders. No special treatment. Consider it… Humility training.”

It hit her like a slap.

“You’re making me a maid.”

“You’re not a prisoner,” he said calmly. “You’re not leaving. But you need to remember your place in this house. You don’t get to stir conflict and then pretend you’re above consequence.”

“I didn’t do anything!” she shouted.

“But you let it happen,” he said.

Her lips trembled. “So that’s it? You’re punishing me because you won’t face the fact that you chose the wrong woman.”

His

eyes

narrowed. “Watch your mouth.”

She shook her head slowly, hot tears sliding down her cheeks now. “You never saw me, Alpha. Not really.”

“I saw enough,” he said quietly. “And what I saw tonight… disgusted me.”

He turned his back on her.

She stared at him in the eyes but Ryker didn’t flinch. “You need to remember your place. You’re not above

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Being punished