The Beta's Rejected Daughter (Fiona) novel Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Just like that dream, I would have been jailed in the dungeon with my legs broken if I didn’t have this evidence. It was clear as the day that Lydia pulled a false accusation on me, a dangerous lie that would have destroyed me.

But nobody was even confronting her.

They had all concluded her accusation was simply out of panic.

Father stood beside the Alpha’s chair, shoulders stiff and face tight with disappointment, and when he looked at me, it wasn’t guilt I saw there. It was wounded pride and shame that I actually countered him perfectly and proved his conclusion to be false. He must wish there was a way to prove the video fake so Lydia won’t look bad in any way.

My brothers, Damon, Lance, and Jake, stood behind them also, staring at me like I was being dramatic. Mother’s arm stayed around Lydia, her thumb stroking her hair as if I’d just murdered a child instead of exposing a liar.

And Lydia? She was still crying, still shaking like a frightened dove, but her eyes—those eyes—met mine for a single second, shocked yet mocking.

She couldn’t tell how I knew her plan, but in the end, I was still the loser because they believed her and still saw me as the wicked one.

That was the moment I knew.

The moment I knew this house was never going to be mine. Not now. Not ever.

Lydia’s soft sobs filled the chamber again. “I said it was my fault,” she whimpered. “I panicked and blamed her… I thought she pushed me… ”

Her words cracked at all the right places with those tears, and the Luna’s eyes softened. “Don’t worry. We all make mistakes,” she said, and I shook my head in disappointment.

Even the Alpha, who had looked ready for a serious punishment for me moments ago, simply sighed heavily and turned to Father.

“Let’s end this,” the Alpha said. “The girl has admitted it was a misunderstanding. There’s no need to drag this any further.”

Father bowed slightly. “We thank you for your mercy, Alpha.”

Mercy?

I almost laughed again, but the sound died in my throat.

They called this mercy—their willingness to let the golden child escape with a performance and a few tears that would have been my end. Attempting murder.

The Alpha turned to me next. “Fiona, I hope you learn from this. Family misunderstandings are dangerous. You should be more patient with your sister.”

I met his gaze head-on. “You saw the video.”

“I did,” he said calmly. “But perception can be misleading. A fall can happen in many ways. Let it rest.”

So that was it. Even the highest power in the pack would rather keep peace than truth.

Mother’s voice trembled as she reached for me. “Fiona, don’t make this worse. The video showed you didn’t push her, but you must have frightened her with words, seeing how cold you were this morning, so stop acting like we are all inconsiderate ones!” She shrugged. “You should be apologizing to your sister.”

My lips curved into a slow, bitter smile. “Apologize? For what?”

“For not catching her before she fell. Shouldn’t you be protecting your younger sister?”

Jake’s jaw clenched as he added. “You are right, Mom.”

“We are grateful Lydia didn’t hit her head hard on that marble table.” Lance chipped.

“I was so scared when I saw her stumble, and Fiona stood there with folded arms! That was heartless.” Damon seethed.

I looked at all three of them, the brothers who once laughed with me in the garden, who once swore they’d protect me from everything.

Now they were soldiers defending my enemy, Lydia, who just planned my death.

“This is funny, actually,” I said, voice cold. “You all talk about family and love, yet you can’t even pretend to be fair. You saw the proof—every second of it—and still, you call me heartless.”

“Enough!” Father’s voice echoed. “You will go home, to your room, and think about how cruel you’ve become toward your sister, then reflect on how to change for the better.”

I looked around at them one by one—the family that had buried me long before I ever died in that vision. Till now, I could tell I was better dead than alive to them.

“You know what?” I said, my voice steady, almost gentle. “You don’t have to tell me to go to my room and reflect because I’m leaving. I am leaving the house.”

Mother’s eyes widened. “You’re what?”

“I’ve thought about it for a long time,” I said, straightening. “But today confirmed it. You’ve already chosen who you love, who you believe, and who you’d die protecting. And it’s not me. Not even a bit, so I am leaving.”

Every face turned toward me, my father’s eyes darkening, my mother’s jaw tightening and Lydia gasping with false innocence.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify