Regretted Rejection : Wrath of the Moon

"Three years ago, your brother and your pack betrayed you, the true Alpha of the pack.” the rogue said.

"What are you talking about? I am the true Alpha. Father named me as the pack leader, as an Alpha, when he stepped down.” Ken thundered coming inside the interrogation room.

"But are you truly an Alpha? Didn't your sister beat you in the test to be an Alpha? You were named as an Alpha because your dad wanted to keep the Alpha title in the family. If your sister was named an Alpha and she mated to another then the next person in line for the Alpha title will not be a Forrester. Isn't that the truth, Alpha Ken Forrester?”

"But... Yes, she did beat me in the test. However I was named an Alpha and I had been taking care of the pack for the last 8 years. How didn't anything happen at that time? Why did things started going south only in the last couple of years?"

"Isn't it obvious? Your sister, Maya, allowed you to hold the title. She generously gave away her birth right, while supporting you from the sidelines. But the pack and you betrayed her three years ago. And that is why, your pack faces dissolution since three years ago. You called us traitors, Maya. How is your brother and this pack any different?"

Maya glared at him and replied, "You are right, they betrayed me. However this doesn't give you any right to put the innocent people through a war or to murder people. Why did you kill the Quinn couple? They were helping you, weren't they?"

"We didn't kill them. I mean we wanted to, but we didn't. Someone already killed them before we got there.” the rogue clarified.

"Stop lying. Do you think this will reduce your punishment?" Maya questioned. Her irritation with the rogue was increasing with each passing minute.

"I am not lying.... Look, I have got no motive to lie now. I know I am going to be handed to Council for my punishment. I don't know who killed them but trust me, it was not us.” he explained earnestly. His tone and his body language suggested that he was speaking the truth but Maya knew she couldn't relent.

"Then who killed them?" Maya asked him.

The rogue sighed, thankful that Maya believed him, and said in a calm voice, "I don't know but old Mrs. Quinn, she suddenly developed a conscience. She wanted to let Alpha Forrester know the situation about the dissolution process. That's the last thing we heard from either of the Quinn's.” "Where is your band of rogues located?" Maya asked her last question.

"We keep moving the location so we are not randomly discovered.” he replied sighing.

"Ok. We are done here.” Maya said and left the interrogation room. Ken followed behind her.

Maya stopped a few steps away from the interrogation room. "What are you guys doing here?" she asked to the newcomers. Her parents and Claire stood in front of her.

"We heard... we wanted to explain.” Justin began but Maya put up her hand signalling him to stop. She didn't want to listen to his excuses.

"Jeff, get our team down here and inform Dylan about the latest development.” Maya said without looking at him.

Then she turned to face Ken and said, "From this moment on, the Wrath of the Moon team will lead the further proceedings on the rogues front. The Forrester pack takes a back seat. Councilman Dylan will get in touch with you regarding the dissolution matter. I need your utmost cooperation to get to the bottom of this rogue problem.”

"We will help you in any way we can.” Ken assured her.

"Good." uttering that single word, she turned to Beta Mark and punched him across the face. He fell on the floor and held his jaw, that was throbbing in intense pain.

"Now, Beta Mark will you tell me why you killed the Quinn couple?” Maya asked him calmly.

"What? What are you saying Maya? He won't do such a thing against his own pack. He has been loyal to the pack since his birth.” Claire tried to intervene.

"Luna Forrester, I am completely aware of how everyone in this pack is responsible and loyal. Now shut up and let me clean up the mess you made." Maya ended her speech while releasing her Alpha aura. The aura rolled of her in waves and Claire fell to her knees submitting to the powerful Alpha in front of her. Her Luna title mocked her. She didn't have any face left in front of the people in the pack.

"So, Beta Mark would you like to be treated as a traitor or as a rogue?" Maya asked menace in her voice.

"I am not a traitor. I killed the Quinn couple so that our Luna Claire remains in power. The old lady was spewing nonsense about natural dissolution of the pack. She needed to die." Beta Mark screamed.

"He confessed to his crime. Put him in a holding cell.” she commanded Jeff.

"I have done nothing wrong." Beta Mark screamed.

"Why didn't you inform Alpha Ken of this situation? Did he command you to kill the Quinn couple?” Maya questioned sarcastically.

"No. But I." Mark tried explaining himself.

"So you took the decision on behalf of an Alpha? What made you think you can supersede the chain of command?" Maya interrupted him. She then continued, "That is your fault, Beta Mark. Breaking the chain of command... Did you want to replace Alpha Ken as the pack leader?”

Mark just stared with wide eyes at Maya, muttering 'No' repeatedly. She just scoffed at him and Jeff dragged him away to the holding cell. Another pack warrior helped Jeff to lock up the Beta.

"How did you know that the one who killed the Quinn couple was Beta Mark?" Ken asked her.

Maya replied, "He tried to obstruct my team when we wanted the post mortem reports.”

"And you knew just because of that?" Xander was the one to question her this time.

"No. It was just a hunch. It solidified when I saw his face after coming out of the interrogation room. His body language suggested that he was afraid. But why would a Beta be afraid all of a sudden? Unless it was because his secret was to be ousted.” Maya replied.

Marina and Andy came running towards Maya. "Ryder stayed back to inform Dylan of the situation. He will also request for back up warriors before we attack the rogues. What are our orders Team Leader?" Marina asked.

Maya started walking and issued her commands at the same time, "Marina, take to the skies and scour the immediate neighbouring area of the Forrester territory. Do not fly low. Do not engage in combat. Notify me immediately if you face any danger.”

Maya walked past the Forrester family and didn't throw a single look their way. Marina nodded and looked around to find the nearest window. Marina murmured a spell and wings sprouted from her back. As she spread her wings and took flight, Andy whispered, "Face like the Moon, Eyes like a star bright, Borrowing wings of Icarus, My angel takes flight.”

"Dude..." Jeff groaned.

"What?" Andy asked defensively.

"Just ask her out on a date.” Maya replied shaking her head.

She then continued her tone serious, "Jokes apart, Andy check on the warrior and weapon status of the pack. Jeff find the areas that can be used to secure the vulnerable members of the pack. I will check the medical supplies available for use.”

Xander had followed Maya as she instructed her team. He was impressed by her clear mind. When the team left her to do their assigned duties, she turned to him and raised an eyebrow as if questioning his presence.

"I wanted to apologise. We didn't knew that you are the true Alpha of the Forrester pack. If we had known that this would happen when we... you know... we would have left the pack with Claire and Ken." he said.

Disgust replaced curiousity in Maya's gaze. She asked him, "Answer me this Trainer Lockhart. Why did you people make a decision to throw a victim out of the pack?"

"We... we felt that once you came to know about Claire's mistake you would attack her. We felt that you would harm Claire and Sam." he tried explaining.

"You were worried about your sister and your nephew?" Maya questioned.

"Yes." Xander replied grateful that Maya seemed to understand but as he looked in her eyes, his heart gave a painful squeeze. Her eyes were filled with nothing but hatred.

"When you sought my help, when you invited me back on the pack land, did this fear magically vanish?" Maya asked sarcasm dripping from her words.

"Maya..." Xander started to speak but Maya interrupted him, "You just wanted to make use of me just like the others.”

After saying her piece, she started to walk away when Xander again stopped her by holding her arm. "No, Maya. I didn't want to use you." he tried to convince her.

"Okay. Just answer this question, if you can. You threw me out of the pack for Claire's sake. Then couldn't you have accompanied me out of the pack for my sake?" Maya asked her eyes gazing in Xander's eyes.

Xander had no reply to her question. His hand dropped away from her arm. His eyes left hers and he stepped back as if acknowledging his crime. Maya didn't say a word and left without another glance at him