CHAPTER 32: DEALING WITH IDIOTS

Seraphine and her daughters had succeeded in gathering nearly half the pack in front of Roff’s room. The hallway outside buzzed with venomous anticipation. The air was thick with judgment and curiosity, the kind that always followed the promise of a scandal.

She stood at the front, her daughters flanking her like perfectly trained lapdogs. Lyra’s grin was sharp, Lena’s nervous energy disguised beneath her prim stance. Behind them, a crowd had formed — pack members who had abandoned their duties the moment the rumor spread.

"Are you sure that filthy slut’s in there?" someone spat from the back, voice laced with disgust.

Lyra nodded eagerly, her eyes wide with feigned outrage. "We saw it ourselves. She went in not long ago. Sir Eberhard and Lady Nikki had went to report it."

Lena chimed in quickly, her tone tremulous but eager to please. "Yes, it’s true. We both saw her sneaking into Roff’s room."

"What an insolent filthy bitch!" Marta, the cook, snapped. Her broad arms still dusted with flour. She’d left her half-kneaded dough the moment Lyra had burst into the kitchen with the news that everyone was needed as witnesses. Marta had never forgotten how that brat had humiliated her in her kitchen, and this was the perfect chance to make her pay. "That shameless wench, I knew she was trouble from the day she was born. Despicable thing! She should not be allowed to get away with this."

A few omegas from the kitchen stood beside her, arms crossed, eyes gleaming with gossip-fueled satisfaction. "Honestly," one muttered, "what does she think she’s doing? Throwing herself at another male that is not her mate? Pathetic."

Another laughed meanly. "This is her end. She won’t be able to worm her way out of this one."

Farther off, Jonas leaned against the wall. His hands still ached from Marta’s earlier punishment, his expression tight with uneasy. He’s not a friend of Rhea — but something about this mob felt wrong.

The rest of the pack wasn’t so conflicted. They grouped into little circles, voices overlapping in waves of mockery. Some where even glaring at the closed door with barely restrained disgust. "The Alpha should’ve thrown her out long ago," one sneered. "She doesn’t deserve to breathe the same air as us."

"That one brings nothing but shame," another added. "She’s a disgrace to omegas everywhere."

Seraphine folded her arms, eyes glinting with satisfaction as the crowd’s anger thickened. "This is what happens when filth is given privilege," she said coolly. "It always forgets its place. She thought she was special just because she used to be the Alpha’s mate."

Lyra leaned closer to her mother, whispering with a smirk, "Maybe when the Alpha sees her like this, he’ll finally understand what kind of trash he nearly tied himself to."

Lena giggled softly. "Maybe she can’t stand being unwanted, so she’s hunting for scraps."

That drew an ugly and cruel laughter from the crowd.

"We should just knock the door down!" someone shouted from the back.

Seraphine smiled faintly. "No." She raised her hand silencing the murmurs. "Patience, everybody, we’ll wait for Sir Eberhard and Lady Nikki. Everybody must be presence to witness her ruin."

A few nodded eagerly, muttering their agreement.

"With all the noise we’re making," one of the men said, "she should’ve come out by now!"

Lena clutched her arm, feigning nervousness. "Maybe she’s afraid... knowing her act has already been exposed."

"Or maybe she’s enjoying herself a little too much to hear anything." Lyra said with a grin.

"The Alpha is here!" someone shouted suddenly.

The crowd instantly shifted, parting to make way. All heads turned as Ares approached with Ellie at his side, Eberhard and Nikki trailing closely behind. The murmuring grew hushed, replaced by anxious anticipation.

Ares’s steps faltered as he took in the sight of his pack crowded outside Roff’s room. His expression darkened. "What is all this?" he asked.

Eberhard stepped forward smoothly, clasping his hands behind his back. "I think this is even better, Alpha." he said, tone calm but tinged with satisfaction. "With too many witnesses, she can’t deny what she’s done, or claim she’s been framed." His lips curled into a thin smirk as his gaze flicked toward Ellie.

Ellie’s eyes narrowed. He didn’t miss that look. And he knew Eberhard’s hand was all over this spectacle.

Ares exhaled, long and weary. "Fine," he muttered as the crowd stepped aside, clearing a path toward the door.

Inside, chaos of a different kind reigned.

Roff lay sprawled on the floor, groaning, his right arm twisted in an unnatural angle, the joint clearly broken. Blood smeared the edge of his lip, and his breath came in shallow gasps.

Rhea stood over him, chest heaving, sweat slicking her temples. Taking him down had been tougher than she expected; Roff was stronger and more vicious than the other two men still lying unconscious. Her shoulder throbbed where his fist had struck her, she rolled it carefully, the pain sharp but manageable.

Her gaze shifted to the trembling male omega cowering in the corner. His eyes were wide with fear, darting from her to the fallen men.

Rhea’s expression softened. She stepped toward him slowly, extending a hand. "Hey," she said softly. "It’s all right. It’s over now. You can stand."

The omega blinked at her, uncertain. When he hesitated, she gave a small, reassuring nod. His eyes flicked to her outstretched palm, then to Roff’s prone form. He swallowed hard before finally reaching out and placed his shaking hand in hers. She helped him to his feet gently, steadying him.

"How did you even end up here?" she asked, scanning his bruised face.

He opened his mouth to speak—

A heavy BANG! rattled the door.

"Open up!" Eberhard’s voice roared from the other side.

Rhea’s head snapped toward the door, her expression darkening instantly. The male omega beside her flinched, wide eyes reflecting panic.

That voice. That damned voice.

Rhea exhaled sharply through her nose, jaw tightening. "Of course," she muttered. "Just when I thought I was done dealing with idiots."