CHAPTER 35: EXPLAIN YOURSELF

Rhea glanced at Ares before sweeping the crowd. "So nobody is going to asked what happened to him?" Her voice cut through the tension as she jerked her chin toward Tavian.

"The boy flinched just from your voices, and not one of you find that suspicious? Or even care enough to ask what he’s doing in here with me? No, of course not. You’d rather ask why I’m in a man’s room, how was able to knocked out a few idiots."

Her eyes narrowed at Eberhard and Nikki. "Some of you are quick to accused me of being a spy. Seriously, what is wrong with this pack?"

Tavian blinked at her, his throat bobbing. A single tear slipped down his cheek. She’s angry... on...on my behalf?

Nikki scoffed, her voice sharp and dripping with disdain. "We already know what omegas like him are good at. He probably used his pheromones to entice Roff and now he’s pretending to be the victim."

Before anyone could react, Rhea released Tavian’s hand and strode towards Nikki. Each step measured and heavy.

Nikki took a half-step back, nerves flickering in her eyes. "W-what do you think you’re..."

The slap came before the words finished. A sharp crack silenced the entire room.

Gasps rippled through the crowd. Even Ares froze.

"If I hear your voice one more time," Rhea snapped, eyes blazing, "I swear you’ll be in the same situation as those bastards."

Nikki’s hand flew to her stinging cheek, her face twisting in shock. "Alpha!" she cried, rushing to Ares. "Did you see what that bitch did to me? Did I do anything to deserve it?"

"I’d say you deserved that and more," Ellie muttered with a lazy smirk.

Eberhard stepped forward, outrage painted on his face. "She doesn’t even have respect for the Alpha anymore! Behaving like this in the Alpha’s presence, it’s totally... "

"It’s your daughter who lacks respect and manner." Rhea cut him off, voice low but sharp as steel, " just look at her, clinging to a man who isn’t even her mate. Or maybe she’s using her pheromones to cloud the Alpha’s senses, because he’s clearly not in his right mind."

"How insolent!" Eberhard roared. "Alpha, you must punish her immediately! She needs to learn her place!"

Ares’s gaze had been on Rhea from the start, measured and conflicted. Jealous? he thought, studying Rhea’s glare. Is that what this is about? she must be jealous of Nikki, he reasoned silently. Why else would she say something like that?

"Do something, Alpha!" Nikki whined from beside him, still clutching her cheek

Ares didn’t spare her a glance as he stepped forward. "Rhea, enough. "His voice rumbled, low with warning, "behave yourself, or I’ll be forced to punish you.

Rhea snorted, her expression flat. "You’re just as rotten as the people you lead."

The air went still.

"What did you just say?" Ares asked, his tone low and dangerous.

Gasps filled the hallway. Did she insulted the Alpha?

Rhea’s gaze swept across the crowd. "Aren’t you all rotten?" she shot back. "Where were you when Roff and his men dragged Tavian in here to have their way with him? Where were you when I was banging on this damn door after hearing him cry out? I was pounding like a madwoman, but none of you showed up. Yet suddenly, a crowd of rotten fools gathers outside the same door asking useless questions."

Tavian’s breath hitched as his quiet sobs filled the silence. Someone finally said it, he thought. He had never imagined that the one that will one day speak up for him will be the same girl everybody cast out.

Rhea turned quickly, rushing to his side and gathered him in a hug. "Hey, Tavian" she said softly, voice lowering. "Don’t cry okay? None of them deserve your tears."

The crowd fell silent. Even the wind outside seemed to pause.

Ellie’s head lowered slightly, shame flickering through his expression. Nikki’s lips trembled, for once speechless. Eberhard’s jaw worked furiously, his plans unraveling before his eyes.

How did this turn around so fast?

he thought.

Ares’s expression was unreadable. His mind churned as he looked from Rhea to the crying Omega, something shifting within him. Doubt. Have I been leading wrongly that no one even helps their own?

He turned to the crowd, voice heavy. "Is what she said true?"

Not a single head lifted. Eyes darted to the ground. No one answered.

"Pathetic," Rhea muttered, pulling Tavian along. "Let’s get out of here."

She had barely taken a step before Eberhard’s voice came again, sharp and desperate. "That still doesn’t explain how you took these men down!"

Rhea stopped, groaning quietly.

Eberhard’s tone climbed with agitation. "How did a wolf-less omega suddenly gain the strength to overpower two sub-betas and a sub-alpha?"

Rhea’s stare was flat, unbothered. "Do you want me to show you how?"

Eberhard took a step back before he could stop himself, his body reacting faster than his pride.

"I wouldn’t mind if you did," Ellie cut in, his grin sharp. "Someone needs to shut him up anyway."

Ares exhaled, tone firm but calm. "Rhea, just answer the question. The sooner you do, the sooner we can clear you of suspicion."

Rhea only shrugged. "Maybe because I’m not the Rhea you all used to know."

That made Ellie’s head snap up, a spark of curiosity flickered in his eyes. Ares’s expression hardened.

"What’s that supposed to mean?" Ares asked, suspicion edging his tone.

"She’s admitting it!" Eberhard shouted quickly. "She’s been hiding her true self. I was right, she’s a spy!"

Rhea’s glare turned cold. "Keep trying my patience, old man, and I’ll knock your head clean off your neck."

Eberhard’s throat bobbed, a flicker of fear flashing through his eyes.

"I wouldn’t mind seeing that," Ellie murmured under his breath.

Ares ignored them. "What do you mean you’re not the Rhea we used to know?" he demanded.

"I said maybe," Rhea replied, then straightened fully. "But yes, I’m not the Rhea Ulric you all knew."

Ares’s voice cut the air, sharp and commanding. "Explain yourself this instant."