"I, Erica Hallows, declare myself a true rogue and reject Alpha Liam Anderson as my–"
"NO!" Liam's scream cut through the air, interrupting me before I could finish. His voice was filled with anguish, but I refused to back down.
"Enough!" bellowed Alpha Declan, his fury only matched by the power of his Alpha command. It slammed into me like a tidal wave, forcing me to my knees and stealing the breath from my lungs.
"Submit to me now, Erica," he demanded, his eyes cold and unyielding.
"Go fuck yourself," I snarled back, defiance shining in my green eyes despite the crushing weight of his command. A flicker of regret crossed his face, gone as quickly as it appeared.
"I'm sorry, but I didn't want it to come to this." With that, he backhanded me so hard that I went crashing across the room, slamming against the wall with enough force to rattle my bones. Pain exploded through me, and I struggled to push myself up, gasping for breath.
Alpha Declan was suddenly beside me, the full weight of his Alpha power and command focused on me. I screamed, feeling as if I were being torn apart from the inside out. He was relentless, demanding my submission once more. Through blurred vision, I saw Liam struggling against Gregg and Damon, desperate to reach me but held back by their combined strength. Becca sobbed in Marshall's arms, her cries cutting through the chaos like a knife.
"Please, Erica, just submit!" Marshall called out, his voice cracking under the strain of his emotions. But I couldn't, wouldn't, give in to the man who had ripped me away from my family.
"Never," I whispered, though the pain threatened to choke me. "I won't submit to you." "Enough!" Declan roared again, his power intensifying until I thought I would shatter into a million pieces. "NO!" Liam's scream echoed through the room once more. I thought for a moment that I was going to pass out from the immense pain slamming into my body but then the oppressive weight of Alpha Declan's power suddenly lifted, and I could breathe again. The pain that had me in its clutches moments before was gone, replaced by a dull ache throughout my body.
As I gasped for air, my vision slowly returned to focus on Declan kneeling beside me.
"Erica," he said softly, his eyes filled with regret. "If you submit to me, I will do everything in my power to keep you safe and help you find out why you can't shift." His words were an unexpected lifeline thrown to me in the midst of my torment, but I hesitated, unsure if I could trust him.
"Please, Erica." Marshall's voice came from across the room, thick with emotion. "Give in. I'll look after our family for you. You don't have to suffer like this any longer." I glanced over at him, tears streaming down my face, as the memory of laughter and camaraderie with my pack flooded my thoughts. How could I leave them behind? But what choice did I have? Declan had made it clear that he wouldn't back down, and I couldn't bear the thought of enduring more pain, not just for myself, but for everyone who cared about me. A tearful sob escaped my lips, the weight of my decision bearing down upon me. I looked into Declan's dark eyes, searching for any semblance of compassion or understanding. I looked at Liam again and then back at Alpha Declan.
“I’m not agreeing to mate with anyone,” I said, and the Alpha chuckled.
“That’s acceptable,” he replied.
“What!” Liam exclaimed, and the Alpha held up his hand to him.
“You said you wanted to earn her love, well now you have the chance,” he said.
“Good luck man,” Beta Gregg chuckled, and I glanced up at him and he winked at me. I couldn’t help a small smile. I also saw Damon smother a laugh.
“Erica?” the Alpha asked, drawing my attention back to him. “As a rogue joining our pack, you will join as an Omega. Do you understand that?”
“Dad, no!” Liam exclaimed, which earned him a glare from his father. I looked at Liam and nodded before looking back at the Alpha.
“I understand,” I said. Even losing my Gamma rank would be better than being tied to and controlled by an Alpha mate.
“Then I ask you again, will you submit to me as your new Alpha?” Finally, emotionally drained and tired beyond belief, I surrendered.
"I... I submit," I whispered, choking on the words that sealed my fate. It felt as if I'd signed away my soul.
Chapter 16
Erica
Isatontheedge of the leather couch in Alpha Declan's office, my hands clenched tightly together in my lap. The silence was deafening and my heart ached with a sense of despair that settled like a heavy stone in my chest.
"Erica," Becca said softly, her blue eyes brimming with tears. "You'll be okay here. We'll all adjust to our new lives, and we'll still be a family, no matter what." I glanced over at her, noting the way her voice cracked and how she clutched at the locket around her neck, the same one Trenton had given her.
Though she tried to sound reassuring, I could see the pain in her eyes, mirroring my own.
"Becca's right," Marshall chimed in, his tone more steady but with an undercurrent of sadness. He gave me a half-hearted smile and continued, "Besides, I'll have your clothes and belongings sent over in the next couple of days. You won't be without your things for long."
"Thanks, Marshall," I muttered, feeling the weight of their impending departure pressing down on me. Their words were meant to comfort, yet the thought of being separated from them only added to the sense of abandonment gnawing away inside me. I looked around the room, taking in the dark wood furniture and shelves filled with old books, trying to distract myself from the emotions threatening to overwhelm me.
"Hey," Becca said, reaching out to squeeze my hand gently. "We'll still be in touch, okay? You're not going to lose us. We're just... moving forward, that's all."
