Chapter 136
I still couldn’t move. My legs felt like lead, and my chest ached like I’d been punched. Joseph’s words echoed in my head on a vicious loop: *“You don’t belong here.”* My ears were still ringing with the sound of Tammy’s bags hitting the floor as she moved into the packhouse like she owned the place.
This couldn’t be real. This couldn’t be happening.
Around me, murmurs had broken out among the pack members. I could hear them whispering, the words sharp and cutting as they floated through the air.
“An omega? Really?”
“She lied about who she was. Joseph’s right—this pack deserves better.”
“This is embarrassing for all of us. The other packs will laugh at us.”
I swallowed hard, trying to block it all out, but the words dug into me like shards of glass. My vision blurred as tears threatened to spill, but I refused to cry. Not here. Not now.
Tammy was still standing in the center of the room, a picture of smug perfection. Her golden hair caught the light from the chandelier above, and her pale blue eyes sparkled with amusement as she looked around the room like she’d already conquered it.
*What the hell is going on?*
The front door swung open suddenly, and Sophie walked in, her heels clicking against the floor. Relief flooded me at the sight of her. If anyone could talk sense into these people, it was Sophie.
“Joseph,” Sophie said, striding toward him, her voice sharp and full of authority. “What the hell is going on here?”
Joseph turned to her, completely unfazed. “Sophie. I didn’t think we’d see you back so soon.”
“Don’t play games with me,” she snapped, stopping a few feet away from him. “You can’t just show up here with your daughter and move her into the packhouse like this. This isn’t how things are done, and you know it.”
Tammy tilted her head, her perfect pink lips curling into a smile. “Oh, but it *is* how things are done,” she said sweetly, her voice dripping with fake innocence. “The council has spoken, Sophie. Unless you want to go against the highest governing body of our kind?”
Sophie blinked, caught off guard for a moment. “That’s not the point—”
“This *is* the point,” Joseph interrupted, his deep voice booming through the room. “The council has made a decision, and it will be respected.”
Sophie turned to him, anger flashing in her eyes. “And what decision would that be exactly? That your daughter, out of nowhere, is suddenly the Luna of this pack? You can’t decide that without the Alpha’s approval!”
“Jake will understand,” Joseph said calmly, folding his hands behind his back as though this were a business transaction. “When he returns, he’ll see reason.”
Sophie’s jaw tightened, and she shook her head in disbelief. “You have no right to do this. Tammy has no right to move into this house!”
Tammy let out a soft, condescending laugh, and I felt my fists clench. “Oh, Sophie. You’re overreacting. This is the packhouse, isn’t it? As the *next Luna*, I have every right to live here. Unless, of course, you want to challenge the council’s authority?”
There it was again—*next Luna*. The words made my stomach turn.
“This isn’t about the council’s authority,” Sophie said, her voice shaking with anger. “This is about respect. You can’t just force your way in here, Tammy. That’s not how this works.”
Tammy shrugged, still smiling. “I think it’s time for a change, don’t you? This pack has been… lacking leadership for far too long.”
I couldn’t take it anymore. My head snapped up, and before I could stop myself, I stepped forward, glaring at Tammy. “How can you even say that? You don’t know anything about this pack.”
Tammy turned to me, her smile widening like I’d just said something funny. “Oh, look. The omega speaks.”
My blood boiled. I took another step forward, my hands shaking with barely contained fury. “You’re talking about things you don’t understand. You have no idea what this pack has been through, what Jake has been through—”
Joseph cut me off with a sharp glare. “That’s enough, Ayla.”
I turned to him, my voice rising. “No, it’s not enough! You can’t just decide this without Jake. He’s the Alpha!”
Joseph’s expression darkened, and he took a step toward me, his towering figure casting a shadow across the room. “You should learn to keep quiet, Ayla. After all, you’ve lied to this entire pack. You’ve deceived everyone. Who are *you* to speak on leadership and respect?”
The murmurs around us grew louder. I could hear people agreeing with him, their whispers cutting through me like a blade.
“She did lie…”
“She’s an omega. How can we trust her?”
“The council’s right. A strong pack needs a strong Luna.”
I felt like I couldn’t breathe, the weight of their judgment pressing down on me. I wanted to scream, to tell them they didn’t know what they were talking about, but my throat was so tight I couldn’t force the words out.
Tammy smiled triumphantly, clearly enjoying the show. She turned to Joseph and said softly, “Father, I think I’d like to settle in now. It’s been a long day.”
Joseph nodded approvingly and turned back to the gathered pack members. “Out of the way. Tammy needs to rest and settle into her new home.”
“No,” Fatima said suddenly, stepping forward.
My head whipped toward her, and I stared in shock as she moved to stand directly in front of Tammy, arms crossed and gaze sharp.
“She’s not going anywhere,” Fatima said coldly. “Not until Jake returns.”
Joseph’s eyes narrowed. “You’re standing in the way of the council’s decision, Fatima. I’d suggest you reconsider.”
“I don’t care what the council says,” Fatima shot back. “This is *Jake’s* pack. Tammy can sit her ass on the couch until Jake gets back and decides what to do.”
Sophie moved to stand beside Fatima, her expression just as fierce. “She’s right. You’re not going any further, Tammy. Jake is the Alpha, and until he returns, nothing has been decided.”
Tammy’s smile faltered, and she turned to her father with a pout. “Father…”
Joseph’s jaw ticked, his eyes blazing with anger as he looked at Sophie and Fatima. “You’re making a mistake.”
“No,” Sophie said firmly. “You are.”
I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I had expected Sophie and Fatima to side with the council, to look at me with the same disgust the others did, but instead, they were standing their ground. For *me*.
Tammy crossed her arms and let out a dramatic sigh, turning to face me again. “Well, I suppose I can wait here *for now.* But don’t get comfortable, Ayla. This isn’t over.”
I glared at her, my voice steady despite the fire burning inside me. “I’m not afraid of you, Tammy.”
She smirked. “You should be.”
Joseph sighed heavily and turned to leave, but not before throwing me a look of utter disdain. “You’ve brought this on yourself, Ayla. Enjoy your last moments here while you can.”
With that, he walked out, leaving Tammy standing near the couch, still looking like a queen who had just claimed her throne.
The room fell silent again, and I felt Fatima’s hand on my shoulder. I turned to her, my eyes wide with disbelief.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
Fatima gave me a small nod. “Don’t thank me yet. This isn’t over.”
Sophie crossed her arms, glaring at Tammy, who had now plopped herself onto the couch and was flipping her hair dramatically. “We’ll wait for Jake,” Sophie said firmly. “And trust me, Tammy—you’re not staying here for long.”
Tammy ignored her, pulling out her phone and scrolling through it like she didn’t have a care in the world.
I turned back to Fatima and Sophie, my heart full of gratitude. I didn’t know how this would end, but for the first time in days, I didn’t feel so alone.
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