Abandoned by My Mate, Saved by the Rogue Alpha King

Eleanor' POV:

"Madam Luna, Eleanor's here," Rosa called out.

They dragged me down the stairs like I was baggage, not even caring that my leg almost twisted.

I stepped into the living room and saw every single one of Carl's relatives sitting there.

Carl was lounging on the couch chatting with his little brother, Calvin, like nothing was going on. His little sister, Della, was lazily munching on chips next to them.

The cozy family scene just made me look even more pathetic.

"Kneel!" Anna snapped.

"I didn't do anything wrong. Why should I kneel?" I shot her a glare, staring straight at her aging face.

She clearly didn't see that coming. I'd always been the quiet, obedient one-now I was talking back. Her face darkened. "So rude! Rosa, Karen, get her on her knees!"

I heard Karen scoff. Then she slammed her foot into my knee. I gritted my teeth, groaning from the pain, but I still didn't kneel.

Rosa stepped in, clearly losing her patience, and kicked my thigh hard. It burned like hell. I gasped, sweat dripping down my face, my body starting to give way.

They grabbed my arms and forced me down, shoving me to my knees.

I was shaking all over, clenching my teeth as the pain nearly brought tears to my eyes. Still, I forced myself to lift my head, only to catch Carl's emotionless face.

He stared right at me, silent and distant, like he didn't care I was barely breathing from the pain. When our eyes met, all I saw in his cold stare was irritation, zero trace of concern.

I looked away, my heart sinking. There was this dull, suffocating ache sitting right in my chest.

'I can't believe I was still hoping for anything from him,' I laughed bitterly to myself. 'You're such an idiot, Eleanor.'

"Look at what you've done!" Anna snapped. "You got exposed for plagiarism at the Starluxe Competition! Now every clan out there is talking about how our Luna is a fraud!"

"I told you before-if you don't have the skills, just stay put and give Carl a pup already! It's not like we Stormfang can't afford your useless ass. Instead, you went out and made a fool of yourself, and now the whole werewolf community's laughing at us!"

Anna's glare could've burned a hole through me. Her face was flushed with fury, and her voice was like nails on glass. Whatever grace a Luna should have? Yeah, she had none. Honestly, it was almost funny.

So I forced a smile, pushing through the pain, and said with a bite in my voice, "It's not me who's an embarrassment, Ms. Anna. Maybe you should ask your precious grandson, our noble Alpha Carl. Wasn't it all his doing?"

Carl's expression twisted, but I wasn't scared of it anymore. I looked right at him, my tone sharp and cold-mocking, even. For the first time, I really looked down on him. "He threw both me and the entire Stormfang Pack under the bus for Katherine. How noble of him."

"Have you lost your mind?" Carl snapped, glaring. "How dare you-"

"For god's sake," Anna cut him off, her voice rising with fury. "You little brat, you think you can disrespect us and get away with it? Karen, bring me that whip!"

"Grandma?" Carl frowned, trying to calm her down. "You don't have to-"

Anna's face was dark with rage. "You never should've taken her as your mate in the first place. A delta's daughter wasn't good enough for you-and now look what a mess she's made. She needs to be taught a lesson. Don't stand in my way, Carl."

Karen walked over holding a whip-one that had been kept in the pack for years, reserved only for punishing those considered traitors before casting them out. Never in a million years did I think it would end up being used on me.

I clenched my jaw and glared at Anna and Carl, their cold, cruel faces so alike it made my stomach turn.

Karen let out a wicked laugh from behind me. Anna lifted her chin slightly. "Hit her until she admits she was wrong."

"Yes, ma'am," Karen said smugly, clearly enjoying this.

She raised the whip and brought it down hard. The pain ripped through my back like I was being mauled by a wild beast. Tears welled up in my eyes instantly, but I clenched my teeth and refused to make a sound.

I forced myself to sit up straight, glaring at Anna with defiance.

Anna looked pissed. "Keep going. Let's see how long she lasts."

The loud snap of the whip echoed again and again, relentless. I held out as blood started trickling from the wounds. To stay silent, I bit down on my lip until I tasted blood. Eventually, the pain just blurred into numbness.

I was on the verge of shifting-I wanted to fight back so badly, even if it meant dying here. But I held myself back. I wasn't going to give them the satisfaction of watching me fall apart.

"Luna Eleanor, are you ready to admit what you did wrong?" Karen's voice was cold.

I kept my head down and my mouth shut. There was no way I was giving them that.

"That's enough," Carl said irritably. "Grandma, it's done."

Della let out a giggle. "Carl, once she's dead, you'll be free to shack up with Katherine."

Hearing those words, my legs gave out and I collapsed. Carl suddenly got to his feet. "Eleanor?"

"Wake her up. Keep going," Anna said coldly.

"She could die if this keeps up," Carl murmured.

"Let her! An Alpha like you feeling pity for a worthless wolf like her?" Anna snapped.

"I'll do it!" Della chirped, lifting a container of hot water and dumping it straight on my back. I groaned in agony, trying to get up, while Della laughed like it was the funniest thing she'd ever seen.

Their eyes were full of smug satisfaction, like I wasn't even a person-just some trash they needed to get rid of. Not their Luna.

"Eleanor," Carl said evenly. "You should admit you were wrong."

My hands trembled as I stayed quiet for a few seconds. "Fine. I will. But I have one condition."

"What condition?" Carl asked, frowning.

"I want to break the mate bond," I said as I shut my eyes tight, forcing the words out. "Let me go, Carl. I don't want to be your mate anymore. I don't want to love you. Just... let me go."

"Say yes!" Della tugged at Carl's arm excitedly. "Then you can be with Katherine already."

"She's a disgrace to the Stormfang Pack. Letting her be Luna was already more than enough payback for what her grandfather did for us."

"Totally, kick her out already. Nobody wants her here."

"Just end the mate bond, Alpha. We've all got your back."

They were all shouting, like driving me out would somehow cleanse their precious pack. Like I'd tainted their beloved Alpha just by existing.

I stared straight at Carl, not saying a word, just waiting. I couldn't take it anymore. I was done-done with how they treated me, done with him.

Carl stiffened for a second, then let out this bitter laugh. He stepped up to me, grabbed my chin-hard-and leaned in, voice low and cold. "So you actually think you can walk away from me-no matter what it costs?"

His expression dripped with scorn, like the idea was some kind of joke. Like I'd never survive without him. But I didn't flinch. My voice was steady: "Even if I die out there, even if rogues tear me apart... I'd still rather that than stay your mate."

That was the only thing I knew for sure.