Rejected by the Beta, Claimed by the Alpha

Chapter 18 - Jaxon puts Clara in her place

"She looks stunning, but it's a shame she's still an omega," one of Clara's friends said. The others nodded their heads in agreement.

"I never thought she'd have the guts to come back after the shame," another friend of Clara said, also earning the same approval from the others.

"Who is that with her? Doesn't she know that Rowena is an Omega?" One of the girls looked at Clara before saying those words while most people looked on in shock. In the past, Rowena wasn't even allowed into the training arena, but she was with the Alpha, holding his hand as if they were friends.

"What about the Alpha? He is holding her hand," one of Clara's friends said, which made all of them gawk in shock. As such, they said no more.

Among the warriors, they were surprised that Charles was giving two women attention, and neither of them was his girlfriend. The only one he gave attention to before was Clara. But as much as Charles tried to hide it, it was so glaring that he was staring at Rowena and Gracie. Both ladies had their blonde hair tied in a ponytail, and their training wear clung tightly to their petite bodies. A small part of their stomachs was even exposed from the small tank tops, giving them an alluring look. Clara joined her friends, staring at Rowena and the other woman by her side with murderous intent. Could it be that Jaxon was giving Rowena attention because of the other woman she saw him with yesterday? If so, then why was he not holding the other woman's hand but rather that of Rowena? Clara's mind was going dark. The man she wanted for all these years, for which reason she was happy that Charles had not proposed, was happy with two women beside him. This was the first time she saw the cold Alpha smile at any woman, and it wasn't her, the most beautiful girl in the pack.

Now, she could not even claim that title because both women looked gorgeous, especially Rowena, who used to be unkempt and skinny. Now, she was wearing designer clothes. Clara did not like this, and the earlier she acted, the better. She wanted to approach them, but the Alpha was already walking to the middle of the arena. There was a proud smile on his face, which made Clara very angry. All these years of waiting could not be for nothing, right?"

Jaxon did not mind the murmurings ongoing, whether for good or bad. With their hands joined together, he walked to the center of the arena with Rowena and Gracie. He was not holding Gracie's hand, but he didn't mind that she was walking close to him. He never allowed a woman to be so close to him who was not his mate, but Gracie had eamed it. She proved to be a true friend to Rowena.

"Everyone, Rowena is not a visitor. She is a member of this pack, and we are glad to have her back, together with her best friend, Gracie!" Jaxon announced. He did not add that she was staying for just a week because he was determined to make her stay forever with him. Not many people clapped, and those who did, did so reluctantly or too softly. The corners of Jaxon's lips twitched as he saw the pain in Rowena's eyes. He knew they were still looking down on her because of the rejection by Clara and the egg-stoning.

"I would also like to add that these two women are very special to me and my father. In other words, they are under my protection." Jaxon did not have to say it, but knowing how his pack members treated omegas in secret, he could not allow any of them to do anything to make Rowena upset. Not everyone found his announcement amusing, though. Many had begun to clap wholeheartedly with congratulatory messages,

"Welcome back, Rowena, and your friend is welcome too."

Jaxon frowned a little. Perhaps his excitement covered the other part of the announcement he was supposed to make. "I would like to add that Gracie is also a member of this pack. Her parents died during one of the wars, so Rowena's uncle took her to live with him in Canada. She was very little and does not remember anything about this pack. Together, we have the responsibility of making them comfortable," he said enthusiastically.

Clara was greatly disheartened. How could a mighty Alpha like Jaxon be introducing omegas with so much affection? She suddenly could not remember those rules he implemented eight years ago and began to say, "Alpha, Rowena and whoever her friend is, are still omegas. Don't you think that you are overhyping them?"

Jaxon's brows creased, and those who knew him began to take steps back. His hand holding Rowena dropped, and he began to walk toward Clara, seemingly excited to get her attention for the first time in eight years. However, when Jaxon spoke, she felt her limbs chill. "You see, Clara, in my eyes and in this pack, everyone's the same, and there is nothing like rank."

Clara's eyes were glassy. She could not accept it. When Jaxon announced it before, she did not take it seriously since Rowena had left. She thought Rowena had gone into exile somewhere, only to show her face and get so much attention like Cinderella and her lost glass slipper. Her voice dripped with tears. "It's not fair. Some of us are born with privileges, which we are meant to enjoy. Omegas cannot rub shoulders with those of us of higher birth. They need to be put in their place."

Jaxon's jaw clenched, and his gaze was like fire. Though everyone was afraid, Clara felt that she was the one to bring the pack to the height it was before. Whereas anger dripped with every word Jaxon uttered. "Since you have no respect for my laws, you are staying back training today." Clara's eyes widened at the fact that Jaxon was punishing her for speaking against an omega. But the bigger shock followed soon after. "Don't get me wrong, but this is just for the first warning. The next time you try it, I will banish you!" Clara was not the only one, but everyone else, including Rowena, was speechless. The Alpha was ready to banish a woman of higher birth, and one of the most beautiful, all because of an omega? Jaxon wanted to add that Rowena and Gracie would be helping at the pack hospital, but he didn't want Rowena and her friend to earn the respect of the pack because of their occupations. Everyone deserved mutual respect with or without their occupation.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

Clara turned in Charles' direction. Their eyes met, and she expected him to say something in her defense. Charles hated omegas just like her, so he would disagree with his brother, right? Sadly, Charles looked away. A blanket of shame covered Clara; she was stupefied but could also not stand being ignored. "Charles, you are the beta, but things are changing too fast, don't you think? Could you explain how things work in this pack to your brother?" Grave silence covered the arena as if even the trees surrounding the training arena were afraid to move. Jaxon waited patiently for Charles's response, which came earlier than expected.

"The Alpha was born in this pack. He only lived in Canada for three years, so what are you talking about, Clara? Or, do you expect me to disobey the Alpha and get banished too? My power ends where his begins." Charles ensured to use Jaxon's title, to tell that whatever Jaxon said was final. He was not stupid. Eight years ago, after hearing the conversation between Jaxon and Clara and knowing that Clara was only interested in titles, his love for her died. For him to get revenge, he continued to fake being in love with her.

There were silent murmurs. The Alpha and his beta brother were in agreement, so who were they to refuse? Not wanting to get banished, Clara ran out of the training arena but sat far away where she could still see everything going on.

"You two should just watch today while I draw up a program for you tomorrow," Jaxon said to Rowena and Gracie. They were quite elated, not wanting to be mocked by the other trainees for being out of touch. They sat on a bench and watched while Jaxon gave his orders. They could not hear much from where they sat, but they suddenly saw Charles walking to the middle after a while.

After exchanging words with Jaxon, they saw Jaxon walking back toward them. "Let's go."

Rowena began to walk toward the car park when Jaxon asked, "Where are you going?"

"To see the Alpha, of course."

"Sorry, training is not over. The three of us are jogging around the training grounds three times," he revealed. Both women's jaws dropped, almost hitting the ground. The training ground was huge, more like two hundred acres, so how would they complete even one round? Jaxon was so ruthless.