---Kyle's POV---

Our request for workers was gracefully fulfilled by the Council, which sent highly trained assistants whom had been handpicked and trained by Lady Alurea herself.

And vetted by Asami. She had arrived with an entire entourage of well-trained assistants and had instructed them to help us as highly praised and appreciated friends of the council.

I was more than grateful when the piles of paperwork disappeared from my desk like snow before the sun. While we didn't have to deal with the massive bulk of the paperwork, the assistants made brief reports of all the files they processed and provided them to us to review.

As such, we had more time focusing on other pack business that wasn't related to rejected and their applications. We could focus on the pack instead of performing multiple background checks, investigate asylum claims or delve deep into the endless claim list we were swamped with.

While it didn't happen too often, there were occasions where individuals had lied and only claimed to be rejected in order to gain access to the pack.

Some of them was for pack espionage, others because they wanted to find out who the members of the pack were. Plus, the reason why Drake was so adamant on background checks of every single newcomer, was just in case an ex tried to sneak in.

Or if a former abuser had found the trail of their victim and was sniffing around. It was unsettling how many of these people were allowed to roam free, do whatever they wanted without repercussions simply because they were mated to one another.

There were still too many packs who didn't care about the actions of a mated pair, as they seemed to think it was destined and thus desired.

Completely ignoring any abusive behavior from either partner, simply because they are your fated, was one of the most sickening side-effects of the mating bond.

While rejections for unbased reasons were punished by council, people still frowned upon any rejection. To resist a Fated bond, even if you were being abused, was considered to be a slight towards Luna to some packs.

Which was one of the main leading causes why werewolves stayed in toxic relationships. Because they were being told it was fated.

In other words, they were being told they deserved to be abused.

A sigh escaped me before I smiled warmly when a kiss was pressed against my temple. I leaned against Drake, enjoying his fingers gently squeezing my shoulder, enjoyed the warmth he offered.

Luckily, the Council supported us and any people who was rejected or needed to reject their toxic partner. Each case was studied properly and the Council was more than eager to investigate any packs that allowed those toxic relationships to fester without providing any help.

"We're expecting the new arrivals by tonight." I said, handing Drake the corresponding files as I leaned into him a bit further. He gave me a warm smile, eyes flitting briefly over the papers before nodding.

A sigh slipped out of his chest, head shaking as he read through the last file. "Still, I'm shocked that someone rejected an Omega."

I nodded, remembering everything I've read about the poor man. Rejected by his mate, abandoned by his pack and disowned by his parents and for what?

All because someone of his pack saw him leave a party with a neighboring pack member and assumed the worst. When the omega hadn't returned for the night and came home in the morning, nobody cared to hear him out and listen to his side of the story.

They just assumed he had cheated and spat upon the Fated bond. Had seen him as an unfaithful disgrace and failed to recognize him as the true victim of his unfortunate situation.

The Council had already interrogated the Omega and investigated his case. A generational vendetta between two packs had made the Omega, mated to the next Alpha-to-be, a valuable target.

One of the neighboring pack members had acted on their own accord and slipped something in the Omega's drink, making sure that their departure was spotted by the right people. Had tugged a hoodie over the unconscious Omega to drench him in pheromones.

When the young Omega had woken up the next morning, smelling of an unknown man's pheromones, his fate was sealed.

Even if his mate was willing to listen, it would be extremely hard to convince them if the Omega stank of a single wolf's pheromones.

Due to the actions of a pack set in their ways, another life had been ruined.

"I just..." I motioned with my hand, swallowing thickly. "I can only imagine how he feels."

It hit a bit too close to home. To be betrayed by those you considered family, rejected and cast out. I shook my head before smiling reassuringly at Drake. "He's in the best place to recover."

Drake saw right through my false bravado, ignoring the paperwork to pull me into his arms. I went willingly, nuzzling under his throat and sighed at the warm comfort he provided.

"I've wondered..."Drake started slowly, hand still sifting through my hair as he spoke, "Did you ever want to meet them again? Your former pack, I mean."

The suggestion barely flitted through my brain before I shook my head. "I have nothing lost there." I murmured against Drake's skin, giving one last, deep sigh before pulling away.

"They didn't care to listen to me, nor did they care to reach out and seek me out on their own terms as soon as the truth was revealed." I murmured before shrugging. "Life still goes on, even if we wish it didn't."

Drake's expression softened as he could see my memories just as clearly as I did. Sure, I had wanted to see the pack just after my banishment.

I had wanted to set everything right, explain the situation. Wishing to reshape their warped view of me, erase the lies they had thought to be truth.

But the longer I suffered and the more time went on without anyone reaching out... the more I had realized I didn't need that fake love in my life.

If they had been more than willing to believe I was a deranged, murderous creature, then so be it. Hell, I doubted that if I had gone back, they would've given me a chance anyways.

More than likely, they would've finished their botched job of erasing me from existence. I mean, it literally took Gavin waking up from his coma and tell what happened for the pack to realize the truth.

During all that time, none of them had made an effort to find out what happened. For them, I was a rogue and deserved to be killed.

A shiver ran over my spine, one that was copied by Drake as he growled lowly, distressed by the very idea that someone would dare attack and attempt to kill me.

He managed to relax after a moment, rubbing over his face with a tired sigh. "Truth be told, I'm glad you don't want any contact with them. I don't know if I'll be able to contain myself, were I to meet the people who've tried to kill you."

"Fair point." I smiled wryly as I could only imagine how Drake's wolf would react. Anyone involved with my attempted murder would be free to attack according to the beast. They took the defense of their mate seriously and would rather deal with the issue and ask questions later.

In fact, he was so stressed out that I stepped closer and nuzzled under his throat. Seeking out his warmth while offering him comfort and support.

Drake's arms quickly wrapped around my body, holding me close as if he wished to hide me from the world. After a few moments he slowly relaxed, heaving a deep sigh before he nuzzled against me in return.

"Like I said, that pack has nothing for me. Nobody I would want to talk to, nor would I wish to hear their pitiful excuses." I murmured, knowing that was exactly what I would get.

Former pack members stumbling to explain how they weren't in the wrong, how they had acted on orders. It nearly made me scoff at the idea. If only some people had applied some critical thinking, had wrested back control from their emotions and thought about things logically, things wouldn't have gotten so out of hand.

But then again, I never would've met Drake. And I could honestly say, I was grateful for the pack acting the way they did.

They had shown me their true colors.

And they had indirectly set me on the path that had led me to my true mate.

Drake chuckled, inhaling my scent before he took a deep breath and reluctantly released me. "Fate has an interesting way to twist things around."

A knock on the door caught our attention, one of the assistants opening it once we spoke up. Skylar grinned, waving the papers she held with a smug smile.

"Sorry to... interrupt anything but we got news that the Omega is arriving sooner than expected." She said, walking in the room and placed it on Drake's desk.

Pointing towards a few lines on the paper, she was quick to explain the situation. "Council is taking the poor pup in protection due to the vendetta between the involved packs. For all we know, some immature pup might try and remove the Omega completely from the playing field if it helps their pack get the upper hand."

Drake's lips thinned into a narrow line, anger and disgust warring on his face. "Killing off the mate so that if the truth is revealed, the Alpha-to-be crashes further in despair." The Alpha stated, making me shiver with disgust as well.

Skylar nodded, clicking her tongue as she scratched through her short, blonde pixie cut. "Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely, without discrimination or remorse. Once a vendetta starts, nobody thinks about the consequences of their actions. All they want is revenge, to feel justified with their actions."

She hummed in thought before pointing at the papers. "Anyways, Council's orders. Pup needs to be kept safe and they're already informed of the situation. Depending on any activity from either pack, we can relent in the future."

Drake and I shared a nod, already linking with the Betas to make sure a room was prepared. Nobody wanted to overwhelm the newcomer, especially with their wounds this fresh.

But I knew that if I had been given the choice, I would've rather be comforted in the warmth and kindness of people who understood, than to suffer on my own.

Word spread quickly through the pack as patrols were updated, more eyes keeping track of any movements out of order.

I smiled warmly as Ellie waved from across the street, waving at her in return before she was ushered on by her aunt. In the distance, an all too familiar car of the Council turned on the driveway, making me take a fortifying breath before smiling kindly.

Drake was better at introductions so I usually stayed in the back. But today I was the one that gently opened the car door and smiled at the shaking Omega inside.

The young man's face was pale, a familiar agonizing look within his gaze while silent tears clung to his cheeks.

Just a quick glance at Drake confirmed my suspicions. Why would this Omega want to be near an Alpha, considering another Alpha put him in this position.

"Hi there. I know things are difficult now but I want you to know that we're here for you. If you need a moment to yourself, that's perfectly fine. I'm Kyle and over there is Drake. Both of us would like to welcome you in the pack for as long as you like, at the very least show you to your room, if that's okay?"

The young man shivered, nearly choking as he swallowed before giving a hesitant nod. When I reached out my hand, he hesitated for a moment, nostrils flaring to detect any danger.

As his fingers grabbed mine, I could see the realization in his gaze as his fingertips glided over scars riddling my skin. All I did was offer him another smile, stepping back so he could get out of the car.

"We all have a story here. We won't look at you any differently." I reassured, feeling kinda proud of myself when I got a more genuine smile in return.

It was tearful, filled with sorrow and pain. But it showed that the Omega wasn't lost to the agony of Rejection just yet.

There's still hope.

Well... let's keep it alive then.