Reborn To Defy The Alpha-Chapter 77: I’ll Make Her Pay

"Are you not ashamed? Clinging to a man who does not want you?" Nikki’s lip curled, eyes glittering. "The Alpha rejected you because he does not want anything to do with you."

Rhea didn’t even blink. "No, I am not ashamed," she replied, tone light, almost conversational. "The Alpha and I rejected each other because of a misunderstanding, but we have made up. There is nothing shameful about that."

That was the moment Ellie lost the battle.

He burst out laughing, a full, uncontrollable bark that sent half-chewed food shooting from his mouth. A chunk splattered directly onto Ares’s cheek. Ares froze, spoon hovering in the mid-air.

Ellie slapped a hand over his mouth, eyes watering as he tried to choke back the sound. "Sorry," he wheezed between dying snickers, waving a hand at Ares. "Sorry, sorry, sorry."

Ares turned his glare on him with deadly precision, wiping his face with stiff impatience regretting every decision that led him to this dinner table.

Nikki whipped toward Ares. "Alpha, do something!" she demanded, outrage sharpening her voice.

Ares finished wiping his cheek, dropped the napkin, and finally looked at her. "Sit somewhere else," he said, tone clipped. "Let her have the seat if she wants it."

Nikki stared at him as if her world had tilted. "Alpha..."

"Move over and eat," Ares repeated, already picking up his fork again. "You and Rhea are disturbing everyone’s dinner. I do not want to repeat myself."

Nikki’s mouth opened to argue, but the warning in his voice shut her down cold. She shot Rhea a vicious glare, then shoved past her hard enough to make her stumble. Nikki stormed two seats down and dropped into the chair, she glared daggers at anyone who dared glance her way.

Rhea smirked, stepping into the newly vacated spot beside the Alpha. Ellie grinned openly at her from across the table, eyebrows raised in sheer delight as Rhea began serving herself.

Nikki fumed silently, jaw tight, hands balled in her lap. She kept her eyes locked on Rhea, hatred simmering bright and sharp. Just you wait, she thought, pulse pounding. You will pay for every insult, every embarrassment.

Rhea lifted her fork and began eating with cool, practiced calm. The clatter of plates around her was slow to resume, eyes still darting toward the dais with poorly hidden curiosity.

Ares cut a sideways glance at Nikki, who was still glaring daggers at Rhea instead of touching her food. "Face your meal and eat," he said, voice low and sharp."Unless you prefer eating Rhea’s face."

Nikki’s cheeks flamed a furious red. "Alpha, you..."

"If you are not hungry," Ares continued, tone flat and uninterested in her excuses, "return to your room and stop disturbing others."

Nikki scoffed under her breath, then grabbed a serving spoon and began dishing food with unnecessary force. Everything on her plate landed with violence force as she imagined Rhea’s skull instead of mashed potatoes. Rhea watched her with a sweet, maddening smile.

"Do not try sowing discord between mates again," Rhea said softly, almost kindly. "Or you will be disgraced the same way you were just now. My mate will always choose me over you."

Ares set his fork down with a quiet click. "Rhea," he said without looking up. "Shut up and eat."

"Yes, honey," Rhea replied instantly, cheerful as if he had just praised her. "Anything for my favorite mate."

Ares choked. Actually choked.

He coughed into his fist, eyes widening, his throat felt like he had swallowed a live coal. Ellie sputtered opposite him, smacking his own chest as he tried not to laugh again. Nikki’s grip tightened around her fork until it squeaked against the metal plate.

Ares stared straight ahead, mortified. Has she lost her mind, he thought. What is wrong with her. He should reprimand her. He really should. But something traitorous warmed at the base of his throat. Honey. Why on earth did it sound good. He was not a bee shifter. He was not even close. And yet... 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

His wolf nudged him in the back of his mind. Enjoy it and shut up.

Ares exhaled sharply, more huff than breath, and resumed eating in rigid silence.

Across the dining hall, whispers passed through the pack members.

"Did the Alpha just side with her?"

"Are they actually becoming mates for real?"

"Are we going to be punished for how we treated her?"

"Should we apologize now or wait until we’re sure?"

Ellie slammed his palm on the table. "Everyone shut up and eat." His voice carried, echoing off the high ceiling. "Your food is getting cold."

The room jolted and plates clattered as everyone hurried to obey, though eyes still flicked toward the dais every few seconds.

At the subbetas’ table, Lena and Lyra exchanged tense glances. This is not normal, Lena thought. The Alpha never acts like this.

Lyra watched Nikki’s shoulders trembling with fury.

Nikki looked ready to explode, chest rising and falling rapidly, knuckles white around her utensils.

Rhea took another bite, savoring it, then glanced casually toward Ares. "So," she said, voice dripping with polite curiosity. "Why is your operator not here?"

Ares paused mid-bite, fork hovering inches from his mouth. Ellie blinked at Rhea.

"Operator?" Ellie asked, brows pulling tight.

Rhea nodded, chewing slowly, savoring the taste and the moment. She lifted her chin slightly and gestured lazily with her spoon toward Nikki. "The Alpha’s operator. Her father."

Ares stared at her, disbelief punching through his calm. "How dare you," he said, voice gravel low.

"Chill," Rhea replied, unbothered as she reached for her cup. "Since the Alpha enjoys doing everything Eberhard wants, I decided to give him a fitting nickname. Operator. So." She took a sip, swallowed, and looked him dead in the eye. "Where is he?"

Ares went so still the air around him tightened. A muscle ticked in his jaw, the only sign that her words had hit exactly where she aimed. He turned his head toward Rhea, voice low enough to prickle the skin. "Stop being reckless with words."

Rhea stabbed another bite of meat, unbothered, and shrugged. "Reckless, bold, blunt. Pick whichever makes you feel better." She tilted her head, gaze unwavering. "You did not answer my question. Where is he... your operator, I mean?"

Ellie snorted sharply, then froze when Ares shot him a lethal glare.

Ares ignored him entirely. His focus stayed locked on Rhea. "Eberhard is not required at every meal."

"Interesting," Rhea said lightly. "I assumed since he enjoys controlling... you, he would be glued to your side." She paused, thoughtful. "I did not realize he gets breaks."

Ellie leaned toward her. "Rhea, please stop. Let us just eat."

Rhea lifted a shoulder as if that was the easiest request to dismiss.

Nikki suddenly scraped her seat back and stood, fists clenched. "I have lost my appetite."

Rhea raised her brows, completely calm. "Why? Because I am sitting close to my mate, or because I am genuinely concerned about your father?" She pressed a hand dramatically to her chest. "Neither of those seem like good reasons to lose appetite."

Nikki jabbed a finger at her. "You are insufferable."

"Thank you," Rhea said sweetly. "I try my best."

Nikki’s nostrils flared. She glanced between the Alpha and Rhea, stunned and furious, then spun on her heel and marched out of the hall. Lena and Lyra scrambled after her, snatching a few pieces of food from their plates as they hurried to catch up, chewing as they ran.

Ares let out a long, put-upon sigh that came straight from the soul. "Rhea," he said, voice low and frayed at the edges, "you really should learn when to quit."

Rhea muttered, "Whatever," under her breath, not bothering to hide the eye roll in her tone. She pushed back her chair, stood, and strolled around the table with the casual swagger of someone who had absolutely no regrets. She slipped into the seat beside Ellie and exhaled with exaggerated satisfaction.

"Now that she’s left," she said, picking up her fork again, "I can finally sit where I want and enjoy my food."

Ares stared at her, disbelief stamped all over his face. He blinked once, twice, trying to process the fact that she had gone out of her way just to provoke Nikki

And here you are, thinking she’s considering taking you back, his wolf muttered dryly inside him. Looks like you’ll have to try a lot harder.

Nikki stomped toward the hallway, every step a small earthquake of fury. Lyra and Lena scrambled after her, half-running as they stuffed the last bites of stolen food into their mouths. She moved so abruptly they didn’t expect her to halt, Nikki stopped dead, and both girls skidded to a near-collision right into her back.

"Take me to them," she said, not even giving them the courtesy of a glance

Lyra and Lena exchanged a quick, alarmed look. Lyra swallowed hard. "O-okay... if that’s what you want."

Nikki curled her fingers into fists, "lead the way," she growled. "I will make her pay for this insult."