Abandoned by My Mate, Saved by the Rogue Alpha King

Eleanor' POV: I honestly don't care what Carl's up to anymore. Whatever game he's playing now just doesn't matter. He's using Katherine to get under my skin, trying to get me to fall apart like I used to. I used to love him so much, and now all I feel is disappointment. Carl will never realize I've stopped caring. My heart's done-it doesn't beat for him anymore. I followed his words and stepped into the room the staff had cleaned up. I stayed quiet, waiting while they prepared food downstairs. Unlike those loud-mouth omegas back at the Alpha's house, the wolves here were polite and kept to themselves. One came up calmly to tell me dinner was ready. I picked out a few things I liked and ate just enough to fill myself. On my way back, I grabbed a blank notebook and a couple of pencils from downstairs. Back in my room, I holed up and started doing some math-figuring out what little I actually owned. But without a phone or bank card, I couldn't even check my pathetic balance right now. Being Carl's mate didn't change the fact-I was still dirt poor. Nada. The rewards the Stormfang Pack gave my parents? None of that ever belonged to me. I didn't get a cent. Carl didn't even bother giving me any living expenses. Half my tuition came from my grandma. The rest? Scholarships and whatever I earned grinding through part-time jobs. Now the organizers want me to give the trophy back and return the prize money too. It sounds crazy, but there's nothing I can do-they left me no choice. I lay on my bed, feeling this heavy ache in my chest I couldn't shake. My hand drifted to my neck, touching the moon-shaped gemstone pendant that always hung there. Carl gave it to me eleven years ago, after he saved me. It was when I started caring for him, and later, I became his mate. No matter what happened, I never had the heart to let it go. But now? I might have to. I clutched the light blue stone tight, whispering a quiet prayer to the Moon Goddess. I borrowed some cash from one of the staff at the estate. Thankfully, they said yes, so I was finally able to hop a ride and head to this local trade market. This was the place where werewolves dealt in gems, but I had no clue if my necklace would even get an offer. "Hey, do you guys buy gemstones here?" I asked as I walked up to a random stall that didn't have anyone around. I slipped off my necklace and set it gently on the table in front of the vendor. He gave me a once-over, clearly trying to gauge something, then leaned in to inspect the stone. "Yeah, sure. How much are you hoping to get from it?" "I don't really know-what would you offer?" I asked, a bit unsure. I never really understood gemstones, but I knew this one meant something-and it had to be worth a lot. But something I said must've given the stall owner the wrong idea. He looked at me like I was clueless and sighed dramatically. "The color's nice, sure, but the shape's off. Looks like it's missing a piece, right?" "Yeah," I nodded, keeping my tone flat. "So all I can offer is..." He dragged it out like it pained him. "Five hundred." "Seriously?" I stared at him, totally floored. He crossed his arms and gave me that smug, dismissive look. I snatched the necklace back and scoffed. "Forget it. I'm not selling." "I'll go up to two thousand, tops," he snapped at my back, clearly pissed. "You might want to think twice-if I turn it down, nobody else around here's gonna take it either!" Yeah, that was a threat if I'd ever heard one. Still, no way I was letting it go for that cheap. I hit up a few more stalls after that. But whatever power he had, it was real. None of the other wolves wanted to touch it. "Excuse me, miss," I was wandering around, already feeling let down, when a well-dressed man suddenly approached me. "I noticed your moonstone necklace-it's quite something. Any chance you're selling? Maybe we can talk price?" He gave me a friendly smile, that sharp suit of his totally clashing with the rough vibe of the market. Didn't strike me as a regular vendor. I didn't even bother responding-just shot him a look and kept walking. But he didn't give up. Instead, he stepped closer and held out a hand. "Please, trust me. I really do deal in gemstones. Look, that's my shop right over there. Would you mind coming inside? We can chat properly." I paused and followed his finger to a humble little store tucked in the corner. That made me ease up a bit, so I nodded. I trailed behind him as he led the way. "Name's Zane," he said as we entered. He didn't mention a last name. Then again, most werewolves around here kept a low profile. His name rang a bell, though. I wasn't sure where I'd heard it before, but it sounded familiar. Strangely, he looked a bit awkward as he stepped inside, like he wasn't used to the place. Odd. But before I could think more, he quickly grabbed a magnifying glass from the table and leaned in to examine the necklace. "This... wow, this is a great piece. The moonstone's flawless," he murmured. Then, with a weird look, he asked, "Is there a second one?" "Nope, this is the only one I've got," I replied honestly. "Oh, so... where's it from?" "It was a gift from someone. I'm just curious what kind of offer you can make." I felt a little anxious. I was broke, and I needed to get a phone-and still have some money left to survive. If not, I had no idea how I was supposed to start over. "Thirty grand," Zane said, watching me closely. "How's that sound?" I didn't hesitate. "That's a bit low." Truth was, I had no clue what it was worth. Thirty thousand dollars sounded like a fortune to me. I just said that to see if he'd go higher. "Fifty. That's my max," Zane said, voice firm. "If that works for you, I'll transfer it right now. If not, you'll have to try your luck elsewhere." "Deal," I replied calmly. "But I don't have my card on me. Can you send it to my account directly?" He gave me a suspicious look, so I added, "Also, I'll need some of it in cash." He hesitated for a moment, and I just stood there quietly, waiting for him to decide. Out of nowhere, Zane turned and glanced toward a corner. I instinctively followed his gaze-and that's when I noticed someone sitting there. He was so still, it was like he blended into the shadows. His messy black hair dropped over striking green eyes that held a wild intensity. Tall, built, and clearly not your average wolf-how had I missed him until now? A mask covered half his face, like he didn't want anyone recognizing him. Our eyes locked. Those deep green eyes didn't waver, and I suddenly felt my heartbeat speeding up. I got a little nervous under his stare. "Ethan," he said casually as he stood up. Zane gave a respectful nod in his direction, and that clued me in-this guy wasn't just some random wolf. He was important. And he'd just told me his name. I didn't keep up with the other packs that much, so the name Ethan didn't ring any bells for me. "Hi, sir," I said awkwardly, fidgeting with my fingers. Zane stepped away to process the payment, leaving just me and Ethan. "Relax," Ethan said, hands tucked into his pockets as he glanced at me. "Who gave you that necklace?" His stare didn't let up. My breath caught a little, and I swallowed hard. "It was a gift... from a wolf I knew." There's no way I was dropping Carl's name-I had no idea if Ethan knew him, and I wasn't about to take that risk. Ethan frowned slightly, but that cold, distant look quickly crept back onto his face. He rubbed his chin like he was trying to figure something out, but in the end, all he did was throw me a weird smile and drop the conversation. I kept my head down, doing my best to stay invisible. I had zero interest in talking to a guy like him-he gave off the same overpowering vibe Carl used to. My gut told me he was probably an alpha. What would an alpha even be doing in a place like this? Not my problem anymore. I took the stack of cash Zane handed me and walked off without looking back. "Goodbye, Carl. We're done, for real this time." I cast one last glance over my shoulder, more sarcastic than sentimental. That necklace was the last thing tying me to him-now it's gone. With the cash in hand, I bought myself a new phone, then grabbed a ride back home. On the drive, staring out the window, my mind drifted back. My dad, Jack, was a delta in the Stormfang Pack. So was my grandpa, Daniel. He fought his whole life for the Pack, loyal to a fault. During a rogue attack, he took a fatal hit protecting Alpha Remy. Daniel didn't make it, and out of gratitude, Remy gave our family the privileges of a gamma rank. I've got a younger sister, but Remy always liked me best. That's why he picked me to be with Carl. Carl and I had our ceremony under the witness of the Moon Goddess and Remy, and it was Remy who gave us his blessing. Because of that, I became the Luna, and the two of us were seen as one of the more privileged pairs in the Stormfang Pack. Even though they never really cared about me, that place had still been my home. They enjoyed everything, while I took all the pain. I hadn't been back in ages. "Ma'am, we've arrived," the werewolf driving gently reminded me from the front seat. Snapping out of my thoughts, I took a shaky breath, opened the car door, and walked up to the villa that felt both familiar and foreign. "What are you doing back from Alpha Carl's place?" a sharp voice suddenly cut through the air.