Alpha's Betrayal Unveiled

I stumbled through the front door of the pack house—no, Alexander's house now—my body still numb from the council meeting. Three days had passed since my world shattered, yet the pain remained as fresh as the moment Alexander had spoken those rejection words. Each breath felt like inhaling shards of glass, the severed mate bond a constant, throbbing wound in my chest.

Aria whimpered inside me. *I can't feel him anymore. How can he just... cut us off?*

I had no answer for my wolf. She'd been restless since the rejection, alternating between howling in grief and growling in rage. Today, she was simply wounded, curled up in a corner of my consciousness.

The familiar scent of home—pine, leather, and Alexander's cedar musk—now felt like a cruel joke. This place that had been my sanctuary for seven years was becoming my prison. I paused in the entryway, gathering strength to face whatever new humiliation awaited me.

That's when I noticed the flowers.

A massive arrangement sat on the central table of the great room. Purple blooms with delicate, star-shaped petals cascaded from an ornate silver vase—wolfsbane. My throat tightened instantly at the sight.

"Alexander!" I called out, my voice already growing hoarse. "What are these doing here?"

He emerged from his study, looking irritated at the interruption. His eyes, once warm amber pools that melted when they met mine, now regarded me with cold detachment.

"What is it now, Victoria?" The way he said my name—like I was a stranger, an inconvenience—made Aria whimper again.

I gestured to the deadly purple flowers. "Wolfsbane? You know I'm severely allergic."

He glanced at the arrangement with complete indifference. "They're for Sarah. She mentioned they're her favorite."

"Her favorite?" I repeated incredulously. "They're poisonous to werewolves, Alexander. And I specifically can't even be in the same room—"

"Then perhaps you should find another room," he cut me off, turning back toward his study. "This is Sarah's home now. She should have what makes her happy."

I stood there, stunned by his callousness. The wolfsbane was already affecting me; my throat felt tight, and my eyes began to water. I backed away, trying to put distance between myself and the toxic blooms.

"Alexander, please," I called after him. "At least move them to another part of the house. I can't breathe—"

A dramatic gasp from the hallway interrupted me. Sarah stood there, one hand clutched to her stomach, the other braced against the wall. Her face contorted in what I immediately recognized as theatrical pain.

"Alexander," she moaned, her voice weak and trembling. "Something's wrong. I think... I think it's wolf sickness."

Wolf sickness was rare but serious—a condition that could affect females carrying potential Alpha heirs. My eyes narrowed. She couldn't possibly be...

Alexander was at her side in an instant, all attention focused on the woman who had stolen my life. "Sarah! What's happening?"

"I don't know," she whimpered, leaning heavily against him. "It came on so suddenly. I feel faint..."

Meanwhile, the wolfsbane was taking its toll on me. My airways were constricting, and panic flared as I struggled to draw breath. "Alexander," I gasped, "I need help—"

He didn't even look at me. "Not now, Victoria. Can't you see Sarah needs me?"

As he swept her up into his arms, Sarah's eyes met mine over his shoulder. The mask of pain slipped just enough for me to catch her smirk before she buried her face against his chest.

The wolfsbane dust had spread through the air of the corridor. Each breath became more difficult than the last. I stumbled backward, desperately trying to reach the door, but my vision was already tunneling.

"Please," I wheezed, but Alexander was already carrying Sarah away, murmuring soothing words to her.

My knees buckled. I collapsed to the floor, my throat closing completely now. Aria howled in terror as darkness crept in from the edges of my consciousness.

The last thing I saw was Elder Rowan, the pack healer, rushing toward me, his ancient face twisted with alarm. Behind him, Sarah's triumphant eyes peered from Alexander's protective embrace.

As consciousness slipped away, one thought crystallized through the haze of betrayal and pain: This was no accident. She was trying to kill me.