Betrayed by My Alpha Mate

The bass from the karaoke bar pulsed through my chest like a second heartbeat, each thump making my temples throb. I watched Lucca laughing with his pack brothers, his arm slung casually over Delta Marcus's shoulder as they belted out some terrible rendition of an old pack anthem. The crowd was a sea of familiar faces from Silvermoon, all here to celebrate our territory's founding anniversary.

I'd been smiling for two hours straight, playing the perfect Luna-to-be, but the noise was finally winning. 'I need some air,' I murmured to Mira, who nodded with understanding before turning back to her own conversation.

The cool night air hit my face like a blessing as I slipped through the bar's side door. Silvermoon territory at night was beautiful—the trees rustled gently, and moonlight painted everything in silver and shadow. I took a deep breath, letting Selene, my wolf, stretch contentedly within me. For just a moment, I could pretend I was alone with the night sky.

Then I heard Lucca's voice.

'She's so easy to manage, you guys have no idea.' His tone was casual, amused, the way someone might talk about a particularly well-behaved pet. 'I mean, look at her. She's always there, always happy to see me, always making sure everything's perfect. It's like having a live-in maid who's also really good in bed.'

I froze, my hand still on the door handle. Through the gap, I could see him leaning against the brick wall, surrounded by his pack brothers. He looked so relaxed, so comfortable sharing this truth with them.

'But that's not the best part,' Lucca continued, and I heard the smile in his voice. 'The best part is that she smells just like Paulina. Not exactly, of course—nobody could ever be exactly like Paulina—but close enough that sometimes, when she's wearing that vanilla perfume, I can almost pretend. It's like having a stand-in for the one that got away. And the best part? She has no idea. She actually thinks I love her for who she is. Isn't that funny?'

The world stopped. Selene howled in agony inside me, clawing at my insides, desperate to burst out and make him pay. But I held her down, my grip on her mental leash so tight it felt like it might break.

'So you're just waiting for Paulina to come back?' Delta Marcus asked, and I heard the laughter in his voice.

'What can I say? A wolf can dream,' Lucca replied, and the group erupted in knowing chuckles. 'Until then, Samara's... sufficient. More than sufficient, really. She's practically perfect. But we all know who the real prize is. Always has been. Always will be.'

I stood there in the shadows, my entire body numb. The cool night air felt like ice against my skin, but I couldn't move, couldn't breathe. Every memory of our time together flashed through my mind—every kiss, every whispered promise, every moment I'd thought was real. It had all been a lie. I was nothing but a placeholder, a warm body that smelled like his obsession.

Selene whimpered, and for a moment, I let her grief wash over me. Then I swallowed it whole, letting it crystallize into something harder, colder, more useful than tears.

I heard footsteps approaching and quickly stepped deeper into the shadows. Lucca appeared around the corner, his face lighting up when he saw me. 'There you are, beautiful,' he said, wrapping an arm around my waist and pulling me close. 'I was wondering where you'd gone.'

I looked up at him, at the face I'd memorized, at the eyes I'd once thought held love for me. Now I saw him clearly—not as my mate, but as a man who'd used me, who was still using me, who saw me as nothing more than a convenient substitute for the woman he really wanted.

And I smiled. Not the smile of a broken heart, but the smile of a wolf who'd finally found her teeth.

'Just needed some air,' I said softly, leaning into his embrace. 'It's so loud in there. But I'm ready to go back in now. I wouldn't want to miss the celebration. After all, it's important to support the pack, isn't it?'

As we walked back into the bar together, his arm warm around my shoulders, I made a silent vow to the Moon Goddess and to myself. Lucca Boyd would pay for this betrayal, and he would pay in full. But not with tears. Not with screams. I would make him regret the day he ever thought he could use me as a stand-in for someone else's shadow.