Betrayed by My Alpha Mate

Morning light streamed through our bedroom window, painting everything in a golden glow that felt like a mockery of the darkness I now carried inside. I moved through the kitchen with practiced ease, the scent of bacon and fresh coffee filling the air as I prepared Lucca's favorite breakfast. My hands didn't shake. My face didn't betray me. If anything, I smiled more than usual, the expression feeling like a mask I was trying on for size.

I arranged the bacon in a perfect lattice pattern, the way he liked it, and added a side of scrambled eggs with a touch of chives. The plate looked like something from a magazine spread—beautiful, flawless, and completely hollow. Just like our relationship.

'Something smells incredible,' Lucca's voice drifted from the bedroom, warm and appreciative. I heard the shower shut off, followed by the sound of a towel being snapped.

'Good morning,' I said, setting the plate on our dining table. 'I thought you might be hungry after last night.'

He appeared in the doorway, his hair still damp and his smile bright. 'You're the best, you know that?' He kissed me on the cheek, his lips barely grazing my skin, and I wondered if he'd always kissed me like I was an afterthought.

'I have something for you,' I said, reaching into the drawer where I'd hidden the small velvet box. I placed it on the table beside his plate.

Lucca's eyes lit up with genuine surprise as he opened it. Inside lay a custom-engraved silver watch, its face gleaming in the morning light. 'Samara, this is... this must have cost a fortune. You shouldn't have.'

'Only the best for my mate,' I replied, the words tasting like ash on my tongue. 'I had it engraved with our initials and the date we met. I thought... well, I thought it could be part of our mate ceremony memories.'

His expression softened, and for a moment, I saw the wolf who'd made me believe I was loved. 'It's perfect. I love it.'

He fastened it around his wrist, admiring how it looked. 'I'll wear it every day, I promise.'

I nodded, already knowing he would. Men like Lucca loved gifts that fed their ego, and this one was tailored perfectly for his vanity.

After he left for his morning run, I waited until I heard the front door close. Then I walked to my desk, pulled open the bottom drawer, and removed a manila folder labeled 'Mate Ceremony Memories.' Inside, I tucked the receipt for the watch—$2,500 from the jeweler in town—alongside other receipts I'd been collecting. The folder was already thick, filled with evidence of my devotion and his deception.

The paper trail was just the beginning.

Later that day, I drove to Black Moon territory, the engine of my car purring as I navigated the winding roads. The interview for the Beta assistant position was scheduled for two o'clock, and I couldn't afford to be late.

The Black Moon Pack House loomed ahead, a sprawling structure of stone and timber that radiated power and stability. I parked in the visitor's lot and took a deep breath, Selene stirring anxiously within me.

'Relax,' I murmured to her. 'We've got this.'

Beta Damon Cruz met me at the entrance, his handshake firm and his eyes assessing. 'Ms. Wagner,' he said, his voice deep and professional. 'Thank you for coming. Shall we begin?'

The interview room was sparse but elegant, with a large oak table and several chairs. Damon didn't waste time on pleasantries. Instead, he launched into a series of questions designed to test my knowledge of pack management, territory disputes, and inter-pack relations.

I answered each one with precision, drawing on years of observation and study. I might be an Omega in Silvermoon, but I'd always been a student of pack politics.

'Impressive,' Damon said after I'd finished outlining a strategy for resolving a hypothetical territory dispute. 'You think like a Beta.'

The door opened before I could respond, and the room's entire atmosphere shifted. Alpha Colton Hansen entered, his presence filling the space like a physical force. His dark eyes locked onto mine, and I felt Selene stir again, more alert this time.

'Ms. Wagner,' he said, his voice low and controlled. 'I've reviewed your application. The position is yours.'

I blinked, caught off guard by his immediate decision. 'Just like that?'

His lips quirked in what might have been a smile. 'Just like that.'

As he spoke, I caught his scent—cedarwood and cool night air, crisp and clean. It triggered something deep within me, a recognition I wasn't ready to name.

'Start tomorrow,' he continued, already turning to leave. 'Damon will show you to your office.'

The door closed behind him, but his aura lingered, wrapping around me like a promise I didn't understand.