Betrayed for a Mistress: The True Alpha Rises

Ainsley POV: Damian froze. He didn't deny it immediately, which was answer enough. He sighed, a sound of exaggerated patience. '"I didn't want to have this conversation while you were in this state," Damian said, smoothing his tie. "But yes. Someone has to carry the weight of this family, Ainsley. And since you're... broken..."' 'He gestured vaguely at my body.' "You're a ghost. A barren, broken vessel. The Pierce bloodline ends with you because your womb is a graveyard." The words hit me like physical blows. For years, I had wept over negative pregnancy tests, taken every bitter herb he gave me, hated my own body for failing him. "I did everything for you," I whispered. "You did nothing!" Damian snapped. "I am the one running this pack! I am the Acting Alpha! While you lay in bed feeling sorry for yourself, I am the one keeping this family relevant!" He stepped toward me, his hand raised as if to grab my shoulder. "Now sign the check. Casey has five children. Five healthy, strong wolves. They need tuition. Since you can't give me a child, the least you can do is support the future of our kind." He wanted me to pay for his mistress's children. He wanted me to fund the replacements for the children I couldn't have. Something inside me snapped. It sounded like a chain breaking. The fog in my brain lifted for a split second. My inner wolf, fueled by pure indignation, lunged against the invisible bars of my consciousness. My eyes, usually a dull hazel, flared. I couldn't see it, but I felt the burn as they shifted to a glowing, molten gold. "Don't touch me," I snarled. The voice that came out of my throat wasn't just mine. It was layered with a deep, guttural resonance that only an Alpha possesses. Damian stopped mid-step. His eyes widened. He hadn't seen my Alpha eyes in five years. "What..." he stammered, taking a step back. "I am Ainsley Pierce," I said, the power rolling off me in waves, making the air in the room heavy. "Daughter of the White Wolf line. And you are a low-ranking male who forgot his place." The golden glow in my eyes faded as quickly as it had appeared, leaving me dizzy and breathless. My body was still weak, the years of suppression taking their toll, but the mental clarity remained. Damian blinked, shaking his head as if to clear a hallucination. He laughed, a nervous, barking sound. "You almost had me there," he scoffed, straightening his jacket. "For a second, I thought the bitch actually had some bite left." Casey walked up behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist. She rested her chin on his shoulder, staring at me with open mockery. "She's pathetic, Damian," Casey said. "Look at her. Shaking like a leaf. The Moon Goddess really played a cruel joke giving the Pierce fortune to a mule." "A mule?" I repeated. "Sterile," she clarified, smiling sweetly. "Useless. My womb is blessed. I have five pups. What do you have? A dusty bank account and a husband who has to look elsewhere for warmth." Damian turned and kissed her forehead, right in front of me. "Don't waste your breath on her, my love. She doesn't understand what it means to be a true wolf. A true wolf breeds." He looked back at me, his face twisting into a sneer. '"Look, Ainsley, we're done pretending. Casey and the kids are moving into the East Wing tonight. I need them close. The commute is killing me, and frankly, I'm the one bringing in the value here."' My blood ran cold. "Excuse me?" "The East Wing is empty," Damian said, waving his hand dismissively. "The children need space to run. And Casey needs to be close to me. I'm tired of sneaking around. I am the Alpha in all but name, and an Alpha takes what he wants." "This is the Pack House," I said, my voice low. "It is sacred ground. You cannot bring a mistress and her brood into the ancestral home." "I can do whatever I want!" Damian shouted. "Because you are weak! The Elders listen to me. The business partners deal with me. You are just a figurehead, Ainsley. A signature on a check." He grabbed a crystal vase from the side table-a delicate piece my father had brought back from Italy-and weighed it in his hand. "This is what you are," he said. "Pretty, expensive, and fragile." He tossed the vase to Casey. She caught it, giggling. "Oops," she said, and let it drop. The crystal shattered on the hardwood floor. Thousands of shards exploded outward. "Get out," I whispered. "Make me," Damian challenged, stepping over the broken glass. He puffed out his chest, trying to intimidate me with his size. He was a Beta by birth, promoted only by marriage. He had no true Alpha aura, only the bluster of a bully. I looked at the broken glass. I looked at the man I had vowed to love and cherish. There was no love left. Only a cold, hard resolve. I reached for the heavy brass letter opener on my desk. "I said, get out!"