Ditched by My Fated Mate, Claimed by a Ruthless Alpha

My wolf howled in despair as his words confirmed the worst. Before I could unleash a word, Sophie's shrill whine cut through the air. "It's my fault!" "I only touched the Bloodsilk to... to give it my blessing, and then she attacked me!"​ Jocab's eyes bled from gold to crimson as he took in the handprint on Sophie's cheek. "Lily," his growl vibrated, "You know the law. She's my concubine mate, why do you lay your hands on her."​ "Look at the enchanted silver dagger!" Lily kicked the weapon forward, its edges still stained with my blood. "She aimed for the princess's heart! This is attempted regicide-a crime punishable by the moonfire ritual!"​ In a flash, Sophie lunged for the dagger. Her howl split the air as the blade plunged into her shoulder. "I meant no harm!" "Let my blood atone for the desecration!"​ Blood gushed from the wound, staining the ground in a macabre pattern. Jocab's roar shook the courtyard, shattering the stillness. He snatched the dagger away, he pressed down on the wound. His eyes, now blazing with a feral crimson, locked onto mine.​ "It's just fabric!" "You, the daughter of the Alpha King, reduce yourself to bullying a defenseless she wolf? I've shielded you from court gossip, told her to bear your jealousy, and this is how you repay me?"​ My wolf whimpered. Lily stepped forward. "Open your eyes, Alpha! She staged this! Her wound barely grazes the muscle-"​ "Silence!" His growl rumbled through the air. "I would've torn my own throat out for her! But when I merely asked her to show a shred of mercy to Sophie-the defenseless she wolf-what had she done? "​ Jocab's eyes, once a warm amber, now glowed with a menacing scarlet hue. He didn't spare me a second glance. With a tenderness that made my heart ache, he scooped Sophie into his arms. The little she wolf whimpered, her tiny form trembling against his broad chest.​ Lily's wolf was in a frenzy. "A concubine mate who dares to offend a princess must face the ultimate punishment! Mr. Winslow, are you willing to betray the ancient pack laws written in the blood of our ancestors?"​ Jocab froze. When he slowly turned, his face was contorted into a terrifying snarl. "If punishment is what the law demands," he hissed"then as her true mate, bound by the sacred moonstone vows, I will bear the full brunt of it. " The first strike shattered the silence like thunder. Jocab's back arched. T he scent of his blood-rich, earthy,exploded in the air. Yet he remained silent.​ With each subsequent blow, the staff carved deeper, drawing rivers of crimson that dripped onto the ground. Sophie's wails echoed. "Stop! It's my fault!" she shrieked.​ As the punishment ended, Jocab's body trembled. But the moment Sophie threw herself into his arms, his eyes-still glowing with residual fire-softened. "Shh," he crooned. "You're safe now."​ I watched, my own wolf howling in silent agony. The bond that had once been a lifeline now throbbed with a pain worse than any physical wound. My knees buckled, and Lily caught me just in time. "Your Highness," "his wolf has chosen. Let this dead bond rest."​ Closing my eyes, I let the scent of his blood wash over me one last time. I made a vow to my wolf. No longer will I pine for a shadow. I am the daughter of the Alpha King, and I will face the Greyfield Alpha as an equal, not a broken - hearted mate.