The Alpha Who Staged My Assault

That evening, I arrived at the pack hall, dropped off by the pack’s driver. As soon as I stepped inside, a bucket of wolfsbane-infused water was dumped all over me. The acrid scent burned my nostrils, and I froze, the liquid soaking through my dress.

"How can you walk into a place like this without any shame?"

The voice was sharp, venomous. I turned to see my mother, her face twisted with rage. Her scent—bitter and cold—hit me like a slap. To her, I was nothing but a disgrace—an Omega’s daughter who had dared to rise above her station, only to fall spectacularly.

"Can you not show yourself in public like some spectacle? Afraid the pack hasn’t learned how many Alphas you’ve been with? Do you realize how many positions I’ve lost because of you? Having you was a curse!"

Her words cut deeper than the wolfsbane. I clenched my fists, trying to steady my trembling hands.

"Please, just leave me alone!"

The crowd in the hall had turned to watch, their whispers carrying through the air like a low growl.

"That’s Serena Rivera, isn’t it?"

"The one who was supposed to mate with Alpha Arlo? But then she was caught with three rogues in the woods. He rejected her right after."

I’d always known they looked down on me. They believed I was clinging to Alpha Arlo, and the rumors that had spread like wildfire only added fuel to their disdain. Many times, I’d wanted to throw the mating bond in their faces, but I’d always held back. I didn’t want to cause trouble for Alpha Arlo. As long as he cared for me, I felt no need to justify myself to the pack.

But now, he and Leyla stood together, dressed in the finest pack attire, showing no intention of defending me. I was nothing more than a fool, deceived by a fake bond for three years.

Feeling my wolf stir in the back of my mind, I turned to leave.

"Wait a minute."

The voice was sharp, commanding. It was Celia Brown, the Luna of the Red Moon Pack. She linked her arm with Leyla’s, her expression dripping with disdain.

"Today, on my birthday, I want to announce that Leyla is expecting our first grandchild."

Her gaze turned toward me, cold and unyielding.

"Some should know better than to stay close to my son. Who knows how much damage they’ve done to themselves to the point of infertility, yet they act as if nothing happened. If it were me, I wouldn’t have the nerve to show my face."

The air in the hall grew heavy, the weight of her words pressing down on me. I trembled, unable to tear my gaze away from Alpha Arlo. I searched for any hint of emotion in his expression, but there was none. Just that same detached calm that had become his trademark.

A bitter smile crept onto my lips. I felt utterly drained, knowing all this was his doing, yet his face showed no trace of remorse.

I mustered the last of my strength and ran out of the hall.

My phone buzzed relentlessly. Alpha Arlo was desperately apologizing and explaining:

"The pup is Leyla and her Beta’s. She said after the pup is born, they’ll let us be godparents. It’ll be like our child."

"Serena, I thought my mother accepted you when she invited you. I couldn’t help you earlier. Please, just go home first."

Lies. Nothing but lies.

These years, he could have stopped the rumors from spreading, yet when they were uploaded to the pack’s mind link, they stayed there for three whole days before being removed. He could have squashed the whispers. But he did nothing.

He always asked for understanding.

Yet the pain was real and inflicted on me.

Outside, the rain poured down heavily, and after two hours, I still couldn’t get a ride.

A black SUV pulled up in front of me. It was Ishaan Simmons, the pack’s healer.

Through the raindrops on the window, I barely made out his striking features, composed and cool.

"Get in, I’ll take you home."

Given that my ride request was still unfulfilled, I accepted his offer.

"I thought you’d never agree to the ritual, but I’m glad you prioritized yourself. You have to love yourself first to love others. Trust me, whatever happens post-ritual will be the best outcome."

Back then, sacrificing my health and well-being for Alpha Arlo was a disastrously wrong choice.

After getting out of the car, I intended to go inside, grab my bags, and leave.

To my surprise, Leyla was seated on the sofa. Seeing me, she got up, clearly having waited for me.

Her eyes scanned me up and down, and she let out a mocking laugh.

"I didn’t know your skin was this thick! Did you enjoy watching me and Alpha Arlo together? Still shamelessly hanging around here, do you realize you’re the other woman? And the worst part? You’re too vile even to be a mistress. The Alpha you love finds you disgusting!"

Her laughter shook her body under my gaze.

"An Omega’s daughter trying to snatch the position of Luna from me? You know that day, Alpha Arlo and I watched the whole scene from next door, right? The pup wasn’t lost. Alpha Arlo personally ordered the healer to terminate it because your blood wasn’t worthy of mingling with the Browns."