The Alpha's Decoy_ Traded to Save His First Love

Harper POV

Two guards drove Mason's face into the hallway runner. His jaw hit the floorboards with a dull thud.

"Keep your eyes open, Mason," Caleb ordered.

He yanked me against his chest. Mason’s eyes bulged, bloodshot and frantic. He strained against the heavy boots pressing into his spine, his fingers clawing at the expensive wool rug.

"Do not touch her!" Mason yelled, his voice rough with desperation.

Caleb’s hand clamped the back of my neck, right over the fresh, raw bite. I gasped from the sharp sting, and he smashed his mouth over mine. It wasn't a kiss. It was a brand. His teeth scraped my lower lip, tasting of iron. I shoved at his solid chest, my palms slipping against his silk shirt. He only tightened his grip, crushing my ribs against him.

He finally tore his mouth away. He wrapped a heavy arm around my waist, pulling me so flush against his side I could feel his erratic heartbeat.

"Memorize this sight," Caleb sneered down at the struggling man. "Do not covet what belongs to your Alpha. She is mine."

"You forced her into that contract!" Mason roared, spitting blood onto the carpet. "She doesn't want you!"

"I claimed her," Caleb corrected flatly. "Love is for weak men who cannot control their territory."

He turned, dragging me by the waist into the master bedroom. He slammed the heavy oak door right in Mason's face. The lock clicked loudly.

"Release him," I demanded, rubbing my bruised mouth.

"Worry about yourself," Caleb replied, unbuttoning his cuffs. "You are my Luna now. Start acting like it."

Twenty-four hours later, the heavy silk of the ceremonial Luna gown weighed on my shoulders like armor. I gripped Caleb’s forearm as we descended the grand staircase into the estate's ballroom.

"This dress is suffocating," I whispered, trying to loosen the tight bodice.

"It serves its purpose," Caleb said, staring straight ahead. "Tonight is the family gala. The warm-up for Mason’s engagement."

"Forced engagement," I corrected.

"An alliance," he countered. "One you will support."

Chloe stood at the edge of the dance floor, waiting. Her crimson dress caught the chandelier light. She held two flutes of champagne and extended one to Caleb as we reached the bottom step.

She leaned in, her perfume thick and cloying. "Thank you, Alpha," she murmured, her voice pitched so only the three of us could hear. "You cleared the biggest obstacle out of my way."

"I am standing right here, Chloe," I snapped.

She cut her eyes toward me, a victorious smirk playing on her glossed lips. "Not for long. You belong in the east wing now."

"She isn't an obstacle anymore," Caleb replied to Chloe, his voice smooth. He didn't look at me. He just patted Chloe’s bare shoulder, his touch indulgent. "Enjoy your night, Chloe. He will fall in line."

"He always does, eventually," Chloe laughed, sipping her drink.

The string quartet struck up a waltz.

"Section four," Caleb muttered, dropping my arm. "Maintain the facade."

"By leaving me alone?" I asked.

"By staying quiet," he warned. "Do not cause a scene."

He stepped forward, offering his hand to Chloe. She took it with a practiced giggle, and he led her to the center of the floor.

I stood abandoned at the base of the stairs. The glittering crowd parted around me, their whispers buzzing like angry hornets.

"Look at her. Tossed aside on her second night," a woman in a blue gown said loudly.

"An Alpha needs a real Luna, not a charity case," a man next to her agreed.

A tall woman in a green dress leaned toward her companion. "I give it a month before he locks her in the attic permanently."

"I can hear you," I said clearly, staring directly at the woman in green.

She startled, stepping back, but the mocking smiles around her didn't fade. I kept my spine rigid, forcing my chin up. I refused to cry. Instead, I let out a dry, unexpected laugh.

A large hand clamped around my wrist, snapping my attention away from the glaring faces.

Before I could speak, Mason jerked me into the crush of dancing couples. He dragged me straight into his chest, his arm wrapping around my waist like a vice. He spun me toward the dark edge of the room, away from the glaring lights.

"Mason, stop," I hissed, stumbling over the hem of my heavy skirt.

He ignored me, turning us frantically to the rhythm of the music. His chest heaved, radiating unnatural heat.

"I have a car waiting by the south gate," he whispered, his hot breath brushing my ear. "We leave tonight. Right now."

"Are you insane?" I pushed against his shoulders. "He will kill you."

"I do not care," Mason pleaded, his voice cracking. "I am not marrying Chloe. I am not letting him lock you away."

"He marked me, Mason," I argued, glancing nervously over his shoulder. "He will track us."

"I paid off the gatekeeper," Mason insisted, his grip tightening on my waist. "Just say yes. Walk out the side door with me."

"Mason, release me," I ordered, panic rising in my throat.

"Please," he begged. "Just come with me."

We hadn't been touching for three seconds when the air in the room vanished.

A suffocating, crushing pressure slammed into my chest. The Alpha aura exploded outward, thick and violent.

All around us, crystal champagne flutes shattered in unison. Glass rained down on the polished floor with a sharp clatter. The music screeched to a halt. Guests dropped to their knees, clutching their throats as the oppressive power forced submission.

I whipped my head around.

Caleb shoved Chloe aside so hard she shrieked, tripping over her red hem and sprawling onto the tiles. He didn't even glance at her. He stalked through the terrified crowd, the guests scrambling to get out of his path.

"Get your hands off my mate," Caleb snarled.

His voice vibrated the floorboards. Mason stepped in front of me, shielding my body with his.

"She doesn't want you!" Mason shouted back.

Caleb lunged. He bypassed Mason's defensive stance entirely, grabbing him by the collar of his dress shirt and lifting him inches off the floor.

"Put him down!" I screamed, grabbing Caleb's forearm.

Caleb turned his head, fixing his gaze on me. The human blue of his irises was gone, replaced entirely by the dark, glowing gold of his wolf.

His claws extended, piercing the fabric of Mason's shirt, drawing beads of crimson blood against the white collar.

"Tear his throat out," Caleb commanded the two guards rushing into the room.