Too Late Alpha I’m Already Claimed

I stood outside the training grounds, the fury building inside me.

Then, I ran. I threw myself into the pouring rain, letting the cold storm rage with me.

My body was cold, but my heart was colder.

"Elara!"

A familiar voice called from behind me. I didn't turn around.

"Gods, what are you doing in the rain?" Ethan ran up to me, pulling off his jacket to wrap around my shoulders. "You'll get sick!"

I stepped away from him.

"Where were you?"

"I—" his eyes darted away. "I was getting something for you."

"What?"

"Moonpetal," he lied, his face a perfect mask of sincerity. "The rare plant that strengthens our bloodline. I scoured three black markets just to find it for you."

I stared into his wet eyes.

Such a beautiful lie.

Such a perfect actor.

"Moonpetal must be expensive," I said calmly.

"Not at all," he said quickly. "Nothing is too expensive for you. Come on, let's go back. You'll catch a cold."

Just then, a small figure ran out from a side door of the training grounds.

Selena.

She was wearing a delicate silk dress, completely wrong for a storm.

"Watch out!" She slipped on the wet stone and fell forward.

A brooch tumbled from her dress, shattering on the stone steps.

Blue petals scattered everywhere, glowing with a faint silver light.

Moonpetal.

A real Moonpetal brooch.

I looked at Ethan. The color drained from his face.

"What's this?" I knelt and picked up a petal.

"Don't touch it!" Selena scrambled toward me. "It's dangerous!"

She tried to gather the pieces, and a sharp edge sliced her palm.

Blood welled up instantly.

"Selena!" Ethan lunged forward, a wild look in his eyes.

He didn't even glance at me. He ripped his jacket from my shoulders and wrapped it around her.

Then he tore a strip from his own shirt to carefully bandage her hand.

On that strip of cloth was my family crest. I’d spent a month hand-stitching it for him in silver thread. A surprise.

Now it was a bandage for another woman.

"Does it hurt?" he asked her softly.

"A little," Selena whimpered, leaning into his chest.

"I'll take you to the healers."

"No, really, you don't have to—"

"We're going!" he cut her off firmly. Then he looked at me. "Elara, go back to the pack house. I'll come get you later."

Then he swept Selena into his arms and walked away.

Leaving me alone in the downpour.

I stared at the broken Moonpetal on the ground and slowly stood up.

So this was the "Moonpetal" he found for me at three black markets.

So this was why he was gone for three days.

So this was his "nothing is too expensive for you."

This was a sacred relic, meant to guarantee the purity of the next heir's power.

Now, he's used it as a cheap trinket to please his lover, only to see it shattered to pieces.

Rain and tears streamed down my face.

I stood there from dusk until late into the night.

He never came back.

My pack members found me hours later, still standing in the freezing rain.

The next morning, he finally showed up at my door.

"Elara, I'm so sorry," he said, his face a mask of guilt. "Rogues ambushed my patrol last night. I was trapped."

His clothes were clean.

His hair was neat.

But he smelled faintly of jasmine—Selena’s unique Omega scent.

"What ambush?" I stared at him, my face blank.

"Rogues. A sudden attack. I'm so sorry." He tried to hug me, but I moved away. "I promise I'll be with you all day to prepare for the ceremony."

"Don't bother." I turned to my vanity. "I can prepare by myself."

"Elara—"

"Get out," I said to my reflection. "I need to be alone."

He opened his mouth, then closed it and left.

At noon, we went to the pack's commercial center to get the last few things for tomorrow's ceremony.

As soon as we arrived, I heard arguing from above.

I looked up. Of course, it was Selena again.