You Used Me to Become Alpha, So I Married Your Uncle

My mate of 4 years was cheating on me with my childhood friend while planning to use me as a stepping stone to become Alpha.

I found out just days before our mating ceremony. I had gone out to look for him when I heard moans coming from behind the massive rose bush.

Kai's tongue was shoved into Celia's mouth as they fondled each other like they had been starved for years.

My stomach sank at the sight, and my ears rang. For a second I had thought my eyes were failing me until I heard Celia's voice.

She moved slowly away from Kai as her face settled into a sulking state. “When are you going to make me your Luna,”. Her voice low, almost a whisper as she turned her back to him.

“Why do I have to tolerate Maya as your mate, it's not like she is in any way better than I am.”

Her words cut like nothing else. Celia and I had grown up together, right from when we were pups. We were practically joined but the hips. After her parents, who had been Gammas, died, my parents took her in. I trusted her even to the point of her being the first person I told about Kai being my mate.

By this time I had not even realized that I had gripped a rose so hard its thorns were piercing through my hand.

The words he spoke next further damned our mate bond to hell.

Kai smiled, indulging her as he cupped her face tenderly “You won't have to tolerate this for long. Remember we still need her family's influence to make me Alpha.”

The moment these words landed, It felt like the moon goddess had decided to punish me. My throat tightened and it felt like someone had their hands to my neck strangling me.

My feet were rooted to the ground while my wolf curled into herself, trembling in pain.

"What if she finds out? Your plan will be ruined.”

Kai only smirked before stealing another kiss. "She won't."

His answer came without a trace of guilt.

"Maya trusts us with her life.”

Celia rested both hands on his chest and pouted. "I hate watching you act like you love her. Every time she holds your hand, I want to rip it away."

Kai laughed, completely entertained by her jealousy.

"If it weren't for the elders that still think bloodlines matter, I would not be with her at all. Once I marry into her family, every noble house supporting them will support me too."

He shrugged as though using me was the most natural thing in the world.

"My uncle has spent years watching every step I take. Nothing is ever good enough for him. Win one battle, and he asks why I didn't win two. Secure one border, and he asks why I haven't secured the kingdom. As long as he's Regent, I'll never be seen as worthy of becoming Alpha.”

Celia laughed happily before wrapping herself around him again. "I knew you'd never choose her over me."

"How could I?" Kai murmured. "You know I only accepted the mate bond because she was the Ashbourne heiress. My family needed powerful allies, and I needed a woman with enough influence to silence the elders. Love was never part of the deal."

Every word landed like claws tearing through flesh. My wolf let out a broken cry inside me. She wasn't just angry. She was grieving.

We had been mates for four years now. Kai's and my mateship was unexpected. I found out that we were mates before Kai even realized it. He only found out during an event organized by the Regent.

And after that he confessed about how he had been longing for a mate and how glad he was to have found me.

At that time, Kai wasn't even a commander. He was only the captain of a small border unit with more ambition than influence. My father had supported him when the council dismissed him as an ordinary soldier with impossible dreams.

My family funded his campaigns, introduced him to noble houses, and convinced the elders to give him opportunities he never would have received alone.

Every promotion after that became easier because everyone knew he was the future mate of House Ashbourne's only daughter.

I thought we were building that future together.

To him...

I had only been another ladder to climb. A means to an end.

As though fate wanted to make something known to me, my phone suddenly vibrated in my hand. The sharp sound shattered the silence and I quickly silenced it .

I looked down and it was my mom calling.

My hand lingered on the end button. But I changed my mind at the last second.

The first thing I heard was my mother's warm voice. “I know what you always say, I know you love your mate but your father and I wanted to ask one last time.”

I looked up at the sight before me. A rendezvous between people I thought were family of people I had trusted. Celia was in his arms again.

“The Regent has still not withdrawn his proposal”

Hearing that made me smile bitterly. Three years ago the Regent had personally come to our estate to ask for my hand.

The acting ruler of every wolf pack. The strongest wolf in the kingdom. The man every commander feared disappointing.

Kai's own uncle.

Every noble family thought I would accept without hesitation. Instead, I rejected him before he could even finish speaking.

Because I loved my mate and because I believed love was worth more than power.

Clearly I had never been more wrong.

My mother sighed softly. "If you've changed your mind... this is your last chance.”

Their words kept ringing in my head. My wolf whined in pain as tears threatened to fall.

Without looking away from the man who had wasted four years of my life and someone who I had considered a sister.

I said to my mother “Accept the proposal, I will be marrying the Regent”.