Betrayed by Alpha, Stronger Than Ever
Chapter 1
At two in the morning, a call from my Alpha mate Merrick Thorne jolted me awake.
His voice was low and hoarse, tinged with panic. “Lina, something’s happened.”
I froze. “Aren’t you on a business trip? What’s wrong?”
He paused for a long moment, as if struggling to find the words. “Liliane… she’s pregnant. Five months along.”
My mind exploded with a thunderous crash. “You two?”
“No,” he immediately explained. “We never had any kind of relationship.”
I hadn’t even had time to feel relieved when Merrick continued, “The healer just contacted me. She collapsed, and I’m listed as her emergency contact. She’s still in the ER.”
When I arrived, the healer had just emerged. Thankfully, it was a false alarm. “The fetus is stable. We suspect the fainting was caused by malnutrition.”
Merrick leaned against the wall, his voice barely a whisper, as if his throat was blocked. “She did something foolish. She used my sperm.”
“What?” I whipped around, utterly shocked.
Merrick explained, “Remember that joint experiment I participated in with Sablecourt Pack in Calverin a few years ago? We all provided samples for genetic screening research. She… took mine. She said she didn’t want status or money. She just wanted to give me a child. She knew you couldn’t have children. She knew I actually… really wanted one.”
My head buzzed, and I couldn’t tell if what I felt was anger or absurdity.
This was the most hidden, most silent crack in our mate bond—something we tacitly never discussed.
And now, it was an outsider who had inserted herself using this method.
For a moment, my mind flashed through so many emotions—the fury of being betrayed by my mate, anger, sadness…
It felt like a thousand words were waiting for me to scream them in hysterical accusation.
“The patient is awake.” The healer’s interruption stopped the volcanic eruption.
In the ward, Liliane slowly opened her eyes. The first person she saw was me.
She struggled to sit up, her hands trembling as she grabbed my arm, her voice hoarse but determined. “Luna, I never intended to have any future with Alpha from the beginning. I know I have no right, but I want to give him a pup and complete your family. Please let me have this pup.”
I stood there, looking at her haggard but stubborn eyes, feeling like I couldn’t breathe.
Merrick stood behind me, his voice low. “Lina, the pup is innocent. So is she.”
I let out a bitter laugh. “Merrick, you waited five months to tell me. You really know how to manipulate me.”
He remained silent.
I had known for a long time that Liliane was different from others.
Her warrior father had died fighting for Silvermoon Pack. Since she was entrusted to Merrick at nineteen, she had always lingered on the edges of our lives.
Over the years, Merrick not only paid for her education and took care of her living expenses, but he also housed her in an apartment just three subway stops from our home, often personally picking her up and dropping her off.
Liliane never hid her feelings.
Those so-called “coincidences”—late-night texts asking for help, showing up at our door in thin clothing claiming her pipes had burst, conveniently falling ill when I was away on business trips and needing his care…
She grew bolder each time.
Unfortunately, Merrick never truly had the heart to refuse her.
He would keep a cold face and say it was “inappropriate,” but he never really cut ties.
Merrick said, “Her father died for Silvermoon Pack. She’s alone and helpless. I can’t be too heartless.”
He thought he was being clear enough, but he didn’t understand.
For a woman who had harbored feelings for him for so long, as long as he left any opening, it was enough to weave fantasies.
I nodded. “The pup has nothing to do with me. If you want to have it, go ahead.”
