Alpha Vanished After Six Years Bond

It's been five years since I formed a sacred bond with Julian Chase, and on our fifth New Year together, he vanished into thin air.

I stumbled into the enforcers' station, my heart pounding like a drum in my chest. The enforcer behind the desk skimmed my report, his face twisting into something odd, almost suspicious.

"She-wolf, you're saying your mate is Julian Chase? What's your name, then?"

"I'm Clara Joyner. Any word on my mate?" My fingers twisted the hem of my shirt, a nervous tic. I couldn't see his expression, but I could feel the weight of his stare. My world's been dark since the accident stole my sight.

He slammed a fist on the desk, making me jump. "She-wolf, cooperate. Give us your real name!"

I froze, confused. "I'm Clara. That's my name."

A snicker came from behind me, some punk with a nasal drawl. "Blind she-wolf, you think you can pass as her just 'cause you look similar?"

"Everyone in Galathia Pack knows Julian got Clara a yacht worth ten billion to celebrate her carrying his pup. Her socials are blowing up-grids of nine, trending for days."

Across the room, a massive LED screen blared an interview with Julian.

"New Year's yesterday, Julian. What's your wish for the great pack?"

"For my precious mate to have a smooth delivery, safe and joyful."

"Thank you, my love." A sweet, familiar voice cut through the air-Lydia Pearl's. My scalp prickled, my face drained of color.

Five years ago, a car crash stole my sight, and Julian was wrecked. The whole Galathia Pack whispered that the Chase pack's alpha would never bind himself to a blind she-wolf. Someone even slipped a college she-wolf, Lydia, who looked eerily like me, into his bed.

When Julian found out, he nearly tore her apart, his eyes blazing with rage. "Get out! Clara's the only one in my heart. Any she-wolf who looks like her makes me sick!"

That night, he sped to the hospital, wrapping me in a desperate embrace, his hot tears soaking my shoulder. "My love, let's bind ourselves tomorrow. I want you as the rightful she-wolf of the Chase pack."

Everyone knew Julian was crazy for me and despised Lydia.

So why was Lydia now posing as "Clara," standing by his side?

My heart felt like it had been ripped open, cold wind howling through the wound. What in the moon's name was going on?

I had to find Julian and get answers. But as I staggered out of the enforcers' station, a falling billboard crashed down, knocking me out cold. Just before the darkness swallowed me, I heard a frantic voice screaming, "My mate! What happened to you?"

When I came to, a blinding white light stabbed my eyes. I blinked, stunned. My vision-miraculously-was back.

Before I could take in the strange new world around me, voices drifted through the door-Julian and his best friend, Ethan Stone.

"Julian, how long are you gonna let Lydia play Clara? It's been five years!" Ethan's voice was sharp.

Julian exhaled, pain lacing his words. "I don't know. The old wolves of the Chase pack wouldn't let me bind with a blind she-wolf. I loved Clara too much, so I lied-said her eyes were healed and had Lydia stand in."

"But those old wolves are gone now! Why keep this up?"

"Lydia's carrying my pup!" Julian snapped, his voice frayed. "And. I don't know why, but the longer this goes on, the more I can't let her go."

Ethan's shock was palpable. "You're out of your mind! You're falling for Lydia? Have you forgotten? Her drunk brother caused the crash that blinded Clara!"

"Enough!" Julian growled. "Lydia's innocent. Her brother's rotting in a cell forever. Clara doesn't go out much since she lost her sight, and there's no signal here. She'll never know, living in the castle I built for her."

Inside, I bit my lip so hard it bled, tears streaming down my face. The castle was warm as spring, but my bones felt encased in ice. I grabbed a stack of Julian's hand-drawn sketches from the bedside-each one a memory of us. The first: our meeting in the desert, me nursing him for three days after he broke his leg. The third: him climbing a 4,000-meter peak to pick me a snow lotus. The eighth: him spending billions to bring every ballet legend in Elthenia to celebrate my birthday. The fifteenth: this castle, designed for a blind she-wolf, grand and safe.

On one knee, he'd said, "My mate, I'll be your eyes. You're my one and only."

The girl in the sketches smiled, radiant, leaping into his arms. Now, I gave a bitter laugh, lit a match, and set them ablaze, tossing them onto the bed.

Julian, your love's tainted. I don't want it anymore.