Alpha’s Betrayal, Luna’s Redemption

Facing the facts, even if Jalen was furious, he couldn’t find a point to counter. But Jalen was far more shameless than I had imagined. Seeing that he couldn’t gain the upper hand in this argument, he quickly shifted the topic back to emotions.

He pointed at me, his voice strained and accusatory. "You’re jealous, aren’t you? Sofia, you’re just jealous that I’ve marked Ariella as my mate."

"All I know is that when I was sick and nearly dying, it was Ariella who stayed by my side. She felt my pain as if it were her own, while you were off in the woods, obsessing over pack remedies."

"You always complain that no one loves you, but do you even deserve love? Someone as cold and unfeeling as you?"

His words hit like a punch to the gut, but I refused to let him see how much they stung. My wolf, *Luna*, stirred in the back of my mind, a low growl of anger and pain. I clenched my fists, forcing myself to stay calm.

"You think I’m unfeeling?" I shot back, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me. "Do you have any idea how many times I risked my life in those woods to find the herbs that saved you? Do you even remember how close you were to death, Jalen? I didn’t stay by your side because I was too busy making sure you *had* a side to come back to."

His expression faltered for a moment, but he quickly masked it with a sneer. "That’s just an excuse, Sofia. You’ve always been distant, always more interested in your pack duties than in me. Even now, you’re defending yourself with logic instead of feeling. That’s why Ariella is better for me. She *feels*. She *cares*."

I took a step closer to him, my scent—earthy and tinged with the faint bitterness of betrayal—filling the space between us. "Ariella cares? Then why is it that every time you needed something, it was *me* who provided it? The herbs, the medicine, the life-saving treatments—all of it came from *me*. But you’re so blinded by her scent, by her sweet words, that you can’t see the truth. You’ve chosen her, Jalen, but don’t you dare act like it’s because I’m unworthy of love. You’ve just chosen someone easier to manipulate."

His face twisted in anger, but I didn’t give him a chance to respond. I turned on my heel and walked away, *Luna* growling softly in agreement. I wouldn’t let him break me. Not again.