Beneath the Alpha’s Skin Lies a Stranger

The next morning, a sharp knock on the door pulled me from my restless sleep.

Caden strode in, his towering frame filling the doorway. His broad shoulders and muscular build were a testament to his Alpha lineage, but the sight of him now sent a shiver down my spine.

"Are you awake? Sorry about last night; I had too much to drink," he said, offering a gentle smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

I forced a laugh, avoiding his gaze. "Your snoring was so loud that I had to sleep in another room."

Caden chuckled, though the sound felt hollow. "My bad. How about we take a walk together after breakfast?"

I hesitated, then gathered my courage, meeting his eyes with a feigned calm. "No worries. You should go to the packhouse. I’ll visit your mother at the estate."

His brow furrowed, and he scrutinized me for a moment before finally nodding. "Alright."

I quickly got up, finished breakfast in a flash, and grabbed my car keys, heading straight to the old Hunt estate. Before we were mated, Caden had lived there with his parents, the Lycan King and Queen. If there were any clues about his past, they had to be there.

As I arrived, I ran into Paxton Hunt, the Lycan King himself, as he was about to leave. Zaria, the Lycan Queen, was right behind him.

"Luna," I greeted them both with a respectful nod.

Zaria smiled warmly, but Paxton frowned, his Alpha aura pressing down on me slightly. "Lena, why haven’t you gone to the packhouse yet?"

"Work?" I asked, confused.

After our mate bond was sealed, Caden had suggested I leave my position within the pack. I’d refused at first, but after a mishap during a pack run, I’d been demoted to Omega status.

Seeing my confusion, Paxton sighed, his deep voice resonating with authority. "I’ve told Caden countless times that you should take on the role of Beta. The pack needs your strength and intelligence. The warriors won’t object."

Beta? A position of leadership within the pack? My mind reeled with disbelief.

Caden had never mentioned any of this to me.

Zaria stepped forward, taking my hand in hers. Her voice was soft but firm. "I think it’s enough for Lena to care for Caden at home. Once we have pups, how will she find time for pack duties? The Alpha and his warriors can handle the pack’s affairs."

Paxton shot her a disapproving look, his Alpha tone sharp. "Nonsense! Lena’s got the skills of a warrior and the mind of a strategist. It’s a waste for her to stay at home."

He turned back to me, his gaze unwavering. "Lena, come to the packhouse. I’ve arranged everything. I want you to stand by Caden, to support him in leading the pack, not just stay at home."

My heart swelled with gratitude. "Paxton, I’m eager to work. I—"

Zaria tightened her grip on my hand, her eyes narrowing at Paxton. "We should consult Caden first. If he agrees, then Lena can take on the role."

Paxton’s expression darkened, his Alpha aura flaring. "I’m the Lycan King, and my word is final. That boy’s growing more controlling, even suspicious of his own mate."

"He always wants to handle everything himself. If I weren’t keeping an eye on things, who knows what he’d do to the pack."

"Besides," Paxton added, his voice softening slightly, "I promised Lena’s father I’d treat her like my own daughter. Now that she’s my daughter-in-law, I have to look out for her."

Warmth spread through me at his words. My father and Paxton had been close, their bond forged through countless battles.

Three years ago, after my parents died in a rogue attack, Paxton had taken me in, and that’s how I’d met Caden.

Zaria wasn’t ready to back down. "But making decisions for your son might affect pack harmony."

"To hell with that," Paxton growled. "If he’s upset, let him deal with it. And you—" He pointed at Zaria, his tone cutting. "You’ve become complacent, lost the drive you once had. After our son became Alpha, you’ve just stayed at home, not at all like the warrior you used to be."

Zaria’s face hardened, her lips trembling slightly as she lowered her gaze and fell silent.

At the end of the discussion, Paxton promised to arrange the Beta position for me once he returned from his trip abroad in a week.

I thanked him sincerely.

After he left, Zaria turned to me with a stern look. "You need Caden’s approval before taking on any pack duties. Besides, as the Alpha’s mate, you should focus on the family, don’t you think?"

Absolutely not! Staying home too long would make me lose my edge, turning me into nothing more than a shadow of my mate.

I’d always wanted to return to my duties within the pack, and Caden knew that. I never imagined he was actively blocking me.

I wanted to protest but held back. Now wasn’t the time.

Meeting Zaria’s eager gaze, I nodded reluctantly.

In the grand living room, I chatted with Zaria for a bit, then claimed I hadn’t slept well the previous night and needed to rest.

Zaria called for Astrid, one of the pack’s Omegas, to prepare a guest room for me.

I quickly interrupted, "No need for that; I’ll just sleep in Caden’s old room."

Zaria paused, then smiled gently. "Alright. Since you two moved into the Alpha’s quarters, you haven’t had the chance to sleep in his old room, have you?"

I nodded with feigned anticipation.

With a wave of her hand, Zaria said, "Go on, then!"

I smiled back, stood up, and headed to the third floor, entering the room farthest to the east.

I’d visited Caden’s room a few times before we were mated, but I’d never stayed long.

The room was mostly unchanged, still as simple and tidy as before, with books tightly packed on the shelves.

I scanned the room, my gaze landing on an unremarkable photo album on the edge of the shelf.

Opening it, I found photos of Caden from infancy, through childhood, adolescence, and finally as a young warrior…

The last photo was taken in front of the pack’s training grounds.

In the picture, Caden’s eyes were clear, his smile bright and cheerful, his expression completely different from now.

A banner beside him read "New Alpha Initiation."

This was seven years ago…

If that’s the case, then the Caden I’ve known has been an impostor all along.

Lost in thought, a chilling voice suddenly broke the silence.

"What are you looking at?"