Betrayed by My Alpha Mate

In the café, Murphy listened intently as I recounted the whole story. Her amber eyes—a trait common among Deltas—narrowed with fury, her canines slightly bared as if she wanted to tear Timothy apart with her bare hands. As a Delta, her loyalty to the pack was unwavering, but her loyalty to me, her best friend, burned even fiercer.

"Alpha Timothy is such a jerk," she muttered, stabbing her fork aggressively into the spiced honey cake in front of her, as though it could somehow vent her rage. Her voice dropped to a growl, low and dangerous, but still respectful enough to use his title. "Iliana, what’s your next move?"

I gazed absentmindedly out the window at the bustling streets, the scent of freshly baked bread from the bakery next door mingling with the faint floral aroma of my own mate scent—a scent Timothy had once claimed to love. My wolf stirred faintly in the back of my mind, a silent but persistent presence reminding me of the bond that still lingered despite his betrayal. Slowly, I responded, "I want to plan a little surprise for him on his birthday."

Murphy’s face lit up at my words, her Delta instincts kicking in as she slapped the table with enthusiasm. Her voice was full of excitement, though her eyes still burned with a protective fire. "Perfect! I’m all in. Just let me know what you need; I’ve got your back."

I shared my plan with her, and she nodded along, her sharp features softening slightly as she absorbed every detail. At the end, she added with determination, "Iliana, count me in. Once we’re done with this, let’s take a trip to the Alps together. A run in the mountains might do us both some good."

Her words were a subtle reminder of our nature—our need to connect with the wild, to run free in our wolf forms even as we navigated the complexities of our human lives. Her eyes were full of anticipation as she looked at me, and I realized she was concerned about how I was handling everything. As our eyes met, a small smile appeared on my face, though it didn’t quite reach my heart.

"Deal," I said, my voice steady despite the ache in my chest. My wolf let out a low, approving rumble, a silent acknowledgment of the strength it took to keep going.