Betrayed by My Alpha Mate

The morning sun filtered through the windows of the packhouse as I hurried down the corridor with a stack of freshly laundered linens. Three days had passed since the feast, and each one had brought new humiliations. Today was the monthly pack inspection—a chance for Jonas to show off the improvements to visiting dignitaries.

"Camille!" Elena's voice called from behind. "Can you help me with these?"

I turned to see her struggling with an armful of cleaning supplies.

"Of course," I replied, shifting my load to one arm.

As I reached for her supplies, a figure appeared at the top of the grand staircase—Leilani, resplendent in a crimson dress that hugged every curve.

"Perfect timing," she purred, her eyes locking with mine.

Something in her gaze made my skin crawl. Snow stirred restlessly within me.

*Watch her,* Snow warned. *She's planning something.*

I straightened, clutching the linens tighter. "What do you want, Leilani?"

"Me?" She descended one step at a time, like a predator stalking prey. "I just wanted to check on our little... housekeeper."

The sweetness in her voice was venomous. Behind her, I could see Jonas approaching from the main hall, flanked by two visiting Alphas from neighboring packs.

"Ah, there he is," Leilani whispered, her eyes darting to Jonas.

In that moment, I saw it—the calculation, the trap about to spring.

"Camille," she said loudly, "you really should be more careful with those stairs. They can be so... slippery."

Before I could respond, Leilani's foot caught on nothing—a perfectly executed stumble. Her body pitched forward, arms flailing dramatically as she tumbled down the stairs with a shriek that could wake the dead.

"Camille pushed me!" she wailed as she landed in a crumpled heap at the bottom. "She tried to kill me!"

Jonas rushed forward, his face contorted with rage. "What happened?"

"I didn't—" I began, but Leilani's sobs drowned me out.

"She pushed me!" Leilani clutched her ankle, tears streaming down her face. "I felt her hands on my back!"

"I was nowhere near her," I protested, looking to Jonas for reason.

His eyes had turned to ice. "You jealous little—"

"Jonas, please," I whispered. "Think about this."

"KNEEL!"

The Alpha command hit me like a physical blow. The air around me thickened, pressing down on my shoulders with invisible weight.

Every wolf in the vicinity dropped to their knees instantly. Every wolf except me.

For one heartbeat, I remained standing.

Jonas's eyes widened in shock. "What the—"

I felt Snow rising within me, fighting against the command. My Lycan blood rebelled against submitting to an inferior Alpha.

*No,* I told her. *Not yet.*

With tremendous effort, I forced myself to one knee, head bowed in false submission. The pressure eased slightly.

"Better," Jonas growled, unaware of the battle raging inside me.

Leilani's eyes narrowed at my delayed response, suspicion flickering across her face.

"Jonas," she whimpered, "my ankle... I think it's broken."

"Let me see," he murmured, kneeling beside her.

I remained on one knee, my body trembling with the effort of containing Snow's fury.

---

The training grounds buzzed with activity as pack members gathered in a circle. At the center stood Jonas, his arm around Leilani's waist as she leaned on him dramatically.

"Bring her here," Jonas ordered.

Two Deltas seized my arms, dragging me forward until I stood before him.

"Camille Moore," Jonas announced to the assembled pack, "you have shown yourself to be a danger to this pack and its members."

Murmurs rippled through the crowd. Some faces showed sympathy, others disgust.

"From this moment forward," he continued, "you are stripped of all remaining privileges."

Leilani's lips curved in a triumphant smile.

"You will no longer be permitted to enter the main house without escort," Jonas declared. "You will sleep in the Omega quarters and perform only the most menial tasks."

Each word was a lash against my pride. I kept my eyes downcast, hiding the silver glow I knew was building.

"And to ensure your compliance," Jonas's voice dropped to a dangerous growl, "you will serve as a personal attendant at my Marking Ceremony with Leilani in three days' time."

Gasps echoed around the circle. The Marking Ceremony was sacred—for me to serve at Jonas's ceremony with another woman was the ultimate humiliation.

"Do you understand?" Jonas demanded.

I raised my eyes to meet his, forcing Snow's power to remain hidden. "Yes, Alpha."

"Good." He turned to address the pack. "Let this be a lesson. No one is above pack law—not even those who once held positions of... convenience."

As the crowd dispersed, whispering among themselves, I caught Elena's eye. She gave me a small nod of encouragement before being ushered away.

Leilani hobbled toward me on Jonas's arm, her "injured" ankle somehow supporting her weight when no one else was watching.

"Three days," she whispered. "Three days until you watch me take everything that should have been yours."

I said nothing, but inside, Snow was no longer howling for release.

She was planning.