Betrayed by My Fated Mate

The water filled my lungs as Sofia's jaws pushed me deeper. Darkness crept in from all sides, and Luna's howls grew fainter in my mind. This was it—the end of Eleanor Spencer, princess of Moonveil Pack, betrayed by her fated mate.

Then everything shook.

The water around me vibrated with a thunderous roar. Through the darkness, I glimpsed a massive shadow descending from above—a helicopter, blades slicing through the sky.

"JARED!" I tried to scream, but only bubbles escaped my lips.

A figure leapt from the aircraft—a suicidal dive that made no sense. Until he shifted mid-air.

My brother's massive black wolf form crashed into the water beside me, his silver markings gleaming even in the depths. His eyes locked on Sofia, who still held me underwater.

Jared's jaws opened wide and clamped down on her flank with brutal force. Bone cracked. Blood clouded the water.

Sofia released me instantly, her wolf form twisting in pain. I floated limply, my body refusing to respond to my desperate commands to swim.

Above us, dark figures rappelled from the helicopter onto the boat. My brother's elite Gamma warriors. Their movements were swift, deadly precision as they confronted Tristan's guards.

"Stay down!" one shouted as a guard reached for a weapon.

The response was a flash of silver fur and a spray of crimson across the deck.

Jared surged toward me, his massive form wrapping around my limp body. His teeth gently gripped my arm, dragging me toward the surface.

We broke through with a splash. I gasped weakly, water spilling from my mouth. Jared's howl split the air—a sound of such raw grief and rage that birds scattered from nearby trees.

"Eleanor!" His voice broke as he shifted back to human form, cradling my head. "Stay with me!"

But darkness was already claiming me. The last thing I saw was Tristan's face on the deck above, pale with horror as he realized his plan had failed.

---

Two weeks later, I opened my eyes to sterile white walls and the antiseptic smell of hospital sheets.

"She's awake," someone said softly.

Jared appeared in my field of vision, his face haggard with exhaustion and worry.

"Welcome back, little sister," he whispered, taking my hand.

I tried to speak but could only manage a raspy croak. Jared quickly brought water to my lips.

"Slowly," he cautioned.

When I could finally talk, I managed only one question: "What happened?"

Jared's expression hardened. "I've declared Blood Feud against Red River. The pack that betrayed my sister will pay."

He pulled out a tablet and showed me security footage from the boat. The images made me flinch—Tristan injecting Sofia with the antidote, his Alpha command forcing me to stay as the tide rose, Sofia's wolf form holding me underwater.

"The Werewolf Council has already ruled," Jared continued, his voice tight with controlled fury. "Tristan has been stripped of his Alpha title. His pack has been dissolved."

"And Sofia?" I asked.

"Both of them will face trial for attempted mate-murder." His eyes darkened. "The penalty is death."

I should have felt vindication. Instead, I felt nothing but hollow emptiness.

"Luna," I whispered, reaching inward for my wolf. "Luna, are you there?"

Silence greeted me where her presence should have been. Just a void where our connection had once flourished.

"She's still there," Jared assured me, noticing my panic. "Dr. Cross says the trauma and silver poisoning severed your connection temporarily. She'll return when you heal."

But I wasn't sure I believed him.

---

"The Azure Tide Pack specializes in healing trauma," Jared explained as his car wound through coastal roads. "Alpha Alan Turner has agreed to take you in while you recover."

I stared out the window, watching waves crash against rocky shores. The ocean that had nearly claimed my life now stretched endlessly beside us.

"I can't," I whispered as we approached the pack's territory. "I can't be near the water."

Jared squeezed my hand. "You'll be safe here. I promise."

The car stopped outside a modern building perched on a cliff overlooking the sea. But I couldn't move. The scent of saltwater and seaweed sent panic coursing through me.

"I'll get Alpha Turner," the driver said quietly.

Minutes later, footsteps approached the car. The door opened, and a tall figure blocked the light.

"Eleanor Spencer," he said, his voice calm yet commanding. "I'm Alan Turner."

Slowly, I forced myself to look up. He stood with the confident posture of an Alpha, golden eyes assessing me with clinical precision. But something flickered in them when our gazes met—something primal and possessive that made my heart stutter.

"Welcome to Azure Tide," he said simply, extending his hand. "I'll be your doctor while you're here."

Not Alpha. Doctor.

As our eyes locked, I heard it—a distant roar from deep within him, quickly suppressed.

*Mine.*

But he said nothing, merely helping me from the car with gentle, steady hands that somehow promised safety despite the terror still gripping my heart.