My Alpha Paraded His Rogue in Our Pack

The first day of my final moon cycle in the Silverfang Pack dawned with a bitter chill. I stood at the edge of the dirt training ring, my posture perfectly straight, my hands clasped tightly behind my back. The morning mist clung to the ground, but it did nothing to hide the spectacle in the center of the field.

Julius wasn't running drills with the Delta warriors. Instead, he had Haisley pinned against one of the heavy oak sparring posts. His hands roamed freely over her waist and thighs, her giggles echoing sharply in the quiet morning air. Dozens of warriors awkwardly averted their eyes, pretending to stretch or inspect their boots.

I didn't look away. I forced myself to watch.

Julius caught my gaze. A cruel smirk twisted his lips. He pulled away from Haisley just enough to project his voice across the field.

"Watch and learn, Amara!" he called out, his Alpha tone dripping with condescension. "This is what a real she-wolf looks like. Look at you, standing there like a statue. So rigid. So boring."

Haisley snickered, leaning her back against his chest. "She can't help it, Alpha. Her wolf is practically dead."

"No passion," Julius agreed loudly, making sure every warrior heard. "Just an empty shell."

Deep in my mind, my wolf, Raya, let out a low, mournful whine. The mate bond pulsed with a sickening throb, a physical reminder of his rejection. I dug my nails into my palms until crescent moons of blood threatened to break the skin. I didn't flinch. I didn't cry. I just counted down the days. Twenty-nine left.

But the daylight humiliation was nothing compared to the night.

The clock on my nightstand read 2:00 AM when the pack mind-link suddenly cracked open in my head. Usually, an open link at this hour meant a border breach or a rogue attack. Instead, my mind was flooded with breathless moans and the heavy, wet sounds of skin slapping against skin.

Julius had left the Alpha channel open. Deliberately.

The vile sounds echoed down the physical corridor of the pack house, slipping under my bedroom door like toxic smoke. My chest seized. It felt as if someone had taken a serrated knife to my ribs and started carving. The neglected mate bond flared with agonizing, tearing pain.

Raya didn't just whine this time; she howled in pure agony, curling into a tight, shivering ball in the darkest corner of my mind. The betrayal was physically poisoning us.

Gasping for air, I stumbled out of bed. The room spun. I dragged myself down the back staircase, avoiding the main halls, until I reached the pack infirmary.

Head Healer Elena was organizing vials when I practically collapsed against her doorframe.

"Luna!" she gasped, rushing forward to catch me.

"Not Luna," I choked out, clutching my burning chest. "Please, Elena. Suppressants. I need them now."

Elena helped me to a narrow cot. Her eyes widened in horror as she took in my pale skin and trembling hands. "Amara, your aura... it's decaying. The bond-sickness is setting in. He's killing your wolf."

"Just give me the pills," I begged, tears of sheer pain finally escaping my eyes.

She didn't argue. She handed me two bitter, chalky tablets and a paper cup of water. I swallowed them dry. Slowly, the agonizing fire in my chest dulled to a heavy, suffocating numbness. It wasn't a cure, but it would keep me breathing.

By the time the formal pack dinner rolled around the next evening, the numbness had settled deep into my bones. I sat at the end of the long mahogany dining table, quietly cutting my food. The crystal chandeliers cast a warm glow over the hall, but the atmosphere was suffocating.

Haisley strutted around the room as if she already owned it. The Omegas kept their heads bowed, terrified of crossing the Future Alpha's new favorite toy.

I felt her approach before I saw her. The sour scent of pine and dirt overpowered the aroma of roasted meats.

Haisley stopped right next to my chair. She was holding a heavy crystal glass of ice water. As she leaned in close, my enhanced senses caught a faint, acidic smell beneath the ice.

Wolfsbane. Just a drop, but enough to burn.

Before I could react, she flicked her wrist. The freezing, tainted water splashed directly into my face.

A sharp, stinging burn erupted across my cheeks and eyes. I gasped, my chair scraping loudly against the hardwood floor as I stood up. The entire dining hall went dead silent. Forks clattered to plates.

Haisley burst into loud, theatrical laughter. "Oops! My hand slipped."

She looked around at the wide-eyed Omegas and warriors, soaking in their shock. Then, she turned her venomous gaze back to me.

"Though I doubt you even felt it," she sneered, her voice echoing off the high ceilings. "You're just a wolfless prude. You don't belong here, Amara. You're nothing but a placeholder."

Water dripped from my chin, stinging my skin where the diluted wolfsbane ate at my pores. I slowly reached into my pocket, my thumb blindly finding the side button on my phone and pressing it twice. A tiny vibration confirmed the voice memo had started recording.

I grabbed a linen napkin and calmly dabbed my face. My skin burned, but the fire in my soul burned hotter. I looked past Haisley, straight at Julius, who was watching from the head of the table with a dark, unreadable expression. He didn't say a word to defend me.

He didn't have to. The countdown was ticking, and with every drop of toxic water on my skin, my true wolf was waking up.