My Betraying Alpha Begged for a Second Chance

My heart tightened as I scanned the crowd gathered around a plush black Rolls-Royce in front of my apartment. Aiden, leaning over his car, kept signing autographs of his fanatics. He seemed too relaxed, too carefree. Like nothing had changed.

I turned to leave, but before I could slip away, his voice stopped me.

"Mia."

I froze, unwilling to look at him in case I would falter. But I could leave... not when he was using his scent to trigger the pull of our mate bond. Slowly, I turned, my heart raced.

He had a soft smile plastered on his face, his broad frame shielding me from the eyes of his fanatics. He seemed like the breakup had never happened and I didn't suffer the last few weeks. As if he hadn’t chosen someone else over me.

"Mia, can we talk?" Earlier, when he used to call my name, my heart would skip a beat. But now it only makes me feel cold.

"There is nothing to talk about," I replied. I won’t let him drag me back in. Not again.

He stepped closer, his intoxicating essence growing stronger now, clouding my thoughts. "Just one dinner. It's Lucas's birthday."

I stared at him, disbelief washing over me. Did he really think that taking me as his date to his best friend, his beta's, birthday, could fix everything?

"No, Aiden," I said firmly. "Let's not complicate it further." I turned to walk away, but he grabbed my arm gently.

"Mia, please. I miss you." For a brief second, his eyes flickered with something deep.

I pulled my arm away, but before I could say another word, I noticed more and more of his fanatics were gathering. It was getting difficult for his bodyguards to control them. If we don't leave now, I will be all over social media tomorrow. I sighed, feeling trapped.

Against my better judgment, I gave in. "Fine. But this is the last time."

The car ride was suffocating. I hadn’t been inside Aiden’s car since we broke up. I tried to focus on the road ahead, but something caught my attention, the familiar scent of lilies.

Ella.

My stomach twisted. What was she even doing here to leave such a powerful after-effect? I glanced at Aiden. Was he with Ella before coming to me? Of course!

Why had I agreed to this?

When we reached the restaurant, my unease only grew. Aiden opened the door for me, smiling as if everything was normal. But it was only short-lived. At the entrance, Ella and Lucas were waiting for us.

"Oh! My... Ella. You look pretty, as always." She rushed and hugged me as if we were sworn sisters.

"The dress suits you well," Aiden complimented Ella, something he had never done for me.

I realized I was just a replacement for him when Ella was away.

"Your gift. Remember?" she let out this information deliberately to hurt me. And it was working. But I chose to ignore her. moving towards Lucas.

"Happy birthday Lucas! Since this was a last-minute invite, I came empty-handed."

"It's okay! Aiden had already gifted me on your behalf." Lucas smiled forcefully. The surprise in his eyes could tell me he didn't expect me here today with Aiden.

The dinner was a disaster from the start. The private room of the plush hotel felt suffocating when it was just the four of us, everyone's attention somehow fixed on Ella. The three of us looked so comfortable, so perfect, in a way I could never fit in. Seeing Ella and Aiden together brought back troubled memories and feelings that I was so desperate to bury.

I could no longer breathe in that room, feeling claustrophobic. "I need to use the restroom," I stood abruptly, interrupting their conversation. Before they could say something, I almost ran from there.

But I was barely outside and had barely caught my breath, when his strong essence of oaks and cinnamon, enthralled my nostrils again, the mate bond tugging at me.

"Mia, what’s wrong?"

"What’s wrong?" I repeated, shaking my head. "I know you are with Ella. I can smell her in your car, for God’s sake."

Aiden opened his mouth to speak, but I cut him off. "No. Don’t. I don’t care anymore. I can’t keep doing this."

"Mia, it’s not like that—"

"Yes, it is, Aiden. Accept it like a man!." I paused, my throat tightening with emotion. "I deserve more than being a second choice."

Aiden stared at me, speechless, in shock.

"Let's go back! The food Aiden ordered had already arrived." Ella interrupted, smiling, looking perfect.

Aiden didn't say anything and returned to the dinner table.

I exhaled a deep breath. Nonetheless, I followed them.

And that's when I saw the item he had ordered... Prawns!

"Ella, Aiden ordered your favorite." Lucas smiled, signaling the waiter to serve,

I wanted to scoff, to scream, or to leave. But I stood frozen in surprise. Has he already forgotten I was allergic to prawns?

"Why are you standing there like you saw some ghost, Mia? Have some prawns." Lucas smiled at me like nothing happened.