My Mate’s Shadow in My Bed

I rushed back to my room. I didn't even dare to lock the door, afraid it would make them suspicious.

My hands shook as I unzipped my suitcase.

Passport. Cash. A few loose-fitting clothes.

I kept taking deep breaths, trying to calm my racing heart.

Just get out of here.

If I could just escape the Silver Moon pack’s territory, I could save this baby.

“Where are you off to in such a hurry, Lucia? Just coming from Tristan's study?”

A sickly sweet voice came from the doorway.

My head snapped up, a cold sweat breaking out on my back.

Arabella was leaning against the doorframe, a black velvet box in her hand.

She wore a white lace dress, looking as innocent as a lily.

But I saw the poison glittering in her eyes.

"It's none of your business. Move," I managed, my voice cold as I yanked the zipper on my suitcase shut.

"Not so fast, future Luna," she sneered. She stalked toward me like a predator, blocking my only way out. "I got you a little gift to celebrate your big day. You wouldn't leave before opening it, would you?"

She snapped the box open.

Inside lay a heavy, solid silver collar.

It wasn't jewelry.

It was for a slave.

Tiny diamonds were embedded in the thick metal. They spelled out two words that stabbed me in the gut: Alpha’s Pet.

“Like it?” Arabella’s laughter was shrill. “This suits you so much better, don’t you think? From wolf-less freak to powerful healer. And now the fated mate of our mighty Alpha Tristan. The irony is just sickening, isn’t it?”

“Get out!” I grabbed a vase from the nightstand and hurled it at her.

“Ah!”

Arabella didn’t dodge. She let the shards cut her arm on purpose.

The moment blood beaded on her skin, two Alphas stormed the room.

Bang!

The door was kicked open.

Tristan and Ronan rushed in.

“Arabella!” Tristan grabbed her as she swayed, his eyes like daggers on me. “You crazy bitch, what did you do to her?”

“Don’t blame Lucia…” Arabella clutched her arm, tears instantly welling in her eyes. “I was just trying to give her back… this collar.”

She held up the silver shackle, her voice choking.

“This is the one she forced me to wear in school… She said if I wanted to live, I had to wear it like a dog. I just wanted to ask her if she wanted it back…”

Lies.

All lies.

She was the one who bullied me, forcing me to crawl on the ground like a dog.

She and her friends even filmed it and posted it on the academy’s network...

Now, all those videos were gone.

I looked at Ronan.

The man I had shared a bed with for three months.

His real scent hit me. He wasn't on the mimic anymore.

He leaned against the wall, hands stuffed in his pockets. He was smirking, like he was watching a damn circus.

Tristan snatched the collar.

The metal clinked, a terrifying sound in the tense air.

“Since you bought it, let’s not let it go to waste.”

He stalked toward me, his Alpha’s dominance crashing down, making it hard to breathe.

“Put it on,” he commanded.

“No…” I shielded my stomach, backing away. “Tristan, you can’t humiliate me like this.”

“Humiliate you?” Tristan sneered, his eyes filled with disgust. “Did you think about humiliation when you hurt Arabella?”

He grabbed a handful of my hair, forcing my head back.

The cold metal pressed against my warm skin.

I wanted to fight. I wanted to scream.

Then Ronan spoke, his voice slicing through the tension. "The name's Ronan. Tristan's twin. Just here to watch my brother claim his mate."

I stared at him, my face a mask of ice.

He acted like we were strangers. His eyes were dripping with control, and he was loving this little show.

But his next words made my body go rigid.

"I have to admit, I never pictured my brother's mate being so... disobedient. I hear your mother is at the wolf sanatorium... After the bonding, maybe we should bring her here?"

It was a threat, plain and simple.

For my mother, I had to endure this.

I have a pup in my belly. I can't let them find out…

Click.

The sound of the lock snapping shut killed the last of my dignity.

The heavy collar weighed on my collarbone, cold and piercing.

Arabella, hiding in Tristan’s arms, gave me a vicious smile.

Tristan let go, shoving me away like I was something filthy.

I fell to the floor. My suitcase had tipped over, my clothes spilling out.

"The ceremony isn't for another three days, and you're already back to your old tricks, hurting Arabella. Where do you think you're going? Running away? Scared to face her?"

Tristan sneered down at me, his fingers stroking Arabella’s hair while his words cut like shards of ice.

"I reinforced the seal. Don't even think about taking it off."

He pointed at the collar, at the word ‘Pet’ carved into the silver.

“You’ll wear it like the dog you are until you learn to respect Arabella. And you are never leaving!”