Rejected By The Alpha Who Betrayed Me

On the day before Thanksgiving, I pulled an all-nighter working on my artwork, finally catching some sleep by noon. Upon waking, I found out that Alpha Palmer’s parents and sister had arrived in Aspen. As the Alpha of the Gonzales Pack, Palmer’s family carried a weight of authority that I could never ignore, no matter how much I wanted to.

I bought some pricey gifts and hurried to the restaurant, only to be greeted with icy glares and a table full of cold leftovers. Desperately, I looked to Palmer for support, but he simply sided with his parents in criticizing me.

"Adeline," he said, his alpha tone cutting through the room like a knife, "what’s with that look? My parents say you’re lazy and waste money—what part of that is untrue? When elders offer advice, you should listen respectfully."

I thought Palmer might be putting on a show for his parents, so I quickly apologized in a subdued voice, my head bowed slightly to show respect. However, later that night, I stumbled upon a drunken Palmer, passionately kissing his sister, Zoe.

"Zoe, you’re the one I truly love. Please come back to me; I’m begging you."

My heart shattered into pieces. I lost all hope and decided to let them pursue their forbidden love. My wolf stirred within me, a low growl of pain echoing in the back of my mind, but I pushed it down. This wasn’t the time to let my emotions take over.

---

I assumed Zoe would push him away, given that they’re siblings. But to my shock, she didn’t resist; instead, she reciprocated. The sound of their kisses echoed throughout the conservatory. Tears welled up in my eyes as I walked away, my chest tightening with the ache of betrayal.

The evening breeze gently cleared my mind. Staring at the conservatory full of red roses, I called my brother, Hector Stephens, the Beta of our pack.

"Hey," I said, my voice trembling slightly, "I’ve agreed to the arranged marriage. You can go ahead and set a date."

Hector wasn’t surprised; he offered some comforting words before hanging up. I knew he’d always had my back, and this time was no different. He’d arranged for me to meet Koa Vasquez, a Beta warrior from the Vasquez Pack, and though I hadn’t been ready at first, now it seemed like the only way forward.

When Palmer approached, I was lost in thought. He opened his coat and wrapped me in his arms, his alpha aura pressing down on me like a heavy blanket.

"Adeline, what’s on your mind?" he asked, his voice softer now, but still carrying that unmistakable edge of authority.

A wave of unfamiliar perfume hit my nose, and I sneezed repeatedly. Palmer’s expression darkened as he quickly let go of me, his alpha tone sharpening.

"Adeline, what do you mean by that? Does my touch disgust you so much?"

Seeing his irritated expression, I couldn’t help but laugh. I rubbed my nose and took a step back from him, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside.

"Even though there’s 'line' in my name, I’m allergic to roses. Surely my mate hasn’t forgotten that, right?"

Palmer’s eyes shifted, and he cleared his throat before replying, "Sorry, I’ll go take a shower right away."

As I watched him leave in a hurry, a tear slid down my cheek. Over three years with Palmer, he’d always prioritized my likes and dislikes. Once, during a dinner outing, a dish garnished with rose petals was mistakenly brought to our table despite his instructions. He was so furious that he made a scene at the restaurant. I was deeply touched and wanted to repay his kindness with a lifetime of devotion.

But since Zoe appeared, his attitude towards me plummeted. Now it seemed there was no reason to tie my life to his anymore.

I followed Palmer back to the bedroom but heard voices coming from the bathroom. As I moved closer, the conversation became clearer.

"Zoe, you’re helping your brother wash his back. How should I reward you?"

Palmer’s voice was suggestive, and it was followed by a coy reply, "Oh, Alpha Palmer, you’re such a tease! You’ve got me soaking wet!"

"Soaking wet? Let me see exactly where."

The atmosphere inside the bathroom was incredibly suggestive. Through the glass, I could see Palmer undressing Zoe. My fists clenched tightly, and I couldn’t stay any longer. I turned and ran out, my wolf howling in anguish within me.

I hid under the sheets in the guest bedroom, sobbing uncontrollably. Half-asleep, I felt someone touching me. I tensed up and quickly grabbed the person’s wrist.

Palmer winced in pain and sharply inhaled. As the bedside lamp illuminated, his face was stormy with anger.

"Adeline, are you out of your mind?" he growled, his alpha tone reverberating through the room, making my instincts scream to submit. But I held my ground, my heart breaking all over again.