Running away from The Demon Alpha

Trinity's POV

The spot where I was entitled to sit was occupied by…

“Susan?” I said, a cold washing down my spine as she turned to her cellphone.

Balor groaned. “You can just sit at the back, come on. Don't make this harder than it is. We're running late.”

I didn't move a muscle. I had a place and I was going to sit there.

Balor in anger tossed his credit card at me. “Book yourself a cab then. Go, Philip.”

I stood there, watching as the cars cruised out of the mansion. Left behind like a pile of dirt.

After a long while, I stepped on the card and got into my own car. Arriving at the conference, I was stopped by the bouncers.

“Only Lunas are allowed.”

“If you know Alpha Balor, you should know I'm his Luna!” I snapped, even though I could no longer believe this myself.

The guard frowned and consulted his list. “Alpha Balor filled in a Luna already.”

I shrugged. “Of course, that's my name.” What the hell was the matter with him?

“Are you Susan Rocks?”

It felt like I'd been punched. Had it gotten to the point where she'd take my place even on formal occasions?

The next moment, I saw Balor run out to the front door, panting. “What are you doing here?”

My jaws ground against each other as I glared at him. The feeling of hatred quickly replaced the ounces of love I had left for him.

“Susan, your Luna?” I asked.

“I just had to fill something in,” he snapped. “I pray, don't create a scene here, Trinity. If you insist on doing so, you can as well as stay outside. Your voice could be heard from the hall upstairs!”

I was stunned to speechlessness. My fingertips felt painful as my claws shot out for a millisecond.

“On second thought, come in,” he said.

After a moment of silent contemplation, I quietly agreed. From his expression, he was surprised at how calm I was. Some years ago, I'd have begun to tear the room apart with fiery jealousy.

Seated around the table were about eighteen Alphas from all the packs in the Region. Nestled beside them were their shimmering Lunas. I envied how they felt. Why was my story different? Why was Susan, a mere office assistant to the Alpha, sitting in my place?

I saw her pick up a glass of sparkling water, her eyes on me, lined with hidden mockery.

During the meeting, I was heavily distracted by Balor touching Susan's legs under the table. It was difficult to breathe.

“Do you have two Lunas?” an Alpha jokingly asked Balor.

“And what does that question mean?” Balor retorted, slamming on the table.

“I just wondered why —”

“Shove that wonder up your ass,” Balor barked. “I can't have you discredit the woman I love. Susan—uh— Trinity, fuck, Trinity is and shall remain my Luna.”

The tension in the hall was thick.

“Every day, I shower her with love and gifts. I name streets after her and I etch her name in the lips of every wolf in my pack.”

‘Stop taking his lies!’ my wolf screamed for the first time in a long while. ‘Why does he enjoy dragging you in the freaking mud?’

From beside me, Susan giggled.

Balor turned to me, his eyes two globes of fiery threat if I didn't comply. “Isn't that right, Trinity?”

I choked on water and started coughing. Balor, angry that his question was left unanswered, didn't attend to me.

“Is this how you love her?” the first Alpha sneered.

Balor was on his feet and grabbed my arm. “Come on, let's get the hell out of here. Susan, come with us.”

I was half dragged out of the hall. Once outside, Balor began to brawl. “You did that choking bullshit on purpose! It was so obvious. Get in the car fast.”

“I came in mine,” I said but he didn't take that.

Susan sat at the backseat, and during the silent ride home, Balor suddenly stopped the car.

“It just occurred to me that there's a family meeting —”

“And you want me to step down, yeah?” I asked, fury making me tremble.

“I love you because you're intelligent.” He allowed a tight smile, barely shielding his willingness to hurt me. “I'll drop Celine along the way.”

I came down from the car and they drove off. Again, I was in the middle of the road, clueless. Then I decided to follow them. In a cab, I tracked them with their scents.

I realized that they were heading for an underground hotel, where Balor would, again, spend the night with a woman that was not his Mate.

A woman that was not me.