Shatter the Alpha's Reflection

Professor Cullen Hudson beamed with delight, his Alpha aura radiating warmth despite his age. "Of course I've saved it for you! How could I not reserve this spot for my most outstanding student?"

"Planning on returning to sculpture, are you? You can't imagine how shocked I was when I heard you decided to switch to piano. I almost lost sleep for three nights."

As the elder Alpha carried on, his enthusiasm grew. "Do you have any idea how gifted you are at sculpting? Giving it up is such a waste! Just the other day, I tried to talk you out of it, but you wouldn't listen. What changed your mind today?"

His words, though critical, were filled with genuine concern, reigniting a spark in Alexia Gray's otherwise cold heart. "I'm sorry, Professor."

In the past, she had indeed let him down, choosing to learn piano just to please Alpha Enzo Dixon. She even passed up a chance to study abroad at the Brera Academy in Milan just to stay by her mate's side.

Professor Hudson sighed, "Never mind, it's good that you're back. The semester starts in a month, and you still have time to prepare."

"Thank you, Professor," Alexia said, ending the call as she headed home to her pack's territory.

As she entered the Alpha mansion, what was once familiar now seemed strangely foreign. She realized she had never noticed how the decor completely clashed with her own taste.

Her eyes couldn't tolerate bright light, yet the great hall was lit up as brightly as daytime. She was allergic to wolf fur, but the sofa and coffee table were cluttered with plush toys of various wolf pups.

In hindsight, she realized these were likely all things Opal Castillo, the Omega stepsister, liked.

Not wanting to see any of this anymore, she packed her bags and lost herself in her private sculpture room until the early hours. The scent of clay and stone calmed her wolf, who whined softly in the back of her mind.

Yet when she checked her phone to find an empty message inbox, Alexia couldn't help but feel a pang of pain. Surely Alpha Enzo knew she had been by the pack office today.

Was her value as his Luna diminished simply because Opal had returned?

At 2 a.m., Alexia noticed Alpha Enzo's rare post on the pack's social media, tagged at the airport. It was a picture of two hands entwined, one marked with the fading bite of a rejected mate bond.

There were no faces shown, but she recognized Alpha Enzo immediately, even though he had removed their mating mark, leaving just a faint white scar where his teeth had once claimed her.

The last thread of hope snapped. Alexia forced herself to shut off her phone, striving not to think of Alpha Enzo anymore.

The next day, Alexia reviewed her belongings; most were there except for an heirloom locket she had once given Alpha Enzo. Frowning, she called him without hesitation. Other gifts aside, this locket was a keepsake from her late mother, the former Luna, and something she could never part with.

It was only at the last second that Alpha Enzo answered, his Alpha tone sharp with impatience. "What do you want, Alexia?"

She spoke calmly, "Where did you put my locket? I need it."

"Why bring that up now?" Alpha Enzo paused, "I have it."

Alexia was taken aback. She had given that to him during their marking ceremony, and yet he still had it.

Before she could respond, she heard Opal's voice on the line, "Who is it, brother?"

Alpha Enzo replied to his stepsister, "Nothing important, just someone insignificant."

Alexia heard it, her heart tightening, her grip on the phone instinctively tensing as her wolf growled low in her chest.

The next moment, Opal took the phone from Alpha Enzo. "Alexia? My brother's Luna? You've been mated to him for a while, and I haven't even met you yet. Why don't we have lunch together?"

Alexia frowned, refusing, "No need. Please give the phone back to Alpha Enzo."

Opal ignored her, instead turning back to Alpha Enzo with a playful whine, "Why won't she listen to me? I don't care! Brother, you must make her come. I have to see what she's like."

Alexia thought Alpha Enzo might get angry, at least scold her since he always said he hated being ordered around. But Alpha Enzo didn't, even smiling as he said, "Alright, anything you say, as long as you take your medicine."

Facing Alexia again, Alpha Enzo was curt, "I'll text you the time and place. Don't be late," and hung up before she could agree, as if certain she would comply.

Looking at the restaurant location that popped up on her phone, Alexia told herself, "Just this once."

When she arrived at the upscale restaurant in the heart of pack territory, Alpha Enzo and Opal were already seated at the best table.

Although she was mentally prepared, seeing Opal's face still shocked Alexia to her core. It was a stark reminder of how absurd and laughable her past actions as Luna were.

As she sat down, Alexia thought Opal might be surprised, but instead, Opal merely gave her a disdainful glance before turning to Alpha Enzo, "Brother, I know you love me, but your tastes are so weird, taking a mate who looks just like me. Were you thinking of me when you were with her?"

Alexia's breath hitched. So Opal had known of her brother's inappropriate feelings all along, while she had been clueless.

Alpha Enzo offered no denial, and Opal turned to Alexia, "Or was it that you were plain before? Is that why you wanted surgery to look like me and mate my brother?"

Then she gave a mischievous smile, "But don't worry, I won't take my brother from you. We're just siblings."

With that, Alexia noticed Alpha Enzo's grip on Opal's hand tighten, his lips a thin line, holding back nearly explosive emotions.

Despite her words, Opal was practically lounging in Alpha Enzo's arms.

Alexia lowered her gaze, absently tracing the rim of the steaming coffee cup. "We've met now. Can I have my locket back?"

"Oh, you mean this?" The locket swung from a chain in Opal's hand. "Brother said I could have it. I was going to give it to my puppy. Do you really want it?"

"Give it back. It's mine," Alexia said, furious, standing to grab it.

Opal laughed, pulling back but accidentally elbowed a passing Omega server.

Startled, the server stumbled, the hot soup on his tray tipping over. Alpha Enzo reacted swiftly, reaching to shield Opal, but the scalding soup instead poured over Alexia's hands.

Her hands turned bright red, blistering with the pain nearly toppling her as her wolf howled in shared agony.