The alpha begged me to be his brother's substitute

Alex's grip tightened on his soiled bespoke suit, his Adam's apple bobbing wildly.

"Ava, your eyes... they're glowing like dying embers."

His greasy palm suddenly groped for my breast, the scent of his arousal - laced pheromones choking the air.

A feral snarl ripped from my throat.

In a blur of shredded fabric and cracking bones, my wolf burst free.

My vision exploded into a haze of red as I lunged, fangs bared.

The taste of his flesh tore through my jaws as I sank my teeth into his shoulder.

"Filthy mutt!"

Alex howled, shifting mid - attack.

His fur - matted form slammed into me, but I was driven by a rage beyond reason.

The acrid stench of his fear - sweat mingled with the bile still coating my tongue as I pinned him to the ground, my jaws inches from his jugular.

With a final, cowardly whimper, he shifted back to human and fled, clutching his bleeding wounds.

His furious growls echoed through the parking lot as he disappeared into the night, leaving behind a trail of blood - splattered pavement.

I stood over the remnants of his shredded suit.

Rain lashed down, each drop a silver - tipped arrow piercing the open wounds on my neck.

The pain of my stomach spasms merged with the sting of the downpour as I dragged myself back to the mansion.

The wrought - iron gates loomed before me, their intricate designs mocking my shattered state.

Arther leaned against the doorway, a cigarette dangling from his lips.

His gold - rimmed glasses were fogged with rain, but his gaze remained ice - cold.

Behind him, Bellona preened, using his cashmere scarf to dry her hair.

"Alex didn't break you?" He flicked the cigarette, ash landing on the still - bleeding gash on my ankle.

"You reek of filth. Sleep in the garage."

As the gates slammed shut, the storm engulfed me.

I collapsed into the mud, clutching the fading mark on my wrist.

"Nelson... please..." My voice was a broken howl, lost in the tempest.

Dawn found me still huddled in the rain, my body racked with violent shivers.

Arther emerged from the mansion, a fresh cigarette between his lips.

Just then, the door swung open, revealing Bellona.

"I'm starving," she cooed, sauntering towards us.

At the sight of me, her eyes lit up with cruel delight.

She crouched down, her hands grazing my matted hair.

"Did you douse yourself in heat - inducing herbs to please Alex?"

Her laughter was a mocking purr as she nuzzled into Arther's neck. "No wonder you can barely stand. "

Arther's hand twitched as he reached out to steady me, a rare flicker of emotion crossing his face.

Arther's lip curled in disgust as he flung my wrist away.

His polished leather shoe came down on my hand with a sickening crunch, the silver - tipped heel digging into the tender flesh.

I crumpled to the marble floor, the impact of my knees reopening old battle scars.

A white - hot flash of pain exploded behind my eyes, but I bit down on my tongue, tasting blood as I forced myself back up.

Stumbling towards the kitchen, I ignored the curious stares of the household staff.

I moved like an automaton, cracking eggs into a pan for Arther's beloved soft - boiled eggs.

Hot bacon grease spattered onto the still - healing burn on my palm, but I barely flinched.

When I presented the perfectly arranged breakfast, Bellona was feeding Arther a bite of waffle, the strawberry sauce smeared across her lips.

His golden eyes raked over me, the alpha's gaze as cold as winter frost.

I could almost hear his wolf sneering at the sight of my battered form.

Later, I huddled in the corner of my tiny room, the bitter taste of painkillers still lingering in my mouth.

Suddenly, the door burst open, and Arther stormed in.

With a snarl, he ripped the curtains apart.

I instinctively shrank back, but he was on me in an instant.

His fingers tangled in my hair, yanking hard enough to make my eyes water.

The inhibitor collar around my neck dug painfully into my skin, suppressing my wolf's howl of protest.

"Bellona started bleeding after eating your food," he hissed, his breath hot against my face.

"You're going to the infirmary, and you're going to fix this. Now!"

The operating room on the top floor of the private hospital glowed with a harsh red light, a dozen white - coated specialists scurrying in and out, clutching test reports.

Arther leaned against the wall, a cigarette dangling from his lips.

Ashes fell onto my bare foot, searing tiny blisters into the skin.

"Explain," he growled, suddenly stubbing out the cigarette.

"You thought you could mask the smell of rat poison with cheap spices?"

I stared at the smear of Bellona's lipstick on his collar. "It's my fault. Do what you will."

With a snarl, he slammed me against the wall.

"You saved me all those years ago just to become the alpha's mate. Now that Bellona has the engagement ring, you're eaten up with jealousy, aren't you?"

"No," I said, tilting my head back, baring my neck as his fangs hovered dangerously close to my carotid artery.

"I'm happier than anyone that you've found someone you truly love."

Suddenly, the mark on my wrist, the one left by Nelson, began to burn.

Arther's pupils dilated in surprise.

Just then, the door to the ward creaked open.

Bellona leaned weakly against the doorframe.

"Brother Arther, don't be too hard on Sister Ava..."

In an instant, Arther's expression turned cold and hard.

He grabbed my wrist and pulled me along.

" If there's a next time-" Before he could finish, my knees buckled, and I collapsed into his arms.

Bellona's smug expression froze, and Arther's hand, which had caught my waist, lingered for a moment before he seemed to remember himself.

But then, Bellona's eyes rolled back, and she crumpled to the ground.

Arther immediately released me and rushed to her side.

The news that I had spent the night with Alex had spread like wildfire through the hospital.

The nurses' station buzzed with whispers.

"Word is Arther only gives Ava defective inhibitors," hissed the nurse with the purple bandana, her pupils slitted with malice.

"Saw her in a full - blown heat last week. She was shaking so hard, I thought her bones would rattle out of her skin. "

"Hardly surprising," sneered the nurse with gold - rimmed glasses. "Bellona's pocket change could buy Ava's entire existence. Arther only keeps her around as a human shield-you should've seen her last rogue ambush. More bullet holes than fur."

I forced my steps to remain steady, but my wolf whimpered at the truth laced in their words.

"Have you heard? Alpha Arther and Bellona are getting married in Webber!" The young nurse with the pink hair tie practically vibrated with excitement.

"They've already sent out the blood - sealed invitations!"

Her colleague snorted, flipping through the shift schedule with disdain.

"Bellona's from the Crescent Moon pack. Of course, Arther would spare no expense. Though isn't Webber... Ava's hometown?"

The pink - haired nurse's grin turned sharp as a hunting knife.

"More than that. Rumor has it she had a thing with a mate there. Dead and buried now, but she still visits his grave like a lovesick pup. Can you imagine? Watching the man she pined over marry another in the very place she lost everything."