When My Alpha Left Me Bleeding for His Mistress

The rain came down in sheets, turning the forest paths into rivers of mud. I stood at the edge of the packhouse grounds, my clothes already soaked through as Jace addressed the assembled warriors. His voice carried over the howling wind, each word sharp with Alpha command.

'We need every available fighter on the northern border,' he announced, his blue eyes scanning the crowd. 'The Silver Claw Pack knows about Richard Taylor's betrayal. They'll see it as an opportunity to strike while we're vulnerable.'

My stomach twisted at the mention of my father's name. Three days had passed since his exile, and the pack still treated me like I carried his treachery in my blood. I straightened my shoulders, ignoring the persistent nausea that had plagued me for weeks. I couldn't afford weakness now.

'I want to join the patrol,' I said, stepping forward before I could lose my nerve. My voice sounded stronger than I felt.

Jace's eyes flicked to me, cold and dismissive. 'You're not a fighter, Luna.'

'I'm still pack,' I countered, pressing my thumbnail into my wrist to steady myself. 'And I can hold my own.' If I could prove my loyalty in this, maybe he would see something in me worth saving.

A muscle ticked in Jace's jaw. For a moment, I thought he might refuse outright. Then he nodded curtly. 'Fine. But stay toward the middle of the formation. This isn't a game.'

The shift came easier than I expected, my wolf surging forward with a desperate need to prove herself. My white fur was instantly plastered to my skin by the relentless rain as we moved out in formation, headed for the northern border.

The forest was a nightmare of darkness and confusion. Lightning split the sky, illuminating the battlefield in harsh, ghostly flashes. The mud sucked at my paws, making each step a struggle. Through it all, I fought to keep pace with the warriors around me, ignoring the deep exhaustion that had become my constant companion.

We had barely reached the border when the first howl cut through the storm—not one of ours. The ambush came from all sides, Silver Claw wolves materializing from the shadows like ghosts. Their teeth gleamed in the darkness, their growls blending with the thunder.

'Protect the younger wolves!' someone shouted, and I responded instinctively, lunging toward a group of adolescent fighters who had been separated from the main formation.

I fought with everything I had, my teeth finding flesh, my claws tearing through fur. But I was outnumbered. Two massive Silver Claw warriors cornered me against a fallen tree, their eyes gleaming with malice. I slashed at one, catching his shoulder, but the other caught my hind leg, his teeth sinking deep into my thigh.

Pain exploded through my body as I howled, the sound barely audible over the storm. Blood mixed with rainwater, streaming down my fur. I tried to stand, but my leg buckled beneath me.

Desperation clawed at my throat. I reached for the mate bond, for that cold connection that was all I had left.

'Jace!' I screamed through our mind-link. 'I need help! Northern ridge, by the old oak!' My mental voice was raw with pain and fear.

There was a flicker of response, a momentary tension in the bond. He had heard me. Relief flooded through me—until another scream cut through the night, higher and more terrified than mine.

Across the battlefield, partially shifted and clutching a bundle of herbs, stood Hayden. A Silver Claw wolf snapped at her arm, drawing a thin line of blood. Her face was pale with terror, her honey-blonde hair dark with rain.

'Jace!' she cried out, and the sound seemed to pierce through the storm itself.

I watched in horror as Jace's massive black wolf form tore away from his position, abandoning his frontline fighters to charge toward Hayden. His Alpha power radiated like a physical force as he slammed into the Silver Claw wolf, sending it flying.

He shifted partially, his arms wrapping around Hayden's trembling form, shielding her completely with his body. Without a backward glance, he carried her away from the battle, leaving me bleeding in the mud.

The Silver Claw wolves closed in, their teeth bared in triumph. My wolf howled in despair as I realized the truth: I was alone, abandoned by my Alpha, by my mate, in the moment I needed him most.