When the Alpha Saved Me from My Mate

Morning light filtered through the curtains as I stared at the ceiling, replaying last night's conversation in my mind. Bryan's words echoed: "She needs protection. She's human, Laila. Fragile."

I rolled over, expecting to find him gone already. Instead, he stood in the bedroom doorway, suitcase at his feet.

"I'm leaving for the Granite Pack today," he announced without preamble. "Diplomatic mission."

I sat up slowly, my body still heavy with exhaustion. "For how long?"

"Three days. Maybe four." He shrugged, already checking his phone. "Aya's coming with me."

The news hit like a physical blow. "You're taking her?"

"She needs experience dealing with other packs." His tone was dismissive, as if my reaction was childish. "Pack my bags, will you? We leave in an hour."

I wanted to refuse, to scream that he couldn't just leave with her after everything. Instead, I nodded numbly.

"The Alpha meeting reports—" I began.

"Already handled." He flashed me a quick smile that didn't reach his eyes. "You always take care of everything."

At least he acknowledged it, even if it was just to remind me of my place.

An hour later, I stood in our bedroom, mechanically folding his clothes into the suitcase. Each item felt heavier than it should—his favorite sweater, the pants he wore to important meetings, the jacket that still smelled faintly of vanilla.

My fingers brushed against something hard in his drawer as I reached for his toiletries. Curious, I pulled out a small velvet box.

"Don't snoop," I warned myself, but my fingers moved of their own accord, opening the lid.

Inside lay a delicate charm bracelet with a silver wolf pendant. My heart stopped.

"It's perfect for the video," Aya had gushed in her latest diary entry, admiring a similar bracelet in a shop window. "Bryan says it reminds him of me—strong but delicate."

I remembered thinking how strange it was that he'd called her strong when she was human, fragile by definition.

With trembling hands, I closed the box and placed it carefully between layers of clothing. If he wanted her to have it, I wouldn't stop him. But something hardened inside me—a resolve I hadn't felt before.

---

Two days passed in relative peace. I attended pack meetings in Bryan's absence, answered questions about his whereabouts with practiced calmness, and tried not to think about what they were doing together.

I was arranging wildflowers in our kitchen when my phone rang.

"Laila Montgomery," I answered, expecting pack business.

"What the hell did you do?" Bryan's voice exploded through the speaker, so loud I flinched away.

"What are you talking about?" I stammered, confusion replacing surprise.

"Aya is in the hospital!" His rage vibrated through the connection. "She went into anaphylactic shock after wearing the clothes you packed!"

My blood ran cold. "Bryan, I didn't—"

"Don't lie to me!" he roared. "The doctors found traces of wolfsbane powder all over her clothes. You deliberately poisoned her!"

"That's impossible," I whispered, my mind racing. "I would never—"

"You're jealous," he spat. "You've always been jealous of her. Well, now you've gone too far."

I gripped the counter for support. "Bryan, please listen to me. I didn't put anything on her clothes."

"The pack enforcers are on their way," he said coldly. "Better start explaining yourself."

The line went dead.

---

I barely had time to process what was happening before the sound of splintering wood filled the air. My front door crashed open, and Detective Ray Cooper stormed in, flanked by two burly enforcers.

"Laila Montgomery," he barked, "you're under arrest for attempted murder by wolfsbane poisoning."

"I didn't do anything," I protested as rough hands grabbed my arms.

"We'll sort that out at the station," Ray replied, his expression grim.

They dragged me through the pack house like a common criminal. Omegas gathered in doorways, their eyes gleaming with malicious delight at my downfall. Deltas watched with pity or morbid curiosity.

"Look at her," someone whispered. "Always thought she was too good for her rank."

I kept my eyes forward, refusing to give them the satisfaction of seeing me break.

Outside, a crowd had gathered. The enforcers shoved me into a black SUV with tinted windows.

"No one will believe me," I realized with growing horror as they drove away from everything I'd ever known.

The silver-barred holding cell was cold and bare. They pushed me inside without ceremony, the door clanging shut behind me.

"Your hearing will be tomorrow," Ray informed me through the bars. "Until then, you're pack property."

As he walked away, I sank to the floor, wrapping my arms around myself.

"Pack property," I repeated bitterly. "Is that all I've ever been?"