You Used Me to Become Alpha, So I Married Your Uncle

Kai did not bother to come home that day but I did not call him unlike the previous times where I would panic and call him

multiple times.

My wolf had been still and quiet, the only thing she did was cry. I had struggled to keep my tears at bay. We could still feel the years of supposed love and affection. The bond between us still pulsed with the little life it had left.

The next day came and we were supposed to have lunch together but he cancelled at the last minute. I almost ended the call the moment he had started with his usual patronizing tone on me. It baffled me how I had never noticed it before. How much he did not want to talk to me.

His excuse was that Celia was lonely and he was going to stay with her for a while. As he was talking, I could hear Celia cackling in the background.

Training started hours later. I stood beside the other officers at the eastern training field while Kai commanded the session.

He was in his element there, confident and loud, barking orders while the younger wolves watched him with admiration.

This was the life he wanted. The Alpha's throne, the power and the respect.

And apparently, me standing beside him was just another piece of that dream.

We were halfway through combat drills when Celia appeared at the edge of the field.

She wasn't supposed to be there like always. Celia hated training or so she said. But every time Kai would be there, she would make up excuses to come and I never questioned it until now.

Kai had seen her almost immediately and his entire expression changed. "Maya, take the next formation."

I frowned. "Why?"

"Celia is here."

I looked toward her and she was standing perfectly straight, wearing a dress instead of combat gear.

"She doesn't look injured."

"She doesn't have to be injured for me to check on her."

And before I could answer, Celia suddenly stumbled. Her hand flew to her ankle. "Kai!"

He dropped his sword and ran across the field with speed he rarely displayed.

Selene fell against him, and he caught her before she could even touch the ground.

"My ankle hurts," she whispered as Kai lifted her into his arms. The entire training field went silent.

I had simply stared at them as a bitter laugh escaped me. He did not spare even a glance at me.

Even with the mate bond between us, Kai had never been once run to me like that.

"Continue the drills," he ordered the soldiers as he carried her away.

One of the officers beside me shifted awkwardly. "Commander?"

I forced myself to pick up my sword.

"Continue."

The training resumed, but everyone had seen it. Everyone had seen my mate abandon me in the middle of his own command because my best friend had pretended to hurt herself.

An hour later, I found out her ankle was perfectly fine. The healer told me herself.

"She only twisted it slightly. There isn't any serious injury."

I smiled. "Of course."

The wedding preparations had been much worse. When I arrived at the planning hall, the wedding coordinator was already waiting with a stack of papers. She looked nervous.

"What happened?"

She hesitated before handing me the list.

"There are a few changes." I noticed as I scanned it.

The traditional Ashbourne entrance had been removed, the ancestral blessing was removed. The Luna ceremony was shortened by almost half, Even the flower ceremony my grandmother had insisted every Ashbourne bride receive was gone.

I looked up. "Who requested these changes?"

The woman swallowed nervously. "Celia."

I stared at her. "Celia?"

"She said some of the traditions were too old-fashioned and that Commander Kai agreed with her."

My laugh came out low and humorless.

"Of course he did."

The coordinator lowered her eyes.

"She also selected the wedding colors."

"She isn't the bride."

"I know."

"Then why are we changing my wedding for her?"

The woman had no answer. Then my phone buzzed, It was Kai.

I answered and the first thing I did was question him. "Why is Celia planning my wedding?"

He sounded irritated. "Because you're busy with your family, and she has been helping me."

"Helping you?"

"Don't make this difficult, Maya."

I closed my eyes. "This is our mating ceremony."

"I know."

"Then why does another woman get to decide what happens?"

There was a pause.

"Because she understands what I want."

The words were so simple that they almost didn't hurt. Almost.

I looked down at the wedding papers. "Fine."

"Thank you." He said, sounding relieved, like I was being an unnecessary fruit fly that needed to be sent away.

I ended the call immediately. That was when I realized I had been fighting for a bond and a love in his life that had never belonged to me.

I left the planning hall and went straight home. By evening, my mother had already contacted the Regent.

She told me the palace had received my answer and that he had accepted it.

But there was one problem. Regent Nightcrest had requested to speak to me personally.