Bound to the Bastard Alpha

Fiona's POV

"I'm getting married!"

Serena's announcement exploded through the living room, and for one stupid second my heart lifted with genuine happiness for her.

Then I saw whose hand she was holding.

Nathan.

My Nathan.

My boyfriend, my mate, sitting on the couch with his fingers laced through my sister's like they'd been doing it forever. Their smiles were too bright, too pleased with themselves, and my pulse started hammering so hard I could hear it in my ears.

My parents sat across from them, laughing and chatting like someone had just handed them the best news of their lives. They looked happier than they'd been around me in months, not since they'd found Serena, their real daughter, their biological child who'd been lost to them for over twenty years.

The daughter I'd been raised to replace.

The room felt like it was tilting.

I'd walked in here expecting the usual quiet, expecting to fade into the background like I'd been doing ever since Serena came home three months ago. But this? This was something else entirely.

I tried to steady my breathing, tried to smile like everything was fine, but my brain was screaming questions I couldn't answer. When did Nathan and Serena get this close? When did they even start talking to each other? And why did I feel like the last person on earth to know what was happening?

"That's wonderful news, Serena," I managed to say, but my voice came out strained and wrong.

Something was horribly wrong here.

Serena caught my stare and her smile turned sharp and knowing. She lifted their joined hands high in the air like she was showing off a trophy.

"What are you so confused about, sis?" Her tone was light and teasing, dripping with fake innocence. "Isn't it perfectly normal for a couple to hold hands?"

Couple?

The word hit me like a freight train.

"What do you mean? Nathan's my boyfriend, my mate, and you're my sister. Don't you know that?"

My voice came out sharper than I intended, but I couldn't help it. Ever since my parents found their long-lost daughter and brought her home, my entire world had flipped upside down. I'd gone from being the beloved only child to being the temporary replacement they no longer needed, the adopted girl who'd served her purpose and could now be pushed aside.

My parents made it clear every single day that Serena was what they'd been searching for all these years, and I was just the shadow they'd settled for in the meantime.

And Serena? She hadn't just come home to reunite with her family. She'd made it her personal mission to make my existence in this house unbearable, like I was nothing more than an annoying obstacle she needed to remove.

But I never thought she'd go after Nathan.

Serena shrugged, casual as anything, like my question was the stupidest thing she'd ever heard. "Of course I know that. So what?"

So what?

My mind spun and I shook my head hard, trying to make sense of this nightmare unfolding in front of me. My parents were still chatting away like nothing was wrong, like their adopted daughter's mate holding hands with their biological daughter was the most natural thing in the world.

"What? You're getting married to my boyfriend!" The words exploded out of me, echoing off the walls.

Instead of looking shocked or guilty or even remotely apologetic, Serena clutched her ears and made this theatrical display of fear, her eyes going wide and wounded.

"Mommy, daddy, help! She wants to burst my eardrums! I already have issues with them as it is!"

I felt like I'd fallen into some twisted nightmare where everyone had lost their minds except me.

And then my father spoke up, and his words were like knives.

"Fiona, what's the big deal about your ex-boyfriend getting married to your sister?" His voice carried this edge of annoyance, like my reaction was nothing but an inconvenience he had to deal with. "Serena has gone through so much before we finally found her. She deserves to get whatever it is that she wants. You lived a life of wealth for years while she was suffering out there. This is the least you could do for her."

The words slapped me across the face.

How could they be so blind? How could they act like my pain meant nothing?

My mother jumped in before I could even respond, and her words were even more callous.

"Ugh, stop with the drama already. The only reason Nathan was even with you in the first place was because you were the heiress of this family. Now that the real heiress is back, isn't it normal to return everything to the rightful owner? Even if it's a human?"

My heart shattered into a thousand pieces.

They were talking about Nathan like he was property to be handed over, like our mate bond meant nothing, like I meant nothing.

"But he's not just my boyfriend, Mom! He's my mate! We're mates! Do you not understand the gravity of that?" My voice came out borderline hysterical, cracking on the last word.

Nathan finally spoke, and his words destroyed me.

"Not anymore, Fiona. I'm sorry, but I love Serena, not you. I don't feel the mate bond between us anymore. I'm choosing Serena over you, regardless of whatever."

The urge to slap him surged so violently through me that my hands trembled, but I clenched my fists and held back. Instead I let out this bitter, disbelieving scoff.

"You love Serena? Really? You literally met her a month ago and you love her already? Do I look stupid, Nathan?" My voice shook with rage and betrayal. "The only reason you're doing this is because I'm no longer the heiress, and like the gold digger that you are, you're immediately plundering towards the new heiress! You're merely an opportunist!"

Nathan's expression shifted to defensive outrage and he rolled his eyes hard, sinking back into his chair like I'd personally insulted him.

"I can't believe that you attended the best schools yet you don't know how to use your words properly. I have wealth too, so why on earth would I be a gold digger? My wealth is literally on the same level as this family's!"

"That means nothing!" I shot back without missing a beat. "A person with wealth can definitely seek more wealth to add to their own, and that's obviously what you're doing!"

Serena threw her hands up with exasperation, like she was the victim here and I was the unreasonable one.

"Ugh! What is it with the gold-digging rubbish? Dear sister, do you not know how to handle rejection? You're no longer wanted, so why not just accept it and stop being desperate? It's honestly not a good look on you at all!"

Fury burned through me like wildfire, threatening to consume every ounce of control I had left. But I refused to let them see how much they'd wounded me, how deep their betrayal cut.

I squared my shoulders and looked Nathan dead in the eye.

"Fine! But before you even have the chance, I'll do it on your behalf, you miscreant! I, Fiona Larson, hereby reject you, Nathan Blackwood, as my mate!"

The words tasted like poison on my tongue, bitter and vile, but I forced them out with every bit of conviction I had left in me.

A sharp pang pierced straight through my heart as I watched for his reaction, for any sign that this hurt him even a fraction of how much it was killing me.

But Nathan just sat there. Unmoved. Unbothered. His expression stayed blank and unreadable, like my rejection meant absolutely nothing to him, like our bond had never existed in the first place.

It stung worse than anything else, knowing he could discard what we had so easily.

I spun on my heel and headed straight for the door, refusing to let them see the tears burning behind my eyes.

But just as my hand touched the handle, Serena's voice cut through the air and stopped me cold.

"Not so fast, sis! That's not all the news at all!"

I froze but didn't turn around.

Her voice was dripping with barely contained glee, like she'd been waiting for this moment. "Just in case you're feeling jealous of us getting married, would it make you feel any better if I told you that you're getting married too?"​​​

Fiona's POV

The club was dimly lit and pulsing with bass that vibrated through my chest, mixing with hushed whispers and laughter from people I couldn't see clearly. The mask covering my face gave me something I desperately needed right now: anonymity.

Freedom.

This place was known for its masked events and indulgence in everything considered immoral by polite society. A month ago, I never would have set foot in a place like this. The former heiress of a respected family didn't go to clubs where people hid their identities and did things they'd never admit to in daylight.

But that girl was gone.

I'd spent my whole life trying to be the perfect daughter they wanted. I sacrificed everything I wanted, every dream I had, molding myself into their image of perfection. And it was never enough. No matter how hard I tried, I was always the outsider, the disposable one they could throw away the second their real daughter came home.

Blood was thicker than water. That was the lesson I'd learned.

And now they wanted to marry me off to some stranger, some man who was supposed to be Serena's betrothed originally. They were using me as a tool again, a replacement for their precious biological daughter who deserved better.

Well, I was done being their obedient little puppet.

The vibrant energy of the club pulsed around me as I settled into a secluded corner, scanning the room for a potential companion for the night. If I was going to be forced into marriage with some decrepit man I'd never met, then I was damn well going to make this decision for myself first. I refused to surrender my virginity to a stranger against my will. I'd give it to whoever I wanted, on my own terms.

My eyes roamed the crowd and suddenly locked onto another pair across the room.

We stared at each other through our masks, and something electric sparked between us. Time seemed to slow down, suspended in the tension crackling through the air.

But before I could even process what I was feeling, an unwelcome hand snaked around my waist with a touch that was all too familiar.

My heart lurched.

I turned to confront whoever had the audacity to grab me like that, and the scent of his cologne hit me like a tidal wave of memories I'd rather drown.

Nathan.

My ex-mate stood there with a mask covering his face and a cocky grin that made my skin crawl. Despite the disguise, I recognized him instantly.

I almost scoffed out loud and blew my cover right then and there. The irony was almost laughable. Here he was, the same man who'd broken my heart for my sister just hours ago, claiming it was all about love and destiny and other absolute garbage, and now he was at a masked party hitting on random women.

The thought crossed my mind to call Serena over and expose him for the scumbag he really was. But then a wave of gratitude washed over me instead.

Gratitude that we weren't mates anymore.

Scumbags belonged with scumbags. And I deserved so much better than the likes of him.

"Are you here alone? Would you like some company, beautiful?" His voice dripped with fake charm that made my stomach turn.

I scoffed loudly, unable to hide my disgust.

The fact that he didn't recognize me beneath this mask, even though I'd known him instantly, just proved how one-sided our relationship had always been. He'd never really seen me at all.

I refused to dignify him with a response because speaking would give away my voice, so I ignored him completely and pretended he didn't exist.

But he kept pushing.

"Do you not hear me? I am speaking to you." His tone turned harsh and annoyed.

I stayed silent and got off my chair, determined to find another spot far away from him.

But before I could take more than two steps, he seized my hands with brutal force and yanked me back hard enough to make me wince.

"Who the hell do you think you are, ignoring me like that?" he spat, his anger radiating off him in waves. "Dressed like a whore and acting like some noble lady? Do you even know who you are giving this stupid attitude?"

His words sliced through me but I kept my mouth shut, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a response that would reveal who I was.

I tried to pull away again but he grabbed me by the waist, his grip tightening like a vice. I struggled against him, panic rising in my throat as I fought to keep my mask in place.

His fingers inched toward my face, reaching for the edges of my disguise.

"You think you're invincible, hiding behind that mask, right?" he sneered, venom dripping from every word. "Let's see what happens when it's off. You'll never be able to work anywhere again, never live peacefully once I get to know who you are. I'll make sure of it. You slut-"

Before his fingers could touch my mask, his body was suddenly ripped away from me.

I spun around and found the stranger I'd locked eyes with earlier now standing between us like a wall. In one swift motion, he delivered a devastating punch to Nathan's face that sent him stumbling backward with a cry of pain.

Blood poured from his nose and his lip split open from the impact. He tried to regain his footing but the stranger stepped forward, his stance radiating barely controlled violence.

"She does not need to speak before you know that she does not want you, you pervert!" The man's deep voice resonated through the room and made me swallow hard.

"Do you know who I am? How dare you punch me? How-" Nathan sputtered, trying to salvage his pride as he scrambled up from the floor. But the stranger towered over him, his build and presence so intimidating that Nathan visibly shrank back in fear.

"That's what I thought. Now, will you get lost before I break your hands too?" The threat in his voice was crystal clear.

Nathan glanced around nervously, realized he was completely outmatched, and started backing away while hurling empty threats over his shoulder in a pathetic attempt to save face.

Once he slunk away into the crowd, the tension finally eased and I released a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding.

This stranger had just saved me from a disaster, and gratitude flooded through me.

I turned to face him, wanting to thank him properly, but he spoke first. "You alright?"

I nodded and offered him a small smile. "Thank you so much."

"Oh, so she has a voice. I wonder why she did not use it with that man then, uh?" He referred to me in third person, and despite everything, it pulled a smile from my lips.

"Well, not even my voice deserves to be wasted on certain miscreants, don't you think?" I kept my tone low and laced with sarcasm.

"Hmm, you may be right. But what is a beautiful damsel like you doing in a place like this? Even with the revealing gown, you look out of place here. I can't put my finger on it, but you really don't fit. I wouldn't be surprised if this is your first time."

"Well, it is indeed my first time here," I admitted, adding a hint of mystery to my words. "And I am here on a mission."

"Hmm, are you a spy watching a target then?" His eyes gleamed with amusement behind his mask.

"Not really." I leaned in closer, letting my voice drop to something more alluring. "I'm simply a woman looking for a man to spend the night with."

His eyebrows shot up in surprise and a smirk tugged at my lips as I watched his reaction.

"Why the astonishment? Surely you don't believe women should not be able to enjoy the pleasures of casual intimacy just like men?" I teased, my gaze daring him to challenge me.

He stumbled over his words, clearly caught off guard. "Uhm... no, that's not it. I am sorry if I-"

I chuckled softly and leaned back, enjoying the power shift between us. "Relax, darling. You look so shaken."

His breath hitched slightly and his eyes darkened with something that made heat pool in my stomach. "And have you found what you're looking for yet?"

I met his gaze head-on and let a sultry smile play across my lips. "Not quite."

I leaned in closer and let my fingertips trail lightly across his arm, feeling him shiver under my touch. "But I have a feeling," I murmured, my breath warm against his ear, "that you could help me with that."​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Fiona's POV

Darkness surrounded me when I opened my eyes, and every inch of my naked skin was still humming from what we'd done hours ago.

The stranger beside me was a dark silhouette in the shadows, breathing deeply in sleep while my heart raced with the memory of his hands on my body.

We'd kept our masks on the entire time. I refused to show my face and he seemed just as determined to stay anonymous. But even behind the disguise, even in pitch black darkness, something about him had felt achingly familiar, like my soul recognized his even though we were complete strangers.

I needed to leave before he woke up.

Moving as quietly as possible, I gathered my clothes scattered across the hotel room floor and got dressed with shaking hands. Every small sound made me freeze, terrified he'd wake and see me sneaking out like some guilty criminal.

Once I was dressed, I pulled some cash from my purse and left it on the counter. Payment for services rendered, I guess, though calling it that made my stomach twist uncomfortably.

My hand was on the doorknob when doubt crashed through me. What the hell was I thinking last night? Sleeping with a masked stranger hours before my forced wedding?

But there was no time to regret it now.

I slipped out and ran down the hallway, finally ripping the suffocating mask off my face.

That's when my phone exploded with sound.

"Where the hell are you, you ungrateful idiot?" My mother's voice was pure venom through the speaker. "Today is your wedding and you dare sleep out? Are you out of your mind? Did you forget what happens to that precious nanny of yours if you run away from marrying that useless cripple?"

Ice flooded my veins.

"Oh my God!" I slapped my forehead so hard it stung. "The wedding!"

I hung up and bolted down the hallway like the devil himself was chasing me.

Hours later, I stood in front of a mirror wearing the most hideous wedding dress I'd ever seen in my life.

It was at least two sizes too big, hanging off me like a deflated balloon. The cheap fabric looked like it came from a discount bin and the whole thing screamed "we don't actually care about you at all."

They'd done this on purpose. Sent me an oversized monstrosity to make sure I looked as pathetic as possible on what was supposed to be the most important day of my life.

"Why are you in that hideous wedding dress?"

Hannah's voice made me spin around. My best friend stood in the doorway with her jaw hanging open in shock and fury blazing in her eyes.

"Don't tell me you're actually going through with this insane bullshit your parents cooked up!"

"Hannah!" Relief crashed through me and I threw myself at her, hugging her so tight I could barely breathe.

When I finally let go, the words poured out in a desperate rush. "I don't have a choice! They threatened Lolo. You know she's the only person who actually loves me in this world. She raised me when my parents couldn't be bothered. And now she's dying in that hospital and they're holding her treatment over my head like a weapon."

My voice cracked. "If I don't marry this man, they'll stop paying for her care and she'll die. So yes, I'm going through with it, even if I have to marry some bastard I've never met."

Hannah's face crumpled and she pulled me back into her arms. "You deserve so much better than this, bestie. You really do." Her voice was thick with sympathy. "But since a life is on the line and your parents are cruel enough to use it against you, I guess you don't have a choice. Good luck, Fiona. I can't exactly say happy married life when this whole thing is a nightmare."

Before I could respond, my mother's shrill voice pierced through the room like nails on a chalkboard.

"Will you get your fat behind out of that room already, Fiona? Do you think we have all the time in the world? Spending so much time in there acting like some Cinderella!"

I exchanged a look with Hannah and sighed. "Coming, Mom!"

"That's not a mom, Fiona," Hannah whispered as we headed for the door. "That's literally a witch!"

Despite everything, I laughed. "If only she had a magic wand and pumpkin carriage to match that attitude."

When we reached the bottom of the stairs, my mother's scowl greeted us like a slap. "Finally! What took you so long?"

I forced a smile. "Sorry, Mom. Just getting ready."

Her eyes raked over me from head to toe, taking in my disheveled appearance and the disaster of a wedding dress. "Well hurry up. We can't keep your groom waiting."

The words sent ice down my spine.

Outside in the compound, I immediately spotted Nathan with a split lip and bruised nose. Serena was fussing over him, asking about his injuries while he puffed up like a peacock.

"I put some weak wolf in his place," Nathan bragged, his voice dripping with arrogance. "Taught him a lesson he won't forget."

I couldn't help myself. "So if you're fighting a weak wolf and end up with a busted nose and split lip, does that mean you're weaker than a weak wolf?" The sarcasm rolled off my tongue effortlessly. "Would your whole body be bloated if you fought a normal wolf? What would happen against a strong one?"

"You're just jealous that Nathan picked me over you!" Serena snapped, glaring daggers at me. "I understand you're bitter because you didn't get the better man!"

I laughed coldly. "Jealousy? Trust me, I couldn't care less about Nathan's choice anymore. His actions already proved he's far from being any kind of 'better man.'"

Serena looked away and went back to fussing over Nathan's injuries. I turned away too, my stomach churning with disgust.

Hours dragged by at the church while we all waited for the groom to arrive.

Part of me hoped he'd been in some horrible accident that would spare me from this nightmare. But then a car appeared in the distance and my brief fantasy died.

Serena wasted no time twisting the knife. "Are you excited to see the ugly crippled bastard you'll be spending the rest of your life with, sis?" Her voice dripped pure malice. "Nathan says his brother is nothing to write home about. People think he's the older one even though he's younger because of how old and haggard he looks." She laughed cruelly. "And you have so much in common! You're an orphan who's merely adopted, while he's an illegitimate bastard child. What a beautiful match made in heaven!"

"Give me one chance to shut this whiny bitch up!" Hannah snarled, her fists clenched.

But before anyone could respond, the car door opened.

An old man in a suit emerged first and my heart plummeted straight to my feet. He looked old enough to be my grandfather and I thought I was going to faint right there.

Then the man walked to the other side of the car, pulled out a wheelchair from the boot, and started helping someone else out.

Relief crashed through me so hard my knees went weak. He wasn't the groom.

The soft sound of wheelchair wheels rolling across pavement filled the air.

And then I saw his face.

My breath stopped completely.

It was nothing like what they'd told me. Nothing like I'd imagined.