Revenge of His Stolen True Mate

Alaina Cole POV:

A bowl of liquid, black as ink and reeking of bitter herbs, was shoved in front of me. The ceramic scraped harshly against the wood, a dull thud that echoed in the sudden silence.

"Drink it," my aunt, Susan Michael, commanded. Her face was a twisted mask of impatience. "Stop wasting time. Billy Hicks is waiting for a 'clean' new bride."

The word 'clean' felt like a physical blow, sending a tremor through me. I looked down, seeing my own pale, haunted reflection in the dark liquid. My stomach churned.

That smell... it was too familiar. It was a key, violently twisting a lock in my mind, throwing open a door to a memory drenched in blood.

It all started on the Feral Night. A drugged Alpha-out of his mind, driven by instinct-had taken me without ever knowing my name. I fled before dawn, carrying his seed, not even knowing his face. But that one night left me with this child.

Later, my aunt and uncle discovered I was pregnant. They saw profit, not family. They found Billy Hicks, a brutal Rogue who would pay for a "clean" bride. They sold me to him and pocketed the money. The day I was handed over, Billy forced the same potion down my throat-the abortion draught, meant to kill the pup inside me.

It failed. The pup survived. But months later, in a filthy shack, I went into labor on a full moon night. Billy was outside, drinking and laughing with his Rogue friends.

I felt the pup inside me struggling weakly for life.

Then the hemorrhage took everything. The last thing I saw was Billy stumbling in, kicking me aside with a look of disgust, cursing me as "useless."

Cold. Darkness. An endless void. I never even saw my baby's face.

A violent shudder wracked my body, yanking me from the memory. I gasped for air, my hands gripping the edge of the table so hard my knuckles turned white.

I wasn't dead.

I was back.

Back in this kitchen. Back before they sold me. Before Billy put his hands on me. Before I bled out on that dirty floor.

My stomach was flat. But I pressed my hand there, and I felt it-a tiny warmth, a pulse. My pup. Still there. Still fighting.

I was twenty-one again. Same house. Same poison. Same two faces waiting for me to drink.Not this time.

My uncle, Sean Michael, lost his patience. He strode over, grabbing a fistful of my hair and yanking my head back. "What are you waiting for? You're an Omega carrying some unknown bastard's pup. That draught will flush it right out of you. Then Billy gets a clean bride, and we get paid. We're being merciful by not throwing you out on the street!"

His words were sharp, but this time, I didn't cry or beg like I had before.

My eyes changed. I looked through his greasy, flushed face and saw his future: a pathetic, broken man, cast out of the Pack for his crimes.

Susan chimed in from the side, her voice a wheedling whine. "Just drink it, Alaina. Once that pup is gone, Billy will take you, and we'll all be done with this mess. It's for the best. Especially for your cousin, Khloe. She has an important meeting with a very important person soon. Our family can't afford any scandals."

Khloe. The name ignited a firestorm of hatred in my chest. It was her. She stole everything that should have been mine, including the favor of that Alpha.

I remembered the Feral Night. I had stumbled home, dazed and disoriented, barely knowing where I was. I had no idea that in my discarded clothes lay a cufflink engraved with the Silver Moon Pack's crest and a note from the Alpha-proof of our bond, a token meant to bring me to him. But I was too fogged to notice. And Khloe, my dear cousin, had found them first.

She stole the cufflink and the note. She bought expensive perfume to mimic my scent. And she went to the capital, to the Silver Moon Pack, and claimed she was the Omega he had mated with. She was sitting in his estate right now, wearing his gifts, calling herself his future Luna-while I sat here, being force-fed poison to kill his child.

The memory burned through me like acid.

Slowly, inch by inch, I lifted my gaze to meet Sean's. My eyes were cold, calm, and utterly devoid of fear.

He flinched, his grip on my hair loosening unconsciously. "What are you looking at?"

I didn't answer. My attention shifted to the bowl. I knew what was in it-cheap, dangerous herbs that would ravage my body.

In my past life, drinking it had left me so weak, so unable to fight back against Billy's abuse.

No.

This time, I wouldn't believe a single word. I wouldn't drink a single drop.

Seeing my hesitation, Susan softened her tone, a falsely sweet poison. "Good girl, just drink it and it will all be over. Billy will give you a generous bride-price. We'll get a cut. Your sacrifice is worth it."

Her words exposed their true motive: greed. They didn't care if I lived or died, only how much they could profit from me.

I took a deep breath, forcing down the urge to scream. It wasn't time to fight back. Not yet. I needed to survive. I needed to protect my child.

I had to be smarter than them. More ruthless.

My hand reached out, slowly closing around the cold ceramic bowl.

Satisfaction bloomed on Susan and Sean's faces. They thought I had finally surrendered.

I made a silent vow to the child in my womb. Baby, I will never let anyone hurt you again. You are mine. You are the child of that god-like Alpha. You carry the noblest blood in this world. And those who hurt us, I will make them pay a thousand times over.

I lifted the bowl to my lips. Just as they thought I was about to drink, my wrist "accidentally" trembled.

The bowl tipped. Most of the black liquid spilled onto my worn dress, a small amount splashing onto the floor with a faint sizzle.

Alaina Cole POV:

The moment the potion spilled, the air in the living room froze. Susan's smile curdled into a snarl of fury.

"You damned girl!" she shrieked, lunging forward, her hand raised to strike me.

I didn't flinch away. Instead, I instantly manufactured a look of pure terror and regret. My body trembled, and tears welled in my eyes. "I'm sorry! I... I was so scared, my hand was shaking... I didn't mean to!"

My performance was perfect. It showcased the expected weakness of an Omega and provided a plausible reason for the "accident."

Sean grabbed Susan's arm, his face a mixture of anger and anxiety. "What's the use in hitting her now? The potion is gone!"

Susan's chest heaved with rage. She pointed a trembling finger at me. "Those herbs are expensive! Do you think they grow on trees?"

I continued to sob, my voice shaky. "I'll drink it, I promise... Aunt Susan, please, just brew another bowl for me. I'll drink it properly this time."

My apparent submission made them lower their guard. To them, I was just a frightened, indecisive Omega.

Sean frowned, pacing the worn floorboards. "There's no time to brew another. Billy is getting impatient. If he finds out the pup is still there, the deal is off."

Hearing this, I knew my chance had come. This was the first step of my plan.

I lifted my tear-streaked face, my voice timid. "Then... what do we do? Maybe... maybe we should go to a Pack Healer?"

The suggestion made both of them freeze.

Susan immediately shot it down. "No! Go to a Healer? Then the whole Pack will know about your scandal! What about the Michael family's reputation?"

I lowered my head, my voice a choked whisper. "But... I heard that Healers have a ritual. They can make the pup's life force fade away quietly, with very little harm to the mother... It's much safer than those strange herbs."

I deliberately emphasized "safe" and "quietly," hitting their precise concerns: they wanted the problem solved without any public exposure.

Sean's pacing stopped. He was tempted. He looked at Susan, a question in his eyes.

I pressed my advantage, speaking even more softly. "And... if a Healer confirms the pup is gone, it would be more convincing for Billy, wouldn't it? What if he has some way to check..."

That was the final straw. Rogues had their own strange methods, and they were genuinely afraid Billy Hicks wouldn't take their word for it.

Sean made his decision. "She's right. Find a reliable Healer, spend some money, and get it done cleanly."

Susan was still hesitant. "But where? We don't know any of the Healers at the main Pack clinic, and they charge a fortune."

I jumped in immediately, feigning an eagerness to solve the problem. "I know one! There's a small infirmary on the edge of the territory. I've seen the nurse there before. We can just talk to her, without alerting a real Healer."

It was a carefully constructed lie. I did know the clinic, and I knew the greedy nurse, Evans. She was a crucial part of my plan.

Sean studied me, trying to gauge if I was telling the truth.

I met his gaze, my eyes wide with a desperate desire to "fix things" and a hint of fear from being cornered.

Finally, his pragmatism won over his suspicion. "Fine. Do it," he said, turning to Susan. "Give her some money. Tell her to handle it herself. And be quick about it. No tricks."

Though it pained her to part with the money, Susan knew it was the best option. She reluctantly counted out a few crumpled bills from an old wallet.

I took the cash, my fist closing tightly around it. This was the seed money for my counterattack.

Sean gave me one last warning. "Remember, if you mess this up, or if you dare to run, I'll break your legs and tie you to Billy Hicks's bed myself."

I nodded obediently, my eyes downcast. "Yes, Uncle. I wouldn't dare."

Inside, a cold smile formed. Just wait. You'll soon find out who the real prey is.

I turned and walked slowly out of the suffocating living room, each step firm and resolute.

I had successfully bent their plan to fit my own design.

Alaina Cole POV:

I stepped outside, greedily gulping the fresh air of freedom. The sun was warm on my skin, but I felt nothing but an icy calculation inside me.

I didn't head straight for the clinic. I knew the money Susan had given me was barely enough for the cheapest procedure, let alone enough to bribe a nurse to forge a document.

I needed more money. And right now, there was a walking bag of cash in this town, a man who was desperate to get his hands on me-Billy Hicks.

According to my memories of my past life, at this very moment, he would be drinking in the town's only bar, waiting for the "good news" from the Michael family.

I changed my direction and walked towards the bar. As I passed a shop window, I glanced at my pale, thin reflection. I deliberately messed up my hair, making my eyes look redder and more swollen, the perfect picture of a girl who had just been weeping her heart out.

I pushed open the bar door. The blast of loud music and stale air hit me. I spotted him immediately, sitting in a corner booth. Billy Hicks. His ill-fitting leather jacket and crude posture made him stand out.

I walked straight towards him. His eyes lit up when he saw me, and he stood, his face a mask of undisguised lust. "What are you doing here? Is it done?"

I didn't answer. I just lowered my head, my shoulders trembling slightly, putting on a show of being on the verge of tears.

Billy grew impatient. He grabbed my arm, his grip so tight it hurt. "Speak! What's wrong?"

I looked up, my eyes glistening with unshed tears. "My... my aunt and uncle... the money they gave me isn't enough for the Healer's fee. The Healer said... she won't perform the ritual without full payment, and she won't give me the certificate."

I deliberately called the abortion a "ritual" and the forgery a "certificate," blurring the crucial details.

Billy's thick eyebrows furrowed. "They dare to play me? They promised me a 'clean' one!"

I seized the moment, my voice a mixture of dependence and pleading. "Billy... I know you truly want me. Could you... could you give me the bride-price now? I can take the money, settle things with the Healer, and then... then I'll be all yours."

I said the words "bride-price" with perfect clarity. In my last life, that money was swallowed whole by the Michaels. I never saw a cent of it.

A flicker of suspicion crossed Billy's eyes, but it was quickly overwhelmed by the possessiveness my words ignited. He looked at my helpless, fragile form, and his base Alpha instincts created an illusion of complete control.

He laughed, a rough, grating sound. "You're a smart one. Fine! Here's the money. But you'd better be quick. I'm coming to your house tonight to pick you up."

He pulled a thick envelope from his jacket and shoved it into my hands. I could feel the solid weight of the cash inside.

I took the envelope, my heart pounding with triumph, but my face remained a mask of tearful gratitude. "Thank you, Billy! You're so kind!"

I turned and left the bar quickly, not wanting to spend another second in his presence. I knew the money in my hand, combined with what Susan gave me, was more than enough.

I left the bar and cut through a few back alleys, arriving at the dilapidated clinic on the edge of the territory.

I pushed the door open. The young nurse, Evans, was sitting at the front desk. She looked surprised to see me.

I walked right up to her. I reached into my pocket and pulled out the small wad of cash Susan had given me, but instead of placing it on the counter, I held it up for a moment, then tucked it back. Evans's eyes followed the money greedily.

I lowered my voice. "I need a certificate. A magical signature that shows the life signs of the pup in my womb have vanished."

Evans's face paled. "That's... that's illegal! I can't-"

I didn't waste time arguing. From Billy's thick envelope, I carefully counted out a few notes-barely a fraction of the total-and laid them on the counter. Just enough to whet her appetite.

"This is just the down payment," I said calmly. "There will be another payment-a decent one-when it's done."

Evans stared at the small stack, clearly disappointed, but greed flickered in her eyes. She bit her lip, then swiftly swept the money into a drawer. She pulled a piece of parchment and a special quill from under her desk. "... Follow me. And remember, this is a one-time thing."

I followed her into an empty examination room.

She didn't perform any tests on me. She simply scribbled some symbols I didn't understand onto the parchment, then tapped the paper with the end of the quill.

A faint gray light flashed across the page, forming a complex seal. It was a forged magical signature. It would emit a weak energy fluctuation, similar to the end of a life force, enough to fool most werewolves not skilled in the healing arts.

She handed the parchment to me, her voice hoarse. "It's done. Now, give me the rest of the money, get out of here, and never come back."

I nodded, and from Billy's envelope I pulled out a few more notes-still far less than what Susan had given me earlier-and pushed them toward her. She snatched them up, counting quickly, her face tightening with disappointment at the amount.

"That's all you're getting," I said flatly. "Take it or leave it."

She glared at me, but she knew she had already committed the forgery. With a bitter grunt, she stuffed the money into her pocket.

I turned and walked out of the clinic, the heavy, still‑mostly‑full envelope from Billy safely tucked inside my coat, and the small sum from Susan still hidden in my other pocket. I didn't look back once.