THE ALPHA'S FORBIDDEN MATE

Sound of laughter travelles to me from downstairs and my hands shook, almost throwing down the vase I had been attending to. I should have gotten used to it but it was impossible.

How could one get used to something like that? Wolf whined inside of me, unhappy and upset for me. Rebelling silently for me.

I stared at my busy hands. The hands that were supposed to be holding gifts, were rearranging the flowers that refused to look right. This would be the fifth time I was arranging them but the result remained the same. I was doing everything I could to keep my mind off the party happening downstairs.

The more I tried to distract myself, the more the event keeps making itself known to me, like it was mocking me. The music was loud, the laughter doesn't cease and voices blended together in celebration. It was my birthday.

Well, technically it was my stepsister Celeste's birthday too. We were born on the same day, although she is a year older than I. But no one was celebrating for me. I go to stand in front of the mirror, I stare at my reflection with sadness in my eyes. They did it on purpose, on my birthday they gave me a dress that made me look pitiful. It was an old dress that barely fit anymore, it has lost its color from years of use.

My silver-blonde hair was pulled back in a messy bun. I looked exactly like what I'd become. A servant in my own house. While downstairs, Celeste was wearing a beautiful emerald gown. I'd seen it earlier when her mom, Vivian, had shown it off, gushing about how much it cost and how perfect it looked on her daughter.

They knew I was standing at the corner when they talked about it. But they didn't care. All that matters was the party. A party that should be for two people if only someone would remember that. I swallowed the lump in my throat and turned back to the flowers

'Don't cry. Don't think about it. Just finish the work and go back to your room' I say to myself. This door is pushed opened behind me and I turn around; it's Damien, Celeste's finance.

Damien stood in the doorway, he wore a smile that complemented his appearance. He was tall, handsome, wealthy, everything Celeste had ever wanted. His dark hair was perfectly styled, and his expensive suit looked tailor made. He was smiling but something about the way his eyes slowly moved down my body made my skin crawl.

There was something dark in those eyes, something wrong and hungry. "D-Damien...what are you doing here?" I asked, my voice shaky as I took a small step back with the step he took forward, "Celeste is-" "I know where Celeste is," he smoothly cut into my sentence.

He stepped into the room and closed the door behind him. The closed door made my stomach twisted, there's something wrong. "I think you should go back down," I said quickly.

"She'll be looking for you." He didn't answer. He just kept walking toward me, like a predator stalking its prey. I backed up until my back hit the wall and there was nowhere else to go.

"Damien, what are you doing?" I asked, my voice came out as a whisper from fear closing up my throat. The man placed both hands on the wall on either side of my head and kept me trapped. He leaned in till his face was so close that I could smell the alcohol on his breath.

"Please stop this," I said and turned my head to the side when he tried kissing me. "You're Celeste's fiance. This is wrong" I say. "Wrong?" He laughed, but it wasn't a nice sound. "Come on, Elara. Don't pretend you don't want this."

"I don't!" I tried to push him away, but he was too strong. "Get away from me!" "You should be grateful," he whispered, his lips close to my ear. "A perfect man like me wanting anything to do with someone like you.

Do you know how lucky you are?"

"Let me go!"

I struggled against him, panic rising in my chest. Instead, He grabbed my waist, to pull me closer, and his other hand reached up to touch my face. "Just relax," he said and traced the hand slowly down to my neck.

"Celeste will never know. It'll be our little secret." "No!" I scream out and shoved against him as hard as I could, but he barely moved, staying rooted. Suddenly his mouth was on mine, forcing a rough and demanding kiss on me. I screamed out but the screams are muffled by his mouth. He moved his hand to grab and squeeze my boobs hard enough to hurt.

I couldn't breathe anymore and I bit down on his lip. He jerked back with a curse, and for a second, his grip loosened. "Fuck!" He yelled and cupped his bloodied lips. I shoved him again with everything I had.

This time, he stumbled back a step. With his hand off me, I bolted for the door, my hands shaking as I grabbed the handle. I pulled it open and rushed through.

But he was faster than I thought. His hand caught the back of my dress and I heard the weakened fabric tear, felt the cool air on my skin as part of my dress ripped away, exposing my bra underneath.

I didn't stop.

I kept running. "You whore!" His voice echoed behind me. "Come back here!" His footsteps pounded after me and my heart hammered in my chest. Without looking back, I ran down the hallway, down the stairs, my torn dress flapping behind me.

The party was in full swing in the main hall. With music, laughter and people everywhere. I burst through the crowd, gasping for air, and my chest heaving. People turned to stare at me. Conversations stopped.

The music seemed to get quieter. I pushed through the guests until I found Celeste. She stood near the center of the room in her perfect emerald dress, a glass of champagne in her hand. She was laughing with some of her friends. "Celeste!" I grabbed her arm, panting so hard I could barely speak.

She turned to look at me, her eyes going wide. Then her gaze traveled down to my torn dress, to the exposed bra, to my messy hair. Behind me, I heard footsteps. Damien appeared, he looked composed, like nothing happened. The only thing that betrayed him was the blood on his lips. Celeste looked at him.

Then at me.

Her face went cold. "What's going on?" she asked slowly."Your fiancé-" I started, my words tumbling over each other as i was trying to catch my breath. "He tried to- He came into the room and he-" "She forced herself on me," Damien interrupted, his voice loud enough for everyone nearby to hear. I froze. "What?" I whispered.

"She grabbed me when I was looking for you," he continued, his voice smooth and convincing. "She told me she wanted me. That you would never find out, when I refused, she-" He gestured to his lips and to his rumpled clothes. "She attacked me. She's trying to frame me."

"No!"

I turned to Celeste, my eyes filling with tears. "No, that's not what happened! He's lying! He came into the room and he tried to force himself on me! He grabbed me and-" The slap came before I could finish.

I pressed my hand to my burning cheek. Celeste slapped me. She's looking at me with cold eyes. "Please, Celeste you have to believe me, I didn't -" I tried to convince her. "Shut up you filthy whore!"she screamed at me.

Everyone in the room held their breath.

The stopped their activities to watch the drama unfolding in front of their eyes.

"Shut up!" Celeste screamed again, her voice so loud I startled and took a step back. "How dare you try to seduce my fiancé? On my birthday!"

How could she believe that?

"I-" I start but nothing came out as the entire room fell quiet.

Heavy footsteps clicked across the marble floor. The crowd parted. My stepmother Vivian appeared, her face twisted with false concern. She wore an expensive purple dress, diamonds glittering at her throat and ears.

"What is going on here?" she demanded, though her eyes already held the answer. She'd probably heard everything.

"Mother!" Celeste turned to her, tears suddenly appearing in her eyes. Fake tears. I'd seen her use them before. "Elara tried to steal Damien from me! She threw herself at him!"

"That's not true!" I said desperately. "He came into the room upstairs. He cornered me. He tried to force himself on me and I-"

"Shut up!" Vivian's voice cut through mine like a blade, she put her arms around her daughter, and her eyes judged me.

"You ungrateful little wrench," she said, making her voice loud enough for everyone to hear. "After everything we've done for you. after we took you in when your parents died, this is how you repay us??"

The accusations. The mention of my parents. The lies.

I broke into sobs before I could stop it.

"I didn't do anything wrong," I sobbed desperately. "Please, you have to believe me. Damien is lying. He-"

"How could he be lying?" someone in the crowd muttered. "Look at her dress. She obviously tried something.

" I looked down at my torn dress, and at the exposed bra and shame washed over me. They thought I'd done this to myself. They thought I'd wanted this.

"Please," I begged, looking around at the faces surrounding me. Faces I'd known my whole life. People from the pack. People who'd watched me grow up. "Someone has to believe me. I'm telling the truth.

" But no one spoke up. No one defended me. They just stared with judgment in their eyes.

"You all see what I have to deal with" Vivian said, gesturing to me like I am a disease. "All she does is bring trouble and bad luck" she said, address the crowd.

"That's not true!" I cried. "Isn't it?" She turned back to me, her eyes cold. "You're the reason your parents are dead, Elara. You're cursed. Bad luck follows you everywhere you go.

" The words hit me like a physical blow and I stumbled back, my legs felt too weak to carry me. "My parents died because-" I started."Your father was a traitor," Vivian interrupted. "Executed for his crimes.

And your mother?" She shook her head with fake sadness. "Her heart gave out from the shame of it all.

The shame of having a daughter like you.""No," I whispered. "That's not what happened. My father was innocent. He was framed. And my mother died because-" "Because of you!" Vivian shouted.

"Everything bad that happens is because of you! You're a curse on this family!" The crowd murmured in agreement.

Some nodded.

Others whispered to each other. I dropped to my knees, my legs finally giving out and the tears wouldn't stop.

They poured down my face, hot and endless. Why wouldn't no one stand for me? Why wouldn't anyone believe me? Didn't they all watch me grow? "Please," I begged, my voice breaking. "Please-" I whispered again, unsure of what to say. Beg? Apologize? What do I say when they all looked at me like a beast? "She's nothing but a whore!" someone shouted from the crowd.

"A disgrace!"

"The daughter of a traitor!" another voice called out.

"She deserves to be punished!" an older woman yelled. The voices grew louder, overlapping, feeding off each other's anger and hatred."Cursed child!" "She brings nothing but shame!" "We should get rid of her!" Vivian raised her hands, silencing them "You see, Elara? I have done too much good for you. We all see what you are now. You're nothing but trouble.

A burden. A mistake." "Please," I whispered again, my voice barely audible. "I didn't do anything." "Get her out of here!" someone shouted.

"She doesn't deserve to be among decent people!" "Banish her!" "No, she deserves worse than that!" "Hang her! Make an example of her!"The chant started small, just a few voices. But it grew. More and more people joined in until the entire room was filled with the sound. "Execute her! Execute her! Execute her!" I covered my ears with my hands, trying to block out the noise.

But it was too loud.

Too overwhelming.

It became hard to breathe. The walls felt like they were closing in. Someone threw a glass. It shattered near my feet, spraying me with wine and broken glass.

I screamed.

Then food started flying. A piece of cake hit my shoulder. Bread rolls bounced off my back. Drinks splashed across my torn dress, they were throwing things at me.

My heart race rose with the quickening of my breathing. I couldn't speak or scream. Even if I could, they wouldn't listen.

They were all righteous people purging the evil from the community.

Strong hands suddenly grabbed my arms. I looked up and saw three large men. Pack warriors.

They yanked me to my feet roughly. No. They would truly end my life. "No!" I struggled against them, trying to pull free.

"Let me go! Please!"

"Take her out of here!"

Vivian ordered, her voice cutting through the chaos. "Get her out of my sight!" "Please!" I screamed, fighting harder.

"Please, somebody help me!" But no one helped.

No one even tried.

The warriors dragged me toward the door. My feet scraped against the floor as I tried to resist.

People moved out of the way, creating a path, letting me be dragged out of a party that should have been mine too.

A broken cry leaves my lips as I give up on fighting. I look at my family, Vivian stood in the middle of the crowd with her arms folded.

Another sob left my lips when I watch as the crowd followed, coming to see what would happen to me Celeste stood with Damien's arm wrapped around her waist, both of them smiling.

Then suddenly, a voice cut through the chaos.

"What's going on here?"

The voice was deep and powerful.

It made everyone freeze.

The warriors holding me stopped.

The crowd went silent.

Even the people who had been shouting just seconds ago went quiet.

The voice came again from somewhere in the darkness. "I asked what's going on here." Everyone stood still, fear replacing the anger that had filled the air just moments before.

No one dared to say a word.

he silence was palatable.

They all feared this intruder, no one was moving, no one was saying a word. It made me wonder, who was this man?

Slowly, I lifted my head. A man stood there. Tall. Broad shoulders. He wore all black, his clothes perfectly fitted.

But it was his face that made my breath catch. He was handsome in a way that seemed almost unreal.

Sharp jaw.

High cheekbones.

Dark black hair that fell over his shoulders. His eyes held me frozen. They were golden. They glowed slightly in the darkness, like they had their own light.

He was looking down at me with expressions that was unreadable. Behind him, I could see the crowd. Everyone had their heads bowed. Some had dropped to their knees.

Fear was written across every face.

"I asked a question and expect answers" he interrupted. "Alpha Kael ," my stepmother's voice came out shaky. She stepped forward, "We didn't know you were here.

We-" Alpha? This was Alpha King, Kael Drakemoor.

The most powerful Alpha in the entire district. The one everyone feared.

And he was standing right in front of me. Celeste suddenly rushed forward, tears streaming down her face. Real tears this time, I noticed. She was scared.

"Alpha King," she said, her voice trembling.

"This girl... My stepsister.

She's a menace. She tried to seduce my fiancé. When he refused her, she attacked him and tried to frame him for assault."

My stomach drop. She was lying again. And this time to the Alpha King himself, would I be killed tonight for a lie?.

Will I die like my father did?

Damien stepped forward too, his head bowed respectfully.

"It's true, Your Majesty.

She forced herself on me. I pushed her away and she got angry.

That's why her dress is torn. She did it to make it look like I attacked her.

"No," I whispered. My voice was so quiet I wasn't sure anyone heard me.

But the Alpha King's head turned toward me. Those golden eyes found mine again.

"Is this true?" he asked.

I stared at him.

Someone was asking for my side of the story.

Someone was actually asking me what happened.

"No,"

I said again, louder this time.

My voice shook. "No, it's not true." "She's lying!" Celeste shouted.

"She's always been a liar! She's always caused trouble!"

"Silence." The Alpha King ordered, his voice came out calmly yet the single word made everyone go quiet.

Power.

He took a step closer to me. Then another. He crouched down until he was at my level, his golden eyes boring into mine."Tell me what happened, the truth," he said quietly.

I swallowed hard. My throat felt tight. Could I trust him? Would he believe me when no one else did? His eyes were intense but not cruel.

There was something in them that made me think maybe, just maybe, he might listen. "I was upstairs," I started, my voice shaking. "Arranging the rooms. It's my birthday too, not just Celeste's.

But I was working while she had her party." I don't know why I needed to say that part but I my heart trusted in his golden eyes.

I saw his jaw tighten slightly but he didn't interrupt.

"Damien came into the room," I continued.

Tears started falling again but I pushed through.

"He cornered me. I told him to leave, that he was Celeste's fiancé.

But he wouldn't listen. He said I should be grateful someone like him wanted me.

He tried to- He tried to force himself on me." My voice broke and I couldn't stop the sob that escaped.

"He grabbed me. He kissed me even though I fought him.

He touched me.

I bit him and pushed him away as hard as I could.

I ran.

He chased me and grabbed my dress. That's how it got torn.

I came down here to tell Celeste what happened but-" "She's lying!" Vivian interrupted.

"Your Majesty, please don't listen to her. She's always been trouble.

Everyone knows about her!!"

"I said silence!"

This time the Alpha King's voice came out as a growl, low and dangerous. He stood up, his full height towering over me.

He looked at Damien. "Show me your face." Damien hesitated but lifted his head. There, clear as day, was the mark I'd left when I bit him. Still bloodied and swollen.

The Alpha King stared at it for a long moment. Then he turned to me.

"Get up" he said and held out his hand to help me up, I slide my hand into his. There is a spark of electricity is feel as I struggled to stand with shaky legs.

He examined my face, my torn dress, the bruises forming on my arms where Damien had grabbed me.

When he seemed to have had enough, his golden eyes flashed with something. Something dark and angry but it didn't scare me.

I stared at him as he turned back to the crowd.

"This girl was assaulted. Anyone with eyes can see that.

The man has marks from being bitten. Her dress is torn from being grabbed from behind, not from the front.

She has bruises on her arms which shows she was being held down." "But Your Majesty-" Vivian said, wanting to say more lies. "I'm not finished."

The Alpha said, his voice was ice cold. "I have seen enough to know that this girl is telling the truth."

The finality in his words made my knees buckle, nearly giving out again. He believed me. The Alpha King believed me. "Your Majesty, please," Celeste begged.

"She's just-" "Enough!" The Alpha's eyes flashed with gold light. Something primal radiated from him.

Power.

Raw, terrifying power that made everyone step back. He looked at me again and his expression softened slightly.

"Come with me,"

he said, squeezing my hand slightly.

"You don't have to stay here." I stared at his hand. Then at his face.

Leave?

With him?

Where would we go? "I..." I looked back at the house.

At Vivian and Celeste.

Despite everything, this was still the only home I knew. "I'll be fine here," I whispered. "Thank you for believing me, but I can't-"

"You can't?"

His eyes narrowed. "Did you not just tell me how you've been treated? How you've been abused for months?"

"Yes but don't worry about me," I said quietly. "I'll be fine." He studied me for a long moment. Then he turned to Vivian.

His expression was hard, cold and terrifying. "If I hear that something like this happens again," he said slowly, each word deliberate, "if I hear that you people go around hurting innocent people.

I will return.

And I will not be merciful." Vivian's face went pale. She nodded quickly.

The Alpha King looked at each person in the crowd.

"Do you all understand?

No one dares lay a hand on her again" Silence. Then everyone nodded, their heads bowed. He looked at me one last time.

There was something in his eyes I couldn't read as he let go of my hand.

Was it concern?

Frustration?

Worry? I can't tell.

"Remember what I said," he told Vivian again. "I will know if anything happens to her. And you do not want me to come back."With that, he turned and walked away.

His footsteps faded into the darkness. He left but his aura still had everyone frozen.

I stood there, with my hands pressed to my chest and unrestrained tears streaming down my face.

The Alpha King had believed me. He'd defended me.

He'd warned them not to touch me. But as I looked at Vivian's face, at the hatred burning in her eyes, I knew one thing for certain.

His warning wouldn't be enough.