The Alpha's Broken Mate (Cathy)

CATHERINE'S POV

I laid in bed, staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep. Grief clung to me like a second skin, heavy and suffocating. It felt like a weight I couldn't shake, a sickness deep in my stomach.

Have you ever experienced grief?

The kind that hollows you out, that pulls at your soul until you feel like you might fall apart? If you have, you'd understand.

A few days ago, I found out my mother had died. The news had crashed over me like a wave, leaving me numb, unsure of how to react. The shock was paralyzing, and in the days since, sleep had become a stranger. I laid still in the darkness of the room. My mind was occupied, swirling with memories of her.

I turned on my back, eyes tracing the shadows on the ceiling. My thoughts spun in a whirlwind of confusion and pain. Every time I closed my eyes, her face filled my mind. I could see her smile, hear her laughter. The way she used to hum softly while cooking, the warm feeling of her hugs, and the sound of her voice as she whispered words of comfort when I needed them most.

But now she was gone.

The memories replayed relentlessly, like a film I couldn't turn off. And I wanted so badly to hear her voice again, to feel her arms around me, to be told that everything would be alright. Tears filled my eyes, spilling over, hot and fast, streaking down my cheeks. The ache in my chest was unbearable. It felt like I was breaking apart from the inside.

I clung to those memories, desperate for some sort of solace, but they only deepened the hollow feeling. There was no escaping it-my mother was gone, and no amount of longing or wishing would change that. I knew it. She wouldn't be coming back. The dead stayed dead. All I had left were the memories, and the slow, painful process of learning how to live without her.

Exhaustion finally overtook me. My eyelids grew heavy, and I slipped into a restless sleep. Even as I fell asleep, my mother's presence lingered like a ghost in the dark.

---

The day of her burial came too soon. We hadn't waited long-there was no time. As the wife of the head pack warrior, my mother's body couldn't be left unattended for too long. For days, we'd prepared, but nothing could prepare me for this moment.

Dressed in black, I stood before her grave with the rest of my family. The sight of the casket confirmed that this wasn't some terrible dream. It was real. She was really gone.

I felt like I was moving through a fog. The world around me was muted and distant. The priest's voice droned on, speaking of the Moon Goddess's will and the mysterious ways of fate, but his words barely registered. My mind was stuck on the finality of it all.

"The Moon Goddess has a reason for everything," the priest said "Let us thank her for the gift of a new day. Let the dead bury the dead, and let the living focus on the future. May the Moon Goddess console the hearts of those left behind."

The air was thick with grief. Soft whispers and muffled sobs filled the silence between the priest's words. My hands trembled as I stood at the edge of the grave, knowing that soon, I'd have to do the unthinkable-pour soil over my mother's casket.

I bit my lip, holding back more tears as the casket was slowly lowered into the ground. A heavy sigh escaped me.

"Time to say goodbye," the priest said gently.

From behind, my aunt May squeezed my shoulder. "You're strong, Catherine," she whispered.

"Thank you," I managed to say, my throat tight.

With shaking hands, I scooped up a handful of soil and stepped forward. My heart clenched painfully as I released it into the grave. The soft thud of dirt hit the wood - a sound I would never forget.

My aunt followed, her eyes filled with sorrow. She and my mother had been inseparabl. I could see the pain etched in every line of her face.

"Where's the father?" the priest asked. "Where is the husband of the deceased?"

That was when realization hit me. My father. Where was he? I scanned the crowd but saw no sign of him.

"He's probably too traumatized to come down," May said softly. "He loved her so much... he's heartbroken."

The priest nodded, his eyes sympathetic.

The undertakers began shoveling soil over the grave, sealing my mother's resting place. I stood there, numb, watching as her final resting place was covered. A soft sigh escaped me as the ceremony drew to a close. May hugged me tightly, pressing a soft kiss to my cheek.

"This isn't the end, Catherine," she said "It's the beginning of a new chapter. Like the priest said, everything happens for a reason. Your mother is with the Moon Goddess now, watching over you."

Her words brought a small feeling of comfort to the ache inside me.

I nodded, taking a deep breath. "Thank you, Aunt May."

She looped her arm through mine. "Come on, let's head inside."

The house was filled with friends and family, all dressed in black. Everyone's faces was filled with sadness. For the next hour, I moved mechanically, serving food and receiving murmured condolences. The color black never felt as oppressive as it did today.

I slipped away to the kitchen, needing a moment to breathe. That's when I overheard my aunt speaking to one of my mother's friends.

"Where's Ann?" my mother's friend asked, her voice hushed.

Ann, my mom's best friend. She hadn't shown up, which wasn't surprising. She'd been devastated when my mom died. She even fainted when she first heard the news. I had been looking for her too.

"I don't know," May said. "We've been looking for Damon too."

Damon. My father.

I stepped forward, walking towards them "Is there something wrong?"

May took my hand, pulling me gently outside the kitchen. She glanced around before leaning closer. "I need you to find your father, Catherine. Make sure he's okay. I'll check on Ann after the ceremony. She's probably at home."

"Alright," I said.

I started to feel worried. I hoped my father wasn't too devastated. I had to find him, to console him. He needed comfort just like I did.

I moved quickly through the corridor, searching for my father. My heart beat faster with every step.

Where was he?

I moved quickly down the corridor, looking for my dad. For some reason, I felt an uneasy knot tighten in my stomach. My heart hammered as I searched, hoping to find my father before I started spiraling.

I didn't want to assume the worst, but something felt off.

Where could he be?

I climbed the stairs, peeking into each room as I passed, yet every one was empty. At a point, I started to feel frustrated. Just as I was about to turn back, i heard a muffled sound. It sounded like.... Moaning?

I froze, staring into space in disbelief. Those sounds were coming from the guest room at the end of the hallway, a room we rarely used, a room that was always locked. But the noises were unmistakable. They were pretty obvious.

My pulse sounded so loudly in my ears as I walked closer. . I reached the door, my hand trembling as I turned the knob and pushed it open.

What I saw stole the breath from my lungs.

There, on the bed, was my father with Ann, my mother's best friend. They were locked in each other's arms, having sex.

For a split second, I couldn't move. It was as if the ground had opened beneath me, and I was falling through some twisted reality I didn't recognize.

A wave of nausea spread through me as a sharp. I felt like throwing up at the sight of them. I couldn't help the anger that I felt. I felt as if I'd been punched in the gut. My mother had only been gone for a week.

Was this their idea of grieving?

"Dad!" I called out, my voice breaking.

They pulled apart, flinching as they noticed me standing there. My father's face twisted with anger, not shame.

"What are you doing here?" he demanded.

I laughed bitterly "What am I doing here? Your wife was just buried, Dad. You didn't even attend her funeral, and now I know why."

Ann clutched a blanket to her chest, her eyes wide with shock. I felt a so much hatred as I looked at her, this woman I had thought of as family.

"You," I hissed at her "You were practically my mother's sister. You're nothing but a-a traitor and a whore."

My father's face hardened as he stepped protectively in front of Ann.

"Don't you dare speak to her like that," he snarled.

"Don't speak to her like that?" I repeated, my voice rising. "You're defending her?"

I could barely contain the anger I felt inside me. "How long, Dad? How long have you been doing this behind Mom's back?"

Their silence told me everything I needed to know. I felt tears pricking at the back of my eyes. An ache spread in my chest as I realized what was happening. They've been having an affair for a while now.

But why? How could he do this to my mom? She loved him.

"I hate you both," I whispered, my voice breaking. "You're both disgusting."

"Get out!" my father barked.

I turned and ran, slamming the door behind me. I ran down the stairs, barely able to see through the tears that blurred my vision. My mind raced with a thousand questions, none of which had answers that I wanted to face.

Just as I entered the living room, my six-year-old brother, Mason, came running toward me. His small arms wrapped tightly around my waist in a hug.

"Hey, buddy," I murmured, forcing a smile. I had to be strong for him.

"Where's Dad?" Mason asked, looking up at me with those wide adorable eyes of his.

I swallowed, quickly wiping away my tears. "He's... busy. You'll see him soon, okay?"

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my father rejoin the guests, wiping at his eyes as they consoled him. The sight filled me with a new wave of disgust. A traitor, playing the part of the grieving husband.

I shook my head, feeling more disappointed than I'd ever felt in my life.

---

The day after the funeral, I laid in bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind was heavy with everything I'd seen and heard. I couldn't bring myself to go to school; I didn't want to see anyone or pretend I was okay. Nothing felt okay. My mom was gone and she was never coming back.

By evening, I learned that Ann and her stepson, Jack, had moved into our house. I could barely breathe as I took in the news. Grief and anger tore me apart.

How could they be so shameless?

I cried until I felt numb. The feeling of betrayal was too much to bear.

A loud banging on my door shattered my thoughts. "Get up and make breakfast," my father's voice boomed from the hallway.

My heart raced as his footsteps receded. My father and I had never been close. I was an afterthought to him, something tolerated but not loved. I could feel it even more now, now that my mother was gone. He didn't have to pretend anymore.

I took a shaky breath, trying to push back the fear and sadness I felt. I couldn't let them see me break.

I made my way to the kitchen and started preparing breakfast. My hands trembled as I boiled spaghetti. When I brought the plates to the dining room, I saw them-my father and Ann, sitting together, laughing softly and sharing kisses like they hadn't just destroyed everything I held dear. They were acting like everything was okay, like my mom hadn't just died.

My stomach twisted as I placed their plates in front of them. While pouring water into Ann's glass, my hand slipped, and the water spilled onto her dress.

"Sorry," I mumbled quickly.

"You little bitch!" she spat.

Before I could say anything else, she stood up and slapped me hard across the face. My cheek stung, and I moved back, clutching my face in shock.

"I-I didn't mean to-" I whispered. .

She leaned closer "I know you did that on purpose. Get used to it, because I'm here to stay. Understand?"

I turned to my father, hoping he would defend me or something. "Dad... please... are you really going to let her treat me like this?"

He wouldn't even look at me.

"Go to your room," he muttered coldly.

The tears finally spilled over, and I fled, leaving them behind as I ran down the hall. Anger, sadness, and betrayal settled inside me, suffocating me. This was my new reality, and I had no one left to turn to.

As I closed the door to my room, I slid down to the floor as I cried. I didn't know how I'd survive this, how I'd get through each day with the two of them here, parading their twisted love in front of me.

I wrapped my arms around myself, desperately wishing I could wake up from this nightmare. But no matter how tightly I closed my eyes, I knew this was no dream.

This was my life now.

And I have to deal with it.

CATHERINE'S POV

The thought of going to school the next day filled me with dread. I kept my head down, knowing that, as usual, I'd be a target for the popular girls. Naturally, I was a quiet person, and for people like Stephanie and her friends, that was an invitation to make my life difficult.

It wasn't everyone though. Most of them just ignored me. But the popular girls? They saw my silence as weakness. I'd been dealing with their attitude for years, so I knew the drill. I knew how to avoid them. Just keep my head down, ignore them, and they'd eventually get bored and leave me alone.

I wanted nothing more than to stay home, crawl under a blanket, and let the tears come. But with Ann there, I couldn't. Just the thought of facing her today was unbearable. So, despite my pain, I was almost relieved to be at school.

When I got to my locker, I sighed as I unlocked it. I just wanted today to be one of those rare days when no one noticed me. My chest ached, and I missed my mom more than anything. I missed her hugs, her breakfast, her smile as she woke me up in the morning. Now I had to be strong-strong for myself, and strong for Mason.

I was lost in my thoughts, gathering my books, when the locker door slammed shut with a loud clang. I barely yanked my fingers out of the way in time. Startled, I turned around to find Stephanie and her stupid posse, Jasmine and Lola, standing there. They grinned evily at me.

"Hi, Cathy," Stephanie said in a fake sweet tone "Nice sweater."

She was looking at me with that look in her eyes that meant trouble. Stephanie was the Beta's daughter. She was gorgeous, blond, and always dressed in the latest fashion-she was every stereotype of the popular, mean girl. And as much as I hated to admit it, I couldn't help but wish I had her confidence and her style. She was perfect... but she knew it, and she used it against me.

I turned back to my locker, pretending to ignore them. Instead, I focused on arranging my books for class.

"Did she just ignore you?" Lola asked, feigning shock.

"I think she did," Stephanie replied "I don't like being ignored, Cathy. You know that, don't you?"

With a sigh, I shut my locker and faced her. "I'm not in the mood. I'm... going through a lot right now."

Stephanie's hand flew to her chest in a mocking act of sympathy. "Oh, I heard. Your mom died. Sucks to be you."

Before I could process her words, she slapped the books out of my hands, sending them scattering across the floor. She looked at me with a cruel smile on her lips. "I'm in a good mood, so I'll let you off easy today. Next time, I won't be so generous."

She flipped her hair and walked away with her followers trailing behind, laughing at me.

I held in a breath until they were gone, then exhaled slowly. At least that was over, for now.

In Biology class, I settled by the window, hoping to fade into the background. But as the room filled, I felt a bit lonely. Everyone else was chatting and laughing with their friends. In that moment, it hit me how isolated I really was.

The teacher started the lesson, and as we began taking notes, I heard the door open. The entire class turned to look, including me. A tall boy stepped in. As soon as he entered, his presence commanded the whole room and everywhere went silent. He had this commanding and dominant aura without even trying. His eyes scanned the room for a moment, our eyes met.

My heart skipped, caught off guard. He had the kind of smile that felt warm and inviting. He had the most beautiful pair of brown eyes I had ever seen. His tousled dark hair fell across his forehead, and his strong jawline and athletic build only added to how gorgeous he was. He had this kind of quiet confidence that was hard to ignore.

And I wasn't the only one who noticed. The girls in the room started giggling at the sight of him.

Looking at him, everything else faded. The laughter and noise around me faded. All I could see was him. Everything in the world narrowed down to this moment. For a split second, when our eyes met, it felt as if time itself had stopped.

And that's when I felt it-a feeling of warmth and energy spreading through me. It felt like my entire soul was being pulled toward him. It was more than attraction, more than curiosity. It was something strong, something that ran deeper than skin and words. In that moment, my wolf came alive in a way I hadn't felt in a long time.

My wolf, Ruby, was alert instantly.

Every part of me recognized him, like he'd been carved from my very bones. Seeing him made me feel like there was a part of me that I hadn't even known was missing until now. The pull was undeniable, and the intensity of it left me breathless. His mere presence seemed to awaken something dead inside. It felt like I'd been waiting my entire life just to stand in this moment with him.

"Mate," my wolf whispered within me.

I blinked in surprise. What?

"Who are you?" the teacher asked him.

"I'm Tyler Anderson," he replied. "I'm new here."

Tyler Anderson. The name was familiar. We had been expecting him in school for a while now. I had heard the rumors. He was the youngest Alpha in the country. His father's illness had forced him to take on his pack's responsibilities early. Talk of his strength in battle had spread even here.

The teacher directed him to the only open seat-right next to me. My breath caught in my throat as she directed him to me. I watched him approach, trying to focus on the lesson, but every cell in my body was focused on his presence.

"Hi," he said as he sat down, giving me a friendly smile.

"Um... hi?" The words came out awkwardly, almost a question. I cringed inwardly.

"Way to go, Cathy" Ruby teased from within.

"Shut up" I snapped at her.

But it was impossible to ignore him, or the way his presence affected me. Tyler's looked at me throughout the lesson. I felt his eyes, his awareness, the pull that bound us together, even if he didn't understand it yet.

Maybe he's deciding if he wants to reject me. The thought of him doing that made my chest ache. I tried to keep my mind blank but I couldn't help the fear that I felt.

The bell rang, pulling me from my thoughts. I grabbed my bag and walked away quickly, almost running from the room. I walked down the hallway, thinking about what happened.

Was he going to reject me?

The thought made me hurt. What if I wasn't good enough for him? He was an Alpha for crying out loud. I doubted I was good enough for someone like him.

I was so lost in my thoughts as I walked. As I turned the corner, a hand reached out and pulled me into an empty classroom.