Bound to the Alpha Who Betrayed My Heart

On the day Kaitlyn Owens' pack fell into ruin, I broke the mate bond with her without warning. Six years later, she rose as a formidable entrepreneur, the leading female CEO in the Midwest werewolf community. Her first act upon returning was to force me into a mate bond with her. Our marking ceremony became the talk of the packs; everyone whispered about how a Lycan princess was reclaiming her first love, a broken Alpha from a cursed lineage—calling it destiny.

Yet, on our marking night, she brought a young, handsome Delta into our chamber. I remained calm, my composure unshaken, which only fueled her fury.

“Aren’t you enraged that I’ve defied the mate bond so many times?” she sneered.

I stayed silent. A dying Alpha doesn’t have the energy for rage.

...

In the Healer’s den, Dr. Phoebe Pierce sighed regretfully, but I felt oddly detached. My family’s lineage carries a rare and fatal illness that weakens the inner wolf, claiming my grandfather Eliezer and my father Waylen before they turned forty. I’d lived in constant fear, yet I couldn’t escape it.

Even though I was mentally prepared, the reality struck hard. I just needed someone to talk to. After some thought, I reached out to my closest friend, Rhys, a Gamma in our pack, and asked him to meet at a local tavern that evening.

Upon arrival, I encountered many familiar faces. They were all associates of Kaitlyn’s and greeted me with a mix of curiosity and disdain.

“So, this is Kaitlyn’s mate? He looks like he’s on his last legs. What does she see in him?”

“You think Kaitlyn’s into him because he looks like me? Please, I’m at least ten times more commanding.”

Though I didn’t recognize this Delta, I could guess he was yet another of Kaitlyn’s recent companions. To be honest, he did bear some resemblance to my younger self, especially around the eyes.

Three years ago, Kaitlyn returned with a vengeance, determined to bind me as mate as payback for severing our bond. Since then, her companions had come and gone, and I’d grown numb to it. I was immune to provocation, and indeed, he was right—I wasn’t much to look at anymore. The looming shadow of death had drained my vitality day by day.

Someone in their group pulled him aside, whispering, “Cruz, don’t say things like that. Just because Kaitlyn favors you doesn’t mean you can provoke him. Kaitlyn cares about him, and if you upset him, no one can save you.”

Hearing those words left a bitter taste in my mouth. Ever since we bonded, Kaitlyn had banned me from taking on any pack responsibilities or interacting with other she-wolves. She even used her influence to trap me in this territory. People think she cherishes me, but she actually despises me. Her hatred runs so deep that she only allows herself to torment and humiliate me.

I wondered what she would do when my illness finally took me. Tired of explaining, I headed toward my reserved table, but Cruz Bailey wasn’t satisfied. He blocked my path, chalice in hand.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Kaitlyn’s personal assistant.”

“Yeah, her close assistant, spending day and night together. Kaitlyn’s very generous,” he said provocatively, flaunting the Rolex on his wrist.

“Eighteen thousand dollars, just bought yesterday,” he boasted. “Plus, the sports car she ordered for me arrives tomorrow. A limited edition Lamborghini. Ever driven one?”

I was a bit surprised; Kaitlyn usually discarded her companions swiftly. This Delta seemed different—she was truly splurging on him.

But what did it matter? He was just another pawn to provoke and humiliate me.

Looking at his smug expression, I couldn’t help but laugh. “Ask them how many assistants Kaitlyn replaces in a year. In her eyes, you’re all just tools.”

“To think you’re proud of being a disposable tool... That’s quite something.”

Cruz’s pride turned to fury, and he lashed out, “You’re wrong! Kaitlyn and I have a true connection. You’re the one who’s just a tool!”

I smiled. “Oh? If it’s a true connection, convince Kaitlyn to sever the mate bond with me and bind with you instead…”

“Bind with your mother, you rogue! I’ll kill you today!” Cruz was enraged by that single word "bind," smashing his chalice on the floor and lunging at me.

I didn’t back down, landing a slap across his face. Cruz was about to retaliate when Kaitlyn’s associates held him back. As this unfolded, Kaitlyn walked in, her heels clicking as she approached with a chilling aura.

"Who did this?"

Under everyone’s gaze, Kaitlyn tossed her clutch onto the sofa. She gingerly touched Cruz’s face where my hand had left a mark, her icy eyes scanning each person present. They all paled, stepping back several paces.

I shrugged, unconcerned. “Well, a mate striking a rival seems reasonable, doesn’t it?”

Cruz shot me a venomous glance and then clung to Kaitlyn’s arm, feigning vulnerability. “Kaitlyn, I know I deserve this; I came too late. But is it wrong to care for you? Even if he beats me to death, as long as you don’t push me away, I won’t leave you!”

He looked at Kaitlyn with such an absurd mix of sincerity and drama that it was laughable. Even Kaitlyn seemed amused, tweaking his nose playfully.

“There, there, don’t get worked up, or I’ll worry about you.”

Watching them, it seemed like Kaitlyn genuinely felt something for him. Honestly, I hoped there was a true connection between them. Maybe then Kaitlyn would let me go and stop tormenting herself for revenge.

I sighed inwardly, shaking off those gloomy thoughts, and turned to leave.

“Bentley Carlson, stop right there! Did I say you could leave?” Kaitlyn’s voice, cold as ice, halted me. Turning back, I faced her with a sardonic smile. “Yes, dear mate, what now?”

“Apologize to him!” Her voice was sharp, as she pointed at Cruz.

Apologize to her rival. Ha, three years in, and she still jumped at every chance to humiliate me. Was her hatred really this deep?

Sadness and pain overwhelmed me as I looked at Kaitlyn. “Fine, give me half a million, and I’ll apologize to your boy toy.”

Humiliation was nothing new; I was used to it. Besides, with only a few months left to live, trading dignity for cash to ease my last days seemed worth it. Having witnessed my father’s suffering, I knew how agonizing this illness could get. To reduce the pain, I’d need expensive imported medicine and regular treatments, money I didn’t have.

“You’re still just like eight years ago, always about the money!” Kaitlyn mocked, recalling how her pack’s collapse left her drowning in debt. My sudden and harsh severance of the mate bond when she needed support sowed the seeds of her hatred.

Then, with a scornful look, she said, “Alright.”

“But Bentley Carlson, you’ll have to kneel and apologize to Cruz. Bow those noble knees, and I’ll give you a million.”

Kaitlyn intended to strip away my dignity and stomp on it for a million. It was a first, even for her. Clenching my fists, my body trembled with a mix of anger, sorrow, and helplessness.

No, I didn’t need the money anymore. For whatever dignity I had left, I’d bear the suffering of my remaining days without kneeling to anyone other than my parents.

“Where are you going?”

Seeing me turn without a word, Kaitlyn’s teasing expression vanished. She instinctively reached to pull me back. In that moment, possibly from striking Cruz too hard or my own physical collapse, pain surged through me. Her tug sent me crashing to the ground, blood trickling from my mouth.

“What—what happened? I barely touched you…”

Kaitlyn was shocked and panicked, reaching to help, but I pushed her away.

“Nothing, I’m just dying. Happy now?”

Her hand froze mid-air; then she slapped me hard across the face, gripping my collar with a fiery stare. “Bentley Carlson, are you so eager to leave me you’d curse yourself?”