Claimed by the Forbidden Alpha

A rogue struck without warning, its ambush nearly cost me my life and taking with it the pups I had long carried close to my heart.

My mate, Alpha Tobias of Wraithmoon, left with his assistant for his duties. He saw me lying there, blood-soaked and on the verge of death, yet looked right past me as though my wounds were a figment of the air.

Through our mind link, he was already aware of my condition. Still, he focused on his duties alongside Nathalia, neglecting my suffering as if it were nothing.

Only a few loyal warriors and concerned pack members rushed to my side, carrying me to the infirmary. The pack healer barely glanced at me and whispered, "Luna Cassiopeia, your pup is gone."

Desperately, I asked the healers to look again. Yet, the outcome remained unchanged.

Left to endure the pain alone, I tried to believe my mate was overwhelmed by duty. Yet, concerned warriors soon revealed the truth: he had set everything aside, canceled all his duties as an Alpha to stay by his assistant’s side, choosing her over me in my darkest hour.

If only I had listened to my Alpha father, who once adopted me, instead of running off to be with Alpha Tobias, perhaps my life would be different now.

Days passed, yet Tobias, supposedly in a neighboring town for an Alpha meeting, had still not returned, and Nathalia was with him.

Left in the shadows of his indifference, I felt my heart shatter, haunted by regret for the choices that led me here.

Endless days and nights of crying left me drained until a sudden mind-link from my Alpha father reached me, saying, “My dear daughter, we miss you in Lunarviel. Why not come visit soon?”

If he had reached out before, I might have ignored it, but after everything that happened, I found myself with no choice but to respond, ''Dad, I’ve decided to come back. I only hope you can forgive me for my stubbornness.”

Just when I thought I could take no more, Alpha Tobias arrived home after his supposed meeting with the other Alphas.

My trusted spy had already sent word through our mind link: while a meeting had indeed taken place, it had ended days ago.

My mate had simply decided to linger with Nathalia. Despite this painful truth, I kept my composure, preparing to slip away from Wraithmoon, once my sanctuary, and to sever my ties with Alpha Tobias.

He approached me, beginning to discuss the events of days past, the attack, offering apologies. "I’m sorry for being away when you needed me. I consulted the healer, and he assured me it was just a minor injury, nothing serious. I know you’re safe."

Alpha Tobias had no inkling of the torment I had endured, the deep claw marks etched into my skin, or the heartache of losing our pups.

Yet, he had the audacity to lie. Still, I chose silence, unwilling to confront the truth. Just that afternoon, I had visited the pack healer for treatment of my wounds.

The healer, his sympathy evident, apologized for the pain and loss I had faced. He wasn’t to blame for the loss of our pups; that burden lay heavy on my heart. With this understanding, I regained my composure.

When Alpha Tobias bid me farewell, instructing me to handle the duties left in his absence, he walked away, leaving me alone in my grief.

Aware of the lies that cloaked his words, I sent my spy to follow him in secret, confirming my worst fears.

Alpha Tobias had indeed returned to Nathalia's side as if they were true mates. At the same time, I was left to endure the heartache.

A moment later, I opened my social media and discovered a fresh post—an apology letter. [I shouldn’t have allowed my dedicated assistant to feel let down by her Alpha. I promise to treat her to dinner after completing my Alpha responsibilities and to compensate for her ten-minute wait. That’s on me. I’ll strive to be a more responsible Alpha.]

Instead of tears, a smirk spread across my face. Just in time, my Alpha father mind-linked me again, letting me know that the members of Lunarveil had been informed of my return and were buzzing with anticipation.

But I had only promised to share the news when I was ready to sever ties with Alpha Tobias and leave this pack behind.

Wraithmoon was becoming nothing more than a fading memory, slowly buried deep and forgotten.

When I awoke the next morning, a servant came in with the news that Alpha Tobias had cooked breakfast for me.

Despite his earlier neglect, a thrill of excitement ran through me as I hurried downstairs to enjoy the pastries he had prepared. But just as I was about to grab one, he intervened.

“I made this for you. Don’t just dig in,” he said, gesturing toward the peanut butter bagels. “You enjoy these, right? Go ahead, take one.”

The realization struck me like a lightning bolt. Alpha Tobias hadn’t cooked those pastries for me; they were meant for his assistant, Nathalia.

He had even forgotten that I was allergic to peanuts. When I brought it up, he merely shrugged and countered, “So what if you’re allergic? If you don’t want it, then don’t eat it.”

His words left me disheartened, and I could no longer bear his presence.

Just before tears could spill from my eyes, I said, “Alpha Tobias, I once prayed to the Moon Goddess, hoping you would be my one true mate. But it seems you are not destined to care for me; you are merely my mate, bound to reject me.”