The Alpha Who Chose Her Over Me

Kyson said he loved me, but then he disappeared for 12 hours on my birthday. He was busy taking Jolie, a Delta warrior in his pack who had attempted suicide, to the hospital. I pleaded with him to stay, to not leave for another woman. He said he couldn’t make that promise. Later, when I was about to leave him for Bjorn, Kyson’s eyes flashed with anger. “Don’t hold his hand. That will drive me insane.” I smirked and shook my head, “I can’t make that promise.”

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It was my birthday, and a light rain was falling outside the window. I cleaned the room, changed the flowers in the vase, put on a new dress, prepared an extravagant dinner, set the music, and looked toward the door, waiting for my mate, Kyson Roberts, the Alpha of the Silvercrest Pack, to come home. For ten years, ever since I was eighteen, Kyson had celebrated my birthday with me without fail. Even during crucial pack negotiations, he’d have Jolie, his Delta, reschedule to be with me.

But tonight, he didn’t come home. I couldn’t even reach him through the pack’s mind link. I started to feel anxious. Kyson had always assured me that celebrating my birthday together was a promise he’d never break. By eight in the evening, there was still no sign of him. Nervously, I decided to try contacting him through the human phone he insisted I keep for emergencies. Until this year, I could call him anytime. But as his responsibilities as Alpha grew, he got busier and asked me not to call before nine. “In case I’m in a meeting with the pack elders,” he’d say, after pulling me close, fingers entwined in my hair. I’d agreed.

My friends in the pack said Kyson’s behavior felt off and urged me to check on him, but I trusted him completely. I kept calling, but Kyson wouldn’t answer. I reheated the food, waited another thirty minutes, and called again. Still no answer. An hour later, I tried once more. Nothing.

Feeling increasingly anxious, I messaged him, “What’s going on? Are you okay? Should I call the pack’s warriors…” His response came instantly, “Don’t worry, I’m dealing with something. Don’t involve the pack.” It felt strange to me. He could answer a message right away but not take my call? I asked, “When will you be home? I’m waiting to have cake with you.” He didn’t reply.

My friends’ cautionary words echoed in my mind, “An Alpha can always make time for his mate unless he chooses not to.” I bit my lip. I’d always believed that whatever happened, Kyson wouldn’t deceive me. He knew he was the only family I had. I couldn’t bear a betrayal from him. I waited in the living room all night. He returned in the morning, after twelve hours.

He looked exhausted, didn’t offer an explanation, and just fell into bed. His clothes had a faint scent of blood and hospital disinfectant. I felt scared. He’d been so busy this past year that he no longer shared every detail with me. I worried he might be sick and hiding it. I wanted to ask him, but he was fast asleep. I decided to wash his clothes first.

As I emptied his pockets, a hospital admission slip fell out. It was for Jolie Montgomery, dated yesterday evening, from the trauma department. My heart sank. Jolie was Kyson’s Delta warrior. This year, even meeting him at the pack house required going through her. I recalled an occasion when Kyson and I had dinner plans, but a call from Jolie reminded him of a pack meeting, and he rushed back to the pack house. I didn’t feel strongly about Jolie, just that she seemed like a recent addition to the pack. I couldn’t imagine what kind of injury required him to stay at the hospital all night.

I sat in the living room, biting my lip, my mind blank. I tried to think rationally, hoping for the best, but unease gnawed at me. I remembered a past pack gathering; Kyson and I had planned to watch the pack run, and Jolie had accidentally joined us. As the run ended, Jolie looked at me and said, “Kalani, I envy your place by the Alpha’s side.”

Feeling restless, I scrolled through my phone aimlessly until a short video caught my eye. It showed a tall, muscular man—unmistakably an Alpha—rushing around an emergency room, paying bills, holding the hand of a girl being wheeled into the emergency room. His eyes were red, “Nina, you’ll be okay, I’m here.” The person who filmed it added in the comments, “Saw this at the ER. Couple had a fight, the girl got hurt, and the guy was crying. Seems they’re deeply in love, hope they make up soon…”