Ditched by My Fated Mate, Claimed by a Ruthless Alpha

"Fine. I'll go for the peace bond."

My words hung heavy in the air, shattering the tense silence of the Imperial Pack's Great Hall.

Every pair of glowing wolf eyes snapped towards me, and my father, the Alpha King, bared his fangs in a silent snarl. As his favored daughter, I, Yuki Carrington, should have been the last to be sacrificed in this political union.​

"Preposterous!" His growl reverberated through the hall.

"I said the candidate would be chosen differently! You and Jocab are fated mates-how could I separate you? And Greyfield? Caleb Morgan is a bloodthirsty Alpha!"​

I stood my ground, my inner wolf pacing restlessly.

"You decreed that the bride must be of royal blood. I am your daughter, and I accept my duty." The mention of Jocab sent a pang through my chest.

"You set today as the deadline. He didn't come. He lost his chance."​

My eldest sister grabbed my arm. "Yuki, Greyfield wolves eat their own kind! Let us go instead!" The second sister howled in agreement.​

I dropped to my knees, baring my neck in submission.

"I've made my choice. The rumors about Caleb may be lies. If not, I'll survive."​

Just as the Alpha King signed the decree, a thunderous howl split the air.

Jocab burst into the hall, his red cloak billowing, his wolf form barely contained. "Yuki! I'm here to claim you!"​

"It's too late," I said flatly.​

He laughed, confimanort. "The Alpha would never send you to Greyfield."​

"Why are you late?" I demanded.​

He shifted uneasily.

"Sophie... she's being persecuted. I want to take her as a secondary mate first."​

My wolf howled in agony.

Our childhood chases, his gentle dominance, the Festival when he howled my name to the moon .

His secret guard's dying howl still echoed in my ears.

"Protect... Sophie..." Those words shattered the bond we'd built.

Once, Jocab's wolf would have torn the world apart for me.

Now, his loyalty bled into another.​

During my fever, his wolf whined beside my bed for three days.

But when Sophie's weak "my chest hurts" reached his ears, the medicine bowl crashed to the floor. His thundered down the hallway, leaving me shivering alone.​

On Night, I waited on the tower. Beneath me, Jocab's laughter mingled with Sophie's.

Their shadows danced as they set paperboats afloat, the flames reflecting off his adoring gaze.​

"Promise you'll claim me tomorrow," I'd begged three days prior. His growl rumbled through our bond. "My mate, I'll be there before the first howl."​

But the Great Hall filled with courtiers, and his scent was missing.

Only later did I learn his wolf had stayed up all night, nuzzling Sophie back to health.​

I gripped the bond decree. Then, a cold smile curled my lips.

If he wanted her so badly...​

"Father," I snarled, meeting the Alpha King's shocked gaze.

"I'll marry Caleb Morgan. Let Jocab have his precious Sophie."​

"Yuki-what made you accept that cursed union?"​

My lips curled into a bitter snarl.

"Does it matter?"

Memories flashed: the time I'd tried to send Sophie away with gold and a safe manor. Her forehead bleeding as she howled, "I'd rather die!" while Jocab's growl ripped through the air.

His accusing gaze branded me a villain.​

"Don't be mad. The pack got a rare Direwolf stallion. And I baked your favorite pear - blossom mooncakes."​

"Fine," I snapped. "I need something from my chambers."​

But as we loped into the manor, a guard's terrified howl cut through the air.

"Mr. Winslow! Miss Rowan was attacked by a Shadow Panther! She's bleeding out!"​

Jocab's face turned ashen.

He seized my wrist in a vice - like grip and dragged me towards Sophie's manor, his wolf whining in distress.

"She can't die-"​