Mated And Betrayed: My Alpha's Secret

When I was preparing for the full moon ceremony, I received a message from an unknown contact, but what caught my attention was an attached statement. My mate, Kieran Gray, Alpha of the Silverclaw Pack, had been sending thirty thousand gold marks to the same woman each moon cycle for the past two years. The first payment coincided with the time we lost our first pup. I had carried the weight of loss for so long, it had become a part of me.

Five miscarriages before losing our first pup—it was as though fate was mocking me, keeping what I wanted most just out of reach. The den had been silent, devoid of the life I had yearned to fill it with. Each time I thought I might finally carry a pup to term, hope would be snatched away, leaving behind only emptiness. The grief was a shadow I couldn’t shake, lurking behind every smile, every laugh, every hollow attempt at moving forward.

Kieran never said it outright, but I knew. I saw it in the way his eyes glossed over me, how his touch grew colder, distant. At first, he’d been there for me, holding me when the pain was too much to bear, but as the moons passed, his warmth faded. His disappointment turned into neglect, and I could feel the unspoken resentment simmering beneath the surface. I had failed to give him what he wanted most—a future Alpha. And in our world, in the packs, bearing a strong heir meant everything.

As if on cue, my crystal communicator blinked, signaling a new message from her.

It was a direct connection request, accompanied by a brief note that read:

"From the woman who enjoys thirty thousand gold marks in gifts each moon."

An unnatural calm washed over me, as if the storm brewing in my heart had settled momentarily. I reached out and accepted the request, my fingers steady despite the turmoil raging inside me.

——

Immediately, a message followed:

"Did you see the statement?"

I ignored it and went straight to her profile. The first post I found dated back two years, on the night of the winter solstice. In the picture, she leaned into a man, her hand resting on his chest, showing off a glittering ring. The caption read:

"Thank you for the solstice gift, my love."

Though the man's face wasn’t fully visible, I recognized the coat he wore, the one with the hand-stitched wolf insignia on the collar—Kieran’s coat. The same coat I had draped over his shoulders before he left for a ‘pack mission’ on that night.

Two years ago, during the winter solstice, I had been recovering from the devastating loss of our first pup. While I lay in bed in our den, shrouded in grief, he had been celebrating another woman's solstice.

The betrayal burned.

With trembling hands, I scrolled through more of her posts. Every few moons, she flaunted luxurious gifts, each one echoing something I owned—except for one.

A vial of wolfsbane-scented oil. It was a rare fragrance, and she wore it with pride, while I had never touched it.

The final post, pinned at the top, made my heart stop. It was an announcement of her bonding with Kieran, alongside an image of an ancient bonding rune, glowing bright under a full moon.

I dropped my crystal communicator, my chest tightening as my mind raced. I rushed to Kieran's cloak, which he had discarded after returning last night. As I lifted it to my nose, the unmistakable scent of wolfsbane and moonrose filled the air.

My mate's scent, intertwined with hers.

I found an ultrasound in kieran's jacket pocket, crumpled like it didn’t matter, It felt like the world had caved in.

I stared at the black-and-white image In my trembling hands, my heart sinking into a bottomless pit. The small shape, a pup growing inside *her*. Not me. Not the mate he swore loyalty to. My pulse roared in my ears as the betrayal slashed deeper than any claw or fang could.

She was pregnant.

Kieran had gone behind my back, seeking what I couldn't give him—an heir. A future Alpha. The ultrasound was proof of it, a silent, cruel reminder that my body had failed him, failed us, over and over again. Five miscarriages, five chances ripped from my grasp, while *she* carried what I so desperately longed for.

The communicator vibrated incessantly, notifications flashing across the screen. Messages from her poured in—pictures of Kieran and her together, laughing, embracing, running wild through the woods. Each image showed the seasons of their affair, captured in intimate moments—spring blooms, summer heat, autumn leaves, and winter frost. A love story they had shared, hidden from me for years.

I opened one of the videos despite the knot in my stomach. In it, Kieran stood beside the river, the same one where we used to run during the full moons, his eyes soft as he gazed at her.

"My Selene," he whispered, his voice low but filled with warmth. "You’re my everything."

"Do you love me?" she asked, her tone teasing yet expectant.

Kieran’s voice, the one I had cherished for seven long years, spoke without hesitation.

"Always, Selene. I will always love you."

I replayed the words over and over, my vision blurring with tears. Dusk settled outside our den, but I remained frozen, watching the shadows grow longer and darker.

The sound of the front door creaking open pulled me from my daze. Kieran had returned.

"Lyla," his deep voice filled the space, casual and warm. "Why is it so dark in here? You should light the fire. It’s getting cold." His heavy footsteps echoed in the silence as he moved closer. "Where are you?"

I quickly wiped my tears away and turned to see him standing in front of me, concern written across his features. He knelt beside me, taking my hand in his.

"What’s wrong, my Luna?" he asked, his voice gentle as he kissed the back of my hand. "Who’s upset you?"

He leaned forward to kiss my forehead, but the scent of wolfsbane clung to him like a mark of betrayal. My heart clenched. I held back the anger surging within me, forcing a calm I didn’t feel.

"Where were you today, Kieran?" I asked quietly, searching his eyes for any hint of guilt.

"Patrol duties ran late," he replied smoothly, his tone almost too nonchalant. "You know how the borders can be."

I wanted to scream you were with Selene, and she’s pregnant with your child. She even boasted about it! but I managed to stay calm.

Instead, I forced a smile, leaning back and placing a hand on my chest. "Kieran," I murmured softly, "I’ve always wanted you to get me something for awhile now"

He raised an eyebrow, clearly trying to remain patient. "What is it, love?"

"The vial of wolfsbane-scented oil from the northern woods." I smiled, testing him. "Could you get it for me?"

Frustration flickered in his eyes as he pulled his hand away, sighing in exasperation. "That’s an odd request, Lyla. You know it’s a long journey and that oil cost a fortune. I'm sorry but I can't afford it now, be patient,Lyla.”

I swallowed hard, nodding as the weight of his indifference crushed me. "You’re right. I should be patient."

He stood up abruptly. "I’m going to bathe. It’s been a long day."

The door to our bath chamber clicked shut behind him. I was left in the darkness, clutching my chest, feeling as if I had just lost everything.

But as I stroked my pendant, the emblem of our pack and my rank as Luna, I whispered to the little spark of strength still left within me, "This battle has just begun."