The Forbidden Mate: Claimed By My Ex's Alpha Uncle

Colette POV:

"Colette, Alpha Colten is hurt. Get to the pack's club, now."

That frantic phone call from one of Colten's enforcers had sent me running.

I had just finished an exhausting eight-hour surgery at the pack hospital.

My legs ached, and I hadn't even had a sip of water before sprinting all the way to the VIP lounge.

Pushing the heavy oak door open, the sickly sweet scent of a strange she-wolf hit me before the visual did.

Colten was lounging on the plush leather sofa.

A young woman named Hanna was sitting sideways on his lap, with her pale, slender legs draped intimately over his thighs.

Her eyes were red-rimmed, and unshed tears clung to her long lashes.

Seeing me walk in, Colten frowned impatiently. "Colette, Hanna hurt her right ankle. Check it quickly."

Hanna looked at me with wide, tearful doe eyes. "Sorry to trouble you, Colette."

The frantic worry that had kept me running on empty lungs instantly turned into a bucket of ice water poured over my head.

He wasn't hurt.

He had his men lie to me just to tend to his new fling's minor sprain.

A sharp, stinging ache gripped my heart.

I had loved him for so long, always putting him first, yet to him, my exhaustion and devotion meant absolutely nothing.

He didn't even care to ask why I was still in my scrubs, or why my face was so pale.

I stared at her foot resting on the sofa.

Swallowing the bitter lump of grievance in my throat and forcing down the trembling in my legs, I slowly crouched down.

I reached out.

My fingers were still an inch away from her skin, not even brushing her ankle, when—

"Ouch! It hurts so much!" Hanna shrieked in agony, burying her face into Colten's chest like a frightened pup.

"Colette! Do you even know how to treat a patient?" Colten roared, his heavy Alpha aura flaring with sudden anger, pressing down on me.

"I haven't even touched her yet," I explained calmly, looking up.

His brows knitted together in deep annoyance. "If you didn't touch her, why is she crying in pain?"

As he spoke, his large hand gently patted Hanna's back, soothing her.

I had always known he could be gentle to other females.

But seeing this tender, affectionate side of him directed at someone else today made me realize how pathetic I was.

The stark contrast felt like a silver blade twisting deeply into my chest.

I had been his official girlfriend for four years, but our history spanned nearly two decades.

We grew up going to school together.

During the holidays, I meticulously took care of his daily life.

When he was struck by wolfsbane fever, I stayed awake for three days straight to keep his temperature down.

He had known this girl in his arms for barely four days.

Yet, Colten chose to believe a four-day fling over me.

I slowly stood up, forcing my spine straight. "I'm sorry. I can't treat this."

"Can't treat it?" Colten sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "Our pack took you in, fed you for years, and paid for your medical degree, and you can't even treat a minor sprain?"

I finally heard the underlying contempt in his voice.

I recognized his dissatisfaction with me and our relationship.

Above all, I recognized that my status in his heart had never changed.

I was just a servant to him.

Standing tall, I lowered my eyes and took one last, careful look at the man I had loved for so many years.

Then, I forced the words out. "Alpha Colten, I cannot treat this lady's injury." I paused, taking a steady breath to stop my voice from trembling. "Also, I apologize for occupying the position of your girlfriend for the past few years. It won't happen anymore."

Colten lifted his dark eyes, a mocking smirk playing on his lips. "Are you throwing a tantrum and breaking up with me? Perfect. I wanted to give Hanna a proper title anyway."

His tone was so relaxed.

Light.

It was as if... he had been waiting for me to say those exact words.

"Enjoy your night, Alpha. I'll take my leave." I turned on my heel and walked away.

Before I even stepped out of the lounge, the mocking voices of Colten's enforcers leaked into the hallway.

"Whoa, do you think she's actually serious this time?"

"Please. If his father hadn't pressured him, would an orphaned Omega ever get to sit in that position? She's just bluffing."

"She won't leave. Give it a day. One call from him and she'll come running back like a good little pet."

I quickened my pace, practically fleeing the club.

The moment I stepped out of that room, a tidal wave of suffocating grief crashed over me.

My mother was a servant for the Alpha's family.

Twenty years ago, so the official story went, she died a hero, protecting an Omega child during a rogue attack.

My cowardly father took the compensation money and fled the pack.

Out of pity, the Norton family took me in.

They let me attend school alongside Colten, tasking me with serving him.

I had no family; all my childhood memories were tethered to him.

Later, we got together.

He once announced to the entire pack at the annual mating gala that I was his.

He once bought me a diamond ring, saying he wanted to mark and marry me.

The memories violently clashed with what had just happened.

It felt like an invisible hand was crushing my heart, hurting so much I couldn't breathe.

It wasn't until passing pack members cast strange looks my way that I realized tears were uncontrollably streaming down my face.

I turned and rushed into the club's women's restroom, locking myself in the furthest stall before breaking down, sobbing silently.

I let the tears wash away two decades of a foolish illusion.

When I finally purged all the sorrow from my system, ready to step out and embrace a new life...

I unlatched the door.

Before I could open it fully, a massive, towering figure shoved his way inside.

Terrified, I opened my mouth to scream, but a large, rough hand clamped over my lips.

The overwhelming scent of blood and terrifying, raw Alpha power filled the tiny space, completely paralyzing my wolf.

He pinned me against the corner wall, lowering his voice into a dangerous, gravelly warning.

"Keep quiet and cooperate if you want to live."