After My Alpha Cheated, I Fled

The alarm blared at 4:30 AM, jolting me from a fitful sleep. I silenced it quickly, not wanting to wake Karen in the next room. She hated early mornings and would make her displeasure known for days if disturbed. I slipped out of bed, my bare feet meeting the cold, uneven floorboards that Thomas had promised to fix three summers ago.

Lyra, my wolf, remained quiet as she always did in the mornings. Sometimes I wondered if she slept more deeply than I did, or if she simply had nothing to say about our daily routine of sacrifice and service.

"Another day," I whispered to myself, pulling on my worn jeans and faded sweater.

The kitchen table became my battlefield as I spread out the week's bills alongside the $300 Thomas had transferred. The math never changed, yet I always hoped for a miracle. Rent for our modest den consumed half the amount. The remaining $150 needed to stretch for groceries, Karen's "necessities," Jason's training equipment, and the herbs for the upcoming full moon ceremony.

I made my calculations with practiced precision, allocating $20 for patching the den's leaking roof. Karen would complain, but at least we wouldn't have water dripping onto her bed during the next rainfall.

"Ellie!" Karen's voice pierced through the thin walls. "Is the coffee ready?"

I glanced at the clock—5:15 AM. She was up early.

"Coming right up," I called back, quickly putting on a pot.

Karen appeared in the doorway, her silk robe a stark contrast to my threadbare clothes. "I need you to pick up Jason's protein supplements today. The ones from the central territories, not the cheap local brand."

"Karen, I've only got enough for—"

"Thomas expects his Beta's son to be properly prepared for training," she cut me off. "You wouldn't want to disappoint your Alpha, would you?"

I swallowed my protest. "I'll make it work."

"Good." She took the coffee I handed her. "Oh, and while you're in the central territories, get those special herbs for the full moon ceremony. Thomas mentioned they're important."

I nodded, recalculating my budget. The herbs would cost at least $40, and Jason's supplements another $30. The roof would have to wait.

---

The bus to the central territories was crowded with workers and shoppers. I clutched my worn purse, feeling the weight of responsibility inside—$70 for the herbs and supplements, plus $10 for emergencies. I couldn't afford to lose a single dollar.

As the landscape changed from our modest territory to the gleaming buildings of the central area, I felt the familiar pang of wonder and alienation. This world of wealth seemed to belong to a different species entirely, not just different packs.

The herbalist's shop was tucked between a high-end clothing boutique and a gourmet food store. The contrast was jarring—people spending on a single meal what would feed our pack for a week.

"The ceremonial sage is $35," the shopkeeper informed me. "And the moonflower essence is another $10."

I handed over