Mate and Best Friend’s Betrayal

Alexander froze completely, his face going through a series of expressions—shock, denial, then something that looked almost like fear.

“Raven, I know Ella getting hurt has upset you, but Connor is just a child too. Ella has had everything from the moment she was born - love, security, comfort, education. Connor has had none of that. Surely it wouldn't hurt for Ella to... accommodate him a little?” As he spoke, he began moving toward Ella again.

But I simply stepped back, holding Ella protectively against my chest.

My wolf instincts were screaming at me not to let him near our pup. Not when he had allowed the very person who hurt her to remain in our home.

Sensing my displeasure and the protective stance I had taken, he stopped in his tracks.

His voice turned gentle, the tone he used when trying to manipulate me into compliance.

"Raven, I know you're joking. You don't really mean what you said about rejecting me."

His confidence was astounding. Even now, even after everything, he thought this was just female hysteria.

"I'm sorry, Raven, but he's still just a child. Without a father to guide him all these years, please understand."

He ran his hands through his hair, looking genuinely distressed.

"I'll settle them at my parents' place first. Just give me time to sort this out. Wait for me to come back."

"A child?" I looked at him incredulously.

"A 'child' who tortures animals to death, beats a four-year-old girl, and spews filthy language like a sailor?"

My voice rose with each word. "Ella is only four years old, Alexander. Four. She still believes in fairy tales and thinks monsters only exist in stories. But your 'child' is six—old enough to know right from wrong."

Yet here we were. My daughter and I were expected to endure the humiliation and harm brought by this bastard child who had suddenly appeared in our lives.

And even "understand" his father's favoritism.

Absolutely ridiculous.

“Raven, I'm an Alpha. I need a male heir, and Connor must stay in Stormfang Pack.”

Alexander's eyes subconsciously kept drifting towards Amber and her son, as if he was thinking about how to convince me to accept them.

My thoughts drifted uncontrollably to the past, to better times when I thought I knew who this man was.

During training camp, his pursuit of me had been bold and public. Every morning he would find excuses to train near me. Every evening he would walk me back to the dormitories.

The entire pack knew about his feelings. They called us the "golden couple"—the Alpha King's daughter and the promising young Alpha.

At the training camp graduation ceremony, in front of all the pack members and Alpha Council elders, he had made the grandest gesture of all.

He pinned the silver moon badge symbolizing Stormfang Pack inheritance to my collar with shaking hands.

"Raven," he had said, his voice carrying across the silent ceremonial grounds. "You are my only Luna, my only future mate. If you'll have me."

The crowd had erupted in cheers. I had been so happy, so sure of my future.

Five years ago, when we finally mated, he filled the entire Stormfang Pack territory with my favorite Julia roses.

Thousands upon thousands of them, their scent perfuming the air for miles. The cost must have been astronomical, but he said I was worth it.

He set off fireworks across the northern territory sky that night, visible from three different pack territories.

It was the most magnificent mating ceremony anyone had ever seen.

The night Ella was born, he kept vigil outside the birthing room for twelve long hours.

I remember the sounds of his pacing, his worried questions to the healers, his refusal to eat or rest.

When our pup's first cry finally rang out, he rushed in like a man possessed.

Without even looking at the child, he first gripped my hand tightly.

He kissed my sweat-dampened forehead, his own eyes wet with tears.

"Raven, you've worked so hard. You're the strongest Luna I've ever known."

Only then did he turn to Ella. When he held her for the first time, his eyes were as gentle as melting snow.

"I'm going to give you the best of everything in the world, little one," he had whispered to her.

Just yesterday evening, during a break from celebration preparations, he had embraced me from behind.

His chin resting on top of my head, warm breath brushing my ear as he spoke.

"Raven, completing our five-year ceremony with you tomorrow is the greatest honor of my life."

His arms had tightened around me.

"Ella will become the happiest little wolf pup in all the territories. Our family of three..."

His words had carried such longing, such unshakeable certainty about our future.

I had felt so safe in his arms. So sure that we were unbreakable.

But now his pleading was asking me to understand, to endure, to tolerate this mother and child for his sake.

Connor's demanding voice suddenly cut through my painful memories.

"Daddy! I'm hungry!" he whined, tugging on Alexander's sleeve with sticky fingers. "Take me to get grilled venison! I want to go to that fancy restaurant! And I want Mama to come too!"

Amber immediately seized the opportunity, her voice trembling with practiced vulnerability. "Alexander, from the moment Connor was born, we've never been able to afford fine dining," she said, her eyes filling with fresh tears. "Being a single Omega, raising a child alone... it's been so incredibly difficult. We've lived on scraps and leftovers for years."

Alexander's expression grew conflicted. His gaze moved between my tear-stained face and Ella's injured form, then shifted to Connor's expectant expression and Amber's wounded vulnerability.

"Raven," he said finally, not quite meeting my eyes. “Can we discuss everything when I get back? I promise we'll work this out.”

Before I could say anything more, Alexander had already made his choice.

He gathered Connor and Amber, speaking to them in low, soothing tones.

I watched from the window as they walked to his car together.

They looked exactly like a family of three.

Connor skipped between his parents, chattering excitedly about something. Amber's hand rested possessively on Alexander's arm.

"Goodbye, mean lady!" Connor called over his shoulder with a smirk. "Thanks for letting Daddy come with his real family!"

Amber shot me a triumphant look before quickly masking it with false sympathy.

"Take care of Ella's injuries," she said sweetly. "I'm sure she'll heal quickly."

And then they were gone.

I stood there holding my sobbing daughter, listening to the sound of their car pulling away, and felt something inside me die completely.

This useless mate, this failure of a father - we didn't need him anymore.

I quickly pulled myself together.

After dealing with Peter's body—wrapping him gently and placing him in the garden we had loved to play in—I treated the bruises on Ella's face with healing salve.

Each purple mark on her perfect skin made my rage burn hotter.

I coaxed her to sleep with her favorite lullaby, my voice shaking with suppressed emotion.

I moved efficiently through our home, packing everything that belonged to us. Then I contacted my father to discuss everything that had happened recently.

His fury was immediate and volcanic. Alpha Kings do not take kindly to threats against their bloodline.

I also had my father's trusted beta help me draft a mate bond dissolution agreement and submit it directly to the Alpha Council.

The legal proceedings would begin immediately.

After completing all this, I noticed my phone had been vibrating constantly with messages from Alexander.

I read them with growing disgust.

"Raven, how is Ella? I'm having my beta assistant send over premium healing herbs. Tomorrow Ella's face will definitely be completely healed."

As if expensive herbs could undo the trauma of what she had experienced.

"How is Peter? Can he still be saved? I've contacted the best healer to treat him."

Peter was dead. Murdered. But Alexander didn't even know that because he hadn't bothered to stay and check.

"I had arranged for Amber to have an abortion years ago, but I didn't expect her to escape. She secretly gave birth to the child behind my back."

More lies. More excuses.

"I swear, after we bonded, I never betrayed you."

"Alex, Alex, Connor wants daddy to tell him a story."

Amber's voice appeared in the voice message, sultry and possessive.

I knew she was doing this on purpose. She was deliberately provoking me.

Once, "Alex" had also been my exclusive nickname for him.

I remembered the young him standing in training camp sunlight, turning when he heard my voice call that name.

His eyes would fill with pure joy, as if hearing his name from my lips was the greatest gift in the world.

Then Amber appeared in our lives. As an Omega, she possessed tenacity and intelligence that rivaled any Alpha's.

I greatly admired her strength, her refusal to be defeated by her circumstances.

We went from master and servant, to friends, to the closest of companions.

She also learned from me, began calling him "Alex" in that same affectionate tone.

Alexander had been quite displeased about this. He even corrected her face to face one day.

"'Alex' is Raven's exclusive nickname," he had said firmly. "You should call me something else."

His tone was serious, carrying an Alpha's unquestionable authority.

Usually sunny Amber's eyes suddenly reddened with hurt.

I rushed to defend her, thinking Alexander was making a big deal out of nothing.

"It's just a name," I had scolded him. "Don't be so possessive."

Until one day, Alexander looked troubled and took my hand, asking me not to call him "Alex" anymore.

"Why?" I had asked, confused.

He said he still preferred when I used a special nickname for him, something that was just ours.

So I began calling him "honey" in private, thinking I was preserving something special between us.

His ears would turn red when I said it, but deep in his eyes seemed to hide a complexity I couldn't understand.

Only now do I understand the truth.

The exclusive nickname "Alex" already belonged to Amber by then.

It had become a mark of his betrayal, a secret intimacy I had unknowingly handed over to his lover.

All those years I'd trusted them both. All those times I'd defended their friendship, encouraged their interactions, praised Amber's strength and intelligence to Alexander.

I'd been the fool orchestrating my own betrayal.

Sleeping Ella whimpered in her throat, trying to get closer to me, as if having nightmares.

I gently stroked her hair, whispering softly in her ear: "Mommy will always be with you. I'll never let anyone hurt you again."

Ten years of feelings, completely shattered in lies and betrayal.

I had nightmares all night.

I jolted awake multiple times, my heart racing, cold sweat soaking through my nightgown.

When dawn finally broke, exhaustion weighed down my limbs like lead.

When I woke for the final time, I instinctively looked toward Ella's small bed. My heart instantly froze—the bed was empty!

The covers were thrown back carelessly, her favorite stuffed wolf nowhere to be seen.

"Ella?" My voice came out as a croak.

I rushed out of the bedroom, panic clawing at my throat. My gaze swept frantically around the room, then toward the floor-to-ceiling windows that connected to the terrace.

The massive glass doors stood wide open, morning's cold wind pouring in.

How were they open? I had locked everything last night. Triple-checked every door, every window.

The next second, I saw her.

Ella. Her tiny body was curled up on the cold terrace stone tiles, unnaturally still.

A glaring red bruise marred her forehead. One arm was bent at an unnatural angle. Her face was pale as snow.

Her eyes were tightly closed, her breathing weak and shallow.

"No, no, no." The words tumbled from my lips as I ran.

I screamed soundlessly, lunging forward to gather her ice-cold body: "Ella! Ella! Baby, wake up!"

Her skin was freezing to the touch. How long had she been out here?

My cries brought Alexander running from somewhere in the house.

He had slept somewhere unknown last night—definitely not in our bed. Stubble covered his jaw, yesterday's shirt wrinkled and disheveled. He looked like he'd passed out drunk somewhere.

Seeing me holding Ella's limp form on the terrace, his face changed drastically as he rushed over.

"What happened to Ella?!" He tried to touch her, but I instinctively turned away to avoid him.

"Don't touch her!" The words came out harsher than intended, but I couldn't help it.

"She fell from the terrace." My voice shook uncontrollably. "Look at her arm. Look at her head."

I wanted to add more, but the words stuck in my throat. The terrace railing height was deadly for a child who hadn't shifted yet.

Four-year-old Ella definitely couldn't climb over the barrier herself. The railings came up to my waist—they would be over her head.

Unless... unless she was pushed.

"We need to get her inside. Now." Alexander's Alpha training kicked in, his voice becoming authoritative.

But I noticed he didn't ask the obvious question: how did she get onto the terrace?

The pack's head healer was immediately summoned to treat Ella.

Old Marcus arrived within minutes, his weathered hands gentle as he examined her small body.

"Broken ulna," he announced grimly. "Severe concussion. Multiple contusions."

Each word hit me like a physical blow.

"These injuries..." Marcus paused, his expression troubled. "They're consistent with a significant fall. How did this happen?"

I watched Alexander's face carefully. His expression remained neutral, but a muscle in his jaw twitched.

Marcus worked efficiently, setting her broken bone with a splint and applying healing salve to her bruises. The ancient remedies would speed her recovery, but she would still need time.

Under the medicine's effects, Ella gradually fell asleep, her breathing slowly stabilizing.

Only then did the crushing weight of fear ease enough for me to think clearly.

After treating Ella's injuries, I finally found my voice: "I want to check the security footage."

Alexander went rigid. "Security footage?"

"The terrace cameras." My voice was steadier now, cold with determination. "They record everything."

"Raven, maybe we should focus on—"

"No." I cut him off. "I want to see exactly what happened to my daughter."

The cameras faced the terrace directly. The security office was in the basement, monitors displaying feeds from dozens of cameras around our property.

The results were crystal clear.

The timestamp showed 3:47 AM. Little Connor had snuck onto the terrace, moving like a predator stalking prey.

He made deliberate noise near the bedroom windows, tapping on the glass.

Ella appeared moments later, rubbing her eyes, still in her nightgown. She must have been curious about the sound.

Then Connor moved fast. He rushed forward and violently shoved her with both hands!

Ella was caught completely off guard, her small body instantly toppling over the railing.

She fell like a broken doll, hitting the stone tiles below with a sickening thud.

Connor even gripped the railing to look down at his handiwork. His face showed no panic whatsoever, only a twisted satisfaction, like a cat that had caught a mouse.

Then he quickly ran away, disappearing back into the house.

"That little monster," I whispered, my hands shaking with rage.

Amber appeared in the doorway at some point, having emerged from wherever she'd been hiding.

Seeing the surveillance footage, she shrieked: "Impossible! Raven! It must be a misunderstanding!"

Her voice was shrill, desperate.

"Connor was just... just trying to play with his sister! He accidentally lost control! He didn't mean it!"

Such a pathetic lie. The footage showed clear intent, deliberate malice.

I didn't believe six-year-old Connor could have returned to my house alone. Someone had brought him here. Someone had given him access.

She rushed over trying to grab my arm, but I violently shook her off.

Her expression was less panic than indignation at being exposed. The mask was slipping.

"Connor lacks proper discipline," she continued desperately. "I used to lock him alone in the house when I went out to earn money. He's starved for love in his heart, that's why he does things like this."

More excuses. More lies.

SLAP—

I backhanded Amber with all my strength, the sound crisp and loud in the small room.

"Poisonous woman! What a fine son you've raised!"

"You dare hit my mama!" Connor's voice came from behind us.

He charged in like a madman, having appeared from nowhere. His face was contorted with rage as he slammed hard into my waist!

I stumbled backward toward the wall, my injured shoulder hitting the stone.

Though my wolf reflexes were quick, I was still caught off guard by the sudden attack.

Alexander finally moved, but not to help me.

He looked at me with what might have been concern: "Raven! Are you alright?"

Yet he silently moved to shield Connor behind him. His body language was clear—he was protecting the boy who had just tried to murder our daughter.

This action shattered my last shred of illusion.

"Heh..." I pulled out an icy smile, straightening slowly.

My gaze cut like a blade across both Alexander and Amber.

"Connor deliberately harmed the daughter of Stormfang Pack's Luna. The evidence is ironclad."

"According to pack law, what is the punishment for harming a pup, especially one with Alpha inheritance rights?"

I let the question hang in the air.

"The Elder Council's tribunal will welcome him."

Amber completely panicked, lunging toward me: "Raven! You can't! He's still a child! He doesn't understand!"

Her voice cracked with desperation.

"If you want revenge, come for me! Please..."

"Shut up!" Alexander suddenly roared, cutting off Amber.

His face was ashen, chest heaving violently. Sweat beaded on his forehead.

His eyes looked at me with complexity, swept over the surveillance screen, then he opened his mouth with difficulty.

"Raven... Connor... he did do wrong. But... but sending him to the tribunal..."

He swallowed hard.

"He's too young. That would ruin his entire life!"

Always making excuses. Always protecting everyone except his own family.

"Ella... Ella needs the best healer! I'll immediately contact the best healers in the northern territories! Use the best medicine! I guarantee she'll be fine!"

His voice grew more frantic.

"I... I'll strictly punish Connor! Send him to the harshest youth training camp for discipline! How about that..."

"How about that?" I interrupted him, my voice unnaturally calm due to extreme anger.

Yet it carried bone-chilling coldness that made even Connor step back.

"Alexander, look into my eyes and tell me."

I stepped closer to him, forcing him to meet my gaze.

"Last night, I clearly locked all the doors and windows. I specifically instructed that our safe house has Gamma guards 24 hours a day."

His eyes tried to dart away, but I held his gaze mercilessly.

"How did Connor get in?"

Alexander's eyes flashed sharply, his lips pressed tight, avoiding my gaze.

The answer was obvious—he had secretly brought Connor and his mother back to my safe house.

While I was caring for our injured daughter, he had been harboring her would-be killer.

"Your so-called 'strict punishment,' your so-called 'sending for discipline'—those are just desperate measures you thought up after I produced iron evidence and invoked pack law!"

My voice rose with each word.

"If the cameras hadn't caught it, or if I hadn't insisted on looking, were you planning to classify Ella's fall as an 'accident'? Just like how you brushed off Peter's murder?!"

"In your heart, your bastard son is actually more important than your biological daughter, more important than your mate, more important than pack law!"

Alexander was struck speechless by my accusations, all color draining from his face.

Only pathetic defeat remained. Amber also froze in place, finally understanding the magnitude of what had been exposed.

Enormous disappointment and icy fury swept over me.

Ten years together. Five years bonded. And in return I got repeated favoritism, deception, and betrayal.

Even after he knew his son had violent tendencies that could threaten Ella's safety, he still chose concealment and indulgence.

"Alexander," my voice was clear and resolute, no longer carrying any emotion.

"I, Raven, reject you as my mate."