The Alpha’s Temporary Mark

I was Alpha Kade's secret mate for four years.

The night he marked me, in the throes of passion, he gazed into my eyes for a long, long time.

"You know, Anya," he'd said, his voice husky, "what I love most about you are your beautiful eyes."

To protect his claim to the Alpha title, I agreed to remain by his side, posing as a Beta warrior.

That is, until I watched him publicly wrap his arm around my half-sister's waist, beaming with pride.

It was only when the whispers grew louder, when everyone murmured that the beautiful she-wolf the Alpha brought home had my eyes, that the devastating truth finally hit me.

It was never me he loved.

I confronted Kade, demanding an explanation.

His face was a mask of contempt. "An explanation?"

"What did you think this was? It was a temporary mark, nothing more. I've only ever seen you as a sister."

I didn't cry. I didn't make a scene.

I simply opened a mind-link to my childhood friend.

"I accept the invitation to become Head Warrior of the Silver Crest Pack."

Later, when Kade discovered I had caught the eye of his greatest rival, he went absolutely insane.

After so many years by Alpha Kade's side, I thought the mating ceremony I'd longed for was finally within reach.

But when Chloe's mind-link crashed through my mental barriers like a lightning strike, I learned I was nothing more than a stand-in.

"Anya, the pack is buzzing! Can you believe my heartless brother actually found his fated mate and didn't tell a soul?"

The hand gripping my silver dagger trembled. The problem was, I was the subject of her gossip.

Her brother, Alpha Kade of the Black Moon Pack, and I had been secret mates for four years.

At first, I never told Chloe about our secret relationship.

It was partly because of our friendship, and partly because Kade and I had marked each other in secret right after he came of age and became the Alpha.

I just never imagined that as soon as he secured his position, he would publicly claim another she-wolf.

The thought forced a bitter smile to my lips. "Did he tell you himself?"

"Hell no." Chloe's mental voice crackled with excitement. "His precious mate just came back to the pack from the human world today. He threw this huge welcoming ceremony for her in the Elders' Hall..."

I cut her off. "Are you sure you didn't mishear?"

"No way. My brother plays the part of the stoic, unfeeling Alpha with everyone, but tonight he personally fought off a challenger from a rival pack for her, then gifted her a priceless moonstone necklace."

Chloe kept chattering on through our mind-link, but I couldn't hear a thing anymore.

My wolf howled restlessly within me, a wretched sound I couldn't suppress.

I even began to wonder if I was losing my mind.

I forced myself to calm down, trying my best to steady my trembling