The Alpha's Greatest Mistake

Chapter 2

But when Xavier bit her, he did not call Aria's name. In his drunken voice, he kept shouting, "Sophia! Sophia! From today, you are my prisoner!"

Aria felt as if her heart was being torn apart. She was not only being used, but she was also being humiliated under someone else's identity. Every second was pure torture for her.

When dawn finally broke, Xavier, exhausted, fell asleep. Aria remained curled up in one corner of the bed. Her white wedding gown was now stained crimson with blood. Xavier's Mating Mark glowed on her neck—a mark that had bound her to this monster for the rest of her life.

Aria looked out the window. Today, she had become a cursed substitute bride. But deep inside her, she felt a strange vibration, as though a sleeping power within her blood was awakening for the very first time.

Silently, Aria made a vow.

"The people who sent me into this hell today... and the man who humiliated me... I will come back. I will not return as a Luna. I will return as your destroyer."

As the first rays of dawn slipped through the trees of the Black Forest and reached the palace windows, everything appeared peaceful. But Aria knew this peace was nothing more than the silence before a devastating storm.

Her entire body ached in agony. The Mating Mark Alpha Xavier had left on her neck had turned a deep crimson. It was not just a bite—it was a curse that had chained her to this ruthless man forever.

Suddenly, the bed shook.

Xavier had awakened.

Aria held her breath in fear. She could feel the warmth radiating from his body. Xavier sat up and began testing the air with his wolf's heightened sense of smell. Alphas possessed an exceptionally powerful sense of scent. They could determine a mate's bloodline and strength simply by her scent.

All of a sudden, Xavier's body went rigid.

Aria realized she had been discovered.

In one swift motion, Xavier grabbed a fistful of Aria's hair and forced her to face him. His gray eyes blazed like fire. The haze of alcohol had vanished, leaving behind only a cruel reality.

"Who are you?" Xavier's voice shook the walls of the room. "You're not Sophia! Sophia's scent carried a golden aura, but your scent... your scent isn't even like that of an ordinary wolf! Who are you, and where is Sophia?"

Aria cried out in pain.

"Please... let me go! I... I'm Aria. Sophia's older sister."

"Aria?" A cruel smile spread across Xavier's lips. He threw Aria off the bed, sending her crashing onto the floor.

"Aria Lewis? That wolfless Omega? The one who doesn't even have a wolf? You're that disgrace of the Silver Moon Pack?"

Lying on the floor, Aria desperately tried to pull the torn pieces of her clothing around herself.

"My parents forced me to come here. I didn't want to come! Sophia pretended to run away so they could sacrifice me in her place!"

"Don't lie!" Xavier roared.

He climbed down from the bed and stood before her. His towering figure completely overshadowed Aria.

"Sophia loved me. She replied to every one of my letters. You must have locked her away somewhere so you could become the Luna of this palace! How dare an ordinary Omega enter my bed?"

Inside Xavier, his wolf, Ken, roared with fury. For a powerful Alpha, being mated to a wolfless Omega was the ultimate humiliation. Xavier felt as though someone had poisoned his pure blood.

At that very moment, loud knocks echoed from the door.

From outside, Xavier's Beta, Lucas, shouted,

"Alpha! There's urgent news. Beta Marcus of the Silver Moon Pack is on a live video call. He says Sophia is missing!"

Xavier shot Aria a cruel glance.

Instead of carrying her, he grabbed her by the wrist and dragged her mercilessly toward the great hall. Aria's knees and elbows scraped painfully against the floor, tearing her skin open, but Xavier showed not the slightest bit of mercy.

A giant screen in the hall displayed Aria's father, Marcus, and her younger sister, Sophia. Sophia looked as though she had cried endlessly. Her hair was messy, and her clothes were slightly torn.

"Alpha Xavier! Please forgive me!" Sophia sobbed on the screen.

"I was on my way to you, but my sister... Aria... locked me inside the basement! She drugged me until I lost consciousness, wore my wedding dress, and came to you herself! She has always been greedy for the wealth of your palace. She always dreamed of becoming your mate!"

Aria stared at the screen in shock.

"Sophia! You're lying! Mom and Dad hid you away and injected me before sending me here!"

"Silence, you witch!" Aria's father, Marcus, thundered.

"A cursed, wolfless daughter like you who could steal her own sister's destiny is no daughter of mine. Alpha Xavier, punish her however you wish. She is no longer a member of our pack."

At that moment, Aria realized the truth.

Her family had completely framed her.

To save themselves from Xavier's wrath, they had sacrificed Aria as their scapegoat.

Xavier turned off the screen. The entire hall fell into complete silence. The other wolves of the pack surrounded Aria. There was nothing but hatred in their eyes. They could not accept that an Omega had deceived their Alpha.

Xavier walked up to Aria and placed his hand on the mating mark on her neck. Aria cried out in pain.

"Did you think that just because you bear this mark, I would accept you as my Luna?" Xavier's voice was as cold as ice. "Listen carefully, Aria Lewis. I killed my previous three mates with my own hands because they were not worthy of me. And you? You're not even worthy of the dust beneath my feet."

Xavier raised his hand. His eyes had turned a blazing crimson.

"Let the entire pack bear witness! I, Alpha Xavier of the Black Forest Pack, reject Aria Lewis as my mate and Luna from this very moment!"

Aria felt as if someone had ripped her heart out while she was still alive. Mate rejection was the most painful punishment among wolves. The mating mark on her neck suddenly felt as though it had caught fire from within. Unable to endure the agony, she collapsed onto the floor. Her body radiated an unbearable heat, as though it were burning.

"Lucas!" Xavier ordered his Beta. "Throw this piece of trash into the dark dungeon behind the palace. Do not give her any food or water. I want her to die little by little. And one more thing—inform the Silver Moon Pack that I will attack them

tonight for breaking the marriage agreement."