Wicked Alpha, Defiant Luna

The Price of Betrayal

Theo hadn’t expected Savannah to be like this—indifferent, cold, and emotionless. He had anticipated anger, perhaps even insults, but she offered him nothing. She was composed, her emotions locked behind a wall of control. When she saw him for the first time in the hospital, there had been a brief flicker of surprise on her beautiful face, but it was quickly replaced by a guarded expression.

She had always despised human frailty. Now, she lay wounded and pale, but when she opened her eyes and saw him, it was as though she saw a stranger. She seemed to treat her injury as though it was a normal, everyday occurrence, something to be endured without comment.

Her hair, once short and cut close to her neck, now cascaded down to her waist. He remembered telling her he preferred her hair longer, though he had been cruel when he said it, criticizing her for the way it made her appear “chubby” and drawing attention to her double chin. He regretted it now. He had been harsh with her, transferring his anger and frustrations onto the one person who had never deserved it. She had been just a girl then, but he hadn’t seen it. Now, she was more beautiful, more mature, but something had changed.

Her once expressive, dark eyes—eyes that had once been filled with love and adoration for him—were now distant, calculating. When she looked at him, it was as if she were looking at a casual acquaintance, not the man who had once held her heart. He couldn’t blame her for it.

The moment Lewis touched her with that familiarity, an emotion he couldn’t quite name surged within Theo. He should have been the one by her side during this difficult time, not Lewis. He remembered the photos Smith had sent him—pictures of Savannah in a ceremonial dress uniform, smiling beside Lewis. Her hair had been very short, but in her eyes, there had been a spark of triumph—triumph from graduating from the academy. He could see it clearly in the photos, and it made him feel something dark and possessive twist in his chest.

He wanted to hurt Lewis for keeping her from him, but more than that, he wanted to punish himself. He had caused her so much pain. He had failed to protect her from himself, from his own mistakes.

When Savannah had mentioned Clover, he couldn’t bring himself to admit the truth—that he had still been seeing her. They had been in a relationship, of sorts—more physical than emotional—and it had continued until last month. Some called it “friends with benefits,” but it had been nothing more than that. He ended things with Clover last month, though, after receiving positive reports from Smith about Savannah. He had made up his mind. He was going to win his mate back.

Theo had expected Clover to react violently, like the other women he had left behind, but to his surprise, she had been calm, even understanding. She had invited him to dinner one last time, and despite the tension, he had been grateful for her maturity. Like Savannah, Clover had shed her vanity over the years. He remembered how cruel she had been to others, especially to Savannah. But he had seen her change, just as he had seen Savannah transform. Both women had grown, but it was clear now that his heart was no longer with Clover—it had always belonged to Savannah, even when he hadn’t been able to recognize it.

When Savannah discovered him naked with Clover in their marriage bed, Theo was completely oblivious to her presence. She had quietly stood at the door, watching as Clover smirked, urging him to go faster. In a haze of drunken lust, he complied. It wasn’t until after they both reached their climax that he saw Savannah—standing in the doorway, crying, her small frame shaking with pain. She was so young, so innocent, and so sheltered from the cruelty he had just inflicted upon her.

“Why are you still there, Savvy? Give us some privacy,” Theo slurred, his words drenched in the arrogance of intoxication. “Clover will occupy the master bedroom, while you can pick any other room. Close the door when you leave. From now on, you’re not allowed to enter this room.”

His words cut through her, but he didn’t see it. He didn’t sense the weight of his betrayal, nor did he feel the sharp sting of the bond between them. He was too drunk to notice anything—too drunk to sense the mate bond, the pull between their bodies and souls. The following morning, when he finally woke up, he didn’t check on her, even though her mother had already warned him about Savannah’s health condition.

He spent the rest of his days with Clover, as if they were newlyweds. They spent their time indulging in their desires, moving freely around the pack’s west wing, which had been given to them by his father, the Alpha. Along with their new freedom, they were provided with a few omegas to cater to their needs.

His father came to visit them one day, and the moment he laid eyes on Clover, disapproval flashed in his gaze. Without a word to Theo, he asked about Savannah. When Theo couldn’t tell him which room she was occupying, his father cursed and ordered Beta Lennox to check all the rooms. It was then that Lennox found Savannah, lying in her own blood.

The sight of her in that state was enough to send Theo’s world spinning. His father, enraged, punched him repeatedly. Theo barely registered the blows, his mind still fogged from the night before. His father, furious beyond measure, dragged him to the ICU, forcing him to look at the wreckage of his own actions.

“Look at her,” his father growled, his voice thick with fury. “You did this to her. You know why everyone adored her? Because she’s an angel to us. You don’t deserve her. I regret the day I forced you to marry her. You disappoint me, Theodore.”

With that, his father stormed off, leaving Theo in the ICU, standing before the woman he had destroyed.

The smell of Savannah—his mate—hit him like a physical blow. It was overwhelming, the bond between them so intense that it nearly knocked him to his knees. His chest swelled with a pain he had never known. She had tried to take her own life because of what he had done, and it was as if he could feel every ounce of her suffering. The cruel reality of the mate bond hit him full force.

She hadn’t just been emotionally shattered by his betrayal—she had felt every second of it. Every time he had been with Clover, the proximity to his mate made Savannah experience the excruciating pain of betrayal. The pain of his infidelity had nearly broken her. It was too much to bear. She had tried to end it all, to escape the torment he had created.

He remembered how Smith called him after he found his wife....

"I tracked down your wife."

Theodore Carter bolted from his chair, his heart pounding with excitement and pain. He hasn't seen Savannah Wilson Carter in nine years.

"Can you tell me where she is?" he asked, his heart racing with anticipation.

"She's chasing a criminal, and I'm following her. Damn! She's a reckless driver!" Smith muttered. He was the famous hunter he hired to help him find his wife. Then Smith cursed loudly, and then Theo heard the tire screeching and loud metal banging, followed by the beeping sound of a disconnected line.

Theo cursed several times and combed his hair in frustration. He's been in hell for the past nine years searching for his runaway wife, who left only with divorce papers. Not only that, but she emptied his vault. All of his valuable historical antiques and gems were gone.

He was the legendary Alpha, but he is unable to locate his once frail mate.

Smith called again. "She is injured and was sent to the hospital right now. I'll message you the name and address." Theo dashed to the elevator, still clutching the phone. The man on the other line cleared his throat, as if he needed to say something important and sensitive.

"I forgot to mention that he's with Ethan Lewis. She's been under his protection since she left you, and she's currently chasing the criminal with Lewis. I witnessed how she killed the criminal they chased."