Alpha Zuko’s Discarded Mate Is Now A Quintillionaire

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Amira Smith’s POV:

The next day arrived with a cold, unrelenting grey light that seeped through the singular, high window of my cramped quarters. I didn’t need an alarm; the hollow ache in my chest had kept me hovering in a fitful state between nightmares and a jagged reality all night.

By 4:00 AM, I was already up. I moved through my morning chores with the mechanical precision of someone trying to outrun their own thoughts. I scrubbed the floors of the west wing, polished the silver until my reflection haunted me, and dusted the mahogany bannisters that Zuko’s hand would undoubtedly slide over later that day. By the time I finished the heavy lifting, it was 8:00 AM. The sun was fully up, and the estate was buzzing with the post-wedding energy of the staff.

I rushed back to my room to wash the grime of labor off my skin. My bath was a quick, cold affair. I pulled on my best clothes, which were really just old, faded garments that had seen better years, and gathered my textbooks. I didn’t have a leather satchel like the other students at the University of Esposito, I tucked my materials into a thick nylon bag, the plastic handles digging into my palms.

The moment I stepped out of my room, I nearly collided with the chief maid. She was a stern woman, but her eyes softened when they landed on me.

“Good morning, ma’am,” I greeted, keeping my head low.

“Good morning, dear,” she replied, her voice gentle. “Hope your night was good?”

I nodded, a blatant lie. She knew it, too. I could see the pitying expression on her face, the kind of look one gives a wounded animal that doesn't know it’s dying yet. The news of the Maid at the Altar would have circulated through every kitchen, stable, and tavern in the city by now. To her credit, she didn’t push me for details.

“Your presence is required in the dining room,” she said.

My heart performed a frantic, stuttering dance against my ribs. I nodded without a word and followed her. Each step toward the grand dining hall felt like a march toward a firing squad. This had to be about the scene I made yesterday. I clutched my nylon bag tighter, praying that my scholarship, my only ticket out of this life, wouldn't be revoked.

The dining room was a sea of opulence. It was a full house: Alpha Magnus sat at the head, looking like a king carved from stone. Beside him was Luna Lydia, draped in silk and radiating cold authority. And then there were the newlyweds. Alpha Zuko and Vanessa sat side-by-side, a picture of billionaire perfection.

The table was an obscene display of wealth. There were silver platters heaped with smoked salmon, bowls of exotic dragon fruit and glistening berries, poached eggs drizzled in hollandaise, stacks of artisanal sourdough, and carafes of freshly squeezed blood-orange juice. The smell of expensive coffee and cinnamon rolls usually would have made me hungry but today, it made me nauseous.

“Good morning, Alphas and Luna,” I said, bowing my head low.

They all turned to me. For a split second, my eyes collided with Zuko’s. The sea-blue depths I once found safety in were now icy and distant. I averted my gaze immediately, staring at the intricate patterns of the rug.

“I heard that my presence was requested,” I said, my voice trembling despite my best efforts to sound composed.

Silence followed. It was the heavy, suffocating silence of people who viewed me as nothing more than the furniture. They returned to their meal as if I had vanished into the wallpaper. I stood there, a ghost at the feast, forced to witness the domesticity I had once dreamed was mine.

Vanessa took a long noodle from her plate, holding it in her teeth as she leaned toward Zuko. She gestured for him to take the other end. He didn't hesitate. He leaned in, their lips meeting in a lingering, playful kiss over the food.

My wolf howled, a soundless scream of agony that tore through my soul. My heart, already shattered, felt like it was being ground into dust.

“You two are so cute,” Luna Lydia said, her voice ringing with genuine joy. “I bet you will make beautiful grandchildren.”

“It’s not about beautiful, Lydia,” Alpha Magnus grunted, though his tone was less sharp than usual. “They should produce an heir smart enough to manage the family empire. Wealth requires a steady hand.”

“You know smartness runs in this family,” Lydia replied, her voice dipping into disdain. “Although a particular son didn't seem to obtain it.”

“Mother, are you talking about brother-in-law Zeke?” Vanessa asked, her voice laced with faux-innocence.

“Yes, who else?” Lydia sighed. “He hasn't come home in years to pay his respects. He’s adopted, yet he can’t even show gratitude for the opportunity he was given. Is he even still alive? No words, no letters...”

“Enough, Lydia,” Magnus commanded.

The table went quiet, the mention of the estranged Zeke clearly a sore spot.

“Babe, what about our honeymoon?” Vanessa broke the tension, nudging Zuko with a saccharine smile.

“I’m working on it, love,” Zuko said, his voice smooth and terrifyingly affectionate. “You know it’s only the best for you, right?”

Tears blurred my vision. My grip on the nylon bag tightened in a spasm of grief. The cheap plastic couldn't take the pressure; with a sharp rip, the bag gave way. My textbooks, pens, and pencils clattered across the marble floor, the sound echoing like a gunshot in the silent room.

I froze, the blood draining from my face.

Every eye was on me again. I hated it. I didn't want them to see how much they were hurting me. I wished the floor would open and swallow me whole. I wanted to run, to hide the tears threatening to spill, but I was paralyzed.

“I’m sorry,” I choked out, dropping to my knees immediately.

I kept my face toward the floor, frantically gathering my things. Hot tears rolled down my cheeks. I used my shoulder to wipe them away, desperate to stay invisible.

Suddenly, a familiar hand brushed against mine. The contact sent a jolt of electricity—the fated mate sparks—crashing through my system.

I flinched, looking up to find Zuko crouching beside me. Our eyes met, and for a heartbeat, the mask of the cold billionaire slipped. He handed me the book he had picked up and stood back up.

“Have you rejected this girl?” Alpha Magnus questioned, his voice full of revulsion as he looked me up and down.

“Yes, dad,” Zuko replied, his voice flat.

The lie hit me like a physical blow. He hadn't rejected me, the bond was still screaming, but to his father, I was already erased.

Magnus wiped his mouth with a silk napkin, seemingly satisfied, and walked away without a second glance.

“Since you’re attending the same school as Luna Vanessa,” Lydia said, her voice snapping me back to the nightmare, “you will be her personal maid there. You will carry her bags, fetch her meals, and help her with everything she needs between classes. I didn't want you anywhere near my son or his wife, but Vanessa insisted. She is kind. You owe her for this generosity.'”

I looked at Vanessa. She flashed me a bright, triumphant smile. It wasn't kindness, it was a leash. She wanted to parade her victory in front of the whole university.

I stood there, holding my broken bag of books, wondering how I was supposed to survive a single day as a maid in the halls where I was supposed to be a student.