THE ALPHA'S ABANDONED MATE

The Banished Mate

Alpha Lucas began pacing the grand hall, his chest heaving in combined anger and grief. In the room, murmurs of members from the council and a few close warriors speaking in whispered tones filled the air over the death of Elara and the erupting scandal. His heart was really heavy with the betrayal that he was faced with and the responsibility he held as the leader of his pack. "How could she?" he muttered to himself, clenching his fists as the image replayed in his head of his mate, Isabella, in bed with another man.

The more he thought of that, it seemed the more rage grew inside him. He had given her all, trusted her, and now his sister was dead, with all the fingers pointing at Isabella. Slowly, the doors to the hall opened, and in walked Isabella flanked by two guards. Her face was pale, her eyes swollen from having cried. She fixed her gaze upon Lucas; her heart broke at the distance between them-physical and emotional.

This was not the same Lucas who had loved her fiercely, who had vowed to protect her. This was a man consumed by grief and rage, and she feared there was nothing she could say to reach him. "Alpha Lucas," one of the elders said, coming forward. "We have heard the accusations, and the evidence, though circumstantial, suggests-" "There's no evidence!" Isabella burst in, her voice trembling. She whirled to the elders then, desperation in her eyes. "I swear on all that is dear to me, I did not kill Elara.

I don't even know how I came into that room with this man. I love Lucas, and I could never betray him like this. Please, you got to believe me!" Her voice crackled; she looked at Lucas, begging with her eyes. But Lucas said nothing. His face was a cold, indifferent mask staring back at her, his jaw clenched tightly. The elder, undeterred by the outburst, said, "Regardless of your claims, Isabella, the facts are against you.

You were the last person seen with Elara. And as for the man in your bed… that does not help your case." Tears streamed down Isabella's face, and she shook her head in utter disbelief. "I don't remember seeing Elara! I was in my room; I don't know how that man ended up beside me. You gotta believe me-I've been framed!" "Framed?" Lucas finally spoke; his voice oozing with bitterness. "You expect me to believe that? My sister is dead, Isabella. I found you in bed with another man.

How much more am I supposed to endure before I see the truth?"Isabella's heart sank at his words. "Lucas, please," she whispered, stepping closer to him, but guards barred her way. "I swear upon our bond, on all that we've shared, that I didn't do this. I would never hurt you, or Elara." Lucas's eyes clouded as he regarded her. "You've already hurt me, Isabella. More than you know." The room remained silent as they all awaited the verdict from Lucas. His mind was in a whirl-can he really cast out the woman he once loved?

The woman who was his mate? Yet, every single time he thought of Elara's dead body and of the betrayal in that, his decision was clear as diamonds. The older warrior stepped forward, one of the members of the council-a man with numerous battles traced upon his scar-faced face. "Alpha, you must decide. The pack needs closure. If she is guilty, then justice needs to be served." Isabella knelt on her knees with her quivering body. "Please, Lucas," she wept and her voice shook. "I love you. I would never betray you or harm your family. Please, believe me.

" Lucas closed his eyes and fought the storm of emotions that howled within him. He had loved Isabella, truly, but that love was tainted now-overpowered by the death of his sister and the erupted scandal. He couldn't see through it anymore, be the betrayal real or not. The pack was looking to him for leadership, for justice.

He opened his eyes, his gaze hardening as it settled on Isabella. "You leave me no choice, Isabella. Because of you, the trust in me of the pack is shattered. Elara is dead and you… you have betrayed me." At once Isabella shook her head furiously. "No, Lucas! I haven't betrayed you! You know me. You know I would never—" "Enough!" Lucas thundered.

His voice reverberated off the walls of the hall. He took a deep breath, his eyes cold and detached. "Isabella, as Alpha of this pack, I ban you. You are no longer welcome within our midst. You are no longer my mate." The words fell on Isabella like a physical blow. Her body quivered, her eyes wide in incredulity as she looked up at him. "Lucas, no. please. don't do this," she whispered low. But Lucas had already turned his back to her, his heart as solidified as stone by his grief and rage. The sight of her was something he could no longer bear. "Take her away," Lucas ordered the guards; his tone was faraway and icy.

Guards tarried a bit, then went ahead with it, clasping Isabella by her arms. Isabella resisted them, full of panic in her voice. "Lucas! Please! Do not do this! I did not kill Elara! I did not betray you!" But Lucas did not turn around.

He did not move nor showed his face to hers as if dismissing her pleas. She struggled, fought, as the guards dragged her from the hall, screaming, "Lucas, please! I love you! I swear, I didn't do it!" And he did nothing but stand in complete silence, eyes closed, trying to shut the sound of her voice out of his mind. It was painful to his heart, but he needed to be firm.

He had to lead. He did not know that, as Isabella was dragged from the palace, she carried with her his child, his heir. It was finally quiet in the hallway, with the doors again closed, and Lucas stood still, his hands shaking just a little. He had done what he had thought was right, but why did it feel so wrong? The weight of his decision weighed upon him, and for the first time in his life, Alpha Lucas felt lost.