Betrayed By My Alpha

Chapter 17

Sarah's POV

I couldn't contain my laughter, the look on Beatrice's face, how red she got from anger when I called her Beetroot, proving me right.

Oh my days. Why haven't I always been like this? Bold, able to stand for myself?

Mum and Dad really did a big number on me.

Speaking of which, I hope this rumour doesn't get to my father. He'd rejoice no doubt, but it'd complicate everything even more.

And they'd find out it was all a lie. A desperate one.

I flagged down a cab. “Take me anywhere” spontaneous and stupid. I know.

I didn't want control, she looked me over before smirking. “I know just the place.”

“I'm Jae by the way,” she said over the rock music playing on the radio.

“Sarah.”

“Loosen up, Sarah. Some of you werewolves are always so uptight, I can tell you wanna sing along”

“Excuse me?” Utterly stunned.

“I said I can tell you wanna sing along!” she yelled over the music.

“No, before, before that” I replied.

“Huh? You want that? I'm not available.” She winked.

I leaned forward from the back seat, and turned the radio off.

“Before that, Jae. What are uptight?”

“Wolves? I said ‘some’ okay, sheesh. Now sit back and let me drive”

“No, no, no. You don't get it do you? How do you you know what I am?”

“Oh, that? I read and see auras. Every individual has a unique one and every species a particular vibration.”

“You vibrate like a werewolf.”

“What are you?”

“We're here, Sarah. Questions later.”

I looked from the windshield, an old building?

It looked like it had been abandoned, but not quite. Like someone still came to take care of it, but out of guilt or maybe just because.

You've got to be kidding me. I got out the car.

“You'll love it here.” I turn towards Jae, and give her skeptical look. I gesture an ‘After you.’

I stepped in after Jae, prepared for… I don’t know, dust? Rot? Rat poo, definitely rat poo.

She muttered something, and for a split second everything went white, like stepping through fog that had weight, then the world snapped back into place.

But it wasn’t the rundown lobby anymore.

It was… my goddess, Selene! I don’t even have the vocabulary for this.

The place was huge. Cathedral ceilings lined with floating lanterns, each one drifting lazily it felt like time stopped here. Warm light bathed everything in soft gold.

The doors behind me were gone, or maybe they’d turned into the glass archway showing a completely different cityscape. Somewhere unreal.

And the people.

Some were walking. Some folks were levitating like it was something they did everyday. One guy floated past, reading a newspaper upside down.

A guy, I'd bet was a warlock conjured little sparks that burst like tiny fireworks, laughing when they fizzled into the shape of a cat.

A pair of werewolves, actual werewolves! Argued at the bar about whose shift it was at “Moon Sector Security.” A fairy zipped by and nearly slapped me with her wings.

I grabbed at Jae’s sleeve like a child.

“What the hell,” I whispered.

“Told you you’d love it,” she said, smug as anything.

“No, Jae. What IS this place?” I asked, eyes glued to a mermaid lounging in what looked like floating water suspended midair.

“A portal,” she said simply. “The building outside is the anchor. The real place is here.”

“A portal,” I repeated, like if I said it enough it would make sense.

She led me deeper. The room branched into different sectors I could see a cavern-like tunnel glowing blue where the merfolk stayed, something forest-themed for the fae,

A library tower pulsing with warlock sigils, I instantly wanted to go there, so much knowledge. I might find out what I am and why I haven't wolfed out yet.

Shifters of all kinds sat together at a lounge, drinking, arguing, flirting.

And despite everything… it was calm. Harmonious. Like a supernatural airport lounge built by someone with too much time and not enough sense,

It was no news werewolves and warlocks couldn't get along, let alone this amount of supernaturals.

“You’re taking this pretty well,” Jae said.

“I think I’m dissociating, I didn't think there were this many of us” I replied honestly.

She laughed. “Most supernaturals aren’t here right now, migrations, councils, politics.”

“Yes!! I knew Lerancé was a siren”

Jae laughed. “She's a witch, but by the way she sings I understand why you'd think so”

“You’re seeing like… ten percent of the crowd? Imagine it packed.”

“Please don’t make me imagine anything,” I muttered, still staring.

Jae bumped my shoulder. “Relax, Sarah. Everything here is safe. No one cares who you are.”

“That’s the problem,” I whispered. “I don’t know who I am right now.”

But Selene help me…it was beautiful.

It felt like walking into a secret I was never supposed to know existed. Something inside me sparked I didn't want to go back.

I was still staring at the werewolves and warlocks, sitting together when a shadow cut across the light in front of me.

It was someone's.

He walked like he owned the damn air. Tall, carved-from-warm-stone tall, gorgeous brown skin, shoulders broad beneath a fitted black shirt, braids pulled back tight. And his eyes… green like emeralds.

“Jae.” His voice hit low, quiet, “You’re bringing in unmarked guests now?”

Jae made a noise under her breath. “Please don’t start today, Sol.”

Sol.

Of course someone this devastating would have a name like that.

He looked at me then really looked, something flickered in his gaze. Maybe interest. Subtle, not desperate. The kind of flirtation that was less “Hey girl” and more “You’re interesting enough to ruin my afternoon.”

“And who might you be?” he asked, tilting his head slightly.

“Sarah,” I managed.

His gaze flicked over me once, unhurried. “Mm.” That was it. Just a sound.

He turned to Jae. “You didn’t seriously bring her in without clearance. Tell me she’s met The Infinity.”

Jae kept quiet.

Sol’s jaw ticked,

“Jae,” he said, voice dropping further, “if she’s unapproved and someone sees her in here, you realize what that means? For you. For me. For everyone.”

Jae winced.

Still no answer.

He ran a hand over his face. “Gods, you didn’t. You actually didn’t.”

I looked between them. “The… who? What’s The Infinity?”

Sol let out a breath that sounded like one long swear. He stepped closer, not enough to make me uncomfortable just close enough that I could smell something warm on him, like pine and electricity.

“If anyone finds out she’s unregistered.”

“Relax,” Jae muttered, “no one’s checking.”

“Jae, my father is on The Infinity,” Sol snapped quietly. “If they trace an unapproved person to this place we’re all screwed. They’ll pull the building’s anchor. They’ll shut down the whole network. His entire council could get charged with negligence.”

My stomach flipped. “Okay, hold on.”

Sol looked at me then,

“Sarah… did anyone send you an invitation? A mark? A token? Anything that proves you were meant to cross that portal?”

“No.” My voice was small.

He closed his eyes for a second like I had just confirmed his worst nightmare.

Then,

Across the hall, a bell chimed.

Not a normal bell.

A deep, echoing sound that shook the damn air.

Conversations stopped.

Lanterns flickered.

Someone whispered, “They’re here.”

Sol’s face drained of color.

“Oh no. Not now.” He grabbed my hand. “Sarah, whatever you do don’t—”

The floor beneath us pulsed once, like the heartbeat of something ancient.

The glass archway behind me darkened.

And then a voice rolled through the hall like thunder:

“Unregistered aura detected.”

Sol’s grip tightened around my wrist.

“Run.”