"Betrayed by the Alpha, Chosen by Fate"

Chapter One PROLOGUE Pain tore through my stomach, raw and consuming. I pressed my hands to the ache, helpless. My cry lurched out, ragged and desperate. This wasn’t the first time. Deep down, I knew what it meant. Alistair had another woman. I felt it every time he cheated on me. The bond made sure of that. I crept out of the bed and fell on the wooden floor. I drew a sharp, rapid, desperate breath. The globe leaned over, and I was crawling to the door, scraping the boards with my nails. “Help!” The voice broke; it was too thin to bear. The walls swallowed my plea. Another wave slammed into me. My heart was racing, and I was covered in sweat. Stop, Alistair, please, "I said, yet I knew he would not be there to hear me. Fear crushed me—not jump-at-nothing fear, but the kind that devours you whole. My baby was fragile. He knew. Still, he did this. My feet were cold on the cold floor as I pulled myself on and left wet footprints behind. The agony became keener, more peevish, and I would have fallen before I got to the door. Something was traveling down my thighs. I didn’t want to look. Still, my hand shook and touched the moisture. Blood. No. No, please. Tears blurred everything. I clutched my belly and sobbed, hollow with loss. “Somebody help me! I’m losing my baby!” My scream snapped to silence. Nobody came. Nobody ever came. The room faded. Blackness crept in to swallow me. All I felt was hate. I hate you, Alistair. Chapter One (Elowen’s POV) I thought I was never stupid. Careful. Strong enough to know better. But Alpha Alistair turned me in wrong. He had no trouble trying--just being in his proximity kept me sightless. There I was of no value in the Ravenshollow Pack. This was where my mother had been sold as a servant and was working alongside the omegas, and I inherited her chains. They all gave me a glance as though I were worse than nothing. And so when the Alpha picked me, behind the scenes, I held on to the lie. On the evening of my eighteenth year, under glittering lanterns and firelight, I had entered the mating ball in an expectationless state. But the attraction of the relationship bound me to that man, every girl desires. Alistair Whitmore. I had been like popping a few fireworks in my chest, my boyish infatuation turning into a bigger, brighter one. He said we must hide it. It made sense. I wasn’t good enough for him. But he said he loved me, and I needed to believe him. The things we do for love. Love. A term that turned into a knife when he brought Imogen to the pack as his mistress. Instead of hearing my name, I watched my place disappear. Her hand in his, my fists clenched behind my back. He explained. He made excuses. Foolish me—I believed them. He said that I only had to wait, and I would be recognized. So I forgave him. Over and over. Even as he continued to go back to her bed. Each betrayal cut deeper. My body and soul writhed from the bond. He knew. He did it anyway. Until I lost the baby. The only pure thing I had. I woke hours later, aching. Pain, blood, screams haunted me. My cheeks were wet with tears I hadn’t felt. My garments were destroyed; they were deep red. I did not know how many hours I had been lying on the floor. Soon enough to make the night turn to day. He hadn’t come back. And maybe I didn’t want him to. I dragged myself to the bathroom and splashed cold water on my face. The ache inside was worse than any pain. Hope was gone; I was empty. Three hours later, the door creaked open. Alpha Alistair was walking in, the scent of another about him. He didn’t look at me. Didn’t pause. Strode right by me like I wasn’t even there in the room. “Alistair.” The grief was consumed by anger. “Where were you last night?” That is none of your business, pup. My hands shook. “You went to her, didn’t you? You slept with her, you know how that feels to me. She is the mate of the whole pack. It’s necessary.” “I was in pain. Agony. Because of you. I lost my child because of you. How could you do this? I’m your true mate.” His head turned, eyes cold. “Don’t blame me. And your feeble frame could not detain him. That’s not my fault.” My child. He didn’t even say our. My hand flew before I thought. The smack shot across his face. Bloodied where I fell on the palm. I was triumphant for a second. He drew a slow breath and sneered. His look came back, and it was not Alistair who was looking at me. It was a predator. You have forgotten where to go, you have forgotten, he said in a dangerous voice. “Let me remind you.” He had never hit me before. But this time round, his fist smashed against my face. The world turned, and I fell on the floor. “Alistair, stop!” My plea was thin, useless. “You b***h!” His boot went into my side, and then my stomach. Pain flared, crushing me. He didn’t stop. Bang, bang, every one of them ripping a scream out of my throat. Please. Please stop. But he demeaned, dripping with contempt. “Weak. Pathetic. That’s all you’ll ever be.” At last, he withdrew, with an elevated chest, drawing shallow breaths. His smile was not right--chilling, final. “I could never make you my Luna. Imogen is my mate. She will be my Luna.” There was the voice of an oath. “I, Alpha Alistair Whitmore of the Ravenshollow Pack, reject you, Elowen Ashford, as my fated mate and Luna.” The lines were stinging like a stab. I had believed. I thought that one day I would be open with him. That I mattered. That the bond was something. There was now nothing left to me of that promise but its ashes burning up.