The Alpha King’s Obssession

"What if she walks in on us before the ceremony starts?" The soft, teasing voice made my feet freeze right outside the wooden door of Kaelen’s private room. "She won't," Kaelen replied, his voice sounding deeper than usual. "Elara is probably still fussing over her dress with the maids, let’s forget about her." "I don't want to forget about her," my cousin, Seraphina murmured. I heard the sound of leather rubbing against fabric. "I want to know that when you stand at the altar today, you’re thinking about this, about us." Through the narrow crack in the doorframe, I saw Seraphina sitting on his lap on top of the desk, her golden curls all over his shoulders. Kaelen’s hands were buried in her hair, pulling her face down into a hard, desperate kiss. Worse than what I saw in the room, the air had a sweet scent of honeysuckle and lightning…the fragrance of a fated bond. "The Goddess made her choice today, Seraphina," Kaelen muttered against her neck, his breathing heavy. "Not me, Elara was just a placeholder until you woke up." I stepped back my hand gripped the small velvet box in my palm. Inside was his family’s ring, the one I was supposed to hand him in less than twenty minutes. I turned around and walked toward the courtyard where the ceremonial drums were already starting to beat. "Elara, step forward," the High Priest commanded, hundreds of pack members cheered around us, waving silver banners in the air. In front of me stood Kaelen, handsome in his Beta leathers, his eyes fixed firmly on the priest. He wouldn't look at me, not even slightly. "Today, we celebrate a union of choice," the Priest boomed, raising his hands to the sky. "Kaelen of the Silver-Oak, do you take this woman to be your chosen mate?" Kaelen didn't reply "Kaelen?" the Priest prompted, a frown crossing his face. From the front row, Seraphina stepped out, completely breaking the ceremonial line. She wasn't wearing guest robes like every other person; instead, she wore a white dress. The moment their eyes met, the honeysuckle scent exploded through the courtyard and everyone sensed it. "I cannot," Kaelen choked out. He turned his back on me completely, facing Seraphina. "The Goddess has spoken today, the true bond has awakened. I accept Seraphina of the Silver-Oak as my fated mate!" The crowd erupted into a roar of shock and cheers. Fated mates were a rare blessing and nobody cared about the girl left standing all alone on the stage. Seraphina walked right past me, her shoulder intentionally hitting mine and sending me stumbling back a step. Kaelen grabbed her waist, burying his face in her neck to claim her scent in front of the entire pack. "Kaelen," I whispered, my throat dry. "You promised me last night." He pulled back from Seraphina just enough to look at me over his shoulder. His face was completely blank, stripped of any warmth we had shared for years. "I’m sorry, Elara. You can't fight fate." "Enough of this." A heavy, rough hand clamped down on my shoulder, spinning me around. My Uncle Mordecai glared down at me, his grip tightening until my bones hurt. "Don't you dare embarrass this family further with your tears, Elara," Mordecai hissed, leaning close so only I could hear his angry words. "Your father was a cast-out traitor, and you are just a charity case. Be grateful your cousin has secured our family's future with a Beta." Seraphina laughed from Kaelen’s arms, tossing her curls over her shoulder. "Don't be bitter, Elara. It’s not my fault you have a weak bloodline. Kaelen knows you aren't worth the trouble." Kaelen looked down at her, giving a small, tight nod to confirm her words. He didn't defend me or even look back at me, I could feel my breath slow down, as the scene before me played like I was watching someone else’s life. "Stand down, girl," my uncle barked, pushing me backward toward the edge of the stone platform. "Go back to the house and prepare the feast for your cousin's celebration. You are dismissed." The pack members around the altar were already turning away from me, lifting their cups to toast the new couple. "Congratulations, Beta Kaelen!" someone shouted. "A fated match! Praise the Goddess!" The sweet scent of their bond was choking me, filling my lungs until I couldn't get a single breath of clean air. I didn't say another word, I just turned around and walked off the stage. "Elara! Get back here!" Mordecai’s voice boomed from the altar, but it was easily drowned out by a fresh wave of cheers as Kaelen lifted Seraphina into the air. I broke into a run, my feet tearing through the flower petals scattered on the path. I ran past the gates, past the guards who looked at me with mocking smirks, "Hey, look at her run," one of the guards laughed. “Passed over for her own blood." "Can't blame Kaelen. Who wants a broken lineage anyway?" I went straight toward the dark treeline of the Dead Woods. I didn't look back or care that it was dangerous. The pack’s protection ended at the trees but I just needed the noise to stop. I crossed the boundary line, the shadows of the tall trees swallowing the white of my dress as I ran blindly into the forest. I I ran until my lungs felt like they were burning, and the soles of my shoes felt like they were on fire. But no matter how fast I moved, I couldn't outrun the memories. Ten years ago, when my parents died, Kaelen was the one who held me while I cried and promised me that as long as he was alive, I would never be alone. He was the only one who knew how much I was suffering, my uncle hated me. He knew how Seraphina spent every single day making me feel like garbage in my own home, he knew all of it. And he had looked me in the eye last night and told me he loved me that human choices were stronger than any magical fate. But he still went ahead and kissed another woman on the day we were supposed to bind our lives together. And of all people to do it with, he chose my cousin, Seraphina, whom he claimed to hate because she made me suffer. The pain in my chest was so sharp it felt like a real knife turning in my heart. I slowed down to a stop, clutching my stomach as a sob finally broke through my throat. I had no family, no mate, and no pack. I was just standing in the middle of nowhere, discarded by the only person I ever trusted. I closed my eyes, letting the tears finally pour down my face, wishing I could just erase Kaelen from my mind forever. But before the next sob could leave my lips, a loud sound echoed in the woods, scaring even the birds that rested on the trees. It was closer to where I was, and at that instant, I thought about it logically. It was dark, cold and I was alone in the middle of nowhere with a feral beast.