The Alphas' Forbidden Possession

Chapter 3: Betrayed By Fate, Claimed By Destiny

EVERLYN

The pen slipped from my trembling fingers, landing softly between the pages stained by my tears. My chest tightened as I stared at the ink still glistening on the paper.

Once, I dreamed of marrying him. I thought we were destined for each other. But I was completely wrong.

I was never meant to be his mate. From the beginning, I was given to him as his breeder, not his fated one, not his equal. A vessel for his desire. A means to his end. I had loved him for as long as I could remember, but love had left me nothing but scars.

“It’s done,” I said, my voice trembling as I looked up and handed him the paper.

He smiled, or perhaps it was something darker than a smile. The corner of his lips curved with an arrogance that made my stomach twist. A heavy, cold aura surrounded him, and in that moment I understood. The instant I signed my name, I had surrendered everything.

There was no way out now.

“From this day forward, nothing and no one will claim you but me, woman,” he growled.

His words sank deep, cold and final, as his fangs grazed my skin—chains tightening around me, invisible but unyielding. I belonged to him, whether I wanted to or not. I knew that if I ever tried to break free, he would crush me without a moment’s hesitation.

After that night, Lucien disappeared. He was busy, preparing for the turnover of power, for the day he would take his father’s place as Alpha. Somehow, the thought of him being far away gave me a strange, fleeting sense of peace. At least there were no eyes watching me this time.

Emeraude told me that the Dunsforth case had finally been cleared. Cassidy was given a decent burial. It was one small thing to be grateful for amidst the ruins of everything else.

And Avis…

I hoped we would meet again one day. No matter what he had done, I couldn’t bring myself to hate him. I knew there must have been a reason, something heavy that only he carried. I prayed he would one day find peace.

“Miss Everlyn,” Emeraude said softly, interrupting my thoughts. “Alpha Heir wishes to see you.”

I swallowed hard. My pulse quickened, fear coiling through me but I nodded and followed. There was no other choice.

I carefully entered the room. Lucien sat silently on a velvet chair, a glass of red wine in hand. I noticed guards posted everywhere, others pacing in rhythm outside the manor. When I looked back at him, he still hadn’t moved—calm, distant, and unreadable.

I drew a breath and took a step closer. My hands were cold. My heart raced. Every part of me screamed to turn back, but my body obeyed him even when my will did not.

Then he looked up.

Our eyes met—gold against the dim light of the afternoon. His gaze glowed like fire and sunlight, calm yet burning. For the first time, I saw something unfamiliar in him, something almost human.

Was this his true face? Or another mask to hide the monster beneath?

“What are you standing there for?” His voice broke the silence, low and mocking.

“Do you want me to carry you, woman?”

“S-sorry,” I stammered, bowing slightly.

“My apologies, Alpha Heir.”

He leaned back, unbothered.

“We’re going back to the First District. Someone wants to see you. And I think it’s time I formally introduce you to the pack.” His words froze me. My mind spun, uncertain whether to feel fear or relief.

“By the way,” he added, setting down his glass, “I’ve prepared a dress for you. Make sure you look presentable tonight. I won’t be embarrassed in front of our guests, especially my father.”

“Y-yes, Alpha Heir,” I whispered, unable to meet his gaze.

Once, being by his side had been all I ever wanted. To belong to him. To be chosen. But after he rejected me, those dreams shattered. And yet, standing there before him again, I could almost feel those broken pieces stirring back to life.

Maybe this time, things would change.

*****

The ride to the First District felt endless. Every turn of the wheels echoed the pounding of my heart. My thoughts tangled with dread and fragile hope.

When we arrived at Greystone Manor, the ancestral home of the pack, lights flooded the grand courtyard. From the gates, I could already see guests in flowing gowns and sharp suits, their laughter carrying in the night air.

Emeraude placed a hand over mine, her voice gentle. “Don’t worry, Everlyn. Everything will be fine.”

I nodded faintly and stepped out of the car. One of Lucien’s men greeted me and helped me out, his hand steady against mine.

“Alpha Heir is waiting for you inside, Miss Everlyn,” he said respectfully.

I entered the hall, and light swallowed me whole. Chandeliers shimmered above, and the scent of wine, roses, and smoke filled the air. The guests glimmered in jewels and silk, their laughter cutting through the music like crystal bells.

I hadn’t stood in a place like this for so long. For a moment, I forgot how to breathe.

“Before we begin tonight’s celebration,” Alpha Kyros Greystone announced, his deep voice commanding the room, “I want to thank everyone who came. Tonight, I will officially pass my position as Alpha to my son, Lucien Greystone.”

Applause erupted. Alpha Kyros—the man whose name alone made other packs tremble, looked proud as ever.

Then I saw Lucien.

My heart skipped a beat.

He stood tall in a black suit, his hair down, his expression calm and unreadable. Even fully clothed, there was something dangerous and beautiful about him. The women in the crowd couldn’t stop staring. Neither could I.

Without realizing it, I started to move toward him. Every step felt like a dream. He was a star I could never touch, yet tonight, I thought, maybe I could finally say I belonged to him.

“Thank you, father,” Lucien said, his voice smooth and sure. “And now, I’d like to take this moment to introduce to everyone—my mate. The one who stands beside me is second in rank within the Crimson Moon Pack.”

My breath caught. A trembling smile found its way to my lips as I straightened my dress and hair. The world blurred around me, fading into the sound of my heartbeat.

I reached out, but before my fingers touched his hand, another woman took it.

“My mate, Lucinda Williams,” he said.

Time stopped.

The world spun, colors draining until there was only white and noise. I watched as their lips met, my heart collapsing inside my chest. My knees weakened. My vision blurred. And before I realized it, tears had already begun to fall.

The crowd erupted in applause—cheering, celebrating, welcoming her. Lucinda, their perfect Luna. Their Alpha’s chosen one.

And I, was nothing. Invisible.

“Oh, it’s a good thing you’re here,” Lucien said, turning toward me with a cruel smile.

He faced the crowd again. “Everyone, allow me to introduce my lovely breeder, Miss Thorns. Of course, I love my mate, and I intend to preserve her purity until the right time comes for us.”

Laughter rippled through the hall. Lucien looked back at me.

“As for this woman,” he said coldly, “once she produces a worthy gene, only then will she serve her purpose.”

The words hit harder than any blow. The crowd laughed louder. Eyes turned toward me, full of mockery and disdain. Their whispers burned through me—sharp, merciless, humiliating.

I couldn’t move. I couldn’t breathe.

“So what are you still doing here?” Lucinda’s voice sliced through the noise. “You don’t even belong in this place.”

Before I could answer, she shoved me hard.

The floor vanished beneath my feet but before I fell, strong arms caught me. A hand pressed against my back, another wrapped firmly around my waist, pulling me against a chest solid as iron. His scent was familiar, dark and grounding.

“She wasn’t born to be anyone’s plaything. She was destined to be mine—and now, I’m taking her back.”

I gasped, my eyes shut tightly as his lips suddenly claimed mine.

The world blurred. My body froze. And yet, I didn’t resist. I let him kiss me, let him mark me before them all. For one wild, broken heartbeat, I wanted to show Lucien that he wasn’t the only one who could choose. That I could still be wanted.

Then, a voice broke through the chaos, sharp and stunned:

“Avis…?”

I pulled back slightly, my eyes widening in disbelief.

The man who had kissed me—the one who had held me so possessively, so intimately—was Avis. My adoptive brother.

His silver eyes met mine, a storm of emotions swirling within them: anger, desire, regret, and something darker I couldn’t name. The hall fell silent around us, the crowd froze, and the celebration halted mid-laughter.

For a moment, I thought the ground would swallow me whole.

“E-Everlyn…” he whispered, his voice barely audible over the pounding of my heart. “You’re mine. Only mine.”

The realization hit me like ice. Everything had changed. Nothing would ever be the same.

And in that moment, I knew the night had only just begun.