Her Forbidden Alpha

Chapter 1: A twisted Fate . Living with my cousin's parents wasn't exactly what I envisioned for my life, but fate has a funny way of throwing curveballs. It all started with the tragedy that took my parents away, leaving me orphaned and in the care of my cousin's parents. Despite their attempts at kindness, it was always clear that I was the outsider in their family. Cheryl was the better one and I had no objections about it. I only had plans of leaving the pack when I got my fated mate. Maybe he would be the one to bring me hope and take me away from this place that never felt like home. On the day of my birthday, everything changed and everything I wished did not happen. I found out my mate was Alpha Hendrix, the pack leader’s son. A part of me was excited and another part of me was nervous. Was I worth becoming his mate? Am I worth becoming the pack’s future Luna. Before I decided to approach Alpha Hendrix with the news, I wanted to tell my aunt first. I felt like she deserved to know, after all, she raised me when my parents died and she was like a mother to me. Instead of a hug and happiness that I wanted from her, she rebuffed my claims instead. She told me to reject my fated mate as the pack would be in grave danger if I decided to go against her and decide to mate with Hendrix. After all, I haven’t mastered shifting yet, she reminded me. She talked about the dangers of having a weak pack Luna who couldn’t shift, citing superstitions and warnings of doom should I defy their wishes. Despite my protests, she insisted, leaving me with no choice but to comply. And I did. ~ ~ “I reject you as my mate, Alpha Hendrix.” I whispered afraid to say it out loud because of fear. He stood silently and for a moment, I thought he was frozen. “Why?.” I raised my head up daring to look him in the eyes. “What?.” “I will not accept your rejection until you give me a reason not to.” He replied defiantly. “I can’t..” I merely said. “You can’t what?.” “I can’t be the Luna that the pack wants.” I manage to say without my voice croaking. “I’m not strong, I can’t even - I can’t shift yet.” “And did I specify that I wanted my mate to be strong?.” “You don’t need to say it.” I argue back. “It’s needed of you. The pack is depending on you, you can’t disappoint them by mating with someone like me. You can’t disappoint your father.” I added the last part knowing Hendrix role model was probably his father. He was silent again. Was he really thinking of mating with me before I rejected him? Could we have been? “I accept your rejection.” He replied cutting into my thoughts. An ache of pain went through my bones and I breathed out silently shaking it off. Turning around slowly, I made to leave when he stopped him. “Since you know who my future luna should be like, who do you suggest?.” I shouldn’t have replied. I could have walked but I chose to open my mouth like a fool. And I gave him her name. I didn’t expect him to do as I say but then he did. The next day, Alpha Hendrix was at the door, along his parents coming to ask for my cousin’s hand in marriage. ~ ~ ~ ~ As the wedding day dawned, I found myself drowning in a sea of conflicting emotions. The sight of my fated mate exchanging vows with my cousin sister was a bitter pill to swallow, each word uttered a dagger to my already wounded heart. I stood in between the crowds, hidden from view, tears burning behind my eyes as I watched the life I had longed for slip through my fingers. "I can't believe she's going to be the next luna.” A random girl whispered beside me, her voice tinged with excitement. "I know," I replied, my voice barely a whisper, the bitterness threatening to choke me. I couldn’t cry. Not now. I didn’t have the right to. I had rejected him after all. "It's for the good of the pack," My Cousin’s Mother had interjected, her tone firm when she was convincing me to do it. "But what about my happiness?" I remembered that i had countered, my eyes flickering with sadness and disbelief. "There are more important things than happiness," She had replied cryptically. My gaze fixed on the unfolding scene before me as I bit back a sob, the realization bitter on my tongue as I fought to contain the torrent of emotions threatening to spill over. It was a futile effort, however, as tears streamed down my face, betraying the pain that consumed me. The reception was a blur of laughter and celebration, each moment a painful reminder of what could have been. I forced a smile, as I went along to give the usual well-wishes and congratulations to my cousin who was beaming with smiles, but inside, I was crumbling, my heart breaking with each passing second. As the night wore on, I found myself wanting to escape, I couldn’t be here in the wedding after party pretending to be happy for my cousin, the pounding music and flashing lights of a nearby club calling out to me like a siren's song. Without a word to anyone, I slipped away into the darkness, seeking solace in leaving the after party. The club was like a whirlwind of sensation, the music reverberating through my bones as I lost myself in the chaos of the dance floor. Here I could release everything inside of me. I felt alive for the first time in what felt like an eternity, the weight of my troubles momentarily forgotten in the heat of the moment. And then he appeared, a stranger in the crowd, his eyes burning with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine. He was magnetic, drawing me in with a single glance, his presence commanding my attention in a way I couldn't ignore. "Hey there," he said, his voice low and husky over the thumping bass of the music. "Hi," I replied, my voice barely audible above the loud noise from the nearby people who were also engrossed with dancing, my heart pounding in my chest. "Care to dance?" he asked, extending his hand with a crooked grin that sent my pulse racing. Any other day, I wouldn’t have agreed. Any other day, I wouldn’t have been here. Without hesitation, I took his hand, allowing him to lead me onto the dance floor, the world falling away around us as we moved in perfect harmony to the rhythm of the music. We danced like there was no tomorrow, lost in the moment, lost in each other. Conversation flowed easily between us and soon physical touches too. There wasn’t any barrier between us and that was the first mistake I made that night. As the night wore on, the line between reality and fantasy blurred, desire igniting between us like a flame in the darkness. In a moment of reckless abandon, I finally gave up and listened to my body, seeking refuge in the heat of the hot stranger’s touch, the passion of his kiss. I could distinctly remember him telling me his name before leading me out of the club and that was it. ~ ~ But when morning dawned and reality came crashing back, I found myself in a hotel room with a stranger lying beside me, the events of the night before a hazy blur in my mind. Panic surged through me as I took in the scene before me. “Oh no no.” I muttered shaking my head as I realized what must have happened. “Please, moon goddess, don’t tell me I did it .....” My rambling drifted off as I saw it, the blood staining the sheets beneath me, a reminder of the choices I had made. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I stared at my stained legs and the sleeping unconcerned stranger beside me. What have I done? . . TBC