Mated to the wrong Alpha

Chapter 18

Irene was not paying attention.

Her mind was far away, lost in thoughts she could not control. Thoughts of whispers. Of stares. Of the future Alpha who had promised patience. Of the bond that tugged at her chest even when she tried to ignore it.

She walked through the corridor beside the kitchen, a small jug of milk in her hands, moving slowly, carefully.

She didn’t notice Sebastian and Carris until it was too late.

She turned the corner and collided with them.

The jug slipped from her fingers.

Milk splashed everywhere.

Most of it landed on Carris’s dress.

For a second, everything went silent.

Then Carris shrieked.

“My dress!” she screamed, jumping back as she looked down at the fabric. “Do you know how expensive this is?!”

Irene gasped, fear flooding her face. “I—I’m so sorry,” she said quickly, hands shaking. “I wasn’t looking, I didn’t mean to ”

Carris didn’t listen.

“Are you blind?!” she yelled. “Or do you think you’re above watching where you’re going now?”

Sebastian stood beside her, silent.

Irene took a step back, her heart pounding. “Please, I’ll clean it,” she pleaded. “I didn’t mean to ruin it, I swear.”

Carris stepped closer, her eyes sharp with anger and something darker. “Clean it?” she scoffed. “With what? Your useless hands?”

Irene flinched.

“I said I’m sorry,” she whispered, tears gathering in her eyes.

Carris’s face twisted. “Sorry won’t fix this.”

Her voice rose louder, drawing attention. “Do you know how hard it is to get a dress like this? And you just ”

Before Irene could react, a sharp sound echoed through the corridor.

Slap.

Irene’s head snapped to the side.

The sting burned across her cheek.

She shivered, frozen in place, tears spilling freely now. Her hands trembled as she pressed them to her face, unable to believe what had just happened.

Sebastian said nothing.

“I told you to watch where you’re going,” Carris continued coldly. “Kneel.”

Irene froze.

“Kneel,” Carris repeated sharply.

Her legs felt weak. Her heart felt like it was breaking apart. Slowly, shakily, Irene lowered herself to her knees on the cold stone floor.

Her tears fell freely now, silent and helpless.

She lifted her head just enough to look at Sebastian. Her eyes begged him.

Please.

Help me.

Sebastian looked at her.

Then he looked away.

Something inside Irene shattered.

Carris laughed softly. “See?” she said cruelly. “Even he knows his place.”

She leaned down slightly, her voice low and venomous. “Just because you were mated to the future Alpha doesn’t give you the audacity to look me in the eye and do whatever you like.”

Irene sobbed.

“You are nothing,” Carris continued. “Nothing but a lowly Beta who forgot her place.”

Irene’s shoulders shook as she cried, unable to stop herself.

This can’t be real, she thought desperately. This can’t be happening.

Her chest ached. Her wolf whimpered softly inside her, curling in on itself.

At that same moment Elvis stopped mid step.

A sharp pain flared in his chest, hot and sudden. The bond burned, not with longing, but with distress. With fear. With pain that was not his own.

Something was wrong.

“Irene,” he breathed.

He didn’t think. He didn’t hesitate.

He moved.

His pace quickened into a run as he followed the pull of the bond, anger rising with every step. His wolf surged forward, furious and protective.

He turned the corner near the kitchen and froze.

Irene was on her knees, crying.

Her shoulders shaking, her head bowed.

Sebastian stood watching while Caris laughed

Something inside Elvis snapped.

Fury burned through him, hot and blinding.

He rushed forward.

Carris noticed him first. Her laughter died instantly. Her face shifted into false concern as she turned toward Irene.

“Oh, no, no,” Carris said sweetly. “Come on, don’t kneel. Get up. That’s not right. It’s fine, really.”

Irene looked up at her, bewildered, tears streaking her face.

Before she could speak, strong arms lifted her off the floor.

Elvis held her close to his chest.

Her tears soaked into his shirt as she gasped softly, shocked by the sudden warmth and safety.

Elvis turned slowly, his eyes burning as they locked onto Carris. Then Sebastian.

The corridor felt colder.

His voice was calm but deadly.

“You,” he said, pointing at both of them. “Stay away from my mate.”

Sebastian stiffened.

Carris’s smile faltered.

“If I ever see either of you near her again,” Elvis continued, his voice low and dangerous, “there will be consequences.”

No one spoke.

Elvis did not wait for a response.

He adjusted his hold on Irene, cradling her carefully, and walked away.

The whispers that followed them did not matter.

The stares did not matter.

All that mattered was the woman shaking in his arms and the promise he had made to protect her.