MINE OR NO ONE'S
1540 Words
LUCY
The moment I caught the faint scent of blood and the unmistakable musk of a freshly formed mate bond, my world tilted. My chest tightened, and a deep, primal fury surged within me.
No. It couldn’t be.
But the whispers around the ballroom confirmed my worst fear. Ryan had done it. He’d marked her.
The grand charity ball, once a spectacle of elegance and sophistication, now felt suffocating. The chandeliers overhead sparkled mockingly, the chatter of the pack wolves grating on my ears. The music seemed distant, drowned out by the thunderous roar of my wolf clawing at my insides.
Ryan was mine. He was supposed to be mine.
I clenched my fists, my nails biting into my palms. The pain grounded me, but only slightly. Every fibre of my being screamed for retribution, for justice. How dare she steal him from me? How dare he let her?
I couldn’t stay here. Not with the scent of their bond saturating the air, a cruel reminder of what should have been mine.
I turned sharply on my heel, my heels clicking against the polished marble as I made my way toward the exit. A few wolves glanced my way, their expressions a mix of curiosity and concern, but I ignored them all.
Outside, the crisp night air hit me like a slap, but it did little to cool the fire burning within me. The stars above sparkled indifferently, their light mocking my pain. My wolf snarled, pacing restlessly.
This wasn’t over.
It couldn’t be.
The journey to Thomas’s pack lands was a blur. The forest surrounding Ryan’s territory was familiar, and I navigated it with ease. The moon hung high in the sky, casting an ethereal glow on the world around me. It was fitting, I thought bitterly. The same moon that watched over my misery would now witness my revenge.
Thomas.
The thought of Hailey’s former mate brought a twisted sense of satisfaction. He despised her, maybe even more than I did. He would be the perfect ally.
By the time I reached the edge of Thomas’s territory, my resolve was solidified. The guards stationed at the border were immediately on edge, their eyes narrowing as they caught my scent.
“I need to see Alpha Thomas,” I said, keeping my voice steady despite the storm raging within me.
One of the guards raised an eyebrow. “And why would he want to see you?”
“Tell him it’s about Hailey,” I snapped. “That should get his attention.”
The guards exchanged a glance before one of them nodded, disappearing into the shadows. I waited, my patience wearing thin, my wolf snarling just beneath the surface.
Thomas greeted me in his private study, a dark, richly furnished room that reeked of power and arrogance. He was seated behind a massive oak desk, his sharp features twisted into a sneer as he regarded me.
“Lucy,” he drawled, leaning back in his chair. “What a surprise. To what do I owe the pleasure?”
I ignored his mocking tone, stepping forward with purpose. “I heard you and Hailey had… unfinished business.”
His expression darkened instantly, his lips curling into a snarl.
“That traitorous—”
“I don’t care about your grievances,” I interrupted, my voice cold. “I care about what we can do to make her pay.”
His interest was piqued, his gaze sharpening as he studied me. “And why would you want that?”
“Because she stole what was mine,” I said, the bitterness in my voice unmistakable. “Ryan was supposed to be mine, and now they are together.”
Thomas’s jaw tightened, his wolf flashing just beneath the surface. “So, what do you want from me?”
“To work together,” I said simply. “You hate her as much as I do, and together, we can destroy her.”
He tilted his head, considering my words. “And how do you propose we do that?”
I leaned forward, placing my hands on his desk. “By exploiting her weaknesses. Ryan may have marked her, but that doesn’t mean their bond is unbreakable. We find the cracks, widen them, and when the time is right, we strike.”
His lips curled into a cruel smile. “I like the way you think.”
For the next hour, we strategized our hatred for Hailey fueling every word. The plan was devious, a delicate web of manipulation and betrayal designed to dismantle her life piece by piece.
By the time we finished, I felt a twisted sense of satisfaction.
But just as I was about to leave, the door opened, and a woman stepped inside.
She was beautiful in a cold, calculating way, her dark hair cascading over her shoulders. Her piercing eyes locked onto me, her lips curving into a small, knowing smile.
“Thomas,” she said, her voice low and smooth. “Are you finished?”
My eyes darted to her, immediately recognizing her as Marissa—Thomas’s mate.
“Not quite,” Thomas said, his tone dismissive. “Go back to your room, Marissa.”
But she didn’t move. Instead, her gaze shifted to me, her smile widening.
“You’re Lucy, aren’t you?” she asked, her voice almost too friendly.
I nodded cautiously, unsure of her intentions.
“I overheard some of your conversation,” she said, stepping closer. “And I think we might have more in common than you realize.”
Thomas frowned, clearly displeased, but Marissa ignored him, her attention focused solely on me.
“I know how much you hate Hailey,” she said, her eyes gleaming with malice. “And I know exactly how we can get rid of her—for good.”
Her words sent a chill down my spine, but I refused to back down.
“What are you suggesting?” I asked, my voice steady.
Marissa’s smile turned predatory. “It’s simple. We kill her.”
Thomas shot to his feet, his face a mask of anger and disbelief. “Marissa, that’s enough—”
“No, it’s not,” she snapped, cutting him off. “You’ve spent years wallowing in your hatred for Hailey, but you’ve never had the guts to do what needs to be done. If Lucy wants Ryan, and you want revenge, then the solution is clear.”
Her words hung heavy in the air, the weight of her suggestion sinking in.
Could I go that far?
The image of Hailey, smug and triumphant, flashed through my mind, and I felt my resolve harden.
“Yes,” I said, my voice firm. “Let’s do it.”
Marissa’s smile widened, her eyes gleaming with dark satisfaction.
“Good,” she said. “Then let’s begin.”
Hailey had taken everything from me, but I would take it all back.
She wouldn’t know what hit her.
As Marissa and I solidified our plan, her words rang in my ears like a sinister lullaby: “Hailey won’t see it coming.”
The ride back to Ryan’s territory was quieter than I’d anticipated. The fury simmered low, replaced by a calculated calm. The forest felt darker, the moon dimmer, as if nature itself sensed the storm brewing.
When I arrived back at the pack house, the air was thick with tension. Wolves lingered in hushed groups, their faces shadowed by worry. Something was off.
I slipped inside unnoticed, my heart pounding. Whispers floated through the halls, too low to catch, but the urgency in them was undeniable. My feet carried me toward the scent of Ryan’s office, and my curiosity was piqued. The door was slightly ajar, allowing me to peek in without being seen.
Ryan stood by the window, his broad shoulders tense, his fists clenched at his sides. Logan paced the room, his expression grave.
“She’s missing,” Ryan growled, his voice laced with frustration.
My breath caught. Who was missing?
“We’ve searched the entire territory,” Logan replied, his tone urgent. “There’s no sign of her. It’s like she vanished.”
“She wouldn’t just leave,” Ryan said, his voice softer now, almost broken. “Not without a reason.”
A chill ran down my spine as realization dawned.
They were talking about Hailey.
My pulse quickened. This wasn’t part of the plan. She was supposed to be here, oblivious, while we plotted her demise.
And then Ryan turned, his glowing amber eyes locking onto Logan.
“I’ll tear this entire world apart to find her,” he said, his voice a promise of destruction. “No one takes what’s mine.”
I stumbled back, my heart hammering. Did Marissa already make her move? Had she acted without telling me?
The floor creaked beneath my weight, and Ryan’s head snapped toward the door.
“Who’s there?” he barked, his voice like a whip.
I bolted, my mind racing. If Hailey was gone, Ryan wouldn’t rest until he found her.
But what terrified me more was the faint scent of blood I’d caught in the hallway—a scent that didn’t belong to her.
What had Marissa done?
- Writer
