The Alpha's Secret Mate

chapter 12

“…reasons. I wish you hadn’t gone against them because of me. You would have to face the Council now.”

My voice faded into a whisper as my jaw tightened, my gaze dropping once more. The weight of it all pressed heavily on my chest—every consequence, every mistake.

“It’s all because of my bad luck. Nothing good ever comes from staying around me,” I murmured. “I believe it’s better if I stay away from you.”

The words felt final, like a wall I was forcing into place between us.

But then—

My breath caught.

My heart leapt into my throat as I felt his hand gently tug mine back. Before I could react, he lifted it, guiding it toward his face. His lips brushed softly against my knuckles, sending a strange, electric warmth rushing through me.

“I think my instruction wasn’t clear,” he said, his voice low—deep and steady, yet laced with something that made my skin prickle.

Heat rose to my cheeks, spreading through me like fire.

“You belong to me from now on,” he continued, his gaze locking onto mine with quiet intensity. “And I want you to stay close to me.”

His words left no room for doubt.

“I’d rather be displeased if you try to keep your distance,” he added.

A soft, shivering warmth traveled down my spine, settling deep within me. There was something in his voice—something firm, undeniable—that stirred a dangerous uncertainty in my chest.

I looked up, meeting his eyes.

They were dark, almost hypnotic, pulling me in like the tide beneath a full moon. There was a heat in them—steady, consuming—that made it impossible to look away.

Was… this really happening?

People had always kept their distance once they learned about my misfortune. I had grown used to it, accepted it even. I made sure of it.

And yet…

Here he was, refusing to let me go.

Kyle

I watched as a flush crept across her cheeks, staining them a soft, telltale red.

“But why?” she whispered, her voice barely audible as she lowered her gaze. Her fingers toyed with the edge of her top, twisting the fabric as though it could anchor her trembling thoughts. “I have nothing to offer you now that you rejected the deal. I’ll only become a burden to you.”

Her grip tightened, delicate fingers clutching the cloth as if bracing herself against the weight of her own words.

If not for the sadness laced through her voice, I might have mistaken it for a melody. It was soft, almost hypnotic—drawing me in like the call of a siren. I found myself wanting to hear more, to keep her speaking just a little longer.

A burden?

The thought unsettled me. My jaw clenched as irritation stirred—directed not at her, but at the unseen faces of those who had made her believe such a thing. How many times had she been made to feel this small? This insignificant?

Never had I imagined that someone else’s pain could affect me this deeply.

Perhaps it was because she was my mate.

The bond between us was undeniable—I could feel it, sense the fragile current of her emotions as though they were my own. She should have felt it too. But where I understood, she hesitated. Years of doubt had carved away at her confidence, leaving behind only uncertainty.

Luana had been through more than she let on—that much was clear. Something had broken her, left cracks that hadn’t yet healed.

And yet… there was still something in her eyes.

A faint glimmer. A stubborn spark that refused to die.

Hope.

It lingered there quietly, contradicting every self-doubting word she spoke.

Her struggle—her inability to believe in herself—stirred something buried deep within me. Old memories surfaced, uninvited but familiar. I shouldn’t have been this affected, shouldn’t have cared this much.

And yet, I did.

Because I understood how she felt.

Pain had a way of dragging old memories back to the surface. It sharpened them, made them impossible to ignore. I knew exactly what she was going through because I had once stood in that same darkness. I knew what it felt like to be hated.

Since I was the Alpha’s son, many assumed my life had been filled with privilege. They never saw the scars hidden beneath the title. They never saw the abuse I endured, or how I learned to bury it behind silence. But Luana… Luana was different.

I reached for her hand again, craving her attention, and tightened my fingers around her delicate wrist.

“Alpha?” she yelped.

Good. At least now she was looking at me.

My lips curved upward as confusion flickered across her soft features. Her eyes widened, bright with emotions she could no longer hide. Happiness. Hope. A spark so fragile it almost hurt to witness.

I wanted to believe those feelings were for me. But deep down, I knew better. They were stirred by the way my pulse quickened beneath her touch, by how hers raced in answer.

An hour later, we arrived at the airport. Hannah’s jaw dropped the moment she spotted the private jet waiting for us.

“Is that—?”

“Our private jet, yes,” I said with a small smile, sweeping her effortlessly into my arms bridal style.

She let out a soft gasp, cheeks blooming pink, while I carried her toward the stairs.

I heard her heartbeat quicken again.

Her ears flushed crimson as she listened to the frantic rhythm in my chest. Then she lifted her gaze to me, and for a moment, our eyes locked.

The wolf inside me went strangely calm whenever Luana was near.

I couldn’t even blame him.

She had the same effect on me too.

“I-I can walk. You don’t have to carry me. Your arms must be hurting.”

Her voice came out soft and shaky, trembling with nerves. The sound pulled a quiet chuckle from me.

“So flustered already?” I murmured, tightening my hold on her ever so slightly. “Are you trying to imply that I am weak, my sweet wife?”

Her eyes flew wide, round with panic, as she stared up at me.

She shook her head frantically. “That’s not what I meant, Alpha. I’m truly sorry.”

A smile tugged at my lips. “Easy now, little lamb. I’m only teasing you.” I adjusted her carefully in my arms. “You weigh nothing compared to what I am capable of carrying.”

The words were true, but they left a bitter taste behind.

I had not expected her to feel so weightless. Her body was far too frail, the sharpness of her bones and the delicate frame pressed against me speaking of long hunger and careless neglect. No one should have been left in such a state.

“Heh. Talk about showing off.”

Grey’s mocking voice cut through the moment as he strode past us. I shot him a cold glare, but he ignored it entirely and stepped into the jet ahead of me.

I would deal with him later.

For now, Luana came first.

I carried her inside the private jet and lowered her gently into a seat by the window. The moment I set her down, her gaze began to roam across the cabin, drinking in every polished surface and elegant detail with wide-eyed wonder.

She looked like a child stepping into a dream.

One of my attendants approached and laid out lunch with a selection of drinks before her. She needed the food more than she probably realized.

I remained standing for a moment, simply watching her.

There was something strangely captivating about the way amazement lit her face over the smallest comforts. Her innocence was disarming, and it stirred a dangerous urge in me—to give her more, to place the world at her feet just to see that expression again.

After we ate, Luana leaned close to the window, her attention fixed on the endless sea of clouds gliding beneath us.

“So beautiful,” she whispered, her breath fogging the glass for a fleeting second.

“Do you enjoy flying?” I asked.

She jerked around so quickly that a strand of hair whipped across her cheek. It was obvious she had become so lost in the moment that she had forgotten I was there.

“This is my first time,” she admitted softly.

Her shoulders curled inward, and she rubbed the side of her temple in embarrassment, as though ashamed of confessing it.

But her words sent an unexpected warmth through my chest.

Because it meant one thing.

I was the first person she had ever shared the sky with.