Mated to the Beta, Wanted by the Alpha

Chapter 7

-IRIS-

Less than a month later, I moved to the Redclaw Pack. I wanted to stay in my old pack a little longer, at least until my students felt safe with their new teacher, but my mate was not a patient person.

Quite the opposite. Mark grew more restless with every day I remained away from him. He kept insisting he couldn’t keep me safe if I was so far, and he couldn’t stay with me because of his duties.

The rogue attack had shaken everyone. The Blight was spreading fast. It wasn’t just one sick wolf here and there anymore—they were moving in groups. And since the last sighting had been near my home, Mark practically vibrated with anxiety at the idea of me being anywhere near danger.

After packing the few things I owned and quitting my job, I sent my family a polite goodbye. Honestly, I don’t think they cared whether I lived or died. Susan only showed up to say goodbye because she wanted to impress Mark, who’d come to pick me up. He was a high‑ranking beta from a powerful pack after all. Insert an eye roll here.

Mark took me to the airport, and by mid‑afternoon, we were landing in Redclaw territory.

The pack sat in a wide meadow in the northwest, surrounded by mountains and thick woods. The air was cold and crisp, carrying the fresh scent of pine and winter.

It was way bigger than my old pack, and way richer. Pretty houses lined a main street where people went about their day. Mark greeted everyone as we passed, but he didn’t introduce me to a single soul. I jogged beside him while he carried my bags, trying to ignore the stares and the whispers.

Who’s she? She’s pretty.

I don’t sense a wolf. Is she human?

I heard she’s an omega. She’ll be the new teacher.

She’s ugly. No way she’s a beta’s mate.

And so on. I shut it out before the gossip could sink its claws into me.

Mark stopped in front of the biggest building in the pack: the packhouse. It stood at the end of the street like it owned the place.

Two floors, black‑paneled windows, white columns, and a massive fountain out front. Honestly, it was bigger than my university. My stepsister would have fainted from excitement.

"Wow. That’s the packhouse?" I asked, blinking at it and struggling to take it all in.

"Amazing, right?" Mark said, grinning.

Not the word I would’ve chosen. It was imposing, pretentious, and trying way too hard. Imported materials, manicured gardens, gold accents everywhere.

I hated it.

We stepped up to the front door, and barely a moment later, a gorgeous woman with long dark hair and a bright smile opened it.

"Hi! You must be Iris," she said. "I’m Tessa, the pack doctor."

She looked about my age, but taller. Her skin was golden, and her big silver‑blue eyes were stunning. She looked familiar.

"Hi. You’re Tr— Alpha Knox’s sister," I blurted.

"Twin sister. But I got the better half," she mused, stepping aside and letting us into the foyer. "Come inside, you must be exhausted from the trip."

If the outside was over the top, the inside was… wow.

Marble floors. Lavish furniture. Crystal chandeliers. Dark walls covered in paintings of werewolf battles. A double staircase curved toward the upper floor, wrapping around a massive bronze statue.

The whole place felt like a palace.

A slightly haunted one.

Something in the air made the back of my neck prickle, like a warning I couldn’t name.

"Your house is majestic, Tessa," I said, trying to find a compliment that wasn’t a complete lie. "How long have you lived here?"

"This mausoleum? No way." She fake‑shivered, like the place was a doghouse.

"Tessa lives near the hospital with her daughter," Mark added, dropping my bags on the floor. "She’s four. You’ll meet her at dinner along with the rest of the pack members."

"That’s great." I smiled. "She’ll probably be in my class."

Tessa’s eyes lit up. "Oh, she’s a handful. She’s obsessed with books and glitter. So much glitter. I swear she sheds it like fur."

"Let me drop your bags in your room, and we can grab a beer or something," Mark said, already heading toward the massive double staircase.

"My room? But I thought I could stay outside the packhouse."

The luxury made me uncomfortable, but it wasn’t just that. Something about the place felt wrong. I wanted distance.

"Nonsense!" Mark snapped, and I flinched.

"What’s nonsense?"

Tristan came down the stairs like he owned gravity. Dressed in a simple silver shirt and jeans, he still somehow looked like royalty.

Our eyes met, and my lungs forgot how to work. I’d convinced myself my memory had exaggerated him. Nobody could be that hot.

It hadn’t.

His voice was calm but commanding, and weirdly, it soothed me. A complete opposite of Mark’s sharp tone a second ago.

"Hi, Knox," Mark said, baring his neck in submission. His voice softened instantly. "Iris wants to stay in one of the houses outside instead of here with me. Stupid idea, right?"

Annoyance hit me like a punch.

"Hi, Alpha Knox." I smiled at Tristan, and he barely nodded. "Thank you for having me in your pack. I’m sure the packhouse is great, but I’m new here, and I don’t want people thinking I’m getting special treatment. I can camp somewhere if needed."

"What the f**k, Iris? Do you think I’d let my mate camp?" Mark glared at me. "Or are you suggesting I camp with you too?"

For the record: Mark and I still hadn’t had s*x. I wanted to get to know him first. He’d agreed and suggested a marking ceremony before we mated. After that, we’d move in together.

"She can stay at my grandma’s cottage," Tristan suggested, jaw tight.

"What? No. No offense, Alpha, but that place is tiny. It can’t fit both of us," Mark said.

"It’s safe. It was my grandma’s, after all." Tristan’s eyes glinted strangely, and a ghost of a smile tugged at his mouth before he added, "You stay here. She moves there."

"We can move somewhere bigger after the ceremony, Mark." I touched his arm gently. "Please."

He huffed. "Fine. Only six months. After that, you’ll sleep beside me, princess." He brushed my cheek with the back of his hand.

A shiver ran down my spine, but I wasn’t sure if it was the good kind. A low growl rumbled from Tristan’s chest, but when I glanced at Mark, he didn’t seem to notice.

"Can we go? We have a meeting in half an hour," Tristan cut in, his lips pressed into a thin line.

We nodded and followed him out. After a ten‑minute walk, tucked on a small hill, we reached a wooden cottage with a wraparound porch and a red door with a heart‑shaped window.

It was adorable.

Tristan unlocked the door, and Tessa slipped inside. "Come in, it’s clean."

A small living room connected to a tiny kitchen, a single bedroom, and a bathroom. Cozy. Warm. Safe.

"It’s perfect!" I blurted, taking in the mismatched furniture arranged around an old fireplace.

Mark muttered something under his breath as he dropped my bags in the bedroom. He promised to come back later, then he and Tristan left for their meeting.

Tessa showed me how everything worked—heating, water, all the basics.

"I’ll go to the store and grab you some food," she said, already heading out.

"Let me come with you."

"No. You rest. I’ll be back in an hour."

She disappeared before I could argue. I wandered around my new little home, taking in the quiet and the soft corners.

"I hope I’ll be happy here," I whispered, praying the Moon Goddess was listening.

What I didn’t know was that I’d discover something in that house that would change my life completely.

And I’m not talking about Mark’s betrayal.