Torn Between Alpha and Beta

chapter 3: Bound to the Beta

Ruby POV

I had always known that as an Omega, my choices were limited. But sitting in the elders’ chamber, their sharp gazes piercing into me, it felt like my choices had never existed at all.

“Ruby,” Elder Allan began, his voice clipped and businesslike, “we’ve reached an agreement that will benefit the Moonshade Pack greatly.”

I nodded once, keeping my face composed. I already knew what was coming. Riley, my wolf, had sensed it before I even stepped into the room. The faint tension in the air. The way Elder Lyra refused to meet my gaze.

“This alliance will strengthen our position, ensure peace, and fortify our resources for generations to come,” Elder Allan continued, his tone as dry as parchment. “You will marry Jake, the Beta of Shadowridge Pack.”

There it was.

I held my breath, willing my heart to stop its frantic pounding. I forced my hands to stay still in my lap, hiding the tremble in my fingers.

“This is an honor, Ruby,” Elder Lyra said, her voice softer, almost coaxing. “Jake is highly respected, a Beta with unmatched discipline and intelligence. He’s a perfect match for you.”

A perfect match.

My wolf, Riley, growled softly in the back of my mind, her displeasure rippling through me. For the pack, maybe. Not for us.

“It’s for the pack,” I said quietly, more to myself than to them.

“Yes,” Elder Allan said, nodding in approval. “You understand your duty. Your role as Omega makes you adaptable, obedient. It ensures the partnership will run smoothly.”

Duty. That word again, the chain they wrapped around my neck every time they wanted me to sacrifice another piece of myself.

I nodded, the motion mechanical. “I understand.”

Elder Lyra smiled faintly. “You’ll meet him tonight at the welcome feast. Make yourself presentable.”

Dismissed. Just like that.

I rose, keeping my steps measured and my chin high, even as my chest tightened with the weight of everything I couldn’t say.

I nodded once more before turning and walking out of the room, my steps steady even though my chest felt like it was caving in.

The hallway was blessedly empty, and I let out a shaky breath, pressing a hand to the wall to steady myself. My heart pounded painfully, and Riley let out another growl, louder this time.

This is wrong, she hissed.

“It doesn’t matter,” I whispered, my voice cracking. “It’s not my choice.”

You’re not a prize to be handed off.

“No,” I said bitterly. “I’m just an Omega. They’ll never see me as anything else.”

I stayed there for a moment, trying to gather myself, before pushing off the wall and heading toward the small room I called my own.

The sun was dipping below the horizon when the pack gathered in the clearing outside the packhouse. Bonfires crackled, casting flickering shadows across the crowd, and the air was thick with the scent of roasted meat and pine.

I stood at the edge of the crowd, my arms wrapped around myself as I watched the celebration unfold. The elders had called it a “welcome feast” for Jake, but it felt more like a performance: a grand display of Moonshade’s loyalty and strength.

I hadn’t told anyone about the arrangement yet. Not that there was anyone to tell. Carter’s face flashed in my mind, but I shoved the thought away, focusing instead on the firelight.

The laughter and chatter around me blurred into a dull hum, and I tried to lose myself in the noise, in the movement. But then the air shifted, a subtle ripple that seemed to pass through the entire crowd.

He was here.

Jake.

He stepped into the clearing like he owned it, his golden-blond hair catching the firelight, his piercing blue eyes scanning the crowd with lazy confidence. He was dressed impeccably, his dark jacket tailored perfectly to his broad shoulders, his posture relaxed yet commanding.

The crowd responded instantly, their admiration almost tangible. Warriors nodded in approval. Females whispered behind their hands, their gazes lingering on his sharp features.

Jake's lips curved into a smirk as he took it all in, his air of self-assurance radiating from him like heat. But there was something about him, something beneath the polished surface, that made my skin prickle.

Predatory. That was the word.

His eyes landed on me, and his smirk widened. He began walking toward me, his steps unhurried, like he had all the time in the world.

When he reached me, he extended a hand. “Ruby, I presume.”

His voice was smooth, low, with an edge of charm that felt practiced. I hesitated for a heartbeat before taking his hand. It was warm, his grip firm but not crushing.

“Yes,” I said quietly.

“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you,” he said, his eyes lingering on mine. “I’ve heard so much about you."

I doubted that. What could the elders possibly have told him about me? That I was quiet? Obedient? Invisible?

“Good things, I hope,” I said, forcing a polite smile.

“Of course,” he said smoothly, his gaze dipping ever so briefly over me before returning to my face. “But they didn’t mention how stunning you are.”

My cheeks burned, and I took a small step back, breaking the contact between us. “Thank you.”

Jake tilted his head, his eyes glinting with amusement. “You’re shy. That’s unexpected.”

“Not shy,” I said quickly, then winced at my own defensiveness.

His smirk grew. “I like that. There’s more to you than they let on, isn’t there?”

Riley growled softly in my mind. He’s testing you.

“I wouldn’t know,” I said, lifting my chin.

Jake chuckled, a low, easy sound. “I like you already, Ruby.”

Before I could respond, he gestured toward the center of the clearing, where the bonfires burned brightest. “Walk with me?”

I hesitated, but the eyes of the pack were still on us, watching, judging. I nodded. “Of course.”

He offered his arm, and though I didn’t want to take it, I forced myself to loop my hand through his. His touch was warm, steady, but it felt wrong.

As we moved through the crowd, wolves stepped aside to let us pass, their whispers brushing against my ears. Words like lucky and perfect match floated past, but I ignored them, keeping my gaze fixed on the firelight ahead.

“So,” Jake said, his voice light but edged with curiosity. “What do you think of all this?”

“This?” I asked, glancing at him.

He gestured around us. “The arrangement. The alliance. Me.”

My steps faltered, but he didn’t seem to notice: or maybe he did and just didn’t care. His smirk was still firmly in place, his blue eyes watching me closely.

“It’s not my place to question the elders’ decisions,” I said carefully.

Jake laughed softly. “A diplomatic answer. But I want the truth, Ruby. What do you really think?”

I swallowed hard, my wolf pacing restlessly in my mind. “I don’t know you well enough to have an opinion.”

“Honest,” he said, nodding in approval. “I like that.”

I didn’t respond, focusing instead on keeping my breathing steady.

Jake stopped suddenly, turning to face me. His expression softened, the cocky smirk fading into something more serious. “You’re nervous.”

“I’m fine,” I said quickly.

“You don’t have to be,” he said, his voice lowering. “I know this isn’t easy for you, but I’m not a monster, Ruby. I’m here to make this work. For both of us.”

There was something about the way he said it, the quiet intensity in his voice, that made me pause. For a fleeting moment, I wondered if maybe,just maybe,there was more to him than the polished exterior.

But then his smirk returned, and the moment was gone.

“Besides,” he added, his tone light again, “I’m sure we’ll get along just fine.”

I forced a smile. “I’m sure."

He studied me for a moment longer before turning his attention back to the crowd. I followed his gaze, my eyes skimming over the sea of faces until they landed on one.

Carter.

He was standing at the edge of the clearing, his silver eyes fixed on me, his expression unreadable.

My chest tightened, and for a moment, the noise and movement around me faded away. It was just him and me, locked in a silent, unspoken moment that burned brighter than the fire between us.

And then it was gone. Carter turned abruptly, disappearing into the shadows, and I was left staring at the place where he’d stood, my heart aching with everything I couldn’t say.

“Everything okay?” Jake asked, his voice breaking through my thoughts.

I nodded quickly, looking away. “Yes.”

But it was a lie. Nothing about this was okay.