Rejected by Alpha, Mated to His Alpha King Uncle

Chapter 2: The Ashes of Devotion

Chapter 2: The Ashes of Devotion

(Vivian's POV)

I stood frozen in the shadows, unable to move as the scene before me shattered my world into a million pieces. Hadrian, my mate of three years, was entangled with another woman—not just any woman, but Seraphina Miller, the she-wolf from Shadowfen Territory whom I'd been sponsoring for eight years.

Her delicate hands were wrapped around his neck, her body pressed against his in intimate familiarity. The betrayal cut deeper than I could have imagined. What made it even more painful was recognizing the gift box she held—containing a moonstone brooch designed by one of my artisan friends, now being presented to Eleanor Blackwood as if it were Seraphina's own thoughtful gesture.

"You don't have to worry," Seraphina whispered, her voice carrying clearly to my enhanced hearing. "I've been using the masking perfume you bought me. No one will catch my scent on you."

Hadrian's hand gently caressed her cheek—a tenderness I hadn't seen from him in months. "You shouldn't have come here. It's too risky."

"I just wanted to see you," she pouted. "And to give Elder Blackwood her birthday gift."

"The brooch?" Hadrian asked, examining the box. "She'll like it."

My stomach twisted into knots. That brooch had been commissioned from my friend specifically for Seraphina's eighteenth birthday. Now she was using my generosity to curry favor with Eleanor.

I watched in horror as Hadrian leaned down and pressed his lips against Seraphina's in a passionate kiss that left no doubt about their relationship. His hands traveled possessively down her back, pulling her closer.

"I've missed you," he murmured against her lips. "These past days have been torture."

My wolf Cora whimpered inside me, the pain of witnessing our mate's betrayal overwhelming us both. Eight years of sponsoring Seraphina, three years of being mated to Hadrian—all of it felt like one elaborate joke at my expense.

"It turns out that the bond of mates is just like this," I thought bitterly, my heart shattering as I watched them together. All my years of devotion and love meant nothing to him.

I couldn't bear to watch anymore. Turning abruptly, I fled from the scene, desperate to escape before my composure crumbled completely. Just one more month, I reminded myself. One month until my pack registration dissolved and I could leave this all behind.

In my haste, I collided hard with something solid—someone solid. Strong hands steadied me, and I looked up into the steel-grey eyes of Lucian Thorne, Hadrian's nominal third uncle and the Alpha King of the Northern Territory.

"Going somewhere, Miss Sinclair?" he asked, his deep voice sending an involuntary shiver down my spine.

My breath caught in my throat as I realized he must have witnessed the entire scene. His imposing frame blocked my escape route, his expression unreadable as he studied my face.

"I—I need to return to the celebration," I stammered, trying to step around him.

"Since you caught their scents together, why did you run?" Lucian asked, his piercing gaze seeming to see right through me.

Panic flooded my system. If Lucian exposed what he had seen, it would create a scandal throughout the pack. Despite Hadrian's betrayal, I wasn't ready for that kind of public humiliation.

"Uncle," I pleaded, using the familiar term out of desperation, "please don't tell anyone what you saw. I'll handle this matter myself."

Lucian remained silent, his steel-grey eyes surveying my distressed state with calculated interest. I couldn't read anything in his expression—not sympathy, not judgment, just intense observation.

I glanced back toward where I'd left Hadrian and Seraphina, but they had vanished. My panic rose again.

"Uncle, this is my own family matter, please don't tell anyone!" I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper.

Lucian's response was cold and commanding. "Come with me to Eleanor."

My eyes widened in alarm. The last thing I needed was for Eleanor to know about this—she already despised me for not producing an heir.

Before Lucian could grasp my arm, I broke away from him and fled, my wolf urging me to escape the powerful Alpha's presence. I didn't look back to see if he followed.

Hours later, I sat cross-legged on the floor of our den, surrounded by Hadrian's possessions. With methodical precision, I gathered every gift he'd ever given me—watches, jewelry, electronics—and listed them online for a mere 9.9 dollars each.

The action felt both petty and cathartic. My hands trembled slightly as I moved on to our photo albums. Ten years of memories captured in glossy prints. Hadrian and me at university, at our first apartment, at our mating ceremony—moments I'd once treasured.

I carried them to the balcony and dropped them into a metal trash can. The match flared bright in the darkness as I lit the corner of the first photo. The flame caught quickly, consuming our smiling faces. I watched dispassionately as a decade of memories turned to ash.

Cora howled within me, mourning what we'd lost, but I felt a strange sense of liberation as the photos curled and blackened. This destruction, while painful, offered a kind of freedom to both my human and wolf sides.

"No more lies," I whispered to the flames. "No more pretending."

The next morning, I sat at my desk with my phone in hand, steeling myself for what I needed to do. The call connected after three rings.

"Northern Wolf Support Initiative, how may I help you?" a cheerful voice answered.

"This is Vivian Sinclair. I'd like to discontinue my sponsorship for Seraphina Miller," I said, my voice steadier than I expected.

"Oh? May I ask why, Miss Sinclair? You've been supporting her for eight years now."

I inhaled deeply. "She's a junior at Northwood University now. She's capable of supporting herself through part-time work or student loans. Eight years is more than enough."

The administrator sounded confused. "But I thought the arrangement was to continue until she graduated? That's what Mr. Blackwood indicated when he called to check on her status last month."

My grip tightened on the phone. Of course Hadrian had been checking on her.

"Plans change," I said firmly. "Please process the discontinuation immediately."

I had barely hung up when my phone rang again. Hadrian's name flashed on the screen.

"What are you doing?" he demanded without preamble. "The support office just called me about Seraphina."

"Exactly what it sounds like. I'm ending her sponsorship," I replied coldly.

"But why?" His voice held genuine confusion. "We agreed to support her through graduation. Do you understand what this will do to her? She's counting on that money for tuition, for housing—"

"When I was a freshman, I already started working part-time to earn money," I cut him off, fury building inside me. "She is now a junior, as long as she works hard, she will not go hungry."

"Vivi, be reasonable," Hadrian pleaded. "She comes from nothing. The Shadowfen Territory barely has functioning infrastructure. This opportunity means everything to her."

"And what exactly does she mean to you?" The words hung between us, dangerous and loaded.

The silence stretched for several seconds before Hadrian spoke again, his voice carefully measured.

"I'll take over the sponsorship," he said finally. "For her final year. It's the right thing to do."

Despite his ostensibly collaborative tone, I knew I had no real choice in the matter. He would support her whether I agreed or not.

"Fine," I said, the single word carrying the weight of my disillusionment.

Memories flooded back of our university days—how we'd struggled together, working multiple jobs just to scrape by. I had run errands, staffed market stalls, and tutored younger wolves while Hadrian built connections for his future business ventures. I had handed over every penny I earned to support his dreams.

"The Blackwood" bar had been our first real success. I'd designed the interior, managed the books, and worked the counter while Hadrian charmed the customers. That bar had established him as a promising young Alpha in Blackwood Territory.

"I'll love you forever," he'd promised back then, his eyes sincere as he'd slipped his grandmother's ring onto my finger. Now those words turned to ashes in my mouth.

"Vivi?" Hadrian's voice pulled me from my reverie. "I'm meeting some friends at The Blackwood bar tonight after my grandmother's celebration. Will you come?"

After seeing Lucian, I knew that skipping these social obligations would only seem more suspicious. Despite my reluctance, I forced myself to sound normal.

"Sure, I'll meet you there after the banquet."

"Great." The relief in his voice was palpable. "I should be home soon. We can go to grandmother's together."

When Hadrian returned an hour later, he was immediately on alert.

"What's that smell?" he demanded, sniffing the air. "Was something burning?"

I had forgotten to air out the apartment after my photo-burning session. Hadrian crossed the room in three strides, pulling me into a protective embrace.

"Are you hurt?" His hands moved over me, checking for injuries. "What happened?"

I forced a smile, gently extracting myself from his arms. "I'm fine. I just burned some old documents I don't need anymore."