Rejected by Alpha, Mated to His Alpha King Uncle

Chapter 3: The Shattered Façade

Chapter 3: The Shattered Façade

(Vivian's POV)

"I'll handle everything when I get back, okay?" Hadrian reassured me, his hand lingering on my arm.

I stared at his lips, a bitter smile forming on mine. "Okay," I forced myself to say, the word tasting like ash in my mouth.

When I arrived at "The Blackwood" bar, I followed the familiar path to the private room. As I approached the door, I could hear laughter and music from within. I pushed it open only to find the room filled with Hadrian's pack members and their female companions.

Hadrian turned at my entrance, his expression instantly shifting to displeasure. He seemed about to leave when Dominic quickly stood up.

"Luna is here, get out!" he barked at the women, who scrambled to obey, casting curious glances my way as they departed.

The room emptied quickly, leaving only Hadrian's closest pack members behind.

"Your loyalty remains impressive," Dominic teased Hadrian once we were alone. "Surrounded by willing she-wolves yet untouched. Some things never change."

Hadrian's expression hardened. "I have a mate bond to respect."

"And yet others don't share your commitment," Dominic replied with a knowing smirk.

"My mate's security is my priority," Hadrian stated firmly. "It's about giving Vivian the safety she deserves."

I remained silent, watching this performance with growing disgust.

Hadrian moved to sit beside me, his attention now entirely focused on my presence. He reached for an orange from the fruit platter, carefully peeling it.

"Here, sweetheart," he offered the segments to me. "I know you like these."

When Dominic offered him a glass of moonlight wine, Hadrian declined with a wave of his hand.

"Vivian doesn't like the scent," he explained, his voice carrying just the right note of consideration.

His eyes met mine with practiced tenderness. "You know I love you, right? More than anything."

The perfect image of devotion—for anyone who couldn't smell another woman's scent markers lingering beneath his cologne.

"You're wearing something light," he noted, slipping off his jacket. "Take this. I don't want you getting cold."

I stared at the jacket, wondering how many times Seraphina had worn it.

"I want to leave," I announced abruptly.

Hadrian immediately stood. "I'll come with you."

"No, stay," Dominic interrupted, placing a hand on Hadrian's shoulder. "We rarely get everyone together like this. The driver can take Luna home."

Hadrian hesitated, looking between Dominic and me.

"It's fine," I assured him, already moving toward the door. "The pack driver will take me."

As I walked through the main area of the bar, a flash of familiar blonde hair caught my eye. Seraphina was entering, dressed in a provocative outfit that left little to the imagination.

I stopped, watching as she moved through the crowd with purpose. Despite knowing what would happen next, I couldn't stop myself from following at a distance.

My enhanced senses tracked her scent trail directly to Hadrian's room. I pressed myself against the wall beside the door, my heart pounding in my chest.

Seraphina entered without knocking. "Hadrian," she purred, her voice carrying clearly to my ears.

"You're here," Hadrian replied, his tone shifting to something deeper, hungrier.

"Why bring me to the bar?" she asked, a pout in her voice. "I thought we were meeting at our usual place."

The sound of movement followed—fabric against fabric, a soft gasp.

"Because I wanted you here," Hadrian growled, his voice low. "Come here."

I could hear the wet sounds of kissing, the rustling of clothing.

"Last time at Blackwood Manor wasn't enough," he murmured. "I've been thinking about you, about how you felt beneath me."

My stomach lurched as he continued, his voice growing rougher.

"Remembering how you begged me," he said. "How you cried my name when I took you against the wall."

There was a ripping sound—fabric tearing.

"Alpha," Seraphina gasped, her breathing heavy.

"Look at me," Hadrian demanded, his voice thick with desire. "Look at what you do to me."

I could picture his eyes glowing with his wolf, predatory and possessive.

"You know this is a public bar, right?" Dominic's amused voice cut through the moment, followed by masculine laughter.

"Bring the girls back in," someone called out, and I could hear the sound of the door opening wider.

I stumbled backward, bile rising in my throat. Not just an affair, but one conducted openly among his pack members.

"Poor Luna," Dominic's voice drifted through the doorway. "So trusting."

"Don't mention Vivian," Hadrian snapped, his tone suddenly harsh. "She can't know about this. She'd never understand."

"Isn't that what alphas do?" Dominic asked. "Take what they want?"

"Vivian's different," Hadrian insisted. "If she found out, I'd lose her. She's too... principled."

The conversation continued, but I couldn't bear to hear more. The betrayal wasn't just Hadrian's—his entire pack was complicit in the deception.

I stumbled away, my vision blurring with unshed tears. I needed to get out, to breathe air that wasn't contaminated with their lies.

As I turned blindly toward the exit, a strong hand caught my arm, pulling me into a dimly lit alcove. I looked up into familiar steel-gray eyes.

"Uncle..." I whimpered, recognizing Lucian Thorne instantly.

His powerful presence filled the small space, his expression unreadable as he studied my face.

"What are you doing in my establishment, Miss Sinclair?" Lucian asked, his voice low enough that only I could hear.

I tried to compose myself, to hide the devastation I was feeling.

"Just meeting some friends," I managed weakly, knowing how pathetic the lie sounded.

Lucian's piercing gaze seemed to see straight through me. I knew he didn't believe me for a second.

"Please," I whispered, my voice breaking despite my efforts. "Don't tell Eleanor Blackwood about this. Don't tell anyone in the Blackwood Pack."

His grip on my arm tightened slightly. "Why are you asking me to keep secrets, Luna?"

I couldn't answer. The mate bond severance was my only chance at escape, and I couldn't risk anyone discovering my plans.

"You've never approached me before," Lucian continued, his tone neutral but his eyes calculating. "Why now?"

"I can't explain," I said, struggling to maintain my composure. "Please, just this once."

Lucian held me firmly, his expression hardening. "Don't approach me again, Luna Blackwood. Whether I keep your secret or not will depend entirely on my mood."

He released me abruptly, and I fled through the main doors of the bar into the pouring rain.

The long drive home was a blur. I barely noticed the water soaking through my clothes, the chill settling into my bones.

By the time I arrived at our den, it was well past midnight. I sat in the darkness, my wolf Cora whimpering in shared agony.

The familiar warmth of Hadrian's voice suddenly filled my mind through our mate bond.

"I love you, Vivi," he projected. "Just need to wrap up some social things with Dominic and the pack. I'll be home soon."

I smiled bitterly at the ceiling. Even his telepathic messages were lies.

My phone vibrated with an incoming message from an unknown number. When I opened it, I found a medical report with Seraphina's name clearly visible at the top.

The report indicated a four-month wolf pregnancy showing signs of miscarriage. Before I could process what I was seeing, the message was quickly deleted.

My phone rang immediately afterward. Seraphina's voice, triumphant and mocking, filled my ear.

"I bet you enjoyed that little preview," she taunted. "Your precious alpha can't get enough of me, even during my pregnancy."

I remained silent, my grip on the phone tightening.

"Do you know he loses control during my heat cycles?" she continued, her voice dripping with malice. "He's like an animal with me. Not gentle like I bet he is with you."