THE ALPHA’S FORBIDDEN MATE

CHAPTER 12: "SERVE THE DRINKS"

I wasn’t supposed to be here.

But Elder Maren’s note came this morning:

`All staff must attend the engagement gala. Observe. Learn your place.`

Translation: Come watch your mate marry someone else.

The venue was ridiculous. Crystal. Gold. Wolves in tuxedos.

And a giant banner: `DRAKE + LILA - 30 DAYS`

I wore the staff uniform. Black dress. Apron.

Hair up. Collar high. Hiding the mark.

My job: Walk around with champagne. Smile. Don’t speak.

“Don’t make eye contact with the Alpha,” Beta Cole told me. “For your safety.”

Right.

Ten minutes in and I saw them.

Drake in a black suit. Lila on his arm in red.

They looked... right.

Like the photo the pack wanted.

Every time he touched her back, my neck burned.

Every time she laughed at his joke, the mark pulsed.

`Raven.`

His voice in my head. Rough.

`Don’t look at me.`

`Then stop standing where I can see you,` I thought back.

He flinched.

Lila noticed. Her eyes narrowed and found me across the room.

She excused herself and walked straight to me.

“Ravendon,” she said. Loud enough for people to hear. “You’re new, right?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Good. Table 7 needs refills. And try not to spill this time.”

There was no spill.

But 3 wolves near us smirked.

I walked away. Tray shaking.

Table 7. Drake’s table.

Of course.

I poured his drink. My hands were steady.

“Thank you,” he said quietly. Not looking at me.

“Anything else, sir?” I asked. Voice flat. Professional.

His eyes flicked up. Met mine for 1 second.

Pain.

Then Lila sat down next to him and put her hand on his thigh.

The mark on my neck exploded with heat.

I gasped. Dropped the bottle.

Glass shattered. Champagne everywhere. On Lila’s red dress.

The room went quiet.

Lila stood up slowly. “You clumsy—”

“I’m sorry,” I said fast. “I’ll clean it—”

“Leave it,” Drake said. Finally looking at me. His voice was low. Dangerous. “Go.”

I ran.

To the kitchen. To the back exit. To anywhere.

I made it to the alley before I collapsed.

Gripping my neck.

The mark wasn’t just glowing anymore.

It was _cracking_. Silver lines splitting across my skin like broken porcelain.

Because he was in there.

Smiling.

With her.

`Raven!` Drake’s voice, panicked in my head. `Where are you?`

`Don’t,` I thought back. `Just... don’t.`

Footsteps.

Not his.

Lila.

She stepped into the alley. No longer smiling.

“I don’t know what game you’re playing,” she said. “But he’s mine in 30 days.”

She looked at my neck. At the cracks glowing through my collar.

Her face twisted. “You’re hurting him. That bond is killing you both.”

She leaned in.

“So I’ll make it easy. Leave town, human. Or I’ll make sure you don’t survive the month.”

She walked away.

I slid down the wall.

26 days.

And the bond was already breaking me.