Alpha’s Mistress

Chapter 1

Elara’s POV

The scent of roasted venison clung to my hair, thick and smoky, as I rushed back and forth between the kitchen and the dining hall. My arms ached from carrying platter after platter, but I didn’t dare slow down. The Knightsfall Pack ate like an army, and if I made them wait even a second, Selene would pounce on the chance to humiliate me.

I set the Alpha’s plate down just as the first footsteps thundered in. Perfect timing. My chest loosened for only a second before her voice ripped through the air.

“Well, well, what do we have here?” Selene sneered as she strutted inside, hips swaying exaggeratedly. She gave me a once-over and curled her lip. “What’s for dinner, maid? Hopefully not another burnt disaster.”

My fists clenched around the serving spoon. “Roasted venison and potatoes,” I said flatly, forcing myself to meet her eyes.

She gasped dramatically. “Oh, how exciting. Food fit for a dog.” Her laughter rang out, sharp and ugly.

Lysandra, my wolf, snarled in my head. ‘Say the word, Elara. Let me tear that fake smile off her face.’

I bit down on my tongue. Not tonight.

Selene plopped herself down right beside Dante, sliding so close her shoulder brushed his. “Don’t you think it’s funny, Dante?” she said, batting her lashes. “She’s supposed to serve us, but she can’t even serve a decent look.”

My chest burned, but Dante only rolled his eyes and ignored her. Typical.

Alpha Magnus cleared his throat, his voice booming over the noise. “Son. Tomorrow is your birthday. You’ll finally meet your wolf and your true mate.” His eyes narrowed on Dante. “I expect you to act like the future Alpha you are.”

My heart skipped. Tomorrow. The word felt like a thunderclap in my skull. Tomorrow he’d know the truth. Tomorrow he’d feel the bond that had tortured me since I was a child.

Selene smirked, tossing her perfect hair. “Don’t worry, Alpha Magnus. We already know who his mate will be. It’s me.”

The room went still. My nails dug into my palms so hard I thought they’d bleed.

Lysandra howled inside me, furious. ‘She dares to claim what is ours. Ours, Elara!’

Alpha Magnus slammed his fist onto the table, making plates rattle. “Do not presume, girl. And do not address me so casually.” His Alpha power crackled across the room like lightning. Everyone bowed their heads instantly.

Everyone except me.

I bent my head anyway, trying to look obedient, but inside, confusion twisted me up. His command never forced me. It never had. And that secret terrified me more than Selene’s constant insults ever could.

Dinner blurred by in a haze of laughter that didn’t belong to me. When Luna Marianne’s gentle hand brushed mine as she passed me a plate, I gave her a small smile. She was the only one who treated me with warmth. The only one who made me feel less like a shadow.

⸻

The morning sun dragged me from the thin mattress in my attic room, and my back screamed in protest. I yanked on my usual baggy sweatpants and hoodie, the kind of clothes that made me blend into the background. I had curves, sure, but I’d rather suffocate in loose fabric than give anyone another reason to notice me.

School was already buzzing when I got there. Lockers slammed, gossip flew, and I kept my head down as I slipped into math class.

“Good morning, Elara,” Mrs. Halbrook said warmly, setting papers on my desk.

“Morning,” I replied quietly, taking my usual front-row seat. Safe. Invisible.

The bell rang. Silence settled.

Then the door opened.

Dante strolled in, Selene glued to his side like a parasite. The air shifted. Girls whispered. Selene giggled too loudly, as if the world needed to hear how hilarious Dante was.

“Mr. Dante Knight,” Mrs. Halbrook said sharply. “Why are you late again?”

Dante smirked. “Because I wanted to be.”

Laughter rippled across the room. Mrs. Halbrook pinched the bridge of her nose, exasperated. “Just sit down.”

As he passed me, his eyes flicked toward mine. Just for a second. A spark shot through me, making my breath hitch.

‘MATE!’ Lysandra shrieked. ‘He looked at us! He feels it too, Elara!’

I jerked my gaze away, staring hard at the board, pretending I cared about square roots. But my pulse betrayed me, hammering in my throat.

Selene’s voice cut through the silence, dripping with venom. “Why is she even in the front row? Shouldn’t the maid be scrubbing the floors instead of taking up space in class?”

Heat crawled up my neck. Mrs. Halbrook ignored her, but the sting still landed. I forced myself not to react, though every part of me wanted to throw my pencil across the room.

The rest of the day was more of the same, …whispers in the hall, a shove here, a cruel laugh there. But I gritted my teeth. Tomorrow would change everything.

By the time gym rolled around, I was itching for an outlet.

“Alright, listen up,” Coach Harris barked, bouncing a basketball. “Quick game today. Team captains—Dante and Gaby.”

Of course. Dante always got picked.

One by one, names flew until it came down to me and Luke. My heart sank. Please not last. Please—

“Elara!” Gaby called.

I froze. Heads snapped toward me, whispers buzzing. My legs felt like stone as I walked to Gaby’s side, Selene’s glare stabbing into me the whole way.

The whistle blew. The game exploded into motion. Sneakers squeaked, the ball slammed against the floor, shouts echoed through the gym.

Selene hissed at me when I blocked her pass. “Watch it, b***h. You’re lucky you’re even on the court.”

“Maybe try actually playing instead of talking,” I snapped back before I could stop myself.

Her eyes widened, fury twisting her perfect features. “You little slut—”

“Focus, Selene!” Dante barked, cutting her off as he snagged the ball.

The game tightened. Players dropped until only a handful of us were left. My lungs burned, my muscles screamed, but adrenaline carried me.

Then it was just me and Dante.

He smirked, dribbling lazily. “Didn’t know the maid could keep up.”

“I didn’t know the future Alpha was scared of losing,” I shot back.

His smirk widened. He lunged, but I was quicker. The ball slapped into my hands, and I flew down the court, weaving past his attempts to block. The basket loomed. Victory was mine..

“Hey, Elara!” one of his friends shouted.

Instinctively, I turned my head. Just for a split second.

The ball slipped. Dante snatched it, pivoted, and swished it through the net in one smooth motion.

The gym erupted.

“Not fair!” I yelled, furious. “He distracted me!”

Coach Harris blew his whistle. “Point still counts. Game over.”

My jaw dropped. “That’s—”

“Rules are rules,” Coach interrupted.

Dante raised his arms in mock triumph, smirking as he passed me. “Better luck scrubbing floors.”

Selene cackled beside him, clinging to his arm. “Pathetic. Maybe stick to cleaning, slut.”

Lysandra roared in my mind, demanding to be let out, but I swallowed the rage burning in my throat.

That evening, I moved like a ghost in the pack kitchen. I plated salmon and bread for the returning pack, their voices rising with laughter and conversation I would never be a part of.

The moment I was done, I slipped upstairs to my attic, collapsing onto the lumpy mattress.

Tomorrow. Tomorrow everything would change.

I pressed my face into the pillow and whispered, “Tomorrow Dante gets his wolf. Tomorrow he’ll know.”

Lysandra’s voice echoed in my skull, fierce and certain. ‘Tomorrow he’ll know you’re his mate. Tomorrow, Elara, our life begins.’

But lying there in the silence, I couldn’t decide if tomorrow would be the start of my freedom or my destruction.