The Alpha Princess and Her Enemy

Hot tub fight

Wrenna

“Damn Dravenwood, too bad you dropped out of school before I had a chance to—”

“Finish that sentence and I will punch you in the face!” Wrenna said, holding up her finger in warning—as Cassian Hatchett smirked, flanked by Soren Dunn. She threw her thick white bath robe on a patio chair, placed the baby monitor on the table next to it—the volume on high.

They both still had their boyish grins like she remembered from Alpha college—only a bit older now.

“I mean, he’s not wrong,” Soren said, giving her an appreciative onceover. “Why did you drop out of college anyway?” He asked, jumping in the immense hot tub. Both were still unmated from what Wrenna had heard.

Panic swelled in her chest as she let her foot slide into the hot water of the massive cavern, carved into the stone floor of the patio. She took a seat next to them while Damian had gone to get them drinks.

“I—I uh—” Wrenna’s eyes darted around, as if she would somehow find the answer in the hot tub.

“We decided to do online classes so we could start a family,” Damian came up behind her, passing her a drink—with a little umbrella. She turned and smiled at him.

“Thank you,” she said. Damian smiled back, his eyes full of affection.

“Gross,” a voice said, followed by a few snickers. Wrenna turned, a glare on her face as her eyes fell on Sienna. Of course it was her.

And next to her, was Brad. He had his arms stretched out on the stone border behind him—watching her intently, not giving Sienna even an ounce of attention.

“Hey,” Damian’s hand slid to her cheek, slowly turning her head towards him. “Let’s not let them ruin our evening.”

She nodded, a small smile on her face as she clinked her glass against his in celebration.

“But…you’re not fated mates then?” Cassian asked, taking a swag from his beer. The water bubbled around them, loosening the knots in Wrenna’s shoulders as she let herself sink deeper.

“We’ll never know, I guess.” Damian shrugged, “but once you know, you know,” his eyes shown with something Wrenna couldn’t place as he caressed her shoulder. She smiled and leaned into him, but deep down, that knot twisted tighter.

This is wrong, all wrong! A voice inside of her spoke. And the worst part? She was fighting the instinct to pull away from Damian. She was letting another man touch her in front of her mate! Who does that?!

The patio glowed under strings of golden lights, soft music humming from hidden speakers. Laughter drifted from every corner—half the Alphas and Lunas already tipsy, their voices bouncing off the stone walls. Somewhere to the left, a group of men and women were playing drinking games, their shrieks mixing with the splash of water.

Wrenna took a sip of her drink, trying to focus on the music instead of the low rumble of Brad’s voice a few feet away. Sienna was laughing loudly at something one of the Rising Moon Alphas said—the kind of pack Wrenna would never align hers with in a thousand years.

Beth waded towards her, splashing Soren and Cassias as she came closer. Cassian held up his hand, an invisible shield warding off the water—Soren wasn’t as lucky.

“Hey, watch—” His head snapped to her, his brows bunched together in anger, “—oh hello there,” he did a double take, a mask of charm masking his features immediately—it was as if Wrenna was watching someone with multiple personalities in one body.

“Hello,” Beth purred, looking appreciative at both Soren and Cassian, playfully wiggling her ass against them, ushering to let her sit in between them.

“I heard you’re both unmated,” she smiled flirtatiously.

“Yeah, but I’m more unmated than Soren,” Cassian smirked, taking her hand and kissing it—causing Beth to giggle.

“What does that even mean?” Soren scoffed.

“How’s little Brenley doing?” Beth asked, turning her attention away from the two arguing men toward her.

“He’s sleeping,” Wrenna answered, her gaze flicking to the baby monitor. The steady light blinked green. Safe.

Damian’s body heat seeped into her from where he sat beside her, but her eyes drifted—against her will—to Brad. He startled her by meeting her gaze head-on, his expression unreadable. His eyes moved slowly between her and Damian, then back to her, his face a mask of cool indifference.

Sienna threw her head back, laughing at something the Bloodfang Alpha said—another one of those packs Wrenna wouldn’t want an alliance with—but when she noticed Brad wasn’t joining in, her laughter faltered. She leaned in closer to another man instead, voice low and sultry.

The pool buzzed with conversation, the air heavy with heat and alcohol. Two couples to Wrenna’s left whispered together, the kind of low laughter that said they were seconds away from vanishing. Sure enough, they slipped out of the water together, giggling, hands already wandering.

She didn’t have to guess what they were up to.

She’d never understand it—sharing your mate. They said the mix of betrayal pains and pleasure was intoxicating, but she didn’t want to find out. Ever.

Wrenna didn’t share.

Damian leaned closer, murmuring softly about everything and nothing, his words warm against her ear. The alcohol dulled the edges of her guilt, made it easier to laugh.

“You know…” Beth purred, her hands gliding up both Soren and Cassian’s arms. “You boys don’t have to fight over little old me. You could just…” she tilted her head, lips curving, “…share me for the night.”

Wrenna arched a brow but wasn’t surprised. Felines were famous for their appetite.

“I’m game if you are,” Cassian said—moving around Beth to look at Soren. Soren smirked, and the trio climbed out of the water, dripping and laughing as they disappeared toward the cabin.

The noise dwindled with them. One by one, couples slipped away until only the hum of the water jets remained. Wrenna glanced across the bubbling surface—Sienna was gone. She frowned, watching the back doors swing shut behind her, another man following close behind.

Brad didn’t move. Didn’t even look. He didn’t seem all that bothered, either.

Only seven people remained — Brad, two other couples, and her and Damian.

She turned her attention back to Damian as he leaned closer, his breath warm against her ear. Her hand found the hard lines of his chest, steady and familiar. She wanted to love him — she did love him — but the feeling never quite fit right. Like trying to force her heart into the wrong shape.

The lights on the baby monitor flickered to life, little red dots dancing in rhythm with Brenley’s cries echoing across the patio. Wrenna jerked upright, one hand on the pool’s edge, ready to go, when Damian caught her other hand.

“You stay and relax. I’ll go,” he said gently, that soft, dependable smile cutting through her guilt.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. You deserve a night off.” He bent down, brushed a feather-light kiss over her lips. Wrenna’s eyes fluttered closed. Goddess, he’s perfect.

And she—was a mess.

She watched him disappear through the doors, guilt twisting tighter with every step he took. He deserved someone whole, someone without secrets clawing under her skin. Someone who didn’t flinch every time her mate’s scent drifted across the room.

When she finally turned back toward the hot tub, the patio was silent. The water still shimmered, the air heavy with heat and mist.

Everyone was gone.

Everyone but her—and Brad.

Had she really been so lost in thought she hadn’t noticed the others leave?

Their eyes met, and it was as if the rest of the world around them vanished. Her breath caught at the heat in his gaze. Involuntarily, her eyes drifted to his muscled chest, the tattoos inked into his skin that hadn’t been there the last time she’d seen him without a shirt.

He moved, for what seemed like the first time that night—pushing off the wall and wading towards her.

Her heart pounded in rhythm with the bass coming from the speakers.

Get a grip. It’s just the bond. Just reject him, and it will all be over.

What was it about Brad that made her angry and weak willed at the same time?

He took a seat to her left, leaving enough space between them that their chests didn’t touch, but close enough for her tight to brush his knee. She gasped at the sparks, causing a satisfied smirk to cross over his face.

“So…you and Ashbourne, huh?” he nodded in the direction Damian had disappeared in.

“What the hell was that this morning?” she seethed, dodging the question as flashes of their little “friendly” match reentered her mind. She hadn’t questioned Damian about it—something in her gut told her it hadn’t been him who’d started it.

“What about this morning?” Brad feigned ignorance.

“You know exactly what I’m talking about! That little show in the courtyard? What was that—testing how fast you could knock my mate on his ass?”

His smirk flickered. “Wasn’t testing him, Princess. Was testing myself—seeing what kind of man you traded up for.”

“You’re unbelievable,” she muttered, heat flashing in her chest. “You could’ve actually hurt him.”

“Please,” Brad said, his tone darkly amused. “If I wanted to hurt him, I wouldn’t have stopped. And besides…isn’t boyfriend a better word for whatever it is you’re trying to portray to the outside world?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Wrenna snapped, crossing her arms—unaware that the motion pushed her breasts up, out of the water.

To his credit, Brad’s eyes didn’t drop.

But his smirk deepened. “Really...I was just wondering…. Just wondering how long you’re planning to keep playing house with someone else’s mate.”

Her head snapped toward him, eyes wide. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Oh, I think I do.” His voice was low, rough velvet scraping across her skin. “You’ve got it all set up, don’t you…your little family…your picture-perfect Gamma boyfriend, but tell me something, Wrenna…”

He leaned in, close enough that she could feel his breath ghost her cheek—her heart pounding in her chest. “If we’re both bonded…” — his voice dropped, almost a growl — “Then why did I scent you as my mate?”

Her throat tightened. The words hit like a punch, stealing her air.

“It must be one of the Goddess’s tricks. If you want,” she hissed, claws slipping free, “I can send you up there so you can ask her yourself.” But Brad’s grin only widened.

“Threatening to kill your own mate just to keep a lie intact…Still as feisty as ever,”

“Will you keep your voice down!” she grated, looking around, afraid someone might have heard. “You don’t know me!” She tried to move, but his hand shot out, fingers circling her wrist — not harsh, but unyielding.

“Oh, but I think I do…Something isn’t adding up… true mates can only smell each other if one or both aren’t bonded.” His eyes searched hers, too sharp, too knowing.

Then his gaze flicked down, lingering on the side of her neck where Damian’s supposed mark lay hidden beneath that faint shimmer of magical ink.

His hand moved before she could stop him, rough fingertips brushing the skin there — slow, deliberate. The false mark rippled beneath his touch, the shimmer fracturing, fading like smoke in sunlight.

Brad stilled—staring at his fingers. “Magical ink…” he murmured, voice low with disbelief. His jaw flexed. “But why?”

Wrenna’s heart was a drum in her chest, panic clawing through her ribs. “Don’t.” she pushed at his chest, pushing him away from her, searing for a way out of this—ready to bolt.

“Don’t what?” His eyes snapped back to hers, stormy and furious now — not at her, but at the lie between them. “Don’t see what’s right in front of me?”

Her breath hitched. It was too much — the closeness, the scent, the truth bleeding through the bond pulsing between them.

She stumbled to her feet, water sloshing against the stone. “I can’t do this.”

“Wrenna—”

But she was already halfway out of the pool, grabbing her robe, barely managing to tie it as she bolted for the door — his voice chasing her through the mist.

Brad watched her go, chest heaving, confusion and fury tangling behind his eyes. He dragged a hand down his face, muttering to himself.

“Magical ink… but why?”