Mated To The Wrong Alpha

Chapter 1 Leah's POV “Kilton! Did you just try to kiss me?” I asked in shock as I jerked back from his warm grasp. A look of pure hurt marred Kilton’s features. “Leah,” he called. “I thought… you were.” “Were what? I am practically betrothed to your brother, and you know that.” I was struggling to keep my voice down as my body trembled. Kilton stumbled back as if the news was just reaching him. His eyes widened. “But you don't love him… right?” I stayed silent as the cold wind mirrored my heart. He was pushing me, and he knew it. “We can run away together. The Leamington family will never find us; we'll be together,” Kilton spat out hurriedly. “You are part of the Leamington family; how can you have thoughts of leaving the Pack?” I growled, my mind spun as Kilton spat out traitorous words one after the other. Kilton sneered. “The Pack? Family? They have only treated me like a slave, and you know it.” I couldn't counter that; the Leamingtons had always treated Kilton as an outcast, but it was also a reason why we could never be together. He was always the pathetic brother that we pitied. How could he take that as love? “Kilton, enough of this. I only love you as a friend. I'm in love with someone else,” I replied, running my hands through my hair. I wished he just stopped speaking. I loved Shane, and that was it. “You love Shane?” he asked, his brows furrowing together in confusion. “Yes,” I replied curtly. My first love has always been Shane, and it will always be him. The light in his eyes dimmed as he stared at me as if I had stabbed him in the chest with a blunt dagger. “I love you. Leah.” “I don't!" I replied as I stood up. “I love Shane. I'm sorry.” With that, I stood up, ready to storm in when he grabbed my hand. "Leah," he growled. I flinched; his eyes shone a bright gold, his wolf peeking dangerously. "Kilton, your wolf," I whispered. He froze before his grip loosened. He blinked rapidly to control himself. "Kilton," I called. He took one glance at me and rushed into the forest. Did he almost lose control? Barely an hour later, I was still thinking about the incident, a book in my hands when I heard noises outside; one of the maids caught the look on my face and whispered, “It's Kilton. He killed someone." Despite what happened earlier, I jolted upright and stepped outside, unable to believe my ears. A crowd had gathered in the compound. Kilton lay in the middle, badly beaten; blood trickled from his head onto his shirt. What in the name of the goddess was going on? I was about to step forward when sturdy hands gripped me from behind. “Stay out of it,” a familiar voice said, firmly. I turned. “Shane, what's going on?” Shane wrapped his arms around me and pulled me closer, his jaw clenching. “He killed a couple and was caught. He's a betrayer." There was no way that was true. Kilton couldn't kill, he was not that kind of man. “That can't be true. Shouldn't we defend him? At least get to the bottom of this?” Shane shook his head. “He did it. I witnessed it." I became rigid as I absorbed the information. He did it. Was it because I rejected him? Yet something in me refused to believe it. I forced myself to look at him. He glanced up at the same time, and I saw the vulnerability in his eyes. “Leah,” he cried as one of the men slammed a wooden box on his head. “I didn't do it, believe me. I didn't do it. Please, Leah.” My breath caught in my chest as I looked at him; a part of me knew he was innocent, but I couldn't bring myself to believe Shane would lie. They were brothers, and he had no reason to lie. But I saw Kilton almost lose control. Perhaps. It was done out of control. Maybe he did it. “We should go now. You shouldn't witness the execution,” Shane said as he pulled me away. I allowed him to; I turned my back on my friend, Kilton. I chose Shane. Unable to stop myself, I glanced back, my eyes meeting Kilton's, and the hurt I saw in them, even as he shielded himself from the pack’s attacks, tugged at my heart as doubt lingered. Maybe he didn't do it… But why would Shane lie if he didn't? ~~~ YEARS LATER My hands shook as I read the file over and over again. It couldn't be possible. Yet, as I flipped through the pages, the dark ink that bled through the papers stared back at me, reminding me that my sacrifices over the years were slowly going down the drain. "A...a divorce?" I asked, looking back up at the only one I ever loved. "What do you mean you want to get a divorce?" Alpha Shane stood tall, his face dropping as if he didn't just drop the worst bombshell on me. It must be a dream. He never showed any signs of wanting to leave. Up until yesterday, when the results of my medical tests came out, Shane had been the best husband to me. Growing up together, I always knew who my heart wanted, and it was him. How could he file for a divorce at a time I needed him most? "Just sign it so we can get it over with at the mating ceremony," he replied, his tone flat. "You can't be serious!" I snapped, waving the papers at him. "We just got back from the doctor, and now is when I need you most, Shane..." "I can't live with your condition, and you know why, Leah. I may have pretended to be content with you losing your wolf, but I just can't pretend anymore." He further stated, his words piercing through my heart like a hot knife. I stuttered, unable to form a coherent sentence. When I finally did, hot tears spilled from my eyes. "You know why I can't have my wolf, Shane. The pack doctor just told us why yesterday. Why the sudden change!?" He gripped my throat, his eyes suddenly taking on a dark color. Fear crawled up my spine as I watched the man I loved slowly dissipate before my very eyes. With contempt clearly written all over his face, he said through gritted teeth, "You have just two years left to live, Leah. Of what use can you be to the pack?" My heart dropped to my stomach even as I could barely breathe. All I could do was watch my vision grow blurry and my body go limp. When he eased his grip, I slid to the ground, all hope I thought I had creeping out of me. "Shane? Shane!" I choked out, but he was already leaving, his back turned to me. "The mating ceremony is tomorrow night; sign the divorce papers and attend so we can get over the rejection process quickly. I need to be able to mark my new lover." New lover? My heart clenched even harder. For how long had he been with his new lover? Surely, longer than yesterday when I found out about my tumor. How could he do this to me? As I was left curled up on the ball, I couldn't help but think about the past. Shane was my first love. The only one I ever wanted as a teenager, even as we were friends, along with Kilton. Kilton. The one I rejected. The guilt of his death never left me. He died because of me; I didn't fight for him. I wasn't even there when he was executed. He went through it all alone. That was the last thing I thought of before being dragged under by sleep. A loud horn woke me up suddenly, but before I could gather my thoughts, strong hands pulled me up and out of the room. "What on earth is going on?" They shoved me outside in the compound while other domestic staff stared down at me. "Relax, darling," Shane appeared, looming over me like a storm. "I just want to make this faster since you've refused to sign the divorce papers." "You wouldn't dare..." "Oh, but I would." His eyes held no amusement. In fact, those eyes were as dark as night. "I found someone else, Leah. When will you come to terms with it? I don't want you." The rejection pierced through me, leaving fire in its wake. My chest burned like I was lying on hot coal. "I...just give me time, Shane. I'll get better, and I'll get my wolf." "But it's impossible!" he snapped. "I've been waiting, hoping you get better, but how can I rule my pack when my Luna has no wolf!?" Indistinct chattering scattered across the compound as sharp gasps rippled through the gathered crowds. Of course, they are shocked that the future Luna of Leamington pack lost her wolf and the family kept it a secret for a long time. My eyes were glued to the floor, humiliation washing over me like a tide. "Is that true?" "This is crazy. She is an Omega?" "I...I am not. It was just a mere..." "Guards!" Shane growled. "Take her away and dress her up. I need to get ready to get married to my new Luna." I looked up briefly and caught the face of someone I never would have expected. The same person who was supposed to be my chief bridesmaid on my wedding day. The same person who followed me to the designer's shop to try on my wedding gown last week. My own sister? "Helena."