Split Alphas

Chapter 10

I had never been more wrong in my entire life than I was in the last few hours.

Watching people drive and actually driving were definitely not the same. But I forced myself to keep going, gripping the steering wheel like it was the only thing keeping me alive—because maybe it was. If Everett caught up with me, his punishment wouldn’t end until my death.

I had to get back to Wyatt. I had to tell him everything.

The sun was already low in the sky. I didn’t know how much time had passed, but I knew I’d missed the mating ball. My stomach twisted in guilt. Wyatt had trusted me to stay safe. To show up. And I’d failed him. I hated that I’d been taken so easily.

You must be stronger. The words rang in my head like a mantra. Amethyst agreed, humming quietly in the back of my mind. But what if it was already too late? What if our bond was broken?

I hadn’t accepted Everett’s rejection, but it had hurt—deeply. The damage still burned in my chest like an open wound.

I followed the signs back to Taylorsville, thankful most of the route was just a two-lane highway. My body was fading fast—tired, aching, and growing heavier with every passing mile. But when I saw the Welcome to Taylorsville sign, I let out a shaky breath.

Just 20 minutes to the pack grounds.

Then I’d be with Wyatt again. My mate. My safe place.

Even without accepting Everett’s rejection, I felt like I’d been through a war. My bones ached. My skin felt raw. My mind was a mess of thoughts that wouldn’t stop replaying what happened in that cabin.

Don’t think like that. Mate wants us no matter what. Amethyst’s voice cut through gently.

I nodded to myself, trying to hold on to that hope.

As I neared the pack gates, headlights flashed. Guards began swarming around the vehicle, their expressions sharp and alert. I shrank back in my seat and rolled down the window, heart pounding.

Then came a voice:

“She’s here! Alert Alpha Wyatt at once!”

—

The next few hours passed in a blur.

I didn’t see Wyatt. No one explained anything. The guards were silent, escorting me straight to the pack house like I was made of glass—or gold. It was unnerving. I’d never been important before. In my own pack, I was invisible. Now, it was as if I’d become some kind of hidden treasure.

Inside, a maid greeted me and quickly ushered me into the alpha guest quarters.

“Please wait here until Alpha Wyatt returns. You may use the bathroom to clean up.”

Before I could respond or ask when he’d be back, she was gone.

I sighed, shoulders sagging with exhaustion, and made my way into the bathroom.

The adrenaline that had kept me upright was fading, and now all I could feel was pain. Everything hurt. My skin was grimy, my muscles sore, and my heart felt like it had been dragged through hell.

I peeled off my filthy clothes and folded them neatly on the counter. I caught a glimpse of my neck in the mirror. A deep purple hue made it’s home where the wolfs bane had been injected. The hot shower steamed the mirror and softened the ache in my bones. I scrubbed myself until my skin turned pink, trying to wash away every trace of Everett’s touch. My chest tightened just thinking about it—his cruelty, his rejection, and yet the maddening pull of the mate bond that still clung to me. My body shivered even underneath the scalding hot water that pelted my skin relentlessly.

My body betrayed my mind. It didn’t care that he’d hurt me. It still yearned for the other half of the bond.

But Wyatt…

I needed him.

His scent. His strength. The grounding warmth of his touch. That’s what I needed to feel safe again.

When I stepped out, another maid was already waiting with fresh clothes. I asked softly, “Can I wait in Wyatt’s cabin?”

The woman, Poppy—a name I recognized from my time as a servant—shook her head gently.

“I’m sorry, ma’am. We’ve been instructed to keep you in the pack house until Alpha Wyatt returns. It’s easier to secure the building here.”

I nodded, cheeks warming with embarrassment. Just days ago, I was serving tea to guests like her. It felt wrong to ask for special treatment.

Poppy collected my clothes and towels, giving me a quiet, sympathetic nod before slipping from the room. I heard her speak in hushed tones to someone in the hallway, but couldn’t make out the words—just the click of her heels as she walked away.

I paced the room, unable to settle, each minute stretching endlessly. Only twenty minutes passed before the door flew open.

Wyatt burst into the room, breathless and damp with sweat. My wolf surged forward. I ran to him and threw my arms around his solid chest, pressing my face into his warmth.

His scent enveloped me. Safe. Strong. Home.

“I’m so sorry, Ginger,” he whispered, voice raw. “This is all my fault.”

I looked up at him, startled. “Don’t say that. It was my fault for not being strong enough. I’m supposed to be your Luna and I couldn’t even fight back—couldn’t even escape in public.”

Amethyst whimpered in my mind, and I knew she agreed. We had no training. No skills. We were vulnerable.

Wyatt’s face twisted in pain. “Don’t you ever say that,” he growled. Then he kissed me—with the heat of a thousand suns.

At first, I was stiff from shock, but his lips coaxed me open, and my body melted into his. His hands roamed my sides, warming my chilled skin, pulling me deeper into him.

I moaned softly as his hand cradled the back of my neck and slid down over my breast. I was wearing nothing but a loose gray t-shirt—no bra. He noticed.

The once-cool room now felt like a furnace, thick with heat and desire. My hands moved instinctively, craving more—but Wyatt pulled back before they could go far.

My chest heaved with uneven breaths as I looked up into his eyes—deep green like an endless forest in summer.

“You are my mate,” he said, voice unwavering. “The Moon Goddess makes no mistakes. You will be the best Luna to this pack. And I will do whatever it takes to make you feel safe, secure, and wanted.”

Tears welled in my eyes. No one had ever spoken to me like that before. Not with reverence. Not with truth.

I let out a shaky giggle. Wyatt raised an eyebrow.

“Sorry,” I whispered. “I shouldn’t laugh. It’s just… we barely know each other, and you’ve already made me feel more important in one night than I ever have in my entire life.”

Pain flickered in his expression. “I’m sorry you never felt that before. But I swear, I’ll spend the rest of my life making sure you do.”

He kissed my forehead gently.

“With or without my brother… you’re mine.”