The Alpha’s Unchosen Mate

Chapter3

Talia’s POV

“I’m sorry,” I said. “But I have to decline.”

Darian stared at me. His fingers were still under my chin.

“Decline?” He almost laughed. “Did you just say no to me?”

I pulled free. “Yes.”

He made a short sound. “No one says no to me. Not the elders. Not the other Alphas. And definitely not a girl who was on the ground with a knife at her throat a few hours ago.”

“I don’t want to be used. Not by my mother. Not by the elders. And not by you.”

“Everyone uses everyone, Talia.” His voice stayed calm. “Those men will come back. Your mother will force that marriage the second she finds you. The pack will keep treating you like the traitor’s leftover. And you’re turning down the only person offering to keep you breathing.”

My face got hot. “I don’t want to be your temporary cover so the elders stop pushing you to take a mate.”

He leaned closer. “At least I’m honest. Last chance. Take the deal or walk out that door and see how long you last.”

I thought about Roran. About Veyla. About the men who had already tried to kill me. Pride told me to leave. Fear told me I wouldn’t survive the night.

I let out a breath. “Fine. I’ll stay. I’ll pretend until the mating ceremony. Nothing more. No claiming. No real bond. Just the act in public.”

Darian’s mouth curved. “Good.” He turned away. “Nira will bring you proper clothes tomorrow. We walk the grounds at noon. Don’t be late.”

I barely slept.

In the morning Nira came with a soft cream dress and a clean bandage. She helped me change.

“People are talking in the kitchens,” she said. “They’re saying the Alpha is protecting the traitor’s daughter. Some are angry. Some are betting how long you’ll last.”

“Great,” I muttered.

Darian waited by the front doors. He looked me over.

“You look better. Try not to limp. It makes you look weak.”

I gave him a flat look. “I’ll do my best not to embarrass you.”

He almost smiled. “There’s that sharp mouth again. Keep it.”

We walked outside. Pack members stopped talking. And I could hear whispers start right away from different corners.

Darian stayed close. “You’re walking like the ground might swallow you. Relax. You’re supposed to look like you belong next to me.”

“I only belong next to you when people are watching,” I said under my breath.

“For now. And stop looking at the ground. People will think I’m forcing you.”

“Aren’t you?”

He huffed a quiet laugh. “Technically, no. You said yes.”

We reached the courtyard when a sharp voice cut through.

“Darian!”

Sable Renn stood on the path in an expensive red dress, pure anger on her face. Two women stood behind her.

Her eyes locked on me. “This is what you’re doing now? Walking around with the traitor’s daughter like she matters? We were supposed to be mates. Your uncle and my father already spoke. You don’t get to parade an Omega—especially this Omega—in front of the pack.”

Darian stopped.

Sable looked me up and down. “Look at her. No wolf. No real bloodline. Just the daughter of a known traitor. What does she have that I don’t have ten times better?”

People had stopped to watch.

Darian spoke first, quiet and sharp. “Maybe loyalty.”

Sable’s face went red. “Loyalty? After everything—”

“I’m done discussing this with you in public,” he cut in.

He turned to me. One hand went to the back of my neck. The other settled at my waist. Then he kissed me.

It wasn’t soft. It was hard and public. My ribs ached. For a second I forgot the people watching.

When he pulled back, the courtyard was silent.

Sable’s face had gone white. “You will regret this. Both of you. An Alpha and a traitor’s Omega? The pack will never accept it.”

She left fast. Her companions followed.

I stood there with my lips still tingling. I turned my head—

And stopped.

A man stood near the edge of the crowd. Tall. Dark hair. Calm face that felt strangely familiar. Our eyes met for half a second. Then he was gone.

Darian’s hand stayed on my waist. “Breathe. You look like you might fall over.”

“Was that necessary?”

“Yes. Sable needed a clear answer. And the pack needed to see you’re under my protection.”

More whispers followed us back. I heard “Omega,” “traitor’s blood,” and “Alpha’s new toy” more than once.

At the manor steps Darian looked at me properly.

“You held up better than I expected. Most women would be smiling by now. You just stood there looking angry. Interesting.”

I met his eyes. “Don’t mistake me staying alive for wanting any of this.”

His smile came back, slow. “We’ll see how long that lasts.”

He left me at the guest-room door. “Rest. Tomorrow the real act starts. And next time I touch you in public, try not to look so shocked.”

I closed the door and pressed my fingers to my mouth. I could still taste him. It was part of the act. Nothing more.

A knock came. Nira stepped in with medicine. I took it. She checked the bandage.

“You need to stop moving around so much.”

“I’ll try.”

She turned to leave, then stopped. “I heard something in the kitchen. The men who attacked you last night were found dead this morning. Near the north border.”

My stomach tightened. “Who killed them?”

“That’s what no one knows.”

She left. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Those men had wanted me dead. Now they were dead. I came here for protection. Now I wondered what kind of danger I had walked into.

I went looking for him.

I found him in the study. He looked up.

“You’re supposed to be resting.”

“The men who attacked me. Nira said they’re dead. Did you kill them?”

He set the paper down. “Would it bother you if I did?”

“Just answer me.”

He stood and came around the desk. “They crossed onto my land. Tried to kill someone under my protection. I don’t leave loose ends.”

“So you had them killed.”

“I had them dealt with. You’re safer with them gone.”

I stared at him. “I didn’t ask you to kill for me.”

“You didn’t have to.” He stepped closer. “Someone ordered that hit. I’m still looking. Until then, those two won’t be a problem.”

He was right in front of me now.

“We’ve been under the same roof less than a day,” I said. “You don’t get to decide life and death for me and then stand here like it’s nothing.”

One hand came up. His fingers brushed the edge of the bandage at my side.

“Don’t.”

He didn’t pull away. “You followed me through the forest bleeding. You sat at my table and ate like you hadn’t seen food in days. Now you come here to argue about two men who tried to put a knife in you.”

“That doesn’t mean you get to touch me.”

He leaned in, mouth near my ear. “If I wanted more than this, you’d already be against that desk.”

My face got hot. I pushed at his chest. He let the space grow a little.

“You’re impossible,” I muttered.

“And you’re still here.” He tilted his head. “Most women would have run. You stayed to fight.”

“I stayed because we have a deal. Nothing more.”

His gaze dropped to my mouth, then back to my eyes. “We’ll see how long that lasts.”

He stepped back. “Tomorrow we walk again. Longer this time. Wear something that doesn’t make you look ready to collapse.”

I turned toward the door.

“Talia.”

I looked back.

“Those men weren’t working alone. Until I find who ordered the hit, you don’t leave this manor without me or Cyran. Clear?”

“Clear.”

I walked back to the guest room. My heart was still beating too fast.

A soft knock came just after dark. A different maid stood there.

“Miss, the Alpha’s Beta is asking for you. He says it’s important.”

Cyran. The name felt vaguely familiar.

I stood and followed her down the hall.

Whatever he wanted, I already knew one thing.

Nothing about this place was safe.