Mated to Alpha Bastain

Margareth POV I never imagined that the Brown Iris Pack, my pack, would be the hosts of the annual Lunar Gala. We didn’t possess the elite status of the Apollo Pack, with their shining corridors and merciless alphas. There I stood, Luna Margareth, donning a dark blue denim dress, the sound of white heels tapping as I made my way down the palace stairs. My grey eyes surveyed the lively foyer, where pack members zipped around with decorations. The atmosphere crackled with excitement—and my own anxiety. “Good morning, Luna,” Beta Blake shouted, his voice piercing through the conversation. He held out a clipboard towards me, his brown eyes unwavering. "Here’s the summary for the gala." "Thank you, Blake." I managed a grin while quickly reviewing the list. "We're lacking in wine and seating." With witches present, additional guards will be necessary. “They will assist if problems arise.” "Understood." "I'll inform the event team." Blake wrote a note, then paused. "The throne zone... additional flowers, correct?" "Precisely." "Close to my location alongside Alpha Xavier." I envisioned the velvet seat, our together stance. However, Blake's forehead creased. "Didn't Xavier mention only brown curtains?" "Are there no flowers?" My stomach knotted. "No." He didn't bring that up. I halted, comprehension emerging. "To be honest, I haven't contacted him since last night." “The mind-link is gone.” Within, my wolf, Emma, snarled. “Locate him, Margie.” He's avoiding you. The idle alpha is likely hiding out somewhere. “Cut it out, Em,” I replied in my mind. “He’s not flawless, but he’s not terrible.” “Wager he’s up to mischief,” Emma murmured. Blake coughed gently to clear his throat. “Discuss the decoration with him.” "Steer clear of confusion." "I will attempt the mind linking once more." I shut my eyes, seeking the comforting presence of Xavier. “Xavier? We must have a conversation. Gala arrangements.” Nothing, no response. I called out once more, more forcefully in my thoughts. “Xavier!” Nothing, as if he were a phantom. My heartbeat sped up. This was not typical of him. “He's not picking up,” I replied, my voice strained. “I’m finding him.” Blake scowled. “I spotted him at the stables earlier, conversing with Aiden regarding races.” "Thank you." I pivoted, my heels clicking more quickly. The fresh morning air struck me as I walked outside, brisk and biting. The pack members acknowledged with nods and courteous smiles, yet my thoughts were racing. What caused Xavier to be unreachable? Was he paying no attention to me? The stable manager, Aiden, saw me when I walked across the yard. “Good morning, Luna.” “Tracking someone down?” His deep voice had an understanding tone. Xavier. “Did you see him?” I inquired, looking over the stables. "Yeah, possibly about an hour back." "Expressed that the pressure from the gala was consuming him." Aiden’s eyes darted, filled with doubt. “Thank you.” I gestured for him to leave, discomfort wrapping more tightly. Tension? Xavier flourished in disorder. Something felt wrong. A golf cart carried me quickly to Aventia Castle, a secondary fortification where Xavier occasionally secluded himself. The driver did not speak, allowing me to reflect. The failure of the mind-link troubled me. It wasn't merely the distance—Xavier was obstructing me. Why is that? Emma's cautions resonated, yet I suppressed them. He was my selected partner, the alpha who pledged to support me. The wagon halted at the castle’s rocky way. I gripped the spare key, my hands shaking as I opened the sturdy door. The ground level was vacant, chandeliers shimmering in quiet eeriness. "Xavier?" My voice reverberated. No response. I examined the reading room—vacant. My heels clicked against the spiral stairs, heart racing. “Xavier, where have you gone?” I reached out through the mind link once more, filled with urgency. Nothing at all. What is he concealing? Emma growled. "That’s enough," I murmured, yet uncertainty seeped in. The gala was just hours away, and my alpha was nowhere to be found. I required him—our group required him. A muted noise halted me in the hallway on the second floor. Muffled and passionate voices emerged from a guest room. My breath hitched. A woman's voice, seductive and gasping. "Yes, Xavier... Don't stop." My universe shifted. Hearing his name uttered like that felt like a blade to my heart. I stood still, tears welling in my eyes. No. It was impossible. Xavier, my Xavier, who had battled to claim me as his Luna, would never betray me. However, the noises became more intense, undeniable. My hand trembled as I extended it toward the door—unlocked, seemingly taunting me. I shoved it ajar. The view broke me. Xavier, without a shirt, intertwined with a woman whose crimson hair flowed over the linens. Her breaths echoed in the atmosphere. His gaze locked onto mine, astonished. “Margaret!” He hastily retreated, stumbling. “I—I couldn't—” "Keep it," I managed to say, tears flowing down. My heart shattered, every fragment crying out betrayal. The woman grinned, unaffected, as though she’d triumphed. I cleared my face, holding onto the final fragment of my dignity. “Am I disturbing you?” “My mistake.” “Margie, hold on—” Xavier began, but I spun around, slamming the door shut. My heels reverberated as I hurried down the corridor, eyesight fading. How was he able to? I had offered him everything—my devotion, my affection. Was I insufficient? Uncertainties gnawed at me, Emma's snarl resonating in my mind. “See?” "I warned you that he’s no good," she retorted. “Be quiet!” I hissed, yet she was correct. The person I had relied on had shattered my trust. I stumbled into the courtyard, panting for breath. The gala, the group, our future—it all seemed like a harsh prank. I had been sightless, but that’s changed. Fury rose, intense and blazing. Xavier could respond to this, but for now, I needed to lead a pack. A shadow appeared in front, wide and authoritative. I stood still, straining my eyes through the tears. A man advanced, his amber gaze penetrating, his aroma distinctly alpha. “Luna Margareth,” he spoke, his tone soft and fluid. "I’m Bastian, the Alpha of the Red Iris Pack." “I heard your group is organizing the gala.” His eyes darted across me, keen, as if he perceived my suffering. “And I am aware of Xavier’s… inappropriate actions.” My breath caught. How come? I began to speak, but he lifted his hand. “I’m not here to criticize. "I’m here to provide an escape." He moved nearer, his aura charged. "Xavier's lover?" She is beyond what she appears. "I have a proposal—one that might release you from him." His lips turned upward, a perilous vow. “However, it has a cost.” Before I had a chance to reply, a loud c***k resonated from the castle. The door flew open, and Xavier stumbled out, eyes frantic. “Margie, ignore him!” he yelled, but his voice was silenced when a cloaked figure appeared behind him, a shimmering dagger held to his throat. “Select wisely, Luna,” Bastian whispered, his gaze fixed on me. "Your next action alters everything."