The Alpha's Pretend Mate

The Alpha's Domain

The forest changed as they moved deeper into Blackthorn territory. The air grew lighter, tinged with the faint scent of woodsmoke and pine, while the ground beneath Ivy’s boots transitioned from uneven wilderness to a well-worn path. The change unnerved her. She was stepping further into their world, their control. Every step felt like surrender, but stopping wasn’t an option.

Kael led the way, his broad shoulders cutting through the moonlight like a shadow given life. He moved with the kind of unshakable confidence that only someone in power could possess, his strides long and deliberate, as if the ground itself bowed to him. Ivy followed at a distance, her sharp eyes darting to the edges of the path. She could still feel the wolves trailing them, their presence a constant pressure in her chest.

She refused to glance back. They’d see that as fear.

The satchel on her shoulder weighed heavily, though not from its contents. Her fingers tightened on the strap, her thoughts circling back to Liam. He’d be waiting in the cave, weaker than when she’d left, his fever stealing more of him every day. The idea of leaving him alone gnawed at her, but she couldn’t afford to panic now. If she died—or disappeared into whatever mess Kael was pulling her into—Liam wouldn’t survive long without her.

Her steps slowed as a new thought slithered into her mind. Kael had power. His pack had resources—healers, supplies, maybe even answers for whatever was happening to Liam. If she played this right, maybe she could leverage whatever he wanted into something she needed.

But bargaining with an Alpha was like playing chess blindfolded. One wrong move, and he’d crush her before she could make another.

“You won’t need that here,” Kael said, his voice breaking the silence.

Ivy blinked, startled by the suddenness of his words. She looked up to find him watching her, his silver eyes flicking to the satchel.

“Excuse me?” she said, her tone clipped.

“The bag,” he repeated, nodding toward it. “You’re not going to need it.”

Her grip tightened, the leather digging into her palm. “I’ll decide what I need.”

Kael’s expression didn’t change, but something flickered in his gaze—amusement, maybe. “Suit yourself.”

He turned without another word, his long strides resuming their unhurried pace. Ivy exhaled slowly, her knuckles white against the strap of her bag. Every instinct screamed at her to keep moving, keep fighting. But the pack’s wolves flanked them now, slipping through the shadows like ghosts. One wrong move, and she wouldn’t live to regret it.

As they approached the edge of the village, Ivy’s stomach twisted. The first cottages came into view, simple wooden structures with sloping roofs and warm light spilling from the windows. The scent of cooking meat drifted through the air, mingling with the distant hum of conversation. To anyone else, it might’ve looked idyllic. To Ivy, it was a cage.

The wolves she’d sensed earlier began to emerge, their silhouettes sharp against the glow of the village. Some leaned against doorframes, their eyes fixed on her with open suspicion. Others whispered in clusters, their gazes darting between her and Kael. She couldn’t hear their words, but their expressions told her everything she needed to know. She didn’t belong here. She wasn’t welcome.

“Another rogue?” a voice murmured, low but clear enough for Ivy to catch.

“She doesn’t look like much,” another replied.

“She won’t last long,” a third added, his tone laced with disdain.

Ivy clenched her jaw, forcing herself to keep her gaze forward. She wasn’t going to give them the satisfaction of seeing her react. Let them whisper. Let them think whatever they wanted. She’d survived worse than their judgment.

Kael didn’t acknowledge the stares or the whispers, his focus unwavering as he led her to the heart of the village. The building they stopped in front of was larger than the rest, its sturdy stone walls lit by torches mounted on either side of the entrance. Two wolves stood guard at the door, their postures rigid and their gazes sharp.

Kael nodded to them as he passed, his presence alone enough to part the way. Ivy hesitated at the threshold, her instincts screaming at her to run. She tightened her grip on the satchel, forcing herself to step inside.

The warmth of the room hit her immediately, the crackling fire casting a golden glow over the stone walls. The space was simple but purposeful—wooden furniture, shelves lined with books and maps, and a long table dominating the center. There was no unnecessary decoration, no sign of vanity. It was the room of someone who valued utility over extravagance.

Kael shut the door behind them with a deliberate thud, the sound echoing in the stillness. Ivy’s nerves prickled.

“Take off the satchel,” Kael said, his tone lighter now, though still firm.

Ivy turned to face him, crossing her arms over her chest. “Why?”

“You’re not going to need it during this conversation.”

Her gaze narrowed, but she complied, setting the satchel on the nearest chair with deliberate slowness. “What exactly are we talking about?”

Kael moved to the table, pouring himself a glass of amber liquid from a bottle that had been left out. He didn’t offer her one. “I have a problem,” he said, leaning against the edge of the table. “And I think you can help me solve it.”

Ivy stiffened, her mind immediately racing. “If this is your idea of a favor, I’m not interested.”

Kael’s silver eyes locked onto hers, sharp and unyielding. “This isn’t a favor. It’s an arrangement.”

She didn’t like the sound of that. “And what exactly do you think I have to offer?”

He took a slow sip of his drink before answering. “The council wants me to choose a mate. They’ve been... insistent.”

“And this is my problem because...?”

“Because I don’t want their mate,” Kael said simply. “I need someone else. Someone temporary.”

The realization hit her like a punch to the gut. She stared at him, her breath catching. “You want me to pretend to be your mate.”

“Yes.”

Her first instinct was to laugh, sharp and incredulous. “You’re insane.”

Kael shrugged, unbothered by her reaction. “Maybe. But unless you’d like to find out how hospitable my pack is to trespassers, you might want to consider the offer.”

Her pulse quickened as she weighed his words. She hated everything about this—hated being cornered, hated being used. But Liam’s face flashed in her mind again, pale and weak, his body trembling under the weight of his fever. Kael had resources, healers, safety. If she could use his ridiculous plan to secure help for Liam, she’d endure anything.

Ivy’s thoughts churned as she stared at the Alpha before her. Every instinct screamed to refuse, to fight, to push back against the absurdity of his offer. But Liam’s face lingered in her mind, a constant reminder of what was at stake. If she played this right, she could secure him the care he needed—maybe even a future that didn’t involve constant running and fear.

“Let’s say I agree,” she said, her tone measured. “What exactly does this arrangement involve?”

Kael set his glass down, the faint clink of crystal against wood sharp in the quiet room. “You’ll act the part of my mate. Stay by my side when needed, attend council meetings, and convince everyone you belong here.” His silver eyes locked onto hers, unyielding. “In return, you’ll have the protection of my pack—and access to our resources.”

“Resources,” Ivy repeated, her lips curling into a faint, bitter smile. “You mean food and shelter. That’s not enough.”

Kael’s brows lifted, just slightly. “What else do you want?”

Ivy hesitated, the weight of the moment pressing against her. She didn’t trust him—not even a little—but this was an opportunity she couldn’t afford to waste. “My brother,” she said finally. “He’s sick. I want him here, with access to your healers.”

Kael’s gaze didn’t waver. If he was surprised, he didn’t show it. “And you trust me to let him stay?”

“No,” she said bluntly. “But if this arrangement is going to work, you’ll have to.”

The corner of his mouth twitched, not quite a smile but close enough to irritate her. “Fair enough,” he said. “Your brother can stay. But if I find out you’ve lied about anything—”

“I haven’t,” Ivy interrupted sharply. “And I don’t intend to.”

Kael studied her for a long moment, his sharp gaze cutting through her defenses. She held his stare, refusing to back down. Finally, he nodded. “Then we have a deal.”

Ivy exhaled slowly, her grip on the chair back loosening. Relief and dread warred in her chest, but she kept her expression neutral. She’d won this round, but she knew better than to think she was safe. Deals with Alphas rarely ended cleanly.

“When do we start?” she asked, her voice steady despite the whirlwind in her mind.

Kael pushed off the table, his movements fluid and purposeful. “Tomorrow. For now, you’ll stay here.”

“Here?” Ivy repeated, frowning.

“You’ll need to get used to the village,” Kael said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “And they’ll need to get used to you.”

“I can’t stay yet,” she said abruptly, her voice firmer than she intended. When Kael turned to face her, his sharp silver eyes narrowing, she forced herself to keep speaking. “My brother’s waiting for me. I need to collect him and bring him back before I can stay.”

He didn’t reply immediately, his piercing gaze weighing her words. Ivy braced herself for the inevitable argument, for the threats and accusations she’d grown used to from pack wolves. But when he finally nodded, the response startled her.

“You’ll come back,” Kael said. It wasn’t a question.

“Yes,” she replied quickly, her chest tightening. “I promise I’m not running.”

“And I believe you,” he said simply.

Ivy blinked, caught completely off guard. “You do?”

Kael’s lips curved into the faintest hint of a smile, his tone as calm and steady as ever. “If you were going to run, you would’ve done it already.”

He turned without another word, heading for the door. “Bring your brother here by morning,” he said over his shoulder. “We’ll discuss the rest then.”

Ivy stared after him, her mind racing. That was it? No threats, no wolves following her every step? The ease with which he’d accepted her word unsettled her more than any growl or warning could have.

As Kael moved toward the door, he glanced back at her, his expression unreadable. “One more thing,” he said. “When you’re with me, you’ll call me Kael. Not Alpha.”

Ivy raised a brow, her smirk returning. “Whatever you say, Kael.”

He didn’t reply, but she caught the faintest glimmer of amusement in his eyes before he turned and left, the door closing firmly behind him.

Left alone in the warmth of the room, Ivy sank into the nearest chair, her mind racing. This deal was a gamble—a dangerous one—but it was the best shot she had. She could survive the rest. She always had.