The Betrayed Ex-Alpha

Chapter 1

The Night it Fell Apart

Lyn’s POV

The sound of my heels echoed against the polished marble floor. It was the only noise in the empty hallway, apart from the heavy rain pounding on the roof above.

This was supposed to be the happiest night of my life—my wedding night. I had chosen Ralph, my mate, over everything. I even gave up my position as Alpha for him.

But something was not right.

The closer I got to the Pack courtroom, the heavier the tension inside me felt, as if the storm outside had seeped into the walls around me.

I held my gown, the lace rough under my fingers, and tried to compose my breathing. My decision to trust Ralph, to step down from my role, was not easy for my heart to accept.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and kept walking.

Then, I heard voices.

They were very low at first, but as I got closer to a narrow corridor far from the main hallway, they became clear enough for me to hear.

My heart began to race as I peeked around the corner. Philip, Ralph’s closest advisor and right-hand man, stood there, talking to a man I couldn’t recognize.

The stranger held a dagger carved with a pattern that tickled the edge of my memory.

My breath stopped, and I pressed myself against the cold wall to stay hidden.

“It has to happen tonight,” Philip said in a quiet, urgent tone. “We can’t risk waiting any longer.”

The stranger shifted, and the dagger gleamed in the light, making my stomach drop.

“Are you sure she’s the one?” the man asked.

Philip nodded, his face hard. “She’s a threat to everything Ralph has worked for. If we don’t handle this now, it will all fall apart.”

The words sliced through me. Were they talking about me? Could they be? A chill ran down my spine, and I leaned closer to hear more. My heartbeat thundered in my ears.

Before I could make sense of their words, a soft voice startled me from behind.

“Luna Lyn?”

I turned to see a maid standing a few feet away, holding a bundle of towels. Her wide eyes showed she didn’t mean to scare me.

“Yes?” I answered, my voice shaky.

“The ceremony is starting. Everyone’s waiting,” she said, bowing her head.

I hesitated, glancing back toward the corridor. Philip and the stranger were gone, like ghosts.

I considered telling the maid what I overheard but decided against it. Whatever they were planning, I would find out later.

“Thank you,” I said with a forced smile, hoping she wouldn’t notice how my hands trembled. “I’ll be right there.”

She nodded and walked ahead, leaving me to follow. But the uneasy feeling clung to me like glue.

The room was filled with familiar faces from Coral Pack. Candlelight shimmered across the high ceiling, casting a warm glow over the crowd.

My eyes locked on Ralph, who stood at the far end of the aisle in a black suit. His dark eyes met mine, but instead of love, they radiated coldness.

My steps faltered, but I forced myself to keep going, each one feeling heavier than the last.

When I reached him, I offered a small smile, but he didn’t return it. Instead, he stepped back.

“Ralph?” I whispered, my heart pounding.

He raised his hand, silencing the quiet murmurs spreading through the room. His voice, loud and clear, filled the space.

“Lyn, before we continue, there’s something I need to say.”

The crowd fell silent, every eye on us. A cold knot of dread settled in my stomach.

“I can’t marry you,” he said, his words sharp and final.

I thought I misheard him. “What?” I barely managed to say.

Ralph’s face hardened. “You don’t deserve to be Luna. Not after what you’ve done.”

Gasps erupted from the crowd. My hands shook as I shook my head.

“Ralph, what are you talking about? I gave up everything for you!”

He laughed bitterly. “You expect me to believe that after you murdered your own parents?”

His accusation hit me like a punch to the face. I stumbled back, my vision blurred by tears.

The crowd descended into chaos, whispers of shock and disbelief cutting through me.

“I didn’t,” I whispered, tears streaming down my cheeks. “You know me, Ralph. You know I would never do that.”

“Enough!” he shouted, silencing me. He turned to Philip, who stepped forward holding a dagger—the same one I’d seen earlier.

“This was found near their bodies,” Ralph said coldly. “With your fingerprints all over it.”

“No,” I cried, shaking my head as the room seemed to spin. “That’s not possible. Someone is framing me!”

Ralph’s face darkened. “Save your lies. I loved you, Lyn, but now I see you for what you are—a murderer.”

I reached out to him, desperate to make him believe me, but he stepped back again, his words cutting deeper than any blade.

“I, Ralph, Alpha of Coral Pack, reject you, Lyn, as my mate.”

Pain unlike anything I’d ever felt surged through me as the mate bond snapped.

It felt as though my heart was being ripped from my chest. The room blurred as I collapsed to my knees, clutching the empty space where our bond once was, trying to hold myself together.