Fated to the Enemy Alpha

My heart shattered, but I refused to let it show. Kayden and Francis, my oldest friends, those who once swore they'd always protect me, stood across from me, cold and unyielding, with Sharon nestled between them, wide-eyed and innocent as ever.

"Maybe if you weren't so distant, we'd still trust you," Francis spat, not even sparing me a glance.

Kayden's tone was softer but just as cutting. "She's done nothing to you, Malinda. Sharon just wants to belong... maybe the problem is you."

Their words pierced deeper than I could have imagined. The sting of betrayal was sharper than any pain I'd known. They were ready to throw me aside for someone they barely knew. In that moment, my path forward was clear. Leaving them, choosing the arranged mateship with a powerful, unknown Alpha, felt like the only way to escape the heartbreak of staying where I wasn't wanted.

Without a word, I turned and walked away. Leaving them would hurt, but it would hurt less than staying.

"Malinda, we've arranged a Mateship Ceremony for you," my mother's voice echoed in my mind. "Your blood is becoming more volatile every day. Only the strength of an Alpha mate can keep your blood stable and keep you safe."

I sat alone in my dimly lit room, my gaze fixed on the shadowy corners. Silence stretched between us, heavy and unspoken. I knew my mother would speak again, offering me an out, as she always did.

"If you don't want this, I'll speak to your father and cancel everything. We won't force you," she finally said, her voice softer than before.

I took a deep breath, my answer steady and unwavering. "I'm willing, Mom. I'll go through with the arranged mateship."

There was a stunned silence on the other end before she stammered in disbelief. "You… you agreed?"

"Yes, I agreed," I repeated, calm and resolute. "But I need time to wrap things up in the Shadow Pack. Please start preparing for the Mateship Ceremony."

I ended the mind link without asking a single question about the Alpha they'd chosen. I didn't care who he was or what he knew about my fragile health. All that mattered was that he was willing to mate with someone everyone thought was dying.

But I wasn't dying. Not yet. The Lycan blood running through me was more than my body could handle without a mate's mark to stabilize it. Each day, I grew weaker, struggling to keep the surge of power inside from overtaking me.

As the connection faded, loud music from the packhouse drifted up through my walls. The faint sound of voices singing "Happy Birthday" mixed with the clinking of glasses and laughter. Downstairs, Kayden and Francis, my oldest friends and the Alpha's sons, were throwing a celebration for Sharon, the newest member of the Shadow Pack. She'd arrived a month ago, orphaned after a rogue attack left her alone.

A soft knock interrupted my thoughts, followed by the quiet creak of the door. Sharon entered, a shy smile on her face, a slice of blueberry cake in her hand, frosting smudged on her carefully made-up face. She stepped closer, her eyes wide with hope.

"Malinda," she began in a sweet, soft voice, "won't you come down and join us? I'd love to have you there with me."

My gaze hardened. Beneath her innocent expression, I saw flashes of something else, a slyness I couldn't ignore. "I have work to finish, Sharon," I replied, my tone icy. "Go enjoy your party."

A flicker of hurt crossed her face, and her eyes welled with tears. "Malinda… do you not like me? Is that why you always keep your distance?"

I clenched my jaw. I hadn't even done anything, but Sharon was already playing the victim. It felt so obvious. Almost laughable.

"Sharon," I said, my voice laced with warning, "save your performances for Kayden and Francis. They may fall for it, but I don't." I turned to close the door.

But Sharon, undeterred, reached out to stop it, catching her hand painfully between the door and the frame. She gasped, cradling her swelling hand.

"Aww, "

At that moment, Kayden and Francis rounded the corner. Their eyes fell on Sharon, clutching her injured hand, and they rushed over without sparing me a second glance. Francis's face turned red with anger as he looked at me.

"Malinda, if you don't like Sharon, fine, but you didn't have to hurt her!" he snapped, his words sharp with accusation. "When did you become so cruel?"

Kayden, ever the quieter one, looked at me with cold, disappointed eyes. "Today's her birthday, Malinda," he said, his voice low. "There was no need for this."

Turning back to Sharon, he instantly softened. "Let's get that hand of yours looked at. Does it hurt much?"

Kayden led Sharon away, with Francis following close behind. I watched them fawn over her, whispering promises to lift her spirits. It felt like I was watching strangers, not the two friends who had once been everything to me.