Page 13
Story: Secrets of An Alpha
At first glance, I barely recognised him. In just one month, he had lost a lot of weight, and his appearance was haggard and worn. The tailored clothes that had once fit his powerful frame now hung loosely.
Dark circles surrounded his eyes. This shell of a man bore little resemblance to the strong, confident Alpha I had left behind. When he saw me, his dull eyes brightened with desperate hope. He rushed forward as if to embrace me, arms extended like a drowning man reaching for the shore.
I dodged his approach, my heart pounding against my ribs. The mere sight of him brought back memories of everything: tenderness, betrayal, and surgery.
“Don’t,” I said, my tone sharper than intended.
I retreated several steps, keeping a distance between us. My entire body tensed as I watched him warily. Noctara and Groveborn, sensing my distress from inside the house, started barking furiously at the window.
“Stay back,” I said, raising one hand as if to physically block him.
Dylan slowed in mid-stride, pain flashing across his gaunt face. His shoulders slumped, making him look even smaller.
“Amelia, what did I do wrong? Why would you treat me like this?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. “All these years together, and you just… disappeared.”
He took a shaky breath and continued.
“I was only gone for one day on pack business, and you vanished without a trace, leaving divorce papers behind. Have you stopped loving me? Has everything we built meant nothing?”
His voice had a wounded quality, as if he had suffered a terrible injustice. His hands trembled as he reached for me again, stopping when I flinched.
It appeared that he had no idea I had discovered his affair with Mabel. The realisation caused a bitter taste in my throat. “You really don’t know?” I enquired, surprised.
Dylan’s confused expression only fuelled my rage. I took out my phone and played the recording of Mabel’s words that day in the hospital room. I’d saved it as a reminder, a safeguard against moments of weakness when memories of happier times tempted me back.
Mabel’s smug voice filled the gap between us.
“Do you actually believe he loves you? Every night after you fall asleep, he comes to me. Even when I was pregnant, he wouldn’t leave me alone.”
Dylan’s eyes widened with horror as the recording progressed.
“Let me tell you something-that day of the rogue wolf attack, he wasn’t patrolling the border as he claimed. He went into rogue territory to rescue me and our son.”
“Tomorrow is my son’s third birthday. Dylan is hosting a grand celebration to declare my boy as the pack’s heir. He’ll also acknowledge me as the new ranking female. Your replacement.”
Dylan’s face drained of colour so quickly that I thought he might pass out. He staggered back a step, reaching for a fence post to steady himself.
He stared at me with disbelief, his mouth opening and closing silently.
“She… told you all that?” he finally said, barely audible.
Dark circles surrounded his eyes. This shell of a man bore little resemblance to the strong, confident Alpha I had left behind. When he saw me, his dull eyes brightened with desperate hope. He rushed forward as if to embrace me, arms extended like a drowning man reaching for the shore.
I dodged his approach, my heart pounding against my ribs. The mere sight of him brought back memories of everything: tenderness, betrayal, and surgery.
“Don’t,” I said, my tone sharper than intended.
I retreated several steps, keeping a distance between us. My entire body tensed as I watched him warily. Noctara and Groveborn, sensing my distress from inside the house, started barking furiously at the window.
“Stay back,” I said, raising one hand as if to physically block him.
Dylan slowed in mid-stride, pain flashing across his gaunt face. His shoulders slumped, making him look even smaller.
“Amelia, what did I do wrong? Why would you treat me like this?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. “All these years together, and you just… disappeared.”
He took a shaky breath and continued.
“I was only gone for one day on pack business, and you vanished without a trace, leaving divorce papers behind. Have you stopped loving me? Has everything we built meant nothing?”
His voice had a wounded quality, as if he had suffered a terrible injustice. His hands trembled as he reached for me again, stopping when I flinched.
It appeared that he had no idea I had discovered his affair with Mabel. The realisation caused a bitter taste in my throat. “You really don’t know?” I enquired, surprised.
Dylan’s confused expression only fuelled my rage. I took out my phone and played the recording of Mabel’s words that day in the hospital room. I’d saved it as a reminder, a safeguard against moments of weakness when memories of happier times tempted me back.
Mabel’s smug voice filled the gap between us.
“Do you actually believe he loves you? Every night after you fall asleep, he comes to me. Even when I was pregnant, he wouldn’t leave me alone.”
Dylan’s eyes widened with horror as the recording progressed.
“Let me tell you something-that day of the rogue wolf attack, he wasn’t patrolling the border as he claimed. He went into rogue territory to rescue me and our son.”
“Tomorrow is my son’s third birthday. Dylan is hosting a grand celebration to declare my boy as the pack’s heir. He’ll also acknowledge me as the new ranking female. Your replacement.”
Dylan’s face drained of colour so quickly that I thought he might pass out. He staggered back a step, reaching for a fence post to steady himself.
He stared at me with disbelief, his mouth opening and closing silently.
“She… told you all that?” he finally said, barely audible.