Cayden’s eyes opened slowly to reveal a sterile, white hospital room. His return to consciousness was signalled by the soft beeping of machines and the distant hum of voices. Confusion engulfed his mind as he attempted to recall the events that had led up to his current state. What happened following the fight with Alpha Fred? How did he get here?
A sharp pain in his neck drew his attention, and his fingers reached instinctively for the source of the pain. His fingertips brush against a raised mark—a bite mark—and he winces as they brush against a tender spot. The realisation struck him like a bolt of lightning. It was a mating bite. It flooded his mind with images of Selena, his captivating mate.
He remembered being shot by Fred as the last thing he remembered. A rush of surprise and elation coursed through him as his fingers traced the imprint of Selena’s claim. Selena had saved his life and designated him as her mate. The previous night’s memories came flooding back, vivid and passionate. Cayden remembered the intensity of their bond. The electric current that pulsed between them as they surrendered to the primal instinct that held them together. Selena’s bite had not only marked him, but it had also sealed their fate—a bond that would shape the course of their lives for the rest of their lives. He smiled.
As Beta Oscar entered the room, Cayden’s bliss was shattered. He was lost in the euphoria of his newfound mate. Oscar looked at Cayden. His expression was a mix of relief and concern. Reflecting the tumultuous events that occurred during Cayden’s unconsciousness.
“Alpha Cayden,” Oscar said, his voice heavy with emotion. “You’ve awoken. Thank you to the Moon Goddess. We were afraid we’d lost you.”
Cayden’s eyes lock with Oscar’s, searching for answers. “What happened, Oscar? Where is Max?”
Oscar sighed deeply and sagged his shoulders. “We brought you back to our den after you were injured. She looked after you and treated your wounds. But she quickly vanished. We haven’t been able to track her down since.”
Cayden’s heart was filled with a mixture of surprise and longing. Selena’s actions puzzled him, but the mating bite on his neck proved her love. Despite the uncertainty, he felt a glimmer of happiness.
“Tell me what else happened?” Cayden asked.
Oscar’s solemn expression darkens. “There’s more to it, Alpha. I’m afraid I have some bad news for you. Beta Natasha was killed in the battle with Alpha Fred. She fought bravely, but her wounds were too severe.”
Rage engulfed Cayden’s heart, obliterating any trace of the happiness that had briefly danced within him. Natasha had been an extraordinary beta, fiercely loyal and devoted. Their past relationship resurfaced in his mind, each memory resplendent and painful.
He pushed himself up from the bed, his muscles tensing with fury. “Take me to her,” he commanded, his voice filled with determination. “I need to see her.”
Oscar nodded, understanding the anguish and anger coursing through Cayden’s veins. Cayden quickly pulled on some clothes. Together, they navigated the corridors of the hospital, their footsteps echoing with a sense of purpose. As they approached the morgue, Cayden’s steps faltered. His heart was heavy with the weight of loss.
The sight of Natasha’s lifeless body elicited a rush of emotions within Cayden. Memories of their time together flooded his mind—a time filled with shared pain and happiness and unwavering support. A tear slipped down his cheek, an offering of sorrow for a love that was tragically cut short.
Kneeling beside Natasha’s still form, Cayden whispered words of love and gratitude. He recounted their shared moments, cherishing the bond they had formed as Alpha and Beta. Grief intertwined with the rage that burned within him, fuelling his determination to avenge her loss and protect their pack from further harm. Cayden rose. His resolve hardened. He turned to Oscar, meeting his gaze with steely determination.
“Where is Max?”
“Max has gone to attend the council meeting. Someone had to represent the pack and there is something more that you should know.” Oscar said hesitatingly.
“What is it?” Cayden barked.
“There is something you must know, Alpha Cayden,” Oscar began, his tone heavy with trepidation. “It was Selena. She is responsible for Natasha’s death.”
Cayden recoiled, the words striking him like a bolt of lightning. It felt inconceivable, a betrayal of everything he believed to be true. Selena had saved his life; she had marked him as her mate. The mere suggestion that she could be responsible for Natasha’s demise was unfathomable to him.
“No,” Cayden’s voice trembled with defiance, his heart rejecting the accusation. “Selena would never betray us. She saved my life. She would never harm us.”
Oscar’s gaze bore into Cayden’s.
“I wish it weren’t true, my Alpha, but we have evidence. She was in contact with Hawk. She told him about our attack on Alpha Fred. That is why we were ambushed.”
“How dare you accuse my mate?” Cayden growled.
Oscar kneeled fearfully and bared his neck in submission.
“Please forgive me, my Alpha, but I have evidence. Even beta Max had his doubts, so he asked us to keep her locked in her room. But then she forced Dr Colin to see you.”
Cayden grabbed Oscar’s throat and pushed him into the morgue’s wall.
“Right, and you can see that I am still alive. So, how can you claim she was spying for Hawk?”
“Cayden, let him go!” Max rushed to Cayden’s side and tried to pry away a struggling Oscar.
“Natasha told me before her death that she could detect dark magic from Selena,” Max explained.
“What?” Cayden left Oscar and stared at Max in disbelief.
“Yes, please listen to me…. I feel Natasha was right.” Max whispered.
Cayden’s world spun, the ground beneath him crumbling as the weight of the revelation bore down upon him. Conflicting emotions raged within him—a fierce loyalty to Selena clashing with the evidence presented by Oscar. He struggled to reconcile the image of the woman he loved with the possibility of her deception.
Meanwhile, far away from Cayden’s reach, Selena slowly regained consciousness. Blinking against the harsh light, she found herself confined in a dimly lit room, her heart pounding with fear and uncertainty. The sound of heavy footsteps approached, and as the door swung open, her eyes locked on the figure that emerged.
“Selena,” a voice resonated with authority, “Welcome home, my dear daughter. You have caused quite a stir.”
Before her stood Alpha Hawk, her father—the very man she had been despising. The realisation crashed over her like a tidal wave.