Cherished and Chased Away

"Alpha Carl, this is going too damn far! Daisy's barely hanging on. She's still healing from everything she went through for you. And now, because Fiona got herself into some petty fight, you're just going to drop everything and run to her?

"Do you even hear yourself right now? You're putting Daisy and yourself at risk! Do you have any idea how many rival packs are just waiting for you to show your face? You're being a damn idiot!"

The voice of Axel Payne—Carl's close friend—echoed through the cracks in the wall.

I froze mid-step, caught off guard for a second.

As the most powerful Alpha in the Eastlands, Carl ruled over an empire of businesses. To keep his dealings private, his castle was riddled with hidden chambers.

Moments later, the sound of something shattering echoed through the air again.

Axel continued, "What do you mean you only ever loved Fiona? Maybe Daisy was just some Rogue you dragged in from the Borderlands, but she's spent years being a decoy, and she's never let you down!

"If you never loved her, then why didn't you let her go? If it had been Fiona in her place, you'd be dead by now!"

"Shut the hell up! If I don't paint Daisy as my weakness and my one obsession, how else am I supposed to keep Fiona off my enemies' radar? Daisy's been Luna of the Eastlands for years. It's not like I ever mistreated her!" Carl's voice came through, sharp and low.

I backed into the wall, eyes widening as the truth hit me—he'd loved someone else all along, whereas I was nothing but a decoy.

I staggered back to my room. The wound I'd earned protecting him tore open again, and blood leaked from my abdomen, but I barely felt it over the sting of betrayal.

On the nightstand, the apples Carl had so carefully sliced for me sat untouched, mocking me like some twisted joke.

He treated me like I was everything. He pulled me out of the Borderlands, made me his mate, and gave me everything I ever asked for. That kind of bold, all-consuming love sparked envy wherever we went.

As Alpha of the Eastlands, Carl ruled over ten packs and a business empire that stretched deep into the lawless Borderlands.

In just five years, I'd been abducted three times because of him, taken two knives to the gut, and thrown myself in front of a bullet. I would've died for him if needed!

I thought all his grand gestures meant he loved me down to the bone, but it was all a lie.

"Did you just go out?" Carl's voice came from behind me abruptly.

I turned on instinct. Tears still streaked my face, and I met his warm, smiling eyes.

Countless times, I'd told myself I was one of the lucky ones. I told myself that the Moon Goddess had smiled on me, giving me someone as perfect and exceptional as Carl for a mate.

But now, for the first time, I saw that cold look in his eyes that made my blood run still.

"Daisy, are you scared of me? Where did you just go?" Carl questioned.

He was too astute.

I managed a smile. "I woke up and you were gone, so I went looking. It freaked me out a little, that's all."

One week—that was all it took to go from a nameless Omega Rogue scraping by on the Borderlands to being mated to the most powerful Alpha in all of the Eastlands.

After that first abduction, the fear never really left me. It clung to my bones. Anytime Carl wasn't near, panic crept in, and I'd start to shake.

He didn't question it. He just stroked my hair to quiet the storm in me.

His fingers found my jaw, trailing softly along the curve before brushing my ear. He then slid down my neck, tracing the length of my spine.

I drew in a sharp breath, and a tremor ran through me. Finally, his hand settled at my waist, its warmth setting fire to every nerve beneath my skin.

"I'll be gone tomorrow. Be good and wait for me at home," he said.

Carl pressed a kiss to the corner of my lips, his breath hot against my ear as the words melted into me like a brand.

A shiver ran through me. I clung to his shirt, my voice barely a whisper as I said, "Carl, my wound still hurts..."

He pulled my top over my head, brows knitting together when he saw the bloodied bandages beneath.

"Daisy, you're always getting hurt. I have urgent business to attend to. You've got to start taking better care of yourself."

Carl's touch was gentle as he replaced the bandages and smoothed on the ointment. There was real concern in his eyes, but the words I'd overheard kept replaying in my mind.

Why was he leaving tomorrow? Was it to see Fiona Barone, the woman he truly loved and the one I'd nearly died trying to protect?