Chapter two

ALPHA KING

Isla’s POV

The moment Alpha Ryan Volkov stepped into the hall, the entire atmosphere changed.

Every wolf lowered their head immediately, including Athena beside Roman. The whispers died so fast that it became terrifying. I stood frozen among them, my chest still hurting from Roman’s betrayal, while my mind struggled to catch up with everything happening around me.

Ryan Volkov looked exactly the same as he always had.

Cold. Untouchable. Dangerous.

His black suit fit his broad body perfectly while those ice-blue eyes scanned the room with enough authority to make grown Alphas nervous. He walked forward slowly like a man who already owned every soul inside the building.

And technically, he did.

“Father,” Roman greeted carefully.

Ryan’s eyes moved to him briefly before returning to the crowd.

“I arrived at an unfortunate time,” he said calmly.

Nobody answered. Nobody dared to.

I tried lowering my gaze like everyone else, but somehow, my eyes betrayed me and lifted toward him again.

Then it happened.

Ryan looked directly at me. My heart stumbled painfully at this.

His stare lingered for one second too long before his jaw tightened almost invisibly. It was subtle enough that no one else would notice, but I did.

Then his attention shifted away from me as if nothing had happened.

“You made an announcement,” Ryan finally said to Roman.

Roman straightened slightly. “Yes.”

“And?”

Roman glanced toward Athena before speaking again. “Athena Warren is now my chosen mate.”

Chosen mate. I hated that those words still hurt.

Ryan remained silent for a moment. Then his gaze slowly shifted toward Athena.

She instantly smiled nervously.

“Congratulations,” he said flatly.

Roman’s expression tightened slightly, like even he hated how emotionless his father sounded.

Then Ryan’s eyes moved across the room again before landing on me for the second time that evening.

I immediately looked away.

Humiliation burned through my body so badly I wanted the ground to split open beneath me. I could still hear the whispers surrounding me.

“Poor Isla.”

“She got replaced.”

“Weak wolves always lose.”

“Roman finally came to his senses.”

I wanted to leave. No.

I needed to leave.

My chest hurt too much to remain there another second.

I turned quickly and rushed out of the hall before anyone could stop me.

The cold air slapped against my face the moment I stepped outside, but it did nothing to stop the tears finally spilling from my eyes.

I hated myself for crying. I hated him even more for making me cry.

Five years.

Five whole years wasted on someone who had looked relieved while humiliating me publicly. Five years ago, I had the liberty to meet the possessive, manipulative, and selfish part of him, yet I stayed. Because I was in love.

I walked faster through the estate grounds blindly, wiping my tears angrily.

“I told you not to embarrass yourself.”

Roman’s voice made me stop instantly, turning around in urgency.

He stood several feet away from me with his hands tucked inside his pockets like he had not just destroyed me in front of an entire pack.

“You followed me?” I asked bitterly.

He sighed heavily. “You forced me to.”

I laughed weakly in disbelief.

Forced him?

“Do you know how pathetic you looked standing there tonight?” he continued coldly. “You should’ve understood the situation before making yourself look desperate.”

Desperate.

The word hit harder than I expected.

“You invited me,” I whispered painfully.

Roman’s face hardened. “Because I planned to tell you privately first, but Athena wanted the announcement tonight.”

Of course she did.

“You could’ve warned me.”

“I tried ending things with you months ago, Isla, but you kept clinging onto me.”

That snapped something inside me.

“Clinging?” I repeated, stunned. “You told me you loved me three days ago.”

Roman ran a hand through his hair impatiently. “Things changed.”

“No. You changed.”

Silence fell upon us instantly.

For a brief second, guilt flickered across his face before disappearing again.

“Athena is better suited for my future,” he finally admitted.

Every word felt like I had just been rejected the second time.

“She’s stronger. More respected. More capable of standing beside someone like me, unlike someone like you.”

Someone like me, meaning weak. Embarrassing. Unworthy.

I whimpered painfully inside me, staring at him for several seconds before nodding slowly.

“You know what hurts the most?” I asked quietly.

Roman frowned slightly.

“I spent years defending you whenever people called you cruel.” My voice cracked. “Turns out they were right.”

Something dark flashed in his eyes.

“Don’t start acting innocent now, Isla. You knew what this relationship was becoming.”

I shook my head slowly.

“No. I knew you stopped loving me. I just didn’t realize you hated me too.”

Roman looked away first, and that alone told me enough.

I swallowed hard and stepped backward.

“I never want to see you again.” Then I turned to leave.

“Isla.”

I stopped walking.

Roman’s voice softened slightly behind me.

“You’ll survive this.”

I scoffed bitterly without turning around, whispering to myself. “Of course.”

That was the problem. I always survived, no matter how badly I got broken.

I continued walking until his scent finally disappeared behind me. Only then did I allow myself to break completely.

*****

The next morning felt worse. I barely slept. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Roman standing beside Athena while the entire hall watched me fall apart.

I hated that memory already.

“You’re still here?”

I looked up from the kitchen table to find Aunt Clara staring at me with clear irritation.

“Good morning,” I muttered reluctantly.

She scoffed. “Stop acting like a victim. Roman upgraded himself. That’s all.”

My grip tightened around the cup in my hand.

“You should be grateful Athena saved you from embarrassing yourself further while frolicking with someone of his status.”

I looked at her in disbelief.

“Grateful?”

“Yes,” she snapped. “Do you think wolves weren’t mocking this family because Roman dated you? A weak girl with no proper wolf?”

The familiar pain settled heavily inside my chest again.

I stood up slowly. “I’m not discussing this.”

“You should discuss your future instead,” she replied harshly. “Because no powerful wolf will ever want you now.”

I walked away before she could continue. If I stayed there longer, I would cry again. And I was tired of crying.

Completely tired.

I entered my room and immediately froze after spotting a strangely printed envelope sitting on my bed.

Confused, I picked it up carefully.

My name was written on it, and inside was a job acceptance letter. An outside city job I had applied for some months ago, when Roman had a fight with his father, and he cut him off. I was going to work for us. So we could survive.

My eyes widened slowly.

Crescent Estate. Administrative assistant position. Accommodation included.

My breath caught.

With lots of rejections from several employers, I thought I would never get hired. But this one…

This one had actually accepted me. Tears welled up in my eyes as my heart raced painfully. Leaving Roman was a thought that had never crossed my mind. But this was my chance and I wouldn’t miss it.

A real chance to stay away from him. Far away from Athena. Far away from everyone who spent years reminding me how worthless I was. For the first time since last night, something inside me felt lighter.

Then the bedroom door burst open, and Athena walked in smiling. That smile alone warned me that something was wrong.

“Well,” she said cheerfully. “Roman spent the night with me.”

I clenched the letter tightly.

She noticed immediately.

“What’s that?”

“Nothing.”

Athena snatched the paper from my hand before I could stop her.

Her eyebrows lifted as she read.

“You’re leaving?”

I stayed silent.

Then her expression slowly darkened.

“You think running away changes who you are?”

“No,” I answered quietly. “But maybe it changes the people around me.”

Athena’s jaw tightened instantly.

And for a second, pure hatred flashed across her face.

Then she suddenly smiled again.

“Go then,” she said softly. “Maybe another city won’t notice how weak you are immediately.”

I took the letter back from her hands carefully.

“That’s the plan.”

But as Athena stared at me silently afterward, a strange feeling crept into my chest.

Something about her expression unsettled me.

Like she knew something I didn’t.

And somehow…

That frightened me more than Roman’s betrayal ever had.