Chapter 1

FANE’S P.O.V

I staggered, almost falling, but I held the wall for support. My body had begun to tremble at this time. My vision had become blurry and I could barely even see. Regardless, I found my way to my room.

My chest was now rising and falling rapidly when I stepped into my room, the scene I had just witnessed replaying in front of me. I froze like it was happening before me again, but shaking my head, I realized it was just the emerald dress the maid had picked out for me that was on the bed.

I left my room with a smile but returned with tears in my eyes. But no, I refused to be sad. I couldn’t allow myself to wallow in self-pity. No.

About two hours later, I was finding it difficult to put my jewelry on. It made me restless. I sighed again and again before I threw the bead across the room in anger. The bead burst and scattered all over the ground next to the wall, some rolling away and others spreading across my room.

My hands shook and to steady them, I ran them through my hair. I looked at myself in the mirror and the image flooded back. She was moaning and he was pounding into her relentlessly. The way she called his name and the way he held her made it so obvious that it was not their first time. The thought of it made my chest tighten with pain.

I grabbed another piece of jewelry from the box and pressed it to my outfit, making sure it fit even though my hand was still shaking like crazy. As much as I wanted to scream and curl myself up in my bed, I didn’t do it. I would rather walk through a pit of fire than wallow in self-pity.

He was my mate… so what?

She was my stepmother… so fucking what?!!

I shut my eyes and held my belly because it hurt like hell. I owe myself a better experience. I owe myself to be strong. They did me dirty but I would not let them make me forget what I owe myself.

My heart tightened so much in my chest, it felt like it was going to burst.

The feast had begun and I was needed there. Alpha princesses were meant to be strong. I was strong.

I grabbed my silver-stoned purse and stepped out of my room, breathing heavily when I stepped into the hallway.

My heart was still pounding recklessly and everything in me was fighting to go back into my room and lock myself up.

But no, I was strong. I believed.

I walked out, plastering a fake smile on my face when all I could see was Casteel ramming his entire cock into my stepmommy. Goodness, I called her mommy for years. For years, but she was fucking my mate all this time.

Suddenly, her blonde hair came into sight.

Her fake smile and red lipstick were the next things I saw on her.

Even under the glowing moon, her skin popped, basically because she bathed herself in milk twice a day. My stepmother took care of her body more than she ever did anything. She was gorgeous with a banging body. At this moment, I wondered if this was how she seduced my mate. The thought made my heart thud painfully.

My hands shook again.

“Wow, Alpha Rhyan!” she squealed, walking ahead, almost tripping over the six-inch heels she wore.

I followed her gaze, tracing it over to… oh my god. I froze. A new man.

I knew Alphas were going to be visiting but this was the first time I was seeing this man. I watched him adjust his shirt, flicking a few buttons open and showing his hard, rock chest. Every gaze fell on him. Even other Alphas noticed him.

Father prepared a feast every year to meet his friends for business and drinks. It was also his way of attracting innovative men. Women love parties and men love drinks. My father believed innovation resided in places like that.

While I always found it unnecessary because I was required to prove myself every time.

Nevertheless, Alpha Rhyan. It was the first time I was hearing about him. What pack did he come from? How did stepmother know him?

She was speaking to him and giggling.

A waiter walked past just in time. I stopped him and grabbed a glass of wine, walking over to a stand to watch him.

There was something about this man that was different. Besides that he was handsome, his aura was different and for some reason, it made me forget the pain of betrayal. Where did he come from? I began to wonder.

Then his gaze shifted and I froze in the air.

It was as if he noticed me but I couldn’t tell because there was no reaction on his face.

The next second, she pulled him away. And he followed her just like that, just when I thought he wasn’t paying attention to her. I hissed and forced myself to look away.

Yet, I stared at the space they left behind. My fingers tightened around the glass and I told myself I wouldn’t move an inch away from here unless I needed to introduce myself to the guest.

No, I shouldn’t go.

But my body had started to move before my mind could stop me. They had gone far into the building but I traced them.

Finally, Rhea stopped in front of her dressing room again. Nostalgia hit me. It sank through me and I froze by the side. She had slept with Casteel there. She wasn’t going to…

Curiosity got the better of me and I followed. I pushed the door back slightly and peered. To my shock, stepmom was on her knees and her mouth was over his cock. She bobbed her head over and over, making sensual noises with her mouth.

I raised my head slightly to meet his face. He had a smirk on his face, looking down at her, while his hand fisted her hair.

I froze and my stomach twisted with disgust. I watched them rather than turn away. Something inside of me held me and I stayed still. Anger brewed inside of me.

I contemplated bursting in and pulling her out of that room. But it didn’t make sense that I wished he would stop touching her. It didn’t concern me.

I could see his V-line from here.

His abs, because she kept touching them and raising his shirt. I wanted to grab her hand and pull it away from him badly.

What was wrong with me? This was clearly none of my business. I should have turned away but I kept my eyes glued on them like it was pornography. Anyone could walk by and catch me, yet I continued to stare.

Then he moved and my breath shook. He grabbed her and threw her onto the white couch. Rhea gasped and laughed shamelessly. I hated the sound of her laughter. He ran a hand over his wet, hard cock. My eyes widened at the length and size of it. I couldn’t possibly take that. Never. Wait. Damn. Why did I just think of taking him?

He moved closer to Rhea. Her legs were now spread apart and her back well arched. He shoved her panties to the corner and pushed his cock into her and she did not even flinch. How many of this size has she taken?

No. No. I should leave.

But his powerful back.

The way his biceps clenched at every moment.

Damn. No. Not damn.

I could feel my thigh clench without my permission. My stomach pooled with need that I couldn’t give it. My mind begged my body to move away but it refused.

I watched him slam into Rhea and her moans only made my stomach go wild, asking for something I could never get. This was wrong but I couldn’t turn away.