The Alpha’s Mistress

KAMARI

Viktor is being ripped out of my chest.

The pain jerks me awake, and for several seconds, I can see nothing but darkness. I try to move, but the floor beneath my body is cold enough to make me shiver.

I open my mouth to scream, but the sound never leaves my throat.

It almost feels like an invisible hand is reaching inside me and ripping away the last thread connecting me to Viktor.

I press a palm to my chest, begging my wolf to stop this madness, this thrashing inside me that makes me feel like I might burst open.

Slowly, my eyes adjust to the darkness, and I make out silver plated bars blocking the entrance. The smell of dust and something rusted fills my lungs.

They…they really locked me up?

I feel my wolf rousing in my chest, and I push off the floor and rise shakily to my feet.

Something stings my heel, but I stumble forward into the silver bars, stopping just a few inches from them to peer out into the dungeon.

Golden light spills from an abandoned lantern by the main entrance, and I can tell by the silence and rust in the air that no one has been down here in full moons.

I know because I enforced that rule, and now they just throw me in here?

Grab the bars and bend them apart, my wolf growls.

And then what? They already see me as a rogue wolf. I won’t give them that conviction. Not after what we did at the mating ceremony.

That’s when I hear something that makes my pulse stop.

Footsteps. Heavy, slow and deliberate making its way toward the dungeon.

That scent—strong and earthy and…Viktor.

My bond aches in my chest, and I almost grab hold of the silver bars for support. But my wolf keeps me on my feet, defiant as ever even as the door to the dungeon rattles—and yawns open.

I suck in a breath as his shadow fills the doorway, daring myself not to move.

He stands there for a moment, and I feel his eyes searching the space until they rest on my face.

His eyes shine like crystals, and I hear his heavy breathing, and even now…even now, my bond still yearns for this man.

Pathetic.

“Kamari.” He shuts the door behind him, nursing a tall glass of water in one hand.

My throat gulps.

Don’t take anything from him, my wolf snarls.

I retreat deeper into the cell as he advances, hoping to hell that I can break a hole in the wall and crawl into it.

“I brought you water,” he says, holding up the glass, “and I think we need to talk.”

My wolf flares in my chest.

“No, Viktor,” I shake my head, “I think you’ve made yourself very clear.”

“How can I? You haven’t been listening to me all this time.”

His words land like drops of acid, and I just stare at him wide eyed.

“What does that even mean? All I’ve ever done is listen to you and be by your side—“

“Then you must understand that I’m doing this for the good of my pack.”

My mind fogs.

“What…what are you talking about?”

His gaze drops to his feet, fingers clutching the glass so tightly that I fear it might break.

“I’m already behind bars, Viktor, the least you can do for me is to just tell me what happened.”

He exhales sharply and looks up at me, jaw tight.

“Reyah is of noble blood, Kamari. A bond with her will not only elevate the pack. It’ll rebrand our identity.”

I blink to make sure I’m not dreaming. That the words I’m hearing are not coming from Viktor—the man who bore nothing but contempt for noble blooded wolves.

He always said that they were condescending.

He called them privileged at birth and downright entitled to a life that they don’t always deserve while ordinary wolves rot away in the darkness despite putting in the real work.

I fold my hands to hide their shaking.

“So, not only are you a cheating liar, you’re also a hypocrite?”

“I am a leader. I have to put my pack first before…” his voice trails off, gaze dropping to the glass of water, “are you thirsty?”

For your blood, yes.

“You don’t even know her. You were in my bed this morning, and now, you’re—“

“I don’t need to know her to make her my Luna.”

Luna. The word feels like a slap to my face now.

“Then why are you here? I don’t think the alpha of FreeHide offered water to his prisoners.”

“Does that mean you want it?”

“No. I don’t want anything other than for you to release me.”

His eyes burn holes in my skull.

“I can’t release you from this cell…at least not yet.”

“That’s not what I’m talking about, Viktor,” I choke, inching toward the bars, “I need you to release me from this bond. You have your Luna now. I don’t have to carry any more pain for you. I don’t want to.”

His face darkens, and I swear I hear the slight cracking of glass.

“Viktor—“

“Contrary to what you might be thinking, I am also in pain.”

My wolf rouses in my chest. Liar.

I scoff.

“The only thing hurting here is your member. Go put it in your Luna and stop making it my problem.”

He sucks in a breath like my words sting.

“Kamari.”

“Leave me alone, Viktor. Do you want me to spell it out in my own blood?”

“And if I leave you alone, what will happen to you?”

Somehow, his words make my wolf flinch.

“What do you mean?” I ask.

His voice drops like the walls might be listening.

“You know how this works, Kamari. Rogue wolves get exiled and taken under custody by the River Howlers.”

Goosebumps crawl up my arms, and I hug myself to maybe slow me from breaking apart.

“You’re..you’re going to remove me from this pack right after breaking my heart? I have been here over a hundred full moons with you, you wouldn’t DARE do this to me.”

“Kamari, it’s not MY idea. Reyah sent word across to patrol before even telling me. It was out of my hands from the start.”

Reyah. Of course she’ll do this. She won’t stand looking me in the eyes after what she did, and I don’t plan to stick around anyway.

“But I can’t just let you be taken like that. You deserve some compensation, at least.”

My eyes narrow at him.

“What could possibly compensate me for all my wasted years?”

His eyes light up.

He sets the glass on an upturned rock and turns to me.

“Stay with me, but as my mistress.”

His words slice through the air like a whip and hit me square in the chest.

“Mistress?” My voice cracks.

“You will have your own chambers, your own life in the pack, your own freedom—“

“Except it’s not really freedom, is it?” My body shakes with the rage that consumes me, “I won’t be seen in public. I won’t have a role. My voice won’t be heard. I’ll be a nobody. Just YOUR mistress.”

“You’re already an undocumented wolf, Kamari,” his voice tenses, “we both know it’ll be better that way. And I’ll take good care of you. I’ll give you the very best.”

“The very best…for the very least,” my voice chokes, “I’ll always be beneath you and Reyah.”

I can’t believe he’s saying this to me. My Viktor would never—

But he’s not your Viktor anymore, my wolf hisses.

He’s just Viktor.

He glances over his shoulder again, shifting on his feet.

“I shouldn’t even be here, Kamari. Just say yes, and I’ll set you free right away.” He retrieves the key from his pocket and holds it up to me.

I can reach out and grab it, and all this will be in the past…but so will everything I’ve built, everything I suppressed to be the Luna he desperately needed.

Not anymore.

I step closer, and so does he. A smile grows on his lips, like he’s certain I’ll take the bait.

Instead, I lean forward—and I spit in his face.

He freezes, eyes shut tight as saliva drips from his lower lip and onto his chin.

My wolf thrashes against my ribcage.

Do it again. Do it again.

The silence that hangs between us feels like it stretches on forever, but I stand my ground, not flinching when he lifts his hand to wipe the stain.

A strangled laugh escapes his throat, but when he steps closer, the smile is gone, replaced by something I know all too well.

I feel my blood run cold.

“You don’t know what it’s like to be nothing, but I grew up in it. I’ve lived it all my life.”

“Good for you?”

His eyes burn into mine.

“I pity you, Kamari. The world out there is hungry, and it’ll eat you alive. I just hope you realize your mistake before then.”

Mistake? The only mistake I made was loving you.

“I will NEVER return to you, Viktor. I swear to the moon goddess.”

He scoffs, taking a small step back.

“Your chambers will stay empty until you return from your adventure.”

“You better fill it up with your pups or it’ll waste away.”

He glares at me like he can tear through the silver bars and make me stay, but not even the moon goddess can.

“Get some sleep, Kamari. You’ll need it.” He says, and then he’s gone—slamming the door shut behind him, locking me in the darkness.

I drop to my knees, chest caving as his words echo in my head.

Mistress. Second. Never free.

No.

I’ll take exile over being the runt of this pack.

This time, I won’t stop running.