CHAPTER 2 : THE UNWANTED ALPHA'S WIFE

One of the pack bodyguards scowled down at her.

“The servants’ quarters are around the back. Let’s go, human,” he growled, dragging her away.

Leila gasped, struggling against his grip. “Get your hands off me!” She kicked and twisted, her voice rising above the noise.

Her cry carried across the courtyard. Alpha Adrian’s head turned sharply at the sound. His eyes widened as he finally saw her, his hidden wife, in the crowd, being manhandled like a slave.

“Release her!” Adrian’s commanding voice cut through the chaos, his eyes flashing as he stepped forward. The bodyguard immediately dropped his grip on Leila, bowing his head.

Leila stumbled back, her arm aching, her hair wet with sweat and tears. Adrian’s gaze landed on her, cold and sharp. “What the hell are you doing here? You know the rules. No unauthorized access.”

Leila’s chest rose and fell as her tears slid down her cheeks. “What? Are you afraid that I’ll interrupt your… important work? Or…” her voice cracked, “…your not-so-secret affair?”

A soft, amused laugh echoed through the courtyard. Lydia stepped forward, her heels clicking against the pavement. Her beauty was radiant, her confidence unshaken. She tilted her head at Leila with a sly smile.

“You must be Leila,” Lydia said sweetly. “Adrian’s wife. Thank you for taking care of him for the last three years.”

Her gaze slid down Leila’s neck. No bite mark. No bond. Her lips curled in satisfaction. “Good.” Lydia placed a hand on Adrian’s chest possessively. “Darling, I appreciate you keeping your promise… by marking nobody but me.”

Leila’s breath caught, her body trembling. Lydia turned back to her, voice dripping with condescension. “Sweetie, you do know that human marriages mean absolutely nothing in werewolf society, right?”

Leila’s heart shattered. Her tears fell faster. “Nothing? Is that why I’m still unmarked? Because I’m just a human?”

Adrian couldn’t meet her eyes. He said nothing, his jaw clenched. Finally, his voice came, flat and distant. “Go home. Have the maid clean your wound.”

Lydia smiled and tugged at his arm. “Yes, darling, we should go.”

“Adrian, wait!” Leila cried, stumbling forward. She held out the little box with trembling hands. “Don’t walk away. You need to see this.”

Adrian hesitated, reaching to take it—but Lydia was quicker. She snatched the box out of his hands, her smile widening as she glanced at Leila.

“This little surprise can wait,” Lydia said smoothly. She leaned close to Adrian, her voice loud enough for Leila to hear. “Adrian, we can’t be late for the baby’s first checkup, right?”

Leila froze. The words hit her like lightning. Her voice shook. “Lydia… is having your pup?” Her eyes burned with betrayal. She clutched her stomach protectively. “Then this isn’t for you, Adrian. You don’t deserve it.”

Desperation surged through her. She reached forward to snatch the box back, but Lydia gripped it tightly. With a fake gasp, Lydia stumbled backward and fell to the ground, pretending to be pushed.

Gasps erupted around them.

“Why did you push Lydia? She’s pregnant!” Adrian’s furious voice thundered across the courtyard.

“No! I didn’t push her, I was only…” Leila tried to explain, her hands trembling as she reached for him.

But Lydia cut her off, holding her stomach dramatically. “Adrian… it hurts…” she gasped weakly, pretending as though she was about to die.

Panic flashed in Adrian’s eyes. He immediately scooped Lydia into his arms, his focus only on her. “Hold on, Lydia, I’ll get you to the car!”

Leila stumbled forward. “Adrian, please! Listen to me! She’s lying!” But her words were drowned out by the crowd.

As Adrian turned his back to her, Lydia smirked over his shoulder. With a swift motion, she flung the little gift box at Leila. It struck her chest and hit the ground, the lid popping open. The pregnancy scan fluttered out, lost in the rain.

Leila reached for it desperately, but her foot slipped. She fell hard onto the pavement. Pain tore through her leg with a sickening crack. She screamed, clutching her thigh.

“Adrian!” she cried out again. But he was already inside the car with Lydia, the doors slamming shut as the engine roared to life. Within seconds, they were gone.

Leila lay in the open courtyard as heavy rain began to pour down, soaking her hair, her clothes. She could not move. Her leg throbbed with unbearable pain. She reached out weakly for the scan lying in the mud, but her fingers fell short.

She cried for help, her voice breaking. “Please… someone… help me…” But the pack members nearby only walked away. No one came.

Thunder rolled in the distance. Her sobs echoed into the storm. Just when the darkness threatened to swallow her whole, headlights cut through the rain. A car screeched to a halt, splashing water across the pavement.

Two men rushed out, their cloaks whipping in the wind.

“Leila!” a powerful voice roared.

“Sister!” Prince Darius screamed as he sprinted toward her, his face twisted in horror. He dropped to his knees in the mud, lifting her carefully into his arms.

“My princess!” another deep voice cried out—her father, the Lycan King, his eyes burning with fury and pain.

Both men shielded her from the rain, their hands trembling as they reached for her.

At the hospital, Lydia finished her check-up and walked gracefully back to the car. Her hand rested softly on Alpha Adrian’s chest as she leaned close, her eyes glittering with satisfaction.

“Thank you for coming with me for a check-up,” she purred. “You’ve always been so good to me.”

Adrian’s jaw tightened. He immediately pushed her hand away and leaned back. “Don’t mistake this, Lydia. I promised Marcus I would protect his mate and his child. That’s all I’m doing—nothing more.”

Lydia’s smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered, pressing her lips together as if to hide her annoyance. She turned her face toward the window, her hand resting protectively on her stomach.

When Adrian returned home later that evening, he expected to see Leila waiting, perhaps in their room, or sitting quietly in the kitchen as she always did. But the house was silent, too silent.

He checked the rooms one by one. Empty.

Hours passed. Still no sign of her. Adrian’s chest grew tight with unease. He pulled out his phone and dialed her number, listening to the endless ringing. No answer.

He tried again. Still nothing.

Again. Again. Until finally, the call went straight to voicemail.

His hands curled into fists. His wolf shifted uneasily inside him, restless, as if something was wrong. Adrian’s heart pounded as he stared at the phone screen. Where are you, Leila?

Finally, he hit another number on his phone. The line rang once before a steady voice answered.

“Alpha,” Alex said, his tone calm.

“Alex,” Adrian’s voice was sharp, urgent. “Search for Leila. Check every hospital in the pack territory. I don’t care how long it takes, find Leila.”

There was a pause on the other end of the line. “Every hospital?” Alex repeated, sounding surprised. “Alpha… why are you suddenly so worked up over Ms. Leila today?”

Silence filled the call for a moment. Adrian’s breathing was heavy, his jaw tight. But instead of answering, he abruptly cut the call.

Alpha Adrian was so worried his hair was messed up, his shirt wrinkled from pulling at it all night. He had drunk until the bottles piled beside him, but the alcohol didn’t calm him, it only made the ache sharper. He couldn’t sleep, couldn’t rest. His thoughts circled endlessly. Where are you, Leila? Why aren’t you answering?

He never stopped calling her number, over and over, but every time the line went dead. His hands shook as he stared at

the phone, praying she would pick up just once.

At last, his phone rang. He snatched it up immediately.