The Cursed Alpha King's Miracle Mate

Scarlett

‎I park in the garage, tarrying in the car as I think back to the pack doctor's words, “You're three weeks along.”

‎

‎A smile tugs at the corner of my lips as I place a hand on my stomach. My chest feels too small to hold all the excitement I'm feeling.

‎

‎Tomorrow, I'll walk down the aisle with the love of my life, Alpha Zachary Ledger. Zachary and I went from childhood friends to lovers, and tomorrow, we'll be getting married.

I'm so lucky.

‎

‎Nobody mates with wolfless she-wolves. I'd thought it'd be the same for me when I turned nineteen a few months back and was still wolfless. 

‎

‎But Zack accepts me when the world rejects and shuns my kind. He loves me for who I am.

‎

Eager to break the news to him, ‎I alight from the Porsche and head straight for Zachary's office.

Pack members who see me greet me. Some are already calling me Luna.

‎

Getting there, I rap my knuckles against his office door. He doesn't open on the first knock. I'm about to knock again when the door opens and Zachary rushes out.

‎

‎He’s tense, like someone who was nearly caught in the act. He's even missing his belt.

‎

‎“Everything alright?”

‎

‎“Yeah. Of course,” he chuckles, his eyes reassuring me.

‎

‎I hold his hand, staring into the striking ocean eyes of the breathtakingly handsome man who will become my husband tomorrow, unable to thank the goddess enough.

‎

‎“Guess what, Zachary. We're expecting,” I squeal in excitement, grinning.

‎

‎It doesn't click at first. “Wait, what?” He's shocked now.

‎

‎“Yes, Zack, I'm preg…”

‎

‎My half-sister Rosalia sashays out of his office. The sight of her makes me lose my smile—confused. 

‎

‎Rosalia is wearing a black shirt that I recognize as belonging to Zachary. The first five buttons of the shirt are hanging open; her hair is disheveled, and her lips are swollen.

‎

‎Nobody talks for a moment.

‎

‎“Can someone tell me what's going on? Rosalia, what are you doing here?”

‎

‎“Can't you tell. We were having fun,” Rosalia says, touching the front of Zachary's pants from behind, smiling, her eyes bright with cruel delight. Not fear. Not guilt.

Zachary doesn't even stop her.

‎

‎“What?” My heart is racing with panic as I stare at Zachary in disbelief.

‎

‎Zachary momentarily shuts his eyes, throwing his face to the side. His silence, the subtle guilt radiating from him—a silent confession.

‎

‎My breath becomes ragged, tears clouding my vision as emotions submerge my heart which was filled with excitement only a few minutes ago. I'd even forgotten why I'm here.

‎

    ‎It feels like I'm losing him. As if my nightmare is about to unfold.

‎

‎“Talk to me, Zachary. Are… are you cheating on—”

‎

‎“Don't you dare say the word,” Zachary bites out in fury.

‎

‎My heart skips brutally, hammering violently against my ribcage. There's no sign of guilt in his eyes now. Only rage.

‎

‎Those eyes that once looked at me with love, are now regarding me with resentment and rage—grave and cold.

‎

He's the one at fault, but I'm feeling guilty.

‎

‎“Goddess forbid I marry a disgusting she-wolf like you, Scarlett. You make my skin crawl,” he yells furiously, the veins in his neck protruding.

‎

‎“Zachary!” I scream, tears bursting forth like a dam breaking. I'm slowly going into panic. “Why are you acting like this? Tomorrow is our—”

‎

‎“Shut up, you slut. Was all the love, all the care, and protection I gave you not enough? How could you betray me?” His red-rimmed eyes reflect pure pain.

‎

‎I swallow the lump in my throat, but my pulse throbs harder, my eyebrows drawn together in confusion.

‎

‎Did Zachary just call me a slut?

‎

‎What does he mean, I betrayed him?

“Does anyone mind telling us what's going on here?” Zachary's father, the former alpha, queries, his voice firm with authority and aggravation.

I didn't even realize when some Crystal Claw pack higher-ups came into the hallway. It looks as if they were summoned.

Zachary reaches for a pile of photographs in the pocket of his pants and tosses them carelessly at me.

‎

‎The second I set my eyes on the photographs strewn on the floor, shock, terror, and confusion plough into me.

‎

‎I instantly sag to my knees. My heart pounding like a jackhammer, I gather the photographs with shaky hands, trying to make sense of them.

‎

‎“W---wha-what…” I’m mentally zigzagging, unable to think or speak.

‎

‎These are photos of me in bed with a mysterious man whose face is blurred out.

I have no single memory of this.

‎

‎“You didn't think I'd find out that you cheated on me, did you?”

‎

His words leave the higher-ups stunned.

‎

‎“You dare call that thing inside you ours when it's obviously not mine.”

‎

‎I rush to my feet, saying frantically, “Zack, this…” I'm torn between talking about our baby and the photographs. “It’s our baby, okay? I'm three weeks—”

‎

Zachary grabs my face so hard his fingers dig into the flesh of my cheeks. ‎“Call that abomination in your shameless womb mine again and I'll beat it out of you,” he snarls, his tone lacking warmth—threatening.

My heart shatters into splinters. As well as my hope, my happiness. Zachary had never looked at me in such a cruel way before. 

Hot tears trickle down my face.

I won't dare speak of our baby again, if that's the only way I can save her from her own father. It's Zachary's child, and I'm sure because he had me in his bed a month ago, when he took my virginity.

He pushes me backward and I stagger backward, nearly losing my footing.

When he holds a smiling Rosalia in his arms possessively and kisses her in front of everyone, a feeling of loss engulfs me.

“Rosalia is my fated mate, and the future Luna of Crystal Claw pack,” he declares, his cold eyes never leaving mine.

“What?” I whisper, but it seems I'm the only one who's surprised.  

Zachary steps closer to me. ‎“Cheaters like you are unworthy of my name, my pack, and my pup.” His eyes darken. 

‎

‎“I, Alpha Zachary Ledger, reject you, Scarlet Benjamin, as my mate and the Luna of Crystal Claw Pack.”