Bound by Fate

The words echoed through Becca’s mind, slamming into her with a force that almost made it impossible for her to breathe.

"She is my mate."

Those words repeated in her head as she tired to register it.

No.

No, that couldn’t be right.

Her breath came in short, shallow bursts.

Her heart pounded so violently that it was painful.

The entire hall had fallen into stunned silence, yet the sound of gasps and hushed whispers spread like wildfire.

She felt their eyes on her, sinking into her skin.

Desmond was the first to react.

A sharp, disbelieving laugh cut through the tension, but there was no humor in it.

His golden eyes gleamed with dark amusement as he stepped forward.

"You must be joking." His voice was like poison dripping from his tongue. "This has to be a mistake, Eugene. Tell me you didn’t just claim her."

Eugene didn’t even flinch. He didn’t turn his head, didn’t spare Desmond a single glance.

His piercing gaze remained locked onto Becca—unwavering and unshaken.

She felt trapped beneath it.

Becca tried to speak, tried to move—

But Desmond’s voice sliced through the air once more.

"You expect me to believe that you, my brother—an Alpha—would claim this rejected Omega as your mate?" His voice grew louder, angrier, filled with an edge of something dangerous.

He turned, his sharp gaze sweeping over the crowd, daring anyone to agree with Eugene’s madness.

"Do you even hear yourself? It’s sacrilege!”

The murmurs around them intensified.

"A rejected Omega as an Alpha’s mate? Unheard of."

"The Moon Goddess must be mistaken."

"No Alpha king would disgrace himself like this."

Becca felt her pulse spike.

Her fingernails dug into her palms so hard that pain moved through her hands, but she refused to show weakness.

"Sacrilege?"

Eugene’s voice was low but carried a weight that made the room freeze.

He tilted his head slightly, finally shifting his gaze to his brother.

"Yes!" Desmond said, stepping closer. "No Alpha in his right mind would claim her. She is worthless."

The word hit her like a dagger to the chest.

Worthless.

She had heard it before.

So many times.

"You saw how easily she was condemned tonight. No one stood up for her. No one cares about her," Desmond continued, his voice dripping with venom.

Becca’s vision blurred with fury.

No one stood up for her?

Fine.

She had stood up for herself.

Desmond smirked, cruel and condescending.

“Unless you’ve been away for too long and lost your mind, there is no possible way you would willingly claim her” he said.

Eugene’s gaze darkened.

"You are wrong, Desmond."

The words were simple, yet they sent a chill through the room.

Desmond scoffed, rolling his shoulders as if preparing for battle.

“Then enlighten me. Explain to me why a powerful Alpha would throw himself away for a pathetic, rejected Omega?”

Becca’s body tensed.

She was so sick of this.

Of the humiliation.

The whispers.

The endless cruelty.

She wanted to fight back—to rip into him with words sharp enough to wound.

But before she could, Eugene spoke.

"I don’t need to explain myself to you," he said smoothly, his voice carrying the authority of a man who never needed to justify his actions. “But let me remind you of something, brother.”

Eugene took a slow, deliberate step forward.

The air in the hall shifted.

The temperature seemed to drop.

Desmond, who had been standing so proudly, suddenly stiffened.

There was a danger in Eugene’s presence—an authority that had always been there, but now it was unmistakable.

"You speak as if you are the ruler of this pack," Eugene continued. "As if you hold all the power."

Desmond’s jaw tightened.

Eugene’s lips curled into a smirk.

"But you don’t."

A suffocating silence followed.

Desmond clenched his fists.

"I am the Alpha King of this pack."

Eugene shook his head.

"No. You were acting Alpha." He took another step forward. "A title I gave you while I was away."

The realization crashed over the room like a tidal wave.

Becca’s breath caught in her throat.

The warriors and the elders suddenly looked uneasy.

Desmond had ruled with arrogance, believing Eugene to be gone forever.

But Eugene was back.

And the true Alpha King had reclaimed his throne.

Desmond’s fists trembled at his sides.

"You—"

"You’ve forgotten your place, Desmond," Eugene interrupted, his voice cold. "You were given temporary power. You were never the true Alpha King."

Desmond’s face twisted in rage, but he said nothing.

Because he couldn’t.

Because he knew the truth.

Eugene had the final say.

And he had just claimed Becca as his mate.

Becca had had enough.

She turned to Eugene, eyes blazing.

"I don’t care if you’re the true Alpha King" she said.

Eugene arched a brow, amused.

"And I care that you saved me" he countered in a way that caused Becca to momentarily go quiet.

His smirk deepened.

Becca took a slow breath, trying to steady the storm inside her.

"Thank you for stopping Desmond from killing me. I won’t forget that." Her voice softened for just a second then ut returned to its firece nature. "Don’t think for a second that I’m yours."

A heavy silence settled over the hall.

Desmond let out a quiet gasp.

Eugene’s smirk didn’t falter.

"You can’t escape fate" he said.

Becca let out a bitter laugh.

"Watch me."

And then she turned on her heel and walked away.

The hall remained frozen in shock.

She didn’t care.

She didn’t care about the whispers and the scandalized looks.

The fact that she had just defied the most powerful man in the room definitely caused her to get more enemies but she didn’t care.

She just wanted to leave.

But then—

Pain.

A sharp, searing pain erupted in her chest.

Becca gasped, her knees shaking beneath her.

She hit the ground, hard.

Her vision blurred.

What… what was happening?

Her body felt heavy, her limbs felt like stone.

She could hear voices that were muffled and distant.

Then—

Warm, strong arms wrapped around her.

She was being lifted.

She tried to protest, tried to struggle—

But darkness pulled her under.

And the last thing she heard—

The last thing that sent a shiver down her spine—

Was Eugene’s deep, commanding voice.

"I am taking her to my room."

Then—

Complete darkness.