To Tame the Alpha

Tonya

Two days passed. 

I didn’t know why there were black and blue marks all over my stomach. I experienced excruciating belly pain twice so far, and it was followed by these marks. Was I dying? Must be. It always felt like someone was slowly sawing my heart. 

I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling, not seeing it at all. My body felt like a hollow log—present, but empty. I hadn’t moved since returning from Zeke’s house. Not even a blink could slow the storm behind my eyes. The memory of what I saw replayed again and again, burning my heart until it felt like ash in my mouth. Of Zeke’s wolf mounting Angie. Was she his true Luna?

The wolf I loved had fucked another woman. Not with restraint or guilt, but with hunger. Like he didn’t remember me at all. His hands had once held me like I was made of starlight, delicate and rare. Now they gripped her lustily. 

My heart cracked open. A burning lump lodged in my throat, but I couldn’t cry. The tears refused to fall, as if even they were too ashamed of how pathetic I felt. I had thought of giving my virginity to him as a gift on our first night together. My chest ached, and with every breath, my belly ached. I had become invisible. A ghost watching the death of her own dreams. 

I heard footsteps, then the soft knock on the door before it opened. My parents walked in. Mom sat beside me and cupped my face gently. Dad stood at the doorway, jaw clenched tight. They looked older today. Tired, as if my pain had seeped into their bones.

“My baby,” Mom whispered, brushing my hair from my face. “I’m so sorry.”

“I don’t understand,” I croaked. “Why would he do this to me?”

Mom didn’t know what to say. “I don’t know…” 

Papa exhaled heavily. “There’s something else, Tonya.” His voice was hard, but beneath it was sorrow. “Angie made a demand today.”

I sat up slowly, dread already crawling into my chest.

“She wants you demoted to omega status,” Dad said. “She claims a wolf-less girl shouldn’t be allowed to hold Gamma blood rights. She told the council you don’t deserve to live in the Gamma quarters.”

“What?” I gasped. “She can’t do that. Can she?”

Dad's silence was answer enough.

Mom took my hand. “They’ve assigned you to kitchen duties starting tomorrow. And you will be required to move to the omega quarters.”

I stared at them, shocked. “What? So suddenly I’m nothing now?” I whispered. “After everything?”

“You’re not nothing,” Mom said fiercely. “You’re everything to us.”

But to Zeke? I wasn’t even worth a second glance.

I launched myself in mom’s arms, fresh tears falling from my eyes. Why was Zeke being so cruel to me? What did I do to deserve this? 

Mom stroked my hair murmuring soothing words as papa watched us with moist eyes. “We will talk to the Alpha and ask if you can stay with us.” 

But I knew that it would be futile.  

Later that day, Alicia came in, slamming the door open like a gust of wind. She hugged me without a word and then pulled away to look at my face.

“I swear I’ll skin Angie alive,” she hissed. “But until I can do that, we’re going to make Zeke regret ever letting you go.”

I blinked at her. “What?”

She smirked. “He’s marrying her on the next full moon. That gives us time.”

“Time for what?”

“To tame the Alpha. To make him regret.”

I gave her a dry look. “I’m not in a mood to joke, Alicia,” I said in a strangled voice. 

“No, seriously,” she said. “Listen. This is war now, and the best weapon is jealousy. Zeke thinks you’re weak. Let’s remind him you’re not.”

I shook my head. I felt weak, and pathetic. Miserable and angry. The emotions were so enhanced that they took my breath away. Days looked bleary. “And how exactly do we do that?” I asked tiredly. 

Alicia counted on her fingers, dramatic as ever. “Step one: Look hot. Like, jaw-dropping hot. Step two: Go out. Laugh. Be happy. Step three: Flirt with boys. Step four: Let every unmated male notice what Zeke lost. Step five: Ignore him like he never mattered.”

My eyes went wide. “That’s your master plan?”

“Do you have a better one?”

I didn’t. But… “Don’t be insane,” I said, flopping on the pillow, burying my head in it. 

“No, Tonya!” she gritted. “All these years, you were the one who was with him. Supported him when Angie left. Nursed him mentally at the cost of your happiness. And when that bitch returned, he discarded you in a second, like a fly from milk?” 

“He is an Alpha. I’m wolf-less,” I reasoned. “He can do anything.”

“He can’t,” she protested angrily. “He took advantage of your innocence. It’s time for payback!” 

“He’ll throw you into dungeons. Don’t do anything reckless, Ali.” 

“I’m smart enough to make an impact just enough to make him regret, Tonya. Don’t worry about me. Just focus on what we will do next.” 

Even if it felt childish, a part of me wanted it. To rise from this pain. To feel seen. Alive.

Suddenly, Alpha Zeke’s voice filled my mind. ‘Come to my house.’

That afternoon, Alicia and I went to the Alpha’s house. While she had warrior training, I had… coffee duty. Those were Angie’s orders. 

The head cook came to me to give me a tray of coffee. “Luna Angie is asking for it.” 

Luna? Already?

“Go on,” Alicia whispered, squeezing my arm. “Head high.”

I walked to their bedroom with the tray in my hand, steam rising from the mug. I knocked at their door. “Come in!” Angie’s voice came. 

As I stepped into their bedroom, I stiffened.

Zeke was sitting on a couch, shirtless. Angie was sprawled on his lap, her shirt barely clinging to her shoulders, her thighs bare, and they were kissing fervently. His hands gripped her hips, pulling her closer. Her fingers entwined in his hair, and their moans tangled in the thick, heated air. His tongue was thrust deep in her mouth as she sucked it.  

I stood frozen, feeling like an intruder in a moment that should have been mine. My stomach twisted, each second branding his betrayal deeper into my skin. Their passion burned, and I was the ash left behind. I clenched my jaw and dropped my eyes to the floor, a familiar stomach ache rising. 

Did Angie call me to show this?