Alpha's substitute Lover

In that wretched, poverty - stricken year, I, a low - ranking omega with a barren wolf spirit, sold my very essence to Alpha Lucian Thorne for a measly three hundred grand.

My task? To serve as the pathetic stand - in for his one true love.​

His packmates, those sadistic brutes, took pleasure in tormenting me.

They lured me into their twisted drinking games, coercing me to guzzle down foul - tasting, enchanted brews. Each swallow feels like burning like liquid fire.

I drank until my stomach heaved, and blood stained my lips.​

As I lay there, broken and gasping, they exchanged smirks, their eyes glinting with malicious amusement.

One of them elbowed the Alpha, a mocking grin on his face. "You feel bad for her, Lucian?" he sneered.​

The Alpha's gaze fell upon me. "She's nothing but a substitute," he hissed.​

But the true nightmare came when his precious she - wolf was in danger.

To save her, he led me to the edge of a towering cliff.

Without a second thought, he watched as I was pushed over the edge, my body plummeting towards the churning waves below.

I could feel my wolf howling in despair.​

The search teams scoured the waters for days, but they found nothing.

No body, no sign of my existence.

And yet, deep within the Alpha's soul, a seed of doubt was planted. His wolf, once so calm and collected, now howled in anguish.​

For five long years, he searched the world, driven by an obsession he couldn't understand. His pack grew restless, but he refused to give up. And then, fate intervened. I was invited back to a grand event attended by the most powerful werewolf packs in the land.​

As I walked into the ballroom, my senses were immediately overwhelmed by the scent of him.

Our eyes locked across the room, and for a moment, time stood still.

"I knew you weren't dead," he growled, his voice thick with emotion. "I've been looking for you-"​

*****

In Alpha Lucian's crew, I was his so - called "mate," but it was total BS.

I was just the budget version of Vanessa Monroe.

That girl was a total Hollywood bombshell, like a celeb straight outta TMZ.

Everyone worshipped the ground she walked on, and she ate up all the attention like it was free pizza at a frat party.​

Me? I came from the wrong side of the tracks, the kind of place where dreams go to die.

Three hundred grand might as well have been a million bucks to me, and Alpha Lucian knew it.

He flashed that cash, and just like that, he bought my dignity and threw it in the trash.​

The day Vanessa rolled back , her name was blowing up social media.

Instagram, Twitter, TikTok-everywhere you looked, it was all "Vanessa this" and "Vanessa that."

Lucian couldn't wait to play the perfect host.

He was all dressed up in his fancy suit, looking like he was about to hit the red carpet himself.

As he headed out the door to pick her up for some high - society shindig, he didn't even bother to look at me. Just threw over his shoulder, "Don't wait up," like I was some random housekeeper he could brush off.

"Don't wait up for dinner."

I'd barely cracked a book for an hour when my phone buzzed.

"There's a bottle of vintage red in the wine cabinet. Grab it and bring it to the restaurant."

I was just getting into my study groove, but I sighed, hung up, and dug out the bottle. Then I drove it over.

The restaurant's private room was all glitz and glamor, lights glowing, the air thick with extravagance.

Center stage: Vanessa and Alpha Lucian, the golden couple.

She was draped in a shimmering silver gown, leaning into him, all cozy and familiar.

Everyone was hyping her up. "Vanessa's finally back! You have no idea how long Alpha Lucian's been waiting for you."

I walked up and set the bottle in front of Alpha Lucian. "Here's the wine. I checked the label-should be the right one."

The room's vibe, all warm and chummy, froze for a split second when I showed up.

I turned to leave, but Vanessa's voice cut through the air. "Hold up."

"Come back and open the wine. Pour it for us."

I glanced at Alpha Lucian instinctively.

He was slouched in his chair, shirt unbuttoned at the collar, staring at me with that detached look. "You deaf or something?"

"I heard her." I lowered my eyes. "I'll go grab a corkscrew."

The second I stepped out, I caught Vanessa's sharp tone behind me. "This is the kind of she-wolf you're into now?"

Alpha Lucian didn't say a word.

One of his friends jumped in. "Chill, Vanessa. Alpha Lucian's only got eyes for you."

"Yeah, don't sweat it. She's the one who won't let go, clinging to him like a leech."

I poured the wine. Vanessa wasn't done with me.

She was pissed and made me serve her soup, peel her shrimp, then flashed a fake smile. "Where'd you go to school?"

"Tech University."

"Fancy school like that didn't teach you any self-respect?"

Her face darkened, and she suddenly flung most of her bowl of soup at me. It soaked through my shirt, scalding my skin.

"Clinging to Alpha Lucian like a desperate groupie. How pathetic is that? Dying to climb the social ladder?"

The sting of the hot liquid burned, but Alpha Lucian didn't even glance my way. He just took Vanessa's hand, soothing her gently.

"That pink diamond necklace you wanted? I ordered it. You're not mad at me anymore, right?"

One of his buddies, grinning like a jackass, mixed a gross cocktail of red wine, whiskey, and beer, shoving it toward me. "Drink up. Call it an apology to Vanessa."

Another one scoffed. "This expensive stuff? Total waste on her."

In Alpha Lucian's circle, Vanessa was their untouchable queen.

Nobody gave a damn about me. They went out of their way to mess with me, humiliate me.

Alpha Lucian never stopped them.

Especially not with Vanessa watching.

I grabbed the murky glass and downed it in one go.

The alcohol burned like fire, searing from my throat to my gut.

Tears sprang to my eyes.

I doubled over, gripping the table, gagging.

"Enough. You're making us lose our appetite. Get out."

Alpha Lucian tossed the corkscrew at me.

He didn't hold back, and it clipped my forehead, sharp pain exploding as blood trickled down my face.

He froze for a second, then stood, taking a step toward me.

I pressed my hand to the wound, gave a quick bow, and bolted out of there.