I sat on the hill, overlooking the dense forest that bordered our territory, the cold wind biting at my cheeks. I stared at the horizon, my mind a swirl of thoughts, the weight of Tristan’s betrayal pressing heavily on my chest. The man I had trusted, the one I had given my heart to, had treated me like nothing more than a pawn in his twisted game.
I pressed my hand to my stomach, feeling the life growing inside me. My heart broke again. "I'm so sorry, my little ones," I whispered, my voice trembling. "I thought your father would love you. I thought..." The words choked in my throat as tears spilled down my cheeks.
My wolf stirred, but I pushed her back, the grief too much to bear. I had spent the day away from the pack, trying to clear my mind, but nothing seemed to help.
How could I have been so blind?
By the time I returned to the packhouse, the sun was setting, painting the sky in deep oranges and reds. But the peaceful scene I’d hoped for was nowhere to be found. A crowd had gathered in front of the packhouse, their angry voices rising above the usual bustle of the pack.
I quickened my pace, the unease in my chest growing with each step. What was happening?
As soon as they spotted me, the shouting grew louder, more intense.
“There she is!”
“Alpha Ayesha, how dare you?”
My stomach sank as I saw the fury on their faces. One of the older women, who’d always been vocal in council meetings, stepped forward, pointing an accusing finger at me.
“We’re starving!” she shouted, her voice sharp. “Our pups are going to bed hungry while you sit up there in comfort!”
Another voice joined in, full of fury. “Winter is coming, and our houses are falling apart! There’s no coal, no supplies—nothing to keep us alive!”
I raised my hands, trying to calm them down. “Please, let me explain—”
“You have nothing to explain!” a man barked, his voice full of venom. “This pack is falling apart under your leadership!”
“You call yourself an Alpha?” another woman sneered. “Maybe if you weren’t a woman, things would be different!”
The insult hit me like a slap. My fists clenched at my sides, my wolf growling in response to their words.
“Enough!” I shouted, my voice laced with authority, but the crowd was already too far gone, their anger feeding off each other like wildfire.
“She’s too weak to lead us!”
“We need a real Alpha, not some spoiled girl who doesn’t know what she’s doing!”
My heart pounded, my breath coming in shallow gasps. I opened my mouth to speak again, but before I could, a voice cut through the chaos—sickly sweet, like sugar coating a knife.
“Everyone, please!”
The crowd quieted, parting for Margaret as she strolled toward them, a grin plastered on her face, her hair bouncing in perfect curls. She looked like she had just stepped out of a magazine, her dress far too luxurious for this scene.
Margaret clapped her hands together, her smile growing wider. “Let’s not ruin the Alpha’s day! After all, it’s her birthday!”
I blinked, confusion washing over me. “What are you talking about? My birthday isn’t until next month.”
Margaret gasped theatrically, covering her mouth with her manicured hand. “Oops! Did I get it wrong? Well, consider this an advanced celebration!”
Before I could respond, she snapped her fingers, and pack members appeared, hauling in baskets overflowing with food.
The crowd gasped in disbelief. Roasted meats, fresh bread, fruits, vegetables—everything we hadn’t seen in months. An extravagant feast, a luxury no one in this pack had experienced for far too long.
Margaret waved a dismissive hand, her grin widening. “Oh, it’s nothing. I just wanted to make sure you had a lavish birthday celebration.” She turned to Tristan, who had appeared beside her, his usual smug expression firmly in place.
“Right, Tristan?” Margaret purred, her tone dripping with sweetness.
Tristan nodded, his arm brushing against Margaret’s. “Of course. Margaret worked hard to put this together. You should appreciate her efforts, Ayesha.”
I felt my stomach twist. The sight of them together, acting as if they hadn’t just humiliated me, made my insides churn.
My voice trembled with barely contained fury. “Margaret, this… this isn’t appropriate. The pack is starving, and you—”
“Oh, Ayesha,” Margaret interrupted, her voice light and airy. “Don’t be so ungrateful.”
I turned to the crowd, but the mood had already shifted. The initial awe at the food quickly morphed into renewed anger.
“How dare the Alpha allow this?” someone shouted.
“We’re starving, and she’s having a feast?”
“This is disgusting!”
“How dare you celebrate while we’re dying of hunger!” another voice cried.
“You failed as an Alpha-wannabe!” someone else yelled.
“You should step down from your Alpha position!”
