Broken by the Alpha, Claimed by Another

LYDIA'S POV

My hands were shaking with fear, but I kept driving, determined not to look back. His hurtful words kept replaying in my head, and regret flooded my mind. Then, in a moment of distraction, the headlights of a trailer flashed in front of me, and before I could react, it crashed straight into my car.

Two Hours Earlier:

I could already hear the music and laughter coming from Alpha Harridan’s residence, as I parked in his luxurious garage. Harridan was my childhood friend and the only man I had loved for more than ten years.

A minute passed but I still couldn’t let go of the steering wheel. In fact, I tightened my grip on it. Thinking back to it, maybe it was stupid of me to show up at his place, after he invited me. The two of us had barely spoken when I left for college. But the moment his name flashed on my phone screen a few days ago with an invite to a party, I felt sixteen again and I wanted to come as soon as possible.

Taking a deep breath, I loosened my grip on the steering wheel and stepped out of the car, smoothing my tight, light-blue dress that ended above my knees. I didn’t spend much time checking how I looked because I kept telling myself it didn’t matter.

As I made my way to the front door, I noticed that there was no one in the foyer, and even the music had stopped. But the whispers coming from a certain direction made it clear that everyone had gathered in the living room.

I was about to turn the corner and join the crowd when I heard Harridan speak.

“Excuse me, everyone? I’d like to make an announcement.” He declared.

I froze at the sound of his deep voice, and I closed my eyes as I leaned against the wall. Six years had passed since I last heard his voice, but it still stirred the same feelings in me. It was still so charismatic, charming, and commanded attention. I couldn’t help but smile to myself and I even bit the inside of my mouth.

It was only when he spoke again that I truly paid attention, though I still couldn’t wipe the smile off my lips.

Harridan raised his glass to his lips before speaking. “Thank you all for coming this evening. About the ring on Amber’s finger, yes, it’s true.”

Hearing her name made me frown. I had no idea they were still together as I hadn't checked his social media profiles in a long time.

I wondered what he was going to say next, so I held my breath.

“We’ve decided to get married!”

My eyes shot open and my fingers curled around the strap of my handbag so tightly that I thought it might snap. My heart raced painfully in my chest, and even my jaw ached from clenching it tightly. I did it just to stop it from trembling, but that wasn’t enough; when I finally loosened it and exhaled in short, shallow breaths, my lower lip trembled.

I took a peek into the room and my eyes were fixed on him. He smiled at her in a way he never smiled at me as he pulled her closer to his side, right where she had always been.

He and I were very close, but when he became popular in senior high school and she showed interest in him, everything changed. She was beautiful, rich, and the daughter of an influential Alpha, everything I wasn’t back then. I felt invisible and it was because of her that he and I grew distant until I left for college.

The engagement announcement blurred my vision with tears, as this wasn’t how I had pictured seeing him again.

When they shared a kiss while she fixed his jet black hair, I looked to the side, telling myself that I should just leave before anyone else would notice me. But it was too late; I was already there.

This wasn't the first time I'd caught them being all over each other like that. For as long as I could remember, she always came first and Harridan never noticed me the way I wished he would.

I wanted to fall on my knees and cry my heart out, but I pulled myself together, holding back my tears. I can't be weak! I mustn't be what they expect of me.” I kept whispering under my breath. I wasn't a full werewolf like the rest of them, my parents were human and outcasts, so I don't have a wolf. But it's alright, in my story, no one really cares about your wolf, soulmates are decided by humans not the goddess.

Right as the applause began to fade, I held my head high and stepped forward into the room, the sound of my heels making heads turn. I hadn’t seen any of those people in years, but I never forgot how they mocked my baggy dressing and unappealing presence in school.

Now, all eyes were on me and the room fell silent for a few seconds, everyone trying to study me. One of the girls leaned over to whisper something to her friend, mentioning my name in the process.

Being the center of attention was the one thing I never wanted for as long as I could remember, but it just couldn’t be helped. And I'd expected this to happen because I wasn’t the girl I used to be. Even the guys looked at me differently.

I played it cool, my lips curving into a smile, and then, my gaze landed back on Harridan.

His eyes widened as he pulled his hand away from Amber, taking a few steps towards me before he could stop himself. He parted his lips, but no words came out. He looked at me from head to toe a few times, like he couldn’t believe it was me.

“Lydi?” he said, pushing past a few people in his way.

I swallowed hard, trying not to get too excited just by how he called my name.

“Yes, it's me!” I forced a laugh.

He slowly lifted the corners of his mouth, stunned. “Really….you look….”

“Different?” I completed his sentence, and he shook his head.

“Beautiful.” He said it too quickly and that compliment left my heart racing. I was twenty-two years old, but I felt sixteen again.

Right before I could respond, Amber rushed to his side, holding onto his arm. She had this look of surprise on her face, but there was nothing friendly about it.

With an exaggerated gasp, she said, “Oh my god! It’s really you. I missed you, Lydia!”

She scrutinized me with the same fake smile that was always plastered across her face.

“It’s so good to see you too, Amber.” I forced a smile.

“Wow, you’re really back in town after graduation, huh? It looks like college did wonders. Just look at you. You look different, but I was still able to recognize you because of the lowlife aura you carry around. You probably still haven't gotten your wolf, right?” she sneered with a sinister smile.

“Amber, that’s enough,” Harridan cut in, his tone sharp as he shook his head with disapproval.

Amber feigned innocence, running the palm of her hand along his jacket. “What? I’m just saying hi to my in-law.”

Harridan said nothing more, gave me an apologetic look, then gently pulled her to the side. She looked at me with a triumphant smile, like she was right where she wanted to be and had been waiting for this exact moment. Typical Amberson.

Harridan wrapped his arm around her waist as he said something to her. I didn’t care what they were talking about, but his arm around her waist shattered something inside of me.

I even wished that time machines existed so I could rewind the last few minutes and stop myself from ever showing up that night.

Every step that I took, all eyes were on me, and I just really wanted to be alone, so I came to the backyard, my arms wrapped around myself as I faced the ground. I wanted to leave, but how could I just walk out when I had only arrived?

When I turned around in a hurry to go to the bathroom and hide my face, I ran into a broad, solid chest. I stumbled back, constantly blinking as I looked up and froze at the sight before me. He was tall, dressed in all black with his sleeves rolled halfway. His collar was open enough to show just the right amount of muscle. With his honey blond hair brushed back, that only accentuated his facial features, especially his sharp jawline. His presence was nothing but a dangerous vibe.

Something about him felt familiar, but I couldn’t figure it out.

With a slow grin that only added to his charm, he said. “Maybe if you kept your head up, you’d see where you’re going.”

There was an immediate arrogance in his tone, one which also felt familiar.

Maybe I was just imagining it, so I stepped to the side to leave and be alone again, but he got in the way.

“Leaving so soon when we’re finally seeing each other after so many years?”

I sighed with irritation as I looked up at his gorgeous face. “Do I know you?”

He scoffed. “What’s this? Little kitty doesn’t remember me?”

Little kitty? I narrowed my eyes. Only one person had ever called me that and I loathed them. At that moment, it all came back to me. I just hadn’t realised it sooner as so much had changed about him. At twenty-three, he was way more attractive than he was at seventeen. Not only was he the famous playboy that the girls and gays wished they could have a chance with, he was also Amber's annoying twin brother, and the next Alpha of our pack.

“Justin?” I furrowed my brows.

“There you go sweetheart,” he smiled. “You know, I still remember how you used to follow Harridan around like a lost puppy.”

I hated how obvious that had always been, but I laughed at his description of me. “I didn’t think I’d run into you here, but at least I got to see with my own eyes that you’re still an asshole.”

His grin twitched a little. “I guess college changed so much about you. You’re feisty and different now. The party is inside, but why would you be there when you’re jealous?”

My heart skipped to beat, and I looked to the side. “I’m fine.”

He scoffed. “Oh, Lydia, I saw you when you arrived. You were glowing the moment you walked in, but hearing that your childhood crush was engaged to my twin sister got to you, huh?”