The Alpha's Secret

I stand in the doorway of Tyler's bedroom, groceries slipping from my hands, and watch my mate fuck someone else.

Tyler's hands grip her hips, and the raw sounds coming from his throat are new to me.

Tyler's eyes snap open and he stops mid-thrust. He just looks at me with a smirk.

"Seraphina. You're early."

The blonde twists around, and I recognize her. Jenna. The study partner, he swore was helping him pass chemistry.

"Oops," she says, not even trying to cover herself. "Guess the secret's out."

My wolf lunges against my ribcage, claws scraping the inside of my chest. Shift. Kill. Rip her throat out.

But I'm frozen, standing there like an idiot.

When Tyler finally moves, he lifts Jenna off him.

"Get dressed," he tells her, not looking away from me.

She huffs, grabbing her clothes from the floor. When she brushes past me in the doorway, she leans in close enough that I can smell him on her skin.

"He's amazing, by the way," she whispers.

Tyler stands, pulling on his boxers lazily.

"How long?" My voice shakes.

He shrugs.

"Three months. Maybe four. I stopped counting."

Four months. I've been planning our future, talking about long-distance, while he's been—

"You said she was just a friend."

"She is." His arms crossed. "With benefits."

"Thought you loved me."

"I do. In my own way." His tone is so casual it makes my stomach turn. "But let's be real, Seraphina. You were getting clingy. Talking about sealing the bond, all that forever crap. I needed space."

"Space." I repeat the word, trying to make it make sense. "So you slept with someone else."

"Yeah. And it was good. You were fun at first. But you're..." He waves a hand vaguely. "Boring. In bed, out of bed.”

I can't believe all I'm hearing.

"I was never going to seal the bond," he continues. "You had to know that, right? I mean, come on. I'm going to Stanford. You're going to community college. We were never going to work long-term."

My nails dig into my palms hard enough to break skin. The pain keeps me standing.

"I gave you everything," I say.

"Yeah, and that's the problem. You gave too much. Made it boring. Jenna?" He grins. "She doesn't give a damn about me. She just wants to fuck and move on.."

My wolf is howling now, so loud I can barely hear my own thoughts..

"It was all fun, Sera. I'm not going to tie myself to someone just because we slept together a few times."

A few times. Like the last year meant nothing.

"You're a coward," I whisper.

He laughs, like I've told the funniest joke he's ever heard. He reaches out, brushes a strand of hair from my face, and I flinch. My whole body is shaking.

"I reject you."

His smile falters. "What?"

"I, Seraphina Rousseau, reject you, Tyler Crane, as my mate."

For the first time, he looks rattled. "Seraphina, don't be dramatic—"

The bond snaps, like someone's reached into my chest and ripped out my heart.

My wolf screams, it echoes in my bones. I catch myself on the doorframe before I hit the ground.

Tyler doubles over, gasping. His hand flies to his chest, and his smirk is gone, replaced by shock and pain. He can barely breathe through it.

I straighten, forcing myself to stand My wolf is silent now.

"You don't get to have your fun and still keep me."

I turn and walk out. Behind me, he's cursing. I don't stop.

I make it down three flights of stairs before my legs give out.

My phone buzzes with a text from my best friend asking if I want to grab drinks tonight.

I stare at the message without thinking, I type back: Yes.

Cassie meets me with shots already lined up. I don't ask what they are, just gulp them one after another.

"Slow down," Cassie says, but she's grinning. "You're going to regret this tomorrow."

"Good. Something else to regret other than my life."

She orders another round and lets me drink. Soon, Tyler's voice fades.

My phone buzzes. Cassie snatches it before I can. Her face darkens.

"What?" I ask. She shows me.

Tyler: You'll regret this. Loser.

My hand shakes as I hold on to my phone.

"Forget him," Cassie says. "He's just pathetic.”

"I need air."

"Want me to come?"

"No. I just—I need a minute."

I slide off the barstool. The room tilts, but I steady myself and head toward the bathrooms..

The hallway is dimly lit, and I lean against the wall for a second, closing my eyes.

When I head back, I'm not watching where I'm going. I collide with something solid. No, someone.

Strong hands catch me, before I hit the floor. The contact is electric. Heat rushes through me so intense I gasp.

"Careful."

The voice is low and it vibrates through my chest and settles low in my stomach.

I look up. Storm-grey eyes. Sharp jaw. Dark hair. He's tall, over six feet, and the way he's looking at me makes my skin prickle.

My broken wolf stirs. Whimpers. Mate.

That's impossible. But she's restless now, clawing her way forward with a desperation I haven't felt before.

He hasn't let go of me and for a second, I swear I see something flash in his eyes, before it's gone.

"You okay?" he asks, but his voice is strained.

I lean closer.

"I don't know," I say. "Are you?"

His jaw tightens. His grip on my arms tighten.

"You're drunk," he says.

"You smell good."

"You shouldn't say things like that."

"Why not?"

" I'm barely holding on as it is."

"Then don't," I whisper.

His eyes drop to my mouth. His breathing is uneven, and I can feel the tension..

I reach up, fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt and tiptoe to kiss him.

His hand slides to the back of my neck, fingers threading into my hair, and he pulls me up to meet him.

His other hand grips my waist, yanks me flush against him.. I can feel every hard lin

e of his body through my dress. I grind against it without thinking.

Someone whistles. He pulls back, breathing hard. His eyes are wild..

"My place? "

"Yes."