The unwanted
The knock came again, louder this time.
Before Harrison could open it, Elena rushed ahead and turned the knob. The door swung wide, and stood right there… was Mathew Wilson. Alpha of the Red Moon Pack. Harrison’s half-brother.
Mathew’s eyes swept over Elena, her messed-up dress, her bare shoulders, her flushed face. His expression shifted, he looked confused.
“Elena,” he said slowly, “what are you doing coming out of Alpha Walter’s room looking like that?”
Before she could respond, Jennifer stormed forward from behind him. She didn’t ask questions.
SMACK.
“Bitch!” Jennifer hissed. “Are you trying to seduce Alpha Walter now?! He’s old enough to be your father!”
Elena stumbled back, her hand pressed to her cheek, her breath unsteady. “But… you told me to come here! God, you set me up!”
Jennifer scoffed, her eyes burning with fury. “How dare you try to pin this on me, you dirty little slut!”
Her hand lifted again, ready to strike.
Harrison caught it mid-air.
The hallway froze.
“That’s enough,” he said coldly, his voice slicing through the tension.
Jennifer’s eyes shot up to his. Mathew’s mouth fell open.
Harrison shrugged off his jacket and draped it gently across Elena’s trembling shoulders. She looked up at him, startled and shaken, her wide eyes filled with confusion and pain.
Jennifer stepped back, her hand still suspended where Harrison had grabbed it. “Alpha Harrison…” she stuttered. “What… How did you get in here? This is Alpha Walter’s room…”
“We switched,” Harrison cut her off smoothly.
Mathew blinked. “What?”
“We switched rooms,” Harrison repeated, his tone sharp.
“What are you doing in Silver Blade?” he demanded tightly.
“Obviously,” Harrison replied, “Alpha Walter invited me.”
“But… you never go to events.”
Harrison smirked faintly. “That depends.”
His gaze shifted to Elena. “And clearly, I’ve walked in on some drama. Which I’m sure you’ll both explain to me.”
Mathew adjusted his shirt collar, a fake smile stretching his lips. “Yeah, I will… when I figure out what’s going on.”
“Mathew!” Jennifer snapped. “You can’t just…”
“Oh my God, will you stop?” he groaned, rubbing his temple. “You’re so embarrassing.”
He pointed at Elena sharply. “You. Come with us. Now.”
Elena’s eyes darted to Harrison, silently pleading.
Every instinct in him screamed to keep her there. But he needed time. He let her go, watching as she followed Mathew and Jennifer down the hall, his jacket still wrapped tightly around her shoulders like armor.
Moments later, Luke, Harrison’s Beta, approached from the other end of the hallway.
“Alpha,” Luke said quietly, “the meeting with Alpha Walter is all set for tomorrow.”
“Good,” Harrison muttered, his eyes still on the empty hallway where Elena had disappeared.
Harrison hesitated. “Any word on… that girl? From seven years ago?”
Luke stayed silent for a long moment before turning. “No. Still no leads.”
Harrison nodded grimly. “Shall I continue searching?”
Harrison exhaled deeply, his chest twisting. The scent. The kiss. The way Elena looked at him like she had known him in another life.
“Stop searching,” he said finally.
Luke frowned. “Sir?”
“I think…” Harrison’s voice was low, almost disbelieving, “…I’ve found my mate.”
Elena stood before Mathew, her skin pale, her lips bruised. She wore his brother’s jacket.
Mathew leaned back on the velvet couch in his guest suite, a glass of whisky burning down his throat as rage swirled in his chest.
Jennifer slid closer on the couch, her fingers trailing up his shoulder.
He brushed her hand away. “No.”
She giggled, pretending not to notice the venom in his tone. She tried again, her hand slipping toward his neck this time.
His temper snapped.
“Jennifer, please! What are you doing?” he growled. “What kind of game are you playing now?”
She blinked at him with fake innocence. “Me? This shameless maid is the one trying to seduce Alpha Harrison. Can’t you see that?”
“Stop lying!” Elena cried, her voice shaking but determined. “The only reason I was in that room was because you threatened me with my son!”
Jennifer’s head snapped toward her like a striking snake. “Oh, you bitch…”
“Enough!” Mathew roared.
The walls trembled from the force of his voice. Elena flinched, while Jennifer recoiled, fists clenched at her sides.
Mathew’s gaze fixed on Elena.
“Please, Alpha,” she whispered softly. “My son… he’s very sick. You promised to help me. Can you ask Alpha Walter for a healer? You swore you would.”
Jennifer burst into shrill laughter, like Elena’s words were the punchline of a cruel joke.
“Don’t be ridiculous!” she spat. “Why would Mathew beg Alpha Walter to help you? You’re nothing but a maid.”
Mathew ignored her. “Tyler,” he called.
The door opened at once, revealing his Beta, tall, broad-shouldered, silent as a shadow.
“Yes, Alpha?”
“Speak to Alpha Walter,” Mathew ordered. “Ask if one of his healers can see a child immediately. Tell him it’s urgent.”
Tyler nodded without question. “Right away.”
Jennifer’s jaw dropped. Her face flushed with rage. “God! That’s why you brought her to the banquet?! Even after seven years, even after she gave birth to that bastard, you still love her!”
The words struck the air like a blade.
Elena froze, her heart slamming against her chest.
Mathew’s grip tightened on his glass, the truth cutting deeper than he wanted.
“Shut up!” he growled.
Jennifer staggered back as though he had struck her.
Mathew rose to his full height, towering over her. “Tyler,” he commanded darkly, “lock Jennifer in a room until the banquet is over.”
Jennifer’s eyes widened in disbelief. “What?!”
Tyler moved swiftly, gripping her arm before she could flee.
“You can’t be serious, Mathew!” she screamed, thrashing against his hold.
“I’m dead serious.”
Her protests echoed through the halls as Tyler dragged her away, kicking and clawing, until the door slammed shut behind them.
Silence fell.
Elena’s gaze lingered on the closed door, her eyes filled with something Mathew couldn’t name.
“I should check on Lucas,” she whispered, already turning to leave.
Mathew caught her wrist before she could move. She froze, her wide eyes locked on him.
His voice dropped, low and dangerous. “Did you sleep with my brother?”
