MATED TO THE SECRET ALPHA

Mirian stood still for a while, until her heartbeat slowed to a normal rhythm and her ragged breathing steadied. She took a deep, calming breath, trying to shake off the lingering sense of unease. But just as she was about to regain her composure, a hand yanked her backward, spinning her around to face a pair of furious eyes.

"Mirian!" a low, menacing voice growled, making her heart stumble once more.

"I– Cousin bro–"

Smack!

A stinging slap silenced her, leaving her cheek throbbing in pain. The blow was unexpected and caught her off guard, sending her stumbling backward. Her eyes welled up with tears as she raised a trembling hand to her burning cheek, her mind reeling with shock and confusion.

"You lied to me!" The furious face of her cousin loomed before her, his eyes blazing with a fierce anger that made her blood run cold.

"I– I didn't–" she swallowed back her words as he began to step forward, his massive frame towering over her. Mirian's heart trembled, as she shuffled backward, desperate to escape the wrath that seemed to emanate from his very pores. Her back hit the wall, and she froze, trapped, as her cousin's eyes seemed to bore into her very soul.

"You didn't? Yet you hid the fact that Luna Reana was seeing a servant?" He snarled, his canines and claws elongating as if he was ready to strike. The transformation was subtle, but unmistakable, and Mirian's heart skipped a beat as she realized she was staring into the face of a predator. "You knew, Mirian. And you chose to keep it a secret."

Mirian opened and closed her mouth, but no sound emerged, as if her voice had been swallowed by fear. She quickly shook her head, desperate to placate his rising fury. Dread gnawed at her insides, its icy fingers wrapping around her heart, squeezing every air out of her.

"Have you betrayed me, Mirian?"

Mirian's eyes widened at the accusation as she trembled under his death stare. Suddenly, she dropped to her knees with a sickening thud, her body shaking uncontrollably. "I didn't betray you, big brother... Xavier," she stammered, correcting herself as she dropped her gaze, afraid to look him in the eyes.

The trauma this man had left in her was too deep to forget in a hurry. So, how could she betray him?

When Xavier's razor-sharp nails came into her view, Mirian shuddered, subconsciously drawing back, but he snatched her jaw, holding it so tight that his razor-sharp nails were embedded into her flesh.

Mirian whimpered, shutting her eyes to hide her pain and fear. But that only seemed to enrage him further, and his grip tightened, his nails digging deeper as warm, crimson liquid trailed along his fingers, the excesses dripping to the floor with a sickening patter.

"Look at me, Mirian," he growled, his voice low and menacing, sending shivers down her spine. Mirian's eyes fluttered open, and she gazed up at him, her vision blurring from tears and pain.

His lips curled, seemingly satisfied with her expression. He enjoyed seeing her like this - broken, terrified, and helpless. The cruel glint in his eye intensified as he squatted in front of her and leaned closer, his breath whispering against her ear. "You should have told me, Mirian," he whispered, his voice dripping with malice. "But it's not too late. So, Now, tell me the truth. What do you know about Reana and the servant?"

"L– Luna and that servant..." Mirian's voice trembled, and she hesitated, her lips trembling from the pain and the thought of betraying Reana. If she told Xavier the truth, he'd undoubtedly kill Ryder. Although she didn't like Ryder, she didn't want the Luna to be sad again. It took the Luna so much effort to finally have a semblance of a smile, and now…

Xavier's grip on her jaw tightened and Mirian whimpered. "Continue," he growled, his eyes blazing with intensity.

"Th– they are friends," Mirian stammered, trying to sound convincing. She didn't know how much Xavier had seen, but she knew she had to tread carefully. If she claimed they were nothing, yet he had seen them being intimate just now, he'd know she lied, and she'd face the consequences. But if she admitted the truth, Ryder's life would be at risk.

"Friends?" Xavier's expression darkened, his eyes narrowing suspiciously. "Yet were so close just now?"

"Y– yes, friends… h– he was telling her about... about... " Mirian's mind spun, and suddenly, her eyes lit up as she found a glimmer of hope. "They bond over their love of strategies," she added hastily, trying to sound convincing. "Luna and Ryder often discuss plans on how to help the pack survive the coming winter together, and he was telling her about it just now. That's all."

She held her breath, praying that Xavier would buy the explanation, and that her lie wouldn't dig her deeper into trouble.

Xavier's expression remained skeptical, but he didn't press the issue further, his gaze lingering on Mirian's face as if searching for any sign of deception. When he found none, he retracted his claws and smiled at her, his finger grazing the injuries that had stopped bleeding and were starting to show signs of healing.

The gentle touch sent shivers down Mirian's spine, but she tried to appear calm, unsure of what Xavier's sudden change in demeanor meant. "You should have told me so earlier," he clicked his tongue. "You know how dear you are to me, Mirian." Holding her shoulders, he proceeded to help her to her feet.

Mirian trembled under his touch, her legs giving way beneath her, but Xavier's grip on her shoulders tightened, holding her upright as she swayed. "Easy, dear cousin," he murmured, his voice low and soothing.

His hand snaked around her waist, pulling her close to his chest as his eyes roamed her pretty face, drinking in every detail. "How long has it been?" he whispered, his breath dancing across her skin. His finger trailed her lip.

Mirian recoiled, her stomach knotting with dread as she tried to push him away, already knowing where this was heading. But his grip only tightened, holding her captive.

"Come see me tonight," he murmured, his voice low and husky, sending a chill down her spine. "I have a new mission for you." With that, he released her, his eyes glinting with a sinister promise as he turned and disappeared into a corner.

Mirian's breath stuttered out of her as she leaned her back on the stone wall, her heart racing with a mix of fear and trepidation. Fat tears rolled down her eyes.

How could she have ever thought that her cousin would treat her differently if he became the Alpha? What had given her that foolish impression that he'd be kind to her if she helped him? Had she really believed that Xavier's ambition would somehow override his cruelty?

"I'm so stupid and naive," she thought, a bitter smile twisting her lips. Then, like a dam breaking, her tears gushed out in a torrent, as she wailed her despair into the empty corridor, the sound echoing off the cold stone walls. Her body shook with sobs, her heart heavy with the weight of her own foolishness, and the crushing realization that she was truly alone, with no one to trust, and no escape from Xavier's sinister grasp.