MATED TO THE SECRET ALPHA

As for the party who tried to attack her, Reana could tell they weren't from Ryan's faction. Their clothes and facial features were unfamiliar, not from her pack or any of the neighboring ones. And they weren't rogues either, lacking the feral edge and disgusting scent that characterized those who lived outside pack's structure.

Another thing that was eating Reana up was the person who had killed them all - with such ruthless efficiency, and seemingly, without leaving a single trace behind. The memory of those lifeless bodies, and the eerie feeling that a ghostly foe was lurking in her pack, sent a shiver down Reana's spine every time she thought of it.

Reana's mind swirled with questions. Was the person an ally or an enemy? If they were an ally, why did they kill Hale? And if not an ally, why did they protect her? How did they know she would be attacked?

The more she thought about it, the more her head spun. Unless... unless the person who killed Hale wasn't the same person who saved her. That would make more sense, but it still left her with a haunting question:

What was that mysterious force they used to kill, which left no physical injuries, yet took a person's life? It was as if they had sucked the very soul out of their victims. Reana shuddered at the thought, her instincts screaming that she was dealing with something ancient, something sinister, and something that threatened the very fabric of her pack's existence.

Her only hope of finding a clue was healer Dira's research. If that failed, then she'd have no choice but to visit the 'Deadly Pool' - an elite group of people who possessed forbidden knowledge, garnered from the darkest corners of the world. Their network was so vast that nothing could shake them.

They were known to exact a steep price for the secrets they held, one that often came with a terrible cost. Reana's gut twisted at the thought, but she knew she had to be willing to take the risk. The alternative was to remain in the dark, vulnerable to the whims of a mysterious enemy who seemed to hold all the cards, and she didn't like that.

…

Morning ~

"Enough with the pretense, you can open your eyes now," said Marcus. However, Ryder remained perfectly still, his eyes closed, his chest rising and falling with slow, even breaths.

Marcus didn't know whether to laugh or cry at Ryder's antics. "You've achieved your aim. Beta Ryan was accused of attacking you, killing pack members, and making an attempt on the Luna's life. He and his brother are being escorted for public execution right now."

Ryder's eyes snapped open, and he sat up with a fluid motion that belied the severity of his wound. He yawned and stretched, seemingly pleased to hear that. "Have Qasas sent a reply?"

"Yes, Alpha," Marcus replied, his voice measured as he produced a letter from his pocket and handed it to Ryder. Their eyes met, and Marcus's hair rose beneath Ryder's piercing glare. Confusion flashed through Marcus, followed by a jolt of realization - he had addressed Ryder with the title he shouldn't have.

Marcus's heart skipped a beat as Ryder's eyes narrowed, his expression unreadable. A flush spread across Marcus's face as he stuttered, "I-I mean... It was a slip. A slip." He hastened to downplay the mistake, but Ryder's lingering gaze spoke volumes, leaving Marcus's nerves on edge.

"Ryder?" The door swung open, and the servant who had earlier earned Reana's glare by offering to clean Ryder up, entered with a tray of exotic fruits. Both Ryder and Marcus turned to face her, their expressions inscrutable.

Upon seeing Marcus standing beside Ryder's bed, she froze, her eyes widening in surprise. She hadn't expected to encounter anyone, let alone a respected General like Marcus, as the entire pack had gathered at the square for the public execution of the traitors.

"You– You're awake," she stammered, her smile faltering for a moment before she resumed walking, albeit awkwardly. "G– good morning, Zeta Marcus."

"Morning, Ophilia," Marcus replied, his tone courteous, before shifting his gaze to Ryder. "Get well soon, brother." With that, he turned, but as he walked passed the frozen omega, an imperceptible smile rose on his lips. He plucked a fruit from her tray and bit into it as he walked to the door. "Hmm, this is delicious."

The door creaked softly as it closed behind him, enveloping the room in an awkward silence.

Meanwhile, Ophilia stood frozen, her mind reeling in surprise. She hadn't expected the Zeta to know her name. A warm flush crept up her face as a small, pleased smile settled on her lips. A flutter of excitement stirred within her; if Ryder's closest friend in the pack knew her name, it stood to reason that Ryder himself must also be familiar with it. The thought sent a thrill through her, and she felt her heart skip a beat, prompting her to be bolder.

"I –" But upon shifting her gaze to Ryder to start a conversation, she was stunned to see that Ryder had returned to bed, his eyes closed. Was he ignoring her? His reaction caught her off guard, and Ophilia felt a faint pang of disappointment and hurt. She stood there, frozen, the tray of fruits still clutched in her hands, as the silence between them grew thicker.

"A man and a woman alone in a room could be easily misunderstood, Miss," Ryder said, his voice detached and formal. "My roommate will be here any time soon." Ryder didn't say it outright, but the meaning was clear.

Ophilia felt a stab in her heart at his distant tone. Not only did he not acknowledge her, he was driving her out. The words cut deep, implying that her presence was unwelcome, that she was a potential source of scandal. She stood taller, her pride smarting, as she struggled to maintain her composure. "O– Of course…" she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. She put the tray down and rushed out, tears welling up in her eyes.