Alpha's Forsaken Mate

Princess Siloh POV:

Fate is a cruel bitch.

I knew that better than most.

Had lived it. Breathed it.

I have endured it all my life.

People claimed that my life was charmed. That I was living every little girl's fantasy. That at one time I was that poor little damsel in distress beat down by those who cared for me and then one day Prince Charming had come to rescue me. Upon experiencing the greatest love either of us could imagine, he whisked me away to his castle and we lived happily ever after.

I scoffed at the thought.

If only that were true.

I'd have given almost anything if the hushed whispers about my life came anywhere close to the fanciful tales that people had spewed about me. It would've definitely been an improvement from the drastic reality that I faced every day. Given me some semblance of hope that the future cursed to me would somehow improve. Unfortunately, there was no way of escaping the reality that my life had really become. The painful existence I'd endured all my life and wasn't anywhere close to improving.

My name is Siloh “Silo most called me” Shannahan Nighthook and I had anything but the happy fairy tale people believed. True there was a Prince Charming and he'd whisked me away to his enormous castle, but that was as close as the similarities had gotten. When the man who was destined to be my mate had collected me, I had imagined a happy ending. I knew he wasn't particularly pleased with the outcome, but he seemed to accept it. I had hoped that in time he would come to see that he'd made the right choice and build a future together.

Ha! What a laugh!

Nathan Nighthook had shown me in a million different ways that we'd never have the bond I'd hoped for. In fact, my darling mate had very little to do with me since my arrival and resented my presence. All of them did really, if I actually gave myself the time to think about it. Neither he nor the majority of the people in my life found favor at the thought of my presence there. It was at times like now I wondered why he did it, why Nathan came for me when it was obvious he didn't want to.

The only member of the Nighthook family that'd ever had anything to do with me was the King. Unlike Nathan and the rest of his family, King Nighthook didn't have anger and resentment at my presence. There was such tenderness and affection from the man who had fathered Nathan. I often found myself wondering how such a cold and cruel man could ever come from such a sweet, and generous soul. I wondered if Nathan might've taken more after his mother, but those were answers I'd never know.

“Princess Luna?”

Knocked out of my thoughts by the soft voice uttering the title, I glanced up from my reverie. A soft smile tugged up the corner of my lips as I spotted the woman in the doorway. Roughly in her middle twenties, she had soft sable hair and grey eyes, a beauty not to be denied. My heart swelled up with so much love for her, she was like the older sister I'd never had. Granted she was my servant, not meant to be befriended by the royal family, but what the fuck did I care what they thought?

I didn't. Not really. Why should I walk around on eggs shells fulfilling the wishes of the family that never wanted me? Well, almost none of them. When Nathan had shown up with his new mate all of them had been aghast at his actions. Save for two. King Oren and Princess Tilda were the only ones who'd taken the time to warmly embrace me. There was such warmth and affection in their eyes, that it was hard to imagine they were related.

Again forced to clear those thoughts out of my mind when I saw her frown, I shifted around in my seat. “What is it, Alice?”

“Your luncheon,” she reminded.

I belatedly remembered that I'd arranged a luncheon with the Lady of the Pack. A very high profile group among society, leading ladies of the twelve families that banded together. All of them that spent so much of their free time creating a better world for the young pups. Most of which was focused on the appropriate schooling and lessons to guide them to the future. Though a few even created outreach programs, to help their children broaden their horizons beyond the pack.

Even though I wasn't born into their pack, let alone the same race, I'd wholeheartedly agreed with their attempts. I too wanted to give the younger generation a better start on the future than those before them. Hoping that if these children were given a better start, it could change the world in years to come. Suffice it to say the ladies had been delightfully pleased that I'd want to be included in their group.

Silently thanking Alice for the needed reminder, I reached for the documents spread out across the desk. Locking them away inside of the drawer for safekeeping, having no desire for the wrong person to get a hold of them. Enemies were always looking for new information to use to their own whims and I wouldn't aid them in the mission. Confident that it'd be safe during my absence I climbed to my feet and sailed out of the office.

I reached the third floor of the palace specifically reserved for the First Family, and my eyes were cast down the hall. Directly at the very end, I spied the door to the chambers, where Nathan presently slept. That was one of the many things people hadn't missed when he'd brought me back home. I'd been placed in a bedroom, that while on the same floor, was on the opposite side of him. That alone had assured me that though he'd openly claimed me, I'd never be the mate I wanted to be.

It was all a show, for the little lemmings. I was nothing more than a prop that asshole used whenever the desire or the need arose. To show the people of the strength of their kingdom, as he could only be at the height of strength bound to his true mate. I'd learned that was the only reason that Nathan had come back from me and saved me from the clutches of my original pack. Because no matter what he thought on the matter I was his true mate, bound to him by the goddess.

Shaking my head in dejection at the thought of my life, I pushed open my door and went inside. It was at times like this when I truly wondered why I persisted in doing this to myself. Why did I continue to remain in this place that'd never been my home, miserable and alone? I'd long since accepted that Nathan wouldn't love me the way that I'd hoped that he would. I'd never be anything more than the mate he'd been forced to claim and felt total hatred, and disgust for.

So why did I stay?

Why didn't I leave?

Sitting down on the edge of the bed these thoughts swirled around in the silence of my mind. Honestly, I didn't know. In the beginning, I had hopes that Nathan would come to see he was wrong and fall in love with me. Three months later and I'd faced the fact that I was an unwanted interloper in his home. All he saw was the manipulative and scheming woman who'd denied him the chance to be with who he wanted to be.

I groaned in torment at the thought of the reason for his hatred, though it was more like who. As it turned out my mate had already been engaged the night I'd stumbled into his life. He'd been less than a week away from marrying the woman he really loved when I'd derailed his plans. When he'd openly claimed me as his mate he'd been forced to end the engagement, ultimately losing the woman. To the public anyway.

I wasn't the fool he seemed to take me for being, aware things hadn't really ended between them. Nathan might like to put on a good face and pretend to be a good mate and husband, but I knew the truth. I knew better than to think that the asshole had truly be loyal and faithful to me these last months.

I knew that these last months Nathan had been sneaking around my back, still sleeping with his ex. The constant disappearances from the castle for prolonged periods, so-called meetings that never existed. The scent that lingered to his clothes every time he came back, that he apparently didn't think that I noticed. I might not be like the rest of them, but he seemed ignorant to the fact I had my senses.

Then there'd been that night. Three months ago Nathan had been gone for close to twenty-four hours, when he suddenly appeared. I didn't know where he'd been or what he'd been up to, as no one had thought to explain. Standing over his bed where he lay fast asleep, that same scent clung to his clothes. That wasn't the only thing I noticed either, as I caught the stain of lipstick on the side of his neck. Lipstick in the imprint of a female lips, right over where I'd marked him months before.

Yes, I'd been forced to face the truth then, of precisely what my mate had been up to. While I sat at home fraught with worry of what'd become of him, he'd been with another she-wolf. With her. I didn't want to accept it and pretended like it wasn't happening, but I couldn't miss the obvious. While I might be his true mate and lawful wife, it was she who had the pleasure of filling his bed.

Most nights anyway.

Gnashing my teeth at the thoughts going through my mind, I hurriedly dressed into suitable attire. Ready for the luncheon that'd been planned, I stalked out of my room with a purposeful stride. Just because Nathan had chosen to live a life of pain away from me, it didn't mean I had to be cursed to it too. I might not have the mate I'd always dreamed about, but hopefully, I could improve the lives of others.

Princess Siloh POV:

“Are you okay, Princess?”

I was sitting in a booth in the VIP section of Café Verona in town, my mind distracting me. As I came out of my thoughts I stared at Lillian and Stephanie across from me, members of the Lady's of the Pack. I grimaced. “I'm so sorry, ladies. I just have a lot going on right now.”

Stephanie patted her hand. “It's okay Princes Siloh, we understand how complicated things can be for you.”

“Yeah sure,” Lillian added.

It was obvious that Lillian really didn't agree with the woman, but was merely appearing so. After all, it wouldn't look too good on her if she insulted the princess, the wife of their future King. I failed to comment on these thoughts, waving aside their concern for me at the time being. “Thank you for the understanding, but we aren't here about me. What dilemma are the two of you facing now?”

“As you know we have limited funds for the rest of the year,” Stephanie attempted to explain the debate the two of them were having, while Lilliah focused on her lunch. “We have much of the money reserved, but there's still the Christmas Pageant at the orphanage or the Girl's ball. We were debating on which project to go to.”

Yeah, that was quite a dilemma. A thoughtful expression washed across my features, when I reached for the glass of juice. “Both. The children so look to the event and it brings a lot of childless couples into the orphanage, but neither can I deny the girls. Just cover as much of the projects as you can manage.”

“We can't afford both,” Lillian denied.

I waved her protests aside. “Don't worry about that Lady Lillian, I understand the importance of these fundraisers. Just pay what you can from the remaining funds and I will cover the remaining costs. Just send an invoice to the palace and I will pay it.”

“Thank you,” Stephanie said in heartfelt relief, truly thankful for the offer that I had made to donate funds.

The three of us launched into a conversation about the necessary arrangements to be made when I stopped. Suddenly assailed with a cloud of dizziness, I moaned as I reached for my head. I closed my eyes as my vision began to blur, hoping that eventually, the effects would fade.

“Are you okay princess?” Stephanie asked, a glimmer of concern in her opal colored eyes as she watched me. For once those same emotions were mirrored in Lillian's face, as if she truly worried.

Finally opening my eyes when the world stopped spinning around me, I tossed some bills on the table. “No need to feel concerned ladies, I've just been doing a lot of work lately and it's catching up to me. I think I'm going to bow out early, but we're still on for Friday?”

Both nodded.

Silently thanking both of them for being so understanding, I reached for my purse and climbed to my feet. I'd managed to reach out front of the café, when I leaned up against the wall, my head spinning again. Pressing a hand to my forehead, the other one pressed to my stomach, in the hopes of calming the roiling. Despite my careless and unconcerned reaction in the café, these instances were a little alarming. I'd noticed for the last few days these strange episodes but kept shrugging it off as stress.

Could it be something else?

Something more prominent?

Could I be……….I gnashed in anger and slammed a door on those thoughts before I could finish. I knew better than to think that. Though the thought of conceiving a pup filled me with warmth, I knew it wasn't possible. Not anymore. I'd been forced to face the truth of my life just last month when I'd attended the royal physician. It was then that the doctor had told me these attempts of ours were pointless, a cub would never be born.

I still wasn't feeling at my best when I reached my room in the palace, but my hand hovered over the knob. Despite my best attempts not to I found my attention drawn to his door and saw it was ajar. I knew that Nathan never allowed him to leave the room without closing it, which meant that he was home. I mentally struggled with myself then, part of me wanting to avoid the pain, and the other part unable to deny it. Because no matter what I said or the number of lectures I gave myself, he was still my mate.

This was the first time he'd been at the palace in almost a month, having been away on business. I'd missed him terribly these last weeks we'd been apart and there was so much we needed to talk about. Anytime I'd attempted to strike up a conversation he'd made fast work of leaving. Of course, inside of his bedroom, it would be a little difficult for Nathan to be able to avoid me or our conversation.

I sighed warily. Against my better judgment, my feet found themselves sailing down the hallway, to his room. Sincerely hoping that this time Nathan actually took a few minutes out of his day to talk to me. Something I'd yearned to do from the moment we married, but he left little time for that. Always determined to keep me at arm's length, a constant reminder I wasn't the one he wanted. That I was nothing more than the substitute for the woman that he really wanted to be with.

I was closing near the door that belonged to his bedroom when I heard the noise from inside. The words that completely shattered my world, bringing me to a reality that I didn't want to face. My heart jack hammered inside of my chest and I blinked my eyes against the tears threatening. No, this couldn't be happening. Nathan was capable of a lot of things, cheating on me among them, but he wouldn't do this. He wouldn't bring her back here, to the castle that was her home, inside of his bedroom.

“Nathan,” a girl giggled. “Stop that.”

“I can't help it,” his laughter came then, a rich and husky sound, that I'd never heard in all the time we'd been mated. It was a pleasant sound I'd always wanted to experience, but was beyond me. “You're just so damned cute.”

Pushing the door to his bedroom open the rest of the way, I had to bite down on my lip to hold in the cry. For right there on the edge of his bed was none other than Nathan, still as beautiful as the first time I laid eyes on him. With his mane of wavy black curls and almost black eyes, how could I not fall in love with him? He was everything that I'd imagined in a mate and so much more it always left me drooling.

This mate of mine that presently had his arm wrapped around the slender waist of the woman beside him. His face was presently buried in the curve of her neck, where he was trailing gentle kisses along her skin. I watched as those big hands of his roved over the body of the woman, leaving no doubt of his plans. Tears slid down my face as I took notice of the woman, with her blonde hair and azure blue eyes. I recognized her at first sight, difficult to do when she was the figment of every nightmare I'd had for the last three months.

Lilarose Abernathy.

Nathan's ex-fiancée.

I couldn't hold back the gasp that escaped me when it dawned on me what was happening. The sound was filled with so much pain and anguish, to think what I'd caught him in the act of.

“Um Nathan, we have an audience,” Lilarose tapped on his shoulder, appearing for all the world surprised by this outcome.

Nathan slowly lifted his head from where it was pressed to her neck, but he didn't move from her side. Rather his arm remained wrapped around her waist, holding her close like she was a treasure he wouldn't release. “Not necessarily the way I wanted to do this, but I guess I can't change that now. It's good that you're here, it'll make this easier.”

Easier? How could this possibly be easier? I had just walked in to find my true mate and rightful husband, his arms wrapped around another woman. I was given confirmation of all my suspicions, that he wasn't the honorable man he presented to be. “What is going on, Nathan? Why is she here?”

“This is her home,” he shot off.

I blinked my eyes against the tears that threatened, those four little words shattering the world around me. “Why are you doing this, Nathan?”

He snorted in derision. “Don't act like you didn't know that this was coming, Siloh. You knew from the beginning that I never loved you, that I was forced to take you when you weaseled your way into my bed.”

I scoffed in derision. That was so like him, always blaming me for what had happened the night of the King's Ball. “You can say whatever the hell you want Nathan, but the both of us really know what happened that night. I didn't weasel my way into anything, you're the one who dragged me into your room and climbed atop me.”

“Enough!” Nathan growled, pissed off that I would think to remind him of the events that lead to our mating. He didn't seem particularly found of my determination to remind him of his actions that night. “The fact remains that I love Rose, I have from the moment I laid eyes on her and I was forced to endure you. Now that the doctors have confirmed my suspicions, I can put all this silliness behind us, finally.”

“I should go,” Rose said.

Rose climbed to her feet then as if she truly intended on leaving to give us our privacy. Only as his hand tightened around her waist, it pulled the dress snugly against her and the bump of her stomach. Pain, fierce and overwhelming, washed over me when I saw the evidence of his crimes. Rose was pregnant. And judging by the size of her stomach, she looked to be around three months pregnant.

But how could that be? Nathan had vowed that he and Rose hadn't been intimate for months before our mating. That he hadn't been with anyone for nearly five months until the night we met at the King's Ball. If he'd been telling the truth, it meant that the child inside of her belly was conceived following our marriage. It meant that all of my suspicions were confirmed, Nathan had been fucking this bitch behind my back.

“Stay,” he ordered her. Then climbing up from where he was sitting on the bed, Nathan moved a few feet in front of her. “There is no need to make this ugly, Siloh. You knew that I never loved you. As my mate, I will provide for you well.”

“Is she pregnant?” I gritted out.

Appearing deaf to my question he reached for a folder from inside of his bedside table. Moving closer still bringing his face into my view, Nathan extended out the folder to me. “Inside are the papers for the dissolution of our marriage and everything I'm willing to provide you. I've already purchased you a house and you will keep the car that you have. For relinquishing your rights to our bond I will provide you a settlement of ten million dollars, and profits from the company.”

Ignoring the paperwork that he forced into my hand, my mind was frozen at the thought of what was happening. I couldn't seem to get beyond the fact that Rose sat there, obvious signs of an increasing waistline. “Is she pregnant, Nathan?”

“Sign it,” he said instead.

“I asked if SHE” S FUCKING PREGNANT?” I belted the scream right into his face, unwilling to allow him to maintain his silence. For the first time since our marriage, I expressed anger, a side of me that I'd never imagined I was capable of.

Nathan was momentarily taken aback by the uproar from me, not having expected the response. He tossed a quick glance over his shoulder at the woman, then slowly bobbed his head. “Yes, as you've seen for yourself Rose is pregnant. I will not forfeit my heir for a mate I never wanted.”

CRACK!

I was panting laboriously in anger as I watched Nathan's head whip off to the side, from where I struck him. I failed to care about the red handprint on his skin or the marks where my nails had dug into his flesh. I snarled in such anger it was palpable. “You no good slimy bastard. How fucking dare you bring her here, before me, knowing you've been fucking her behind my back? I guess the rumors are true, you're nothing compared to the honorable and decent man you claimed to be.”

“How dare you?” he growled, livid that she would even think to throw this up into his face. Nathan had always taken pleasure at knowing he was better than the rest of his family.

I didn't back down. I sneered in derision at the man I'd married, a look that his little slut was encompassed in. “I dare to speak the truth. All of this time you've been lying to me, claiming to be faithful, when it couldn't be furthest from the truth. You're just like the rest of your family, willing to step on everyone else to grasp a twinge of power. I hope you choke on it because one day you will regret this decision.”

Nathan was panting by the time I'd finished with my rant and there was a look in his eyes I'd never seen. A look of astonishment and incredibility, as if he wasn't prepared for what I had to say. “I, Nathaniel Emerson Nightmoon hereby reject you….”

If he finished his rejection, I never heard. Assailed by a wealth of pain I didn't understand, I collapsed to my knees on the floor. Curled up into a tight ball I held onto my stomach, feeling as the world spun around me. Howling in agony I heard the running footsteps, and then suddenly Nathan was calling out a name. A name that wasn't my own. I only half listened as he called for help, it seemed that Rose had collapsed in pain. Then in a moment, Nathan was running out with the unconscious woman in his arms.

I was left alone on the floor of his bedroom withering in agony, lost and alone in a world of pain I didn't understand. Is this what it felt like? To be rejected? I was surprised when I failed to hear the whimpering of my animal, I'd thought for sure she'd surface. Though I didn't have much contact with her, having always been elusive, but surely she'd have reacted. Then all thought fled from my mind as the world spun dizzily around me and I fell unconscious.