When the Alpha Chose His Pack Over His Mate Chapter 11

When the Alpha Chose His Pack Over His Mate Chapter 11

The rejection of the mating bond by the Northern Pack, citing Sky Harris’s false claim to Lycan Princess status, was a deliberate blow to our pack’s honor. It was a clear message—they were looking for any excuse to escalate tensions.

The Lycan King’s words were sharp, accusing us of abandoning the possibility of peace through a union. If he chose to blame Sky for failing to secure the bond, for not being able to sway the Northern Alpha’s heart in our favor, she would bear the brunt of his wrath. I had hoped to ask the Lycan Princess to intervene, to grant Sky her freedom and allow her to live as an Omega, safe from the fallout. But things had taken a turn I hadn’t anticipated.

Sky smiled brightly, her voice soft but laced with triumph. “Rowen, I’ll be counting on your support from now on.”

Rowen nodded, his voice steady. “Of course.”

But something about his tone felt hollow, as though he were trapped in a dream he couldn’t wake from. Everything around him was what he had wanted—power, status, a mate who could elevate his position. Yet his heart felt heavy, weighed down by a shadow he couldn’t name.

Perhaps it was just the unfamiliarity of it all, he thought. Like when he first became Alpha, struggling to adjust to the sudden shift in status. Back then, Ivy had been his anchor. She had navigated the complexities of the pack’s hierarchy with grace, shielding him from the endless demands of those seeking his favor. In the midst of it all, she had never faltered, her quiet strength always there to support him.

The thought of Ivy settled him. She was resilient, resourceful—she would thrive wherever she went. But the idea of her finding another mate, building a life with someone else, left him with a strange ache. Still, he told himself, he would be the first to wish her happiness if that day ever came.

—

Late that night, Rowen lay alone in his study, his mind adrift. The sound of soft sobbing reached his ears, pulling him from his thoughts.

Sky stood at the door, her eyes red and pleading. “Rowen,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “I had a nightmare. There were these… faceless figures, closing in on me, saying I stole someone’s mate. I was so scared…”

Rowen opened the door, his heart tightening at the sight of her. “It was just a dream,” he said, his voice gentle but distant.

She stepped closer, her hands clutching at his shirt. “Hold me, please. I only feel safe when I’m with you.”

As she pressed herself against him, Rowen’s arms hesitated. The image of Ivy’s calm, steady gaze flashed in his mind, and he felt a pang of guilt. He forced himself to pat her back stiffly. “You’re safe now. It was just a dream.”

Sky clung to him, her voice barely audible. “You don’t think Ivy resents me, do you? For taking you from her?” Rowen’s chest constricted. “Of course not,” he said, though the words felt heavy. Ivy had never spoken a word against Sky. She had simply accepted the rejection, her head held high as she walked away without looking back.

“I can’t help it,” Sky murmured, her fingers curling into his shirt. “My heart’s still racing. Just hold me for a little longer.”

Rowen complied, his arms wrapping around her mechanically. Every second felt like an eternity, his body tense and his mind restless. When her breathing finally evened out, he carefully disentangled himself, laying her down on the couch before stepping out into the cool night air.