Mated to my Rival

An Unexpected Alliance

Chapter 3

Vanya

Of all the people in the world, Nero was the last one I wanted to catch me.

Well… after my father.

He wasn’t surprised. Not even a little.

“You look surprised,” he said with a smirk, his voice calm and full of mockery. “Did you really think no one knew about your little secret passage? The one you use to fulfill your rebellious desires?”

He stopped in front of me and pressed the tip of his dagger under my chin, forcing me to look up at him.

Nero.

The son of the Beta. My father’s cousin’s son. Technically, family.

He would’ve been the Beta of the Blood Moon Pack if I had a brother to become Alpha. But I didn’t.

I’d grown up with him. I knew him too well. I had Alpha blood in my veins—he didn’t. But that didn’t stop him from dreaming. He wanted the title of Alpha for himself more than anything, and it showed in everything he did. It was almost sad. We both had the same goal—to lead this pack—but we hated each other enough to burn it all down.

And now, here he was, holding all the power over me.

It felt like defeat.

“Don’t look so sad, Vanya,” he said, his tone mocking. “I know you better than you know yourself. The moment Uncle forced that marriage on you, it didn’t take a genius to guess you'd try to run. What about your big dream of becoming Alpha?”

I shoved the dagger away from my chin and met his eyes.

“At least I have Alpha blood,” I said coldly. “Unlike you, Nero. You don’t even have a chance.”

That struck a nerve. His smirk twitched, and I saw a flicker of anger in his eyes.

“You’re in no position to insult me,” he said sharply. “One call, Vanya. That’s all it takes. I’ll tell your father you tried to ran away. I’ll tell him you’ve been sneaking around, rebelling against him. He’ll be furious and It won't take long for Alpha Danish to hear about your little rebellion and perhaps he would reject this alliance and your hand in marriage.”

He stepped closer, his voice dropping lower, darker.

“And then, I’ll ask for your hand in marriage. He’ll say yes. He’ll have no choice. A rejected daughter with a tarnished name? He’ll be grateful someone still wants you. And once I’m married to you, I’ll be in line to lead the pack. I’ll be Alpha, and you,” he leaned in closer, “you’ll be my Luna, Anya.”

I stared at him for a second… and then laughed right in his face.

A real laugh. Loud and bitter.

“What a delusional fantasy you’ve built up in that twisted head of yours,” I said, stepping closer until I was almost nose-to-nose with him. “What are you reading these days? Fairy tales?”

I narrowed my eyes.

“Your plan is pathetic. And me? Marrying you? Over my dead body, Nero. Go ahead—call whoever you want. Threaten me all you want. The worst my father will do is beat me and lock me up. He’s done it before.”

My voice shook with rage, but I didn’t look away.

“He might marry me off to that old Alpha, but I will never just sit back and accept it. And you know that. You said it yourself—you know me better than anyone. So trust me when I say this: the day I get power… you will be the first to suffer for everything you’ve done.”

He stared at me in silence, then slowly smiled again.

“You look so cute when you try to threaten me, my little Anya,” he said, almost fondly.

But then his smile faded. His eyes turned serious.

“Where are you running off to?” he asked, his voice low.

I rolled my eyes, annoyed that he still thought I’d give him answers.

“None of your business,” I snapped and tried to walk past him.

But Nero grabbed my arm and yanked me in front of him.

“When I ask you something, you answer me. Do you understand?” His voice was sharp, filled with venom. “Or I’ll call Uncle right now—and you know I will.”

His threat hung in the air, but I noticed something in his tone… hesitation. A small window. Maybe he wasn’t planning to expose me—not yet. But what did he want in return?

“I’m running away,” I said, giving him a lie wrapped in just enough truth to sound believable. “Maybe to another kingdom. I’ll wait until Father calls off the marriage, or until that old Alpha feels insulted and breaks the alliance himself.”

His grip tightened on my arm.

He didn’t believe me.

“Seriously? That’s your grand plan?” he scoffed. “You’re smarter than this, Anya. If you come back, Uncle will punish you worse than ever. And you will come back—I know you. You won’t abandon the Alpha throne so easily. But after dragging you through hell, Uncle will just marry you off to another old bastard. You can’t run from your fate.”

Time was slipping away. I didn’t have long before the carriage left the city without me.

I pulled my arm from his grasp.

“That would be perfect for you, wouldn’t it, Nero? You get to play the hero, ask for my hand in marriage. Maybe then Father will finally accept you. Because, as you said, a daughter can never be the Alpha. But the Beta’s son marrying the Alpha’s blood? That makes you the Alpha. It’s happened before.”

He went quiet, watching me with unreadable eyes.

“But you said you’d never marry me,” he finally said.

I laughed, bitter and cold. “You talk like I have a choice. Look at me—I’m trying to run away just to avoid a forced marriage. But if the choice was between marrying you and marrying that old Alpha…” I paused and gave him a long look. “I’d choose you.”

That was a lie. A big one.

He smirked, but there was no humor in it.

“Do you think I’m stupid, Anya?” he asked. “The last thing you’d ever want is to see me become Alpha through you. You’d rather die than watch that happen.”

Damn it. He was right.

He really did know me better than anyone else.

“But I don’t care what you’re planning,” he said, stepping closer until his forehead touched mine. His eyes burned with fire—challenge, competition. “Letting that old Alpha take the pack through marriage? That’s worse. If you stay, he’ll claim the pack by next week. I can’t let that happen.”

His jaw clenched.

“So go,” he said at last. “I’m letting you leave. Don’t waste this chance.”

I took a step back. A smile tugged at the corner of my lips. I knew it—he wasn’t going to turn me in. He’d keep my secret, because it benefited him.

I didn’t waste another second. I turned and began walking away.

“Anya.”

I groaned and turned around. “Now what, Nero?”

He held out his dagger. “Take this.”

“I don’t need it.”

He stepped forward, ignored me, and pulled up the hem of my long skirt. My eyes widened.

“Nero!”

Before I could protest further, he strapped the dagger to my calf and stood up.

“Do you have money?”

I frowned at him. “Stop or I’ll start to think you actually care about me.”

He rolled his eyes. “In your dreams. I just want you alive long enough to marry me, so I can become Alpha. That’s all.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“When you get somewhere safe,” he added, “send me a letter. Only if you’re in real danger.”

I scoffed. “Like I’d ever write you a romantic letter.”

“Good.” he said.

“That’s enough. I’m leaving,” I muttered and turned to walk into the forest.

I didn’t look back, but I could feel him standing there, watching me, until I disappeared into the trees—away from the pack, and away from everything I’d ever known.