Forbidden Mate, Bound by Fate

SYDNEY Today is my eighteenth birthday, but I'm not celebrating it. Instead, I'm dressing up to attend a party that isn't mine—the engagement celebration of my sister, Alexis, to Alpha Gray of the Darkwood pack. I stood in the grand ballroom, surrounded by the Blackwood pack's elite. I tried to keep a low profile, but my stunning red dress and confident smile drew attention from everyone. My hair was tied up in a messy bun, and my red lipstick made me stand out. I could feel the other women staring and whispering, but I looked away, hoping to avoid more drama tonight. Everywhere I look, I'm reminded of the alpha's wealth, influence, and my family's prestige. I glanced around, my gaze lingering on the familiar faces of the pack's members. They all knew me, of course. I was the beautiful, charming, and cunning sister of the alpha's mate. But I was more than that; I was the one who had always been in the shadows, waiting for my chance to shine. I kept a low profile, avoiding eye contact with anyone, especially my family. I didn't want to draw attention to myself, not tonight. But my gaze inadvertently drifted to my sister, Alexis, across the room. She was the center of attention, as always, in her elegant white gown. I felt a familiar pang of resentment, but I quickly suppressed it. As I mingled with the guests, I couldn't help but feel a sense of arrogance. I was the one who had always been overlooked, underestimated. But I knew my worth. I knew I was destined for greatness. And then, I saw him. Gray Anderson, the alpha of the Blackwood pack. He stood tall and proud, his piercing blue eyes surveying the room with an air of quiet confidence. My heart skipped a beat as our eyes met, and for a moment, I felt like I was the only person in the room. I felt a weird feeling in my chest when he looked at Alexis. It was like a knot was tightening inside me, making me feel strange and unhappy. I didn't understand why I felt this way. Why did it bother me that he was looking at her, and my sister had him? I tried to shake off the feeling, but it wouldn't go away. It was like my heart was telling me something, but I didn't know what. The alpha's voice cut through the air, his booming tone commanding attention. "Ladies and gentlemen, family and friends, welcome! Tonight, we gather to celebrate the union of myself and my beautiful mate, Alexis." I knew this was coming - a marriage between the alpha and Alexis was a strategic move to strengthen the alliance between our packs and families. But nothing could have prepared me for the gut-wrenching feeling that hit me the moment he made the announcement. It was as if the air had been sucked out of me, leaving me breathless and reeling. A chill ran down my spine as a terrifying thought occurred to me. Could it be that he's the one - my mate? I was caught off guard by the sudden realization, my heart racing with the implications. But if it's true, why didn't I realize it sooner? And why did he choose Alexis instead of me? I felt like I'd been slapped in the face. The alpha's words echoed in my mind, a constant reminder that I was not the one he wanted. Alexis was. My own sister. I tried to push my way through the crowd, desperate to escape the humiliation that threatened to consume me. But it was no use. Everyone seemed to be staring at me, their eyes filled with pity and disdain. As I scanned the room, my gaze landed on my family, their faces contorted in a mixture of disgust and disappointment. My mother's voice sliced through the air, her words piercing my heart like a dagger. "Sydney, you're such a failure," she spat, her tone venomous. "You're eighteen now and still, you're alone. No mate, no future. What's wrong with you? Are you even worthy of being part of this family?" My father gave me a disgusting look. He examined every part of me, and his expression showed how much he disliked what he saw. "You're a disappointment, Sydney. You constantly remind us of our failure as parents." My father shook his head, his gaze drifting towards my sister. "Alexis is our only source of pride. She's strong, beautiful, and intelligent. You, on the other hand, are just a disgrace in my household." My father's words stabbed deep into my heart, leaving me breathless. It felt like I'd been punched repeatedly, but I refused to let him see the hurt he was causing. I stood tall, determined to hide my pain. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I wouldn't give my family the satisfaction of seeing me cry in front of everyone. Instead, I stood tall, my shoulders squared, and my head held high. But inside, I was dying. Their words were poison, eating away at my soul, leaving me feeling hollow and worthless. I turned to make my escape, but that's when I saw him. Gray Anderson, the alpha, standing in front of me with a cold, calculating gaze. "I see you're still as arrogant as ever. But let me make one thing clear, you're not worthy of my pack. You're weak, and you'll never be anything more than an unimportant wolf in the history of this pack." His words were like a punch to the gut, leaving me breathless and reeling. But I refused to back down. I stood tall, my eyes locked on his, and spat out the words that had been burning inside me. "You're just a coward, Gray," I spat, my anger boiling over. I didn't care if he got upset or punished me. Alpha Gray's face darkened, his eyebrows drawing together in a scowl that made my heart skip a beat. It was a clear sign that he didn't like what I said, but I didn't care. Something inside me had snapped, and for the first time, I let my emotions consume me completely. I felt a rush of adrenaline as I stood my ground, my eyes locked on Gray's, daring him to respond. I'd had enough. A fire of rebellion burned inside me, refusing to let me take this humiliation from my family and the Alpha. I stood tall, my eyes locked on Gray's. "You're scared of me," I said, a bitter smile twisting my lips. "You're scared of my strength and power. That's why you're choosing Alexis. You know you can't handle me." The room fell silent, the only sound the heavy breathing of the alpha. For a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of surprise in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a cold, calculating gaze. "We'll see about that, Sydney," he said, his voice dripping with danger. "We'll see about that soon.”