The Alpha's mate

The Ex

3rd POV

The tension in the air was palpable as Matthew stepped out of the ceremonial venue. Despite the fireworks of Matthew's newfound bond with Raphael, the reality of his complicated history and Blue moon packs’ strained relationship weighed heavily on Matthew's mind. His lingering scent of peppermint mixed with musk still clung to Matthew, igniting a warmth deep in Matthew's chest. But this wasn’t a fairy tale.

Outside the hall, whispers rippled through the attendees. Raphael’s ex, sia, stood with her arms crossed, her piercing gaze fixed on Matthew. She was the epitome of elegance, with sharp cheekbones and a dangerous glint in her eyes. It was no secret that Sia had hoped to secure a position of power through Raphael, and Matthew's sudden emergence as his fated mate threatened her ambitions.

"Well, well," she drawled as Matthew passed. "I see Raphael's standards have... changed."

Before Matthew could respond, Raphael’s growl echoed from behind. He appeared by Matthew's side in an instant, his hand possessively gripping Matthew's arm. His dark eyes burned with warning.

“Sia” he said coldly, his voice dripping with disdain and venom. “Careful of what you say, you might lose your life because of your mouth.”

But Sia only smirked, her confidence unfaltering. “I’m simply stating facts, Alpha. You think someone like him is ready to stand beside you? You and I both know he’s—”

“Enough!” Raphael’s growl reverberated through the clearing, silencing everyone nearby. He turned to Matthew, his gaze softening. “You don’t need to listen to her lies.”

Still, her words left a sting. Matthew forced himself to hold his ground, unwilling to show any weakness. “I’m not afraid of her,” he said, meeting sia’s eyes with a steely resolve.

After Sia stormed off, Raphael turned to Matthew, his hand still lingering on Matthew's arm. “She’s not worth your time,” he muttered, but the intensity in his voice suggested otherwise. It was clear that Sia wasn’t going to back down quietly.

Later that day, Matthew's thoughts remained heavy. Raphael’s reputation as a womanizer haunted Matthew, and his brother's friendship with him added another layer of complexity. Matthew's brother had often joked about Raphael’s escapades, describing him as reckless and overly confident. The thought of being tied to someone like that sent a wave of uncertainty through Matthew.

As Matthew returned to the Blue Moon territory, his boy best friend, Carlos, tried to cheer him up. “Raphael might be... complicated,” he admitted, “but the mate bond is stronger than anything else. Besides, you’ve handled worse, right?”

Carlos had always been the lighthearted one in their trio of friends. Even now, when his own life was in chaos after meeting his mate—a beta of Raphael’s pack, Felix—he still found time to support Matthew.

“You’re not wrong,” Matthew replied, forcing a small smile. “But I’m not sure I’m ready to trust him yet."

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See ya in next chapter