Page 1 of The Alpha's Betrayed Mate

Chapter 1 - Belmont

The day had finally arrived. The day he’d been looking forward to for eighteen months, ever since he’d left his pack behind to join the mission to settle a new land in a new world. The day that had been on his mind constantly, even through the tumultuous journey that had been the first year and a half on Kurivon. At long last, Belmont’s pack were coming to join him here, for the newest and most exciting chapter in their lives together. He’d been so deeply focused on making the final preparations over the last few weeks that a curious sense of unreality seemed to pervade the scene as he waited by the portal with the other Alphas to welcome his pack to their new homes.

“Lone wolf no longer, huh?”

Belmont glanced up to meet Reeve’s dancing eyes. The charismatic Alpha never had been able to let a silence hang for too long. Not that the tropical island of Kurivon was ever particularly quiet—even now, the piercing cries of birds carried high over the constant low roar of the waves crashing against the beach, a constant reminder of how close to the ocean they were. That was going to be an adjustment for his people, he thought with a faint smile. Back home, the largest body of water for hundreds of miles had been a lake no larger than the archipelago’s smallest island. Back home…. he’d have to stop thinking of Halforst as home, now that his pack were coming through at last. This would be home now.

“I bet you’re looking forward to seeing your son again.” Reeve and his soulmate had recently welcomed a brand new baby girl, and since he’d become a father it seemed the other Alpha could think of little else. “I still can’t believe we only found out you were a family man a week ago. Can’t wait to learn all the rest of your secrets.”

“Reeve,” came Renfrey’s disapproving voice. Among the six Alphas based here on Kurivon, Renfrey was unique in that he didn’t lead a pack of his own. Instead, he’d been appointed as a leader for the settlement overall, with the responsibility of keeping the peace between packs as the population grew. The role had been of particular importance over the last year or so, during which tensions had been high between the packs led by Reeve and his brother Darion. Thankfully, the warring packs had since been united. That lasting peace was what had finally cleared the way for Belmont’s pack to come through the portal from the other world. Homes had been prepared for them, and the community were all looking forward to the next stage of settlement that their increased numbers would allow. Renfrey was even considering the prospect of establishing a subsequent settlement on another island on the archipelago, especially with future plans to expand their farming and food-growing operations to reduce their dependence on food shipments from the mainland.

“I’m not going to pry,” Reeve said now, the expression on his face making Belmont doubt his claim. “I’m just saying—you’ve always been a man of mystery, Belmont. I’m looking forward to finding out a little more about you.”

“The details of my personal life didn’t seem—relevant, to our work here,” Belmont said calmly. “I can’t say it’s part of my leadership style to share much.”

“Understatement of the century,” Reeve said. “It took six months of me talking nonstop about my daughter before you thought to mention you’ve had a son this whole time. We could have been bonding, Belmont. We could have had a dad club.”

“It’s not too late for that,” Renfrey pointed out with a soft chuckle. It was good to hear their leader laugh, especially given the stress they’d all been under since they’d arrived here on Kurivon. The political ramifications of moving five packs onto one island were a full time job all by themselves—and then, of course, there was the demonic presence to consider. Kurivon’s infestation by demons was the reason the Halforst Council had decided to settle the archipelago in the first place. Positioned as the islands were around a portal that led to the heart of Halforst, it had always been of utmost importance to maintain a protective presence that would prevent demons breaching that bridge between worlds. For decades, that role had been served by Council lorekeepers posted for short periods on the island. But after a terrible disaster had claimed the lives of nearly every wolf on Kurivon, it had become clear that a stronger presence was needed. The demons would be held at bay not by temporary postings, but by a community of wolves who made their homes and built their lives right here on Kurivon. It was a tremendous responsibility and a great honor—and Belmont was determined that his pack’s arrival and settlement would run smoothly.

“Rylan’s a little older than the twins and Ilya,” Belmont said, pulling his gaze from the portal as he tuned back into the conversation. “We’ll be celebrating his eighth birthday in a few weeks.”

“I’m looking forward to meeting him,” Renfrey said with a smile. “And your mate, too.”

Belmont froze, old habit keeping his expression utterly still. “Ah,” he said pleasantly, as though the subject was as unremarkable as the weather. “Rylan’s mother Tetra is one of my closest friends, but we aren’t mates.” He avoided looking at Reeve, who he knew well enough to know would be just about exploding with curiosity at this revelation. He’d learned from experience that it was best to provide Reeve with information before he could start firing off his own questions—it was the best way to control the course of the conversation. “Her mate was lost in a terrible accident, many years ago, protecting a young child from a demon at the cost of his own life. Rylan was born a few weeks later.”

“That must have been hard.” That was Lyrie, Reeve’s soulmate, whose knack for jumping into conversations just in time to cut off Reeve’s impulsive questions Belmont had always admired. “Raising a child in the wake of a grief like that…”

Belmont nodded shortly. “The pack gathered around her. The tragedy made us all stronger, in the end.”

“Does Rylan know?” That was Renfrey’s mate Syrra, ever the pragmatist—no doubt wondering whether this was a piece of information that needed to be kept from the child who’d soon be roaming around their island. Belmont nodded shortly.

“He’s aware his mother and I are close friends rather than soulmates, and though I’m the only father he’s ever known, he is also aware that his biological father died shortly before he was born.”

“That must have been tough to explain to a kid.” Renfrey looked troubled.

“Our pack doesn’t believe in keeping secrets,” Belmont said, feeling a familiar shadow press on his heart. “We confront difficult subjects together, and with intellect we master any unpleasant feelings that may come. It was a valuable lesson for Rylan to learn, young as he was. It will only make him stronger.”

“This is explaining a lot about you,” Reeve said, and Belmont didn’t miss the way Lyrie elbowed him disapprovingly in the ribs. “I mean—you’re ice cold, Belmont. I mean that as a compliment. I’ve seen you with a demon’s claw at your throat and you looked just as calm as you look now.”

“It runs in the family,” Belmont said, turning his gaze back to the portal in the hopes that the other Alphas would take the hint that he’d had enough of talking about his past. It wasn’t a story he liked telling, the rather peculiar story of how he’d become a father. Even when he left the most difficult parts out, as he had in this telling, it still twisted at his heart in ways he found difficult to suppress. And right now, he had enough to think about without adding those ancient worries to his plate. Like the fact that his pack were running late, for example. They’d been expecting the portal to light up half an hour ago, heralding the pack’s arrival. Darion’s pack had arrived right on time when they’d come through. Was it possible the Council were having trouble with the portal again?

As if in response, there came an odd crackle in the air, the static hum that indicated magic. The assembled Alphas looked to the portal, and Belmont caught his breath as he saw the runes carved deeply into the rock begin to glow. When they’d first arrived here, the demons on the island had done everything in their power to damage the portal, but all their dark magic had been powerless in the face of whatever ancient force it was that had carved out a magical passageway between this world and their own. Halforst had been home to wolves for longer than anyone could remember, but this portal had been there even longer.

And now, at last, it was bringing his family back to him.

The wolves appeared in groups of two or three at a time, the air shimmering and warping above the portal’s deceptively unremarkable flat rocky surface before giving way to the outlines of figures, then to the figures themselves. Each group moved swiftly out of the way of the portal as the next group came through, and Belmont let himself smile as he saw his pack beginning to assemble on the far side of the portal. As much as he was looking forward to welcoming his pack to their new home, he knew better than to risk interfering with the magical workings of the portal. Councilors at the other end would be working hard to ensure the safe passage of such a large group, and he wasn’t about to make the transition any more dangerous by barging into the middle of the magical field.

He began to realize that something was wrong when the bright light of the portal’s surface began to dim, the crackle in the air receding. By his reckoning, the group standing huddled by the portal was about half of his pack, if that—barely two dozen wolves awaited him. Where were the others? Were the Councilors taking a break? Darion’s pack had all come through at once, and when he glanced sidelong at Syrra, he could see from the faint frown on the lorekeeper’s face that this was unusual. But the portal had undeniably been deactivated, and Belmont hid his confusion as he strode forward to greet his pack.

That was when he saw the injuries. Just about every wolf he saw was sporting bandages somewhere—a few with their arms in slings, others with bandaged legs who were leaning on other wolves for support.

“Alpha Belmont, we are glad to see your face.”

The familiar voice of his oldest advisor brought a smile to his lips, and Belmont reached out to embrace the old wolf as he approached from the front of the group. Raske had been an advisor to the Alphas of the pack for longer than Belmont had been alive, his wisdom and experience matched only by his skill as a lorekeeper. He’d been there for Belmont since he was a child, first as his father’s advisor, and then as his own when he accepted the role of Alpha almost a decade ago. But in all that time, Belmont had rarely seen such a look of sadness on the old man’s face.

“Welcome to Kurivon,” he said, letting a little of his concern show as he looked at the huddled group to see similar expressions of grief mirrored throughout. “I sense this is a less happy occasion than anticipated.”

“Terrible news ought to be told quickly,” Raske said flatly. “Alpha, on our journey to Council Headquarters, we were ambushed by an army of demons. The size and force of the attack took us utterly by surprise, given how close to Halforst’s well-protected center we had made our camp. Fighting for our lives, we were able to turn back the attack, but at a terrible cost. You are looking at the full complement of survivors, Alpha Belmont. Twenty lives lost.”

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