Abandoned Alpha Mate

Eleanor' POV:

"I want to report this-Eleanor's designs are stolen!"

The she-wolf standing next to me shouted at the top of her lungs, her eyes drilling into me and the sketches in my hand.

Caught under the spotlight, I was completely frozen, staring at her in disbelief.

Today was the final round of the Starluxe Competition, the biggest design event in the country. This stage meant exposure for everyone, no matter the result. But I wasn't here for attention-I wanted that trophy. I'd poured at least six months of my life into these pieces.

But now, this mess hit me out of nowhere. My hands tightened around the papers. "These were all designed by me!"

"I've seen that exact design somewhere else," she snapped, jabbing a finger toward my work. "I can even pull up the original images. Judges, please-I'm accusing Eleanor Reynolds of plagiarism!"

From the judges' table, a werewolf's face turned cold. His stare cut right through me as he barked, "Miss Reynolds, care to explain yourself?"

"I didn't copy anyone!" My voice trembled as I tried to hold myself together. "I spent half a year crafting every single detail. I swear, I built the entire concept myself-it's all original!"

"Yeah, right," the she-wolf scoffed and unlocked her phone. "Here. That same design won a different competition just yesterday."

"Unreal! How did a cheater even get this far?" The audience murmured in disgust, their voices like piercing needles.

My hands started shaking as dizziness washed over me-I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

The judge looked at me with obvious disappointment. "You can leave now, Miss Reynolds."

With my teeth digging into my lip, I stumbled off the stage clutching my designs, everyone's contempt following me like a shadow.

Tears blurred my eyes. Everywhere I passed, people were whispering behind my back, judging me with the same phrase: "Look, there she is-the plagiarist who dared to join Starluxe."

I covered my face and bolted.

Becoming a designer had always been the dream. I worked my way into design school and never stopped pushing myself.

So how could something I spent months creating already be someone else's entry?

Shaking, I ducked into a corner and pulled out my phone. I had to see who submitted that design.

And then, I saw it-the name that chilled me to the bone.

Katherine Snow. Daughter of the Crystal Pack's alpha.

And more than that-she was Carl Reynolds' first love. My mate's first love.

For over a decade, her presence loomed over my life like a curse.

"Carl?" I whispered, stunned. "He's the only one who ever saw my designs..."

The reality hit like a punch to the gut. Tears flowed freely as I ran out into the street and flagged down a taxi.

"Take me to Stormfang Pack!" I could barely get the words out through chattering teeth.

Hunched over in the backseat, I rubbed my arms anxiously. "No way... It can't be him. No-it just can't."

Carl and I had been mates for two years. I'd loved him for seven. Even if he was always indifferent toward me... I still believed he wouldn't betray me like this.

He couldn't have handed my designs over to Katherine. Could he?

Luckily, the competition venue wasn't far from Stormfang territory. Within an hour, I was at a place I'd always been too afraid to explore.

From the start of our bond, I knew Carl didn't love me. I stayed away most of the time, hoping not to annoy him.

But now? I had no choice. I needed answers.

At the gate to the alpha's residence stood a delta on guard.

I walked up to him. "I need to see Carl."