The Alpha's Secret Lover

an anchor, grounding a w

edge of the pack's territory. The world around her was still, the early morning air cool and fresh with the scent of pine and earth. Birds chirped in

in her, pacing back and forth, i

l would call to hers, whose touch would feel like home. It was something she had waited for, something she had yearned for with every passing year. But now, stan

atter. It had always been a promise she held on to with quiet certainty, even as she observed her friends and siblings fall into the arms of their mates, their connection forming with the ease of a br

her voice a faint murmur carried away by

oo, longed for the connection, the bond that should have formed by now. But a

d, but with it came a bitter sting. While others in the pack had found their mates, felt the pull of their other

h's loneliness. She watched them, her heart twisting with envy, not of their happiness but of the certainty they had found. The

the rituals and duties that were expected of her. She had filled her days with purpose, thinking that perhaps if she kept busy, the ache would fade. But it hadn't. And

They were all too aware of the heavy sadness that had taken root in her. For weeks, Sarah had been distant, lost in her own thoughts, unabl

ice called fr

tark contrast to the somber mood that enveloped her. He was the youngest of her siblings and, in many ways, her best

his grin widening. "Come on, you need to eat

t he didn't understand the pain she carried. He had found his mate years ago, an easy bond that came to him naturally. He had met his mate and felt the i

ed, her voice soft and dis

ughts behind her expression. He had seen the change in her over the past few weeks, how her smile had faded and how she spent mo

mpassion. "I know you're upset. But you can't keep

n as she spoke them. She knew Ethan only cared for her. He was always trying to make sure sh

r a moment, "maybe your mate just h

a nearby tree. "I keep waiting for something to change. But nothing ever does," she murmured, more to herself than to hi

der, his voice gentle. "He will

est. "What if he doesn't?" Her voice cracked at the end of the sentence,

her chest, the yearning that never went away-it was growing unbearable. It felt like her soul was reaching out, wanting something

hard. It feels like it's taking forever. But... it's not always immediate. Sometimes mat

er body screamed for that connection, that bond. She had done everything she could to be patient, but as the days turned into weeks, then

s it was, only served to highlight the loneliness Sarah felt deep in her core. His words were well-meaning, but they

gested. "She's been through this before.

were out before she realized how harsh they sounded. She immediately regretted the sha