Betrayed By My Mate, Claimed By The Alpha: Book 1

By Annethe Pen

Ariana, the heiress to Warwick Kingdom, rejected her childhood companion, Jasper, who returned with a pregnant Omega. Reeling from the betrayal, Ariana met a mysterious merchant from Harmonia Kingdom, a weak werewolf whom Ariana couldn't smell his scent. "Who are you?" She watched him in utter disbelief. "Your merchant and I'm here because everything about you interests me.” "Is flirting all you know how to do?” "So you admit I'm a good flirt?" His smile was wider, "That makes me happy, princess." Happy that he, being born with the devil, finally met his Mate in the last year of his 3000 yrs life. The fate bonded them, so as to twist their destiny...

• Language: English
• Publisher: BestNovel
• Release date: Jun 25, 2024

Book preview

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Meeting Prince Damon

Chapter 2 The Betrayal

Chapter 3 I Reject You!

Chapter 4 The Deal

Chapter 5 Showing Mercy

Chapter 6 An Opium Poppy

Chapter 7 Pride And Prejudice

Chapter 8 A Wolf In Sheep Clothing

Chapter 9 The 50/50 deal

Chapter 10 The Merchant Lure

Chapter 11 The Royal Finale

Chapter 12 A Provocation And A Pledge

Chapter 13 The Trap

Chapter 14 The Trap 2

Chapter 15 A Cry For Help

Chapter 16 The Observer And The Warrior

Chapter 17 A Merchants Worth

Chapter 18 A Dance Of Dominance

Chapter 19 A Pact With The Devil

Chapter 20 The Twins Challenge

Chapter 21 Monsters Of The Hill

Chapter 22 Damon To The Rescue

Chapter 23 Defeating Jasper

Chapter 24 Strange Feelings

Chapter 25 A Confession

Chapter 26 Fenrirs Mockery

Chapter 27 Facing The Foe

Chapter 28 Whips And Wiles

Chapter 29 The Crowning

Chapter 30 Owning Jaspers Soul

Chapter 31 A Mothers Warm Touch

Chapter 32 A Proper Goodbye

Chapter 33 Lornas Appearance

Chapter 34 Death Screams

Chapter 35 A Born Entity

Chapter 36 Pauper To The Throne

Chapter 37 A Kingdom In Turmoil

Chapter 37 Revenge And Eternal Damnation

Chapter 38 The Wedding

Chapter 39 Escaping Warwick Kingdom

Chapter 1 Meeting Prince Damon

Ariana's POV

Are you trying to piss me off, Ariana? It's the third time already!

When I was wiping my bloody double-edged sword, my father was roaring at me, with something unreadable in his eyes.

Calm down, your majesty. I said with a smirk playing on my lips, If they can't beat me down, how are they worthy of marrying me?

For the happiness of my rest life, my father hosted Werewolf Power Contest: whoever could defeat me, the only princess of Warwick, whoever could be my husband.

Unfortunately, none of them.

Why are you always trying to win? You know you will not find a mate if you keep this up! He was seething, spittle flying from his mouth as he spoke.

And whose fault is that?! I yelled back, eyes narrowing. Whose fault is it that only the weakest Alphas appear at the contest? My father is the strongest Alpha of all continents after all!

Tone, Ariana, you're speaking to your father! Mother chimed in. Her arms were folded and she stepped out of Father's shadows. Ariana darling, you have to understand that we just want the best for you.

I rolled my eyes, almost letting out a scoff at her words.

The best for me? They didn't care in the slightest. I had seen my father's eyes when I fought my final duel that afternoon. How could he care if all he wanted was for my opponent to nearly behead me to prove he was strong enough to marry me?

Father stepped between us.

If you weren't mated with an Alpha, the governors of this kingdom would never approve of you taking over from me even if I want to, he pointed out matter-of-factly. So, if you know what is best for you after embarrassing me in front of alphas from the continents, you better get dolled up for your birthday.

I folded both arms and cocked a brow. Why?

Since you threw the results of the contest up in flames, we are having a feast instead in celebration of your birthday. Father squared his shoulders and was glowering at me as if daring me to refuse.

I felt something worse than anger grow in the pit of my stomach. I knew my father well, this 'feast' was simply another ruse to throw me into a pit of fire and wait for a powerful alpha to come and save me.

Wasn't the werewolf power contest enough for you?! I don't want to choose–

Ariana, listen and stop being such a rebellious child! Mother thundered and started to come close. I flinched away. Right now, I didn't want to be touched. I wanted to disappear.

I'm not going! I spat, and in a second, I was past them, running down the stone stairs and away from the people who chose not to care about my happiness after I turned eighteen.

How could they even do this to me? Thoughts continued to well up as I reached the garden and plopped down behind one of the mahogany trees that served as the garden's protection. There were guards around the trees and somewhere at the entrance that I hadn't paid attention to, and they did the same since they didn't want their heads severed from the rest of their bodies.

I was furious. Because of their nagging about me finding a mate, the Werewolf Power Contest started. And despite my resolve to win every single time, no one had been able to match my prowess. The fact that my father was ready to marry me off to one of those weaklings who couldn't even challenge me was jarring! I hated those stupid rules with every fiber of my being, and if it were up to me they would have ended a long time ago!

I gritted my teeth in annoyance and kicked at a rock in my way.

While the kingdom grew and my father let those governors play the politics how they wanted, I couldn't change anything. Why couldn't I just handle the kingdom myself? Why wouldn't they just let me? Had I not proven myself over and over again through these duels and my leadership skills in the army? What more could they be looking for?

I was bitter, because I knew in a fair world it would not even be a debate.

If I didn't get married, I could effectively lose the kingdom to their monopoly.

I smacked my head with one hand and leaned my head on the tree. I ran my hand over the bark of the tree with a pout and soon, I felt some ridges that I instantly recognized.

My lips cracked into a smile as I remembered the markings Jasper and I had made on this tree nearly three years ago. It made me remember why I chose to be brutal to those weaklings.

Jasper was the only one who had ever matched me well. Moreover, he was the only my heart longed for. I remembered the first time we'd kissed under this tree, on the night before he was to leave for another country to study. I remembered how my heart sank when he said he wanted to be a worthy candidate for me, and we even promised to get married when he returned. We'd drawn our names on the tree and sealed our love with a pact.

Suddenly it occurred to me; Jasper was supposed to come back at my twenty-first birthday!

When I'd been scared that he wouldn't return, he assured me by promising to return on my twenty-first birthday.

Euphoria washed over me as I drowned in the idea. What would Jasper look like now? Would he be stronger and more powerful? A blush creeped up my cheeks at the thought. Quickly, I picked myself up from the grass and picked out the leaves that had stuck to my clothes. Prancing to my room, the idea of meeting Jasper again made me temporarily forget that I did not want to attend the feast in the first place.

I washed up and invited Elina, my trusted maid to choose the finest silk dress I had from Mother's year-round gifts. She chose a soft peach dress whose length I didn't like, but had to work with. And then I let Elina work her magic.

When I stepped out of my room and to the banquet hall, I knew I looked the prettiest of them all. In my defense, the only other women were either sitting in fear, scorn, or were the same age as my mother.

The banquet hall used to be my favorite places of the palace, now it just reminded me of everything I didn't want. Gold and silver chandeliers in their numbers hung from the high ceilings and illuminated the hall so much that the lights could be seen from a few miles away. The hall itself was two storeys high with gold and brass and bricks making up the railings that barricaded the top floor from where my father sat at the head of the feast table, his mouth busy.

Mother sat beside him at the table and several faces, about forty of them I hadn't seen before, were scattered around the long table. My best guess was that they were alphas, or merchants at best who could rival the governors; no common wolf wore purple silk or linen with gold embellishments. The noisy hall was filled at the sides and top floor by people I assumed were from my country in large numbers.

I rolled my eyes at that. Father liked this sort of thing, showing me off like some trophy.

The princess is here! A voice announced from the top floor and even those who hadn't been paying attention looked down to see me. I was staring ahead at the feast table in front of me. Father finally looked away from the person he'd been talking to and cracked a small smile.

I shuddered in my skin as Mother beckoned me to the table. She was dressed in a grey spider silk gown that was held in place at the neck and arms with flattened silver, leaving her shoulders bare.

I sauntered to the table and Father wedged between him and the man he had been talking to by his left. The said man was quick to pull out the seat, and I mentally rolled my eyes as I sat down. The music continued, drowning the loud chatter in the background.

A toast to my princess. Ariana of Warwick! Father yelled out, holding out a gold rimmed glass at the table. The whole table did the same.

To our princess, grow in strength and wisdom! The crowd echoed back.

Father turned to look at me with a feverish smile while Mother made small talk with the table. Was he drunk already? He didn't get drunk ever. There had to be something up his sleeves.

Ariana, I don't suppose you've met this handsome merchant from the West. He pointed at the man he had been talking to.

Of course, that was it. My jaw clenched. I knew there was a catch.

I shifted to look at the said man, and his shameless staring threw me off-guard. Confused and a little upset, I turned back to my father.

Who is this?

Damon, the man interjected. Damon of Harmonia, a kingdom from the West.

Chapter 2 The Betrayal

Ariana’s POV

I resisted the urge to hiss at the arrogance in his tone.

I’ve heard of it before, I snapped. You are famous for mining ore.

I see you’re well informed, he let out a crooked smile. His black hair was fixed backwards, contrasting with his skin that looked like he’d never fought a battle before. Harmonia’s ore is famous in all the kingdoms, but your beauty is so outstanding that I could hire the greatest goldsmith and give him the best ore to make an ornament for your head.

This man was so tacky! I held back a sigh. And for some reason, my father found him amusing.

That’s a way to put it, Damon, Father laughed, taking a sip of his wine. Ariana, would you show this handsome merchant around the palace? You too could get to know each other.

It was the second time Father was calling him ‘handsome’ and it didn’t sit well with me. I didn’t understand what was so mesmerizing about Damon. He was just like every other alpha I beat today, except that he wasn’t even one. Merchants didn’t fight.

Why do I have to do that? I asked through gritted teeth. There are plenty of servants to help him with that.

Damon flashed me an icy look at my words, and for some reason I felt chills run down my spine. Although a smile played on his lips, there was something about the way he looked at me; like I was a prey he was going to devour. And I had nowhere to run.

My thoughts were cut off by Father's words.

Ariana, you will show our guest around the palace. It was more of an order than a suggestion. Damon is the greatest ore merchant from Harmonia, and you will not be the reason the kingdom suffers from a lack of resources. If all goes well and you marry him, he will give us ore for next to nothing. Do your job as a princess for once, he whispered.

I am not marrying Damon for ore, Father, I whispered the best I could over the loud music. It wasn’t that I cared what Damon would think if he heard anyways.

Please, take care of our guest, Mother said loudly, and my eyes widened. She was trapping me now, and I couldn’t refuse now that the whole table was looking at me with anticipation.

I closed my eyes and pinched my nostrils and grudgingly rose to my feet. Damon followed suit.

God, he was tall!

We will be on our way now, Father, I bit back a scowl and yet again, Damon pulled out my seat. I strolled out of the banquet hall through the back entrance because I didn’t want to cause a scene. He strolled behind me as we stepped out of the hall into the brightly lit night.

My apologies, Princess. If I was being overbearing. He spoke again when we were a considerable distance from the hall. But I must admit that you are a sight to behold–

That is the main palace where kingdom matters are dealt with. I pointed to a hall we had just walked past, purposefully ignoring him.

I presume you have never courted a–

This is the arena where we had the Werewolf Power Contest. Father uses it for ceremonies too.

I almost beheaded Elysee of Madya kingdom here.

Peach dresses bring out your best–

Damon, I spat out and looked at the man who wore an amused smile. I will appreciate it if we spoke about the palace you wanted to explore.

I was about to keep walking when a sharp scent hit my nose. I froze in my track, excitement making me giddy. To make sure, I took a deep whiff of breath and could faintly smell the intoxicating chocolate moss that was supposed to be here with me instead of this merchant that treated the excursion as a questionnaire.

My love was here! Jasper was close by!

Without sparing Damon a second glance, I sprinted away in the direction of the scent with a grin enveloping my face. I didn’t look back to see if Damon was following me, all I wanted to see, all my body needed to feel was Jasper. His scent grew stronger the faster I ran, till I was in the garden, a few inches away from our love tree.

And there he was! I could vaguely make out his silhouette in the dark garden till my eyesight adjusted itself to see him.

Jasper! I yelled out excitedly. But the next thing I saw nearly sent me reeling.

I froze. He was hunched against a body, heavy breaths escaping his lips as he took fast thrusts into a woman who was bent over, her fingers clutching the tree bark as she moaned wildly.

I blinked twice, my body trembling as I stared at my fated mate having sex with another woman!

Chapter 3 I Reject You!

Ariana’s POV

It felt like I had been dunked with ice water. I could not move. It was as though the oxygen to my lungs had been cut off. I must have been standing there for a full minute, eyes wide open and my feet planted in the ground.

The sounds of grunts and moaning carried itself along with the mate’s scent. I could hear the voice that once called my name with tenderness, mouth profanities in her ears, thrusting even harder and whipping his head back in delight.

And then his eyes caught mine. Seeing his face in full view gave no room for denial. My heart shattered.

J-Jasper? I croaked out.

Instantly, chaos ensued. He shoved the woman away roughly and jumped back with a gasp. His eyes were wide like he had just seen a ghost.

Why? You’re the only one stood by me against my parents, so what the hell I fought for these three years!? I yelled.

Disappointment, anger and pain made my eyes sting with unshed tears.

Ariana, I-I-I can explain… He stuttered as he frantically reached for his pants that were lying in a pool beside him.

The woman poked her head from behind the tree and let out a yelp. I threw a death scowl in her direction.

You’re caught on the spot, Jasper. I could best I held my trembling voice. I didn’t want him to know that I was still cared about him. My legs