THE ALPHA NEEDS ME

RAYA POV

My heart clenched as I looked at my phone and I could feel my eyes getting filled with restrained tears. It was my birthday. Today was supposed to be a happy day for me. I had envisioned spending the whole day with Skyler, my boyfriend. He had given an excuse that he had something urgent to do and it was impossible. He didn't even agree to spare a minute with me, nor did even wish me a happy birthday.

He probably had the day filled with lots of work - this I had thought. He was the new Alpha of White Moon Pack and he probably had a lot in his hands.

But my eyes watered as my gaze lingered on the phone’s screen and a drop of tears eventually dropped on it. In the video, my so-called ever-loving boyfriend was having a good dinner date with Tia at a place I had always wished and requested he take me to. The Maldives.

“Are you enjoying the video, Raya?” my nosey, annoying frenemy, Amira, asked, rubbing salt into my wound.

“I thought you said ‘Skyler is the world's best man to me.’ I bet you'd eat your words now. Anyway, happy birthday, friend.”

I chuckled bitterly after she left, unable to take my eyes off the screen as I watched Tia laughing to her heart's content.

She was his childhood friend, and I had thought that nothing was ever going to go on between them, considering how Skyler never gave me a reason to doubt him all these years. How wrong could I be?

She was the daughter of one of his pack’s elders and had always been considered the future Luna. But Skyler had told me that he rejected her, which made her disappear for some years, and now I'm seeing her with him, both looking happy.

She had gone live on her social media handle and it had spread around the world after she dropped lovely photos of her and Skyler kissing like they were a married couple.

He had made a promise before he left this morning that he was going to finish up his work for the day early and return to celebrate with me. But the sun has set and he seemed in the video like he was never going to leave Tia anytime soon. Maybe forever.

Lately, he's been acting different and colder towards me, and I had dismissed it, convincing myself that it was probably because of the accumulated stress from his bre position as Alpha. Looking at him in the video, he seemed so happy. It was as if he had been storing the love and happiness he was going to give me today for Tia. How great.

I walked to the table where I had done my best to make his favorite velvet cake and his favorite dishes, too. I took a piece of the cake and ate.

“Happy birthday, you fool," I muttered, blinking away any further tears. I looked aside; the loud laughter was Tia from the video I left playing, filling my ears. I shut my eyes as my heart seemed to be torn open and shredded to pieces.

I went and took my phone and called Skyler.

“Hey, Raya," he answered, his voice now bearing the usual coldness. I could hear the distant laughter of Tia who was certainly overwhelmed.

“Are you going to talk or not?" He scoffed, sounding irritated.

“Where are you?" I asked, my voice calm.

There was a brief pause in the end and he seemed to have put more distance between him and Tia before he responded. "At the office, tied up with work.”

His voice was so calm. It didn't even hold a hint of panic. What a perfect liar I never thought he could be.

“Tied up with work? Is your secret dinner date with Tia now work? I had no idea,” I stated, sarcastically.

He took a brief pause as if contemplating on responding. Then he spoke. “Are you trying to accuse me of something?”

"Maybe not if you could just tell me where you are, what you're doing, and with whom…?”

"I don't owe you an explanation!” He thundered. "If you don't believe me, suit yourself!”

Wow. It's the guts for me. But I care less about it now. Inhaling, I stated. “Fine. You can stay in the Maldives and enjoy your date with Tia. But know this… we're done for good.”

“You're joking," he snapped. "Stop talking nonsense.”

“Nonsense?" I clenched the phone, my teeth gnashing with barely contained anguish. "Your unnecessary lies are nonsense,” I spat.

He growled, totally losing his cool. "How dare you say that to me?!"

“Goodbye. Enjoy with your future Luna, Alpha Skyler," I curtly said and ended the call.

I had left my pack 4 years ago to come live in this city where White Moon Pack is situated simply because Skyler had complained about tolerating my parents, who didn't see him as befitting for me. I cut ties with my pack and made other sacrifices, including personal changes for him and this is what I get, a blunt betrayal from him.

This was it. I couldn't take it anymore than this. It was clear as the daylight that I no longer meant anything to him. Forcing a relationship with him was meaningless.

No more will I be an understanding and naive girlfriend. Never.

The following day, I decided to leave the office earlier than usual, despite it being my day off. I had come to work just to unwind, hoping to clear my mind after the disaster of yesterday. At exactly 4 p.m., I headed to my scooter, letting the cool evening air seep into my skin, trying to shake off the heaviness in my chest.

Just as I reached for my helmet, I froze—an all-too-familiar scent hit me. Skyler.

My gaze shifted, and there it was—his sleek black Audi R8 parked across the street. My heart sank as I saw him leaning casually against it, his piercing eyes locked onto me. His intense gaze used to send shivers down my spine in a good way. Now, it only made my blood boil.

How dare he show up after what he did? My so-called boyfriend had ditched me on my birthday for a romantic date with Tia. The betrayal stung, anger bubbling inside me. The last thing I wanted was to face him.

Pretending I hadn't seen him, I quickly climbed onto my scooter. I strapped on my helmet, hands shaking with anger. Just as I was about to rev the engine, I heard his voice, tinged with irritation.

"Raya! Are you seriously ignoring me right now?"

I avoided his gaze, noticing the surprise in his eyes as I started the scooter. He took a few determined steps toward me, but I didn’t care. I twisted the throttle and sped off.

His audacity, acting as if nothing had happened, fueled my rage. How could he show up here like yesterday meant nothing?

I glanced in my mirror and saw him following me, his car gaining speed. A moment later, he pulled up beside me, his window rolled down, yelling.

“Raya, what the hell? I’m talking to you!”

I ignored him, my heart pounding, my pulse roaring in my ears.

“Stop this childishness,” he snapped, impatient. “I don’t know why you’re overreacting. Stop the bike. I want to talk to you.”

Childishness? My jaw clenched. Without a word, I sped up, pushing past him.

The frustration in his voice, the lack of remorse—it added to the storm inside me. He hadn’t even apologized, just sent a few half-hearted texts, expecting me to return to him. Like I owed him that.

Suddenly, Skyler’s car zoomed ahead, tires screeching as he swerved recklessly in front of me. I slammed on the brakes, my scooter stopping inches from his car. My heart raced as I glared at him.

He stepped out, his face twisted with anger as he marched toward me, frustration rolling off him in waves.

“Raya,” he growled, “we need to talk. Now.”

I got off the scooter, my heart pounding with anger I could barely contain. "Why stop me, Skyler? I don't want to talk to you."

His eyes narrowed. "I won’t tolerate you disrespecting me."

Disrespect? My blood boiled hotter. "What about the disrespect and hurt you caused me yesterday?"

He raised a brow, unfazed. "What did I do?" His tone was indifferent, and his eyes lacked remorse. Talking about it was pointless. He wasn’t sorry.

Skyler took a step closer, his intoxicating scent filling the space between us. Normally, his closeness would have made my knees weak. Now? Nothing. I was numb.

"What do you want?" I demanded, my voice cold.

He exhaled sharply, annoyed. "You said we’re done, but I don’t accept that. You’ve been ignoring my calls and texts all day. That’s unacceptable."

"Really?" I shot back, incredulous.

"Yes." He stared at me like I was being unreasonable. "I’m going to let it slide and take it as your way of getting back at me for not celebrating your birthday with you. Which, by the way, is so stupid of you. But we’re even now."

I blinked in disbelief. His face, stern and devoid of understanding, was the same face that had been lit up with joy in the video yesterday—with Tia. The contrast infuriated me. How could he act like none of it mattered?

His expression softened just a little, and he rolled his eyes as if he were the one being patient. "I’m sorry about yesterday," he said curtly. "Just forget about it. We’ll celebrate next year when your birthday comes around again."

My heart clenched. ‘Next year?’ To heck with him. "What do you want, Skyler?”

"My friend, Amira, it’s her birthday today. You ought to know. We’ve got to attend the party tonight."

I looked away, trying to calm myself. "I don’t want to—"

"You can’t refuse," he interrupted, his tone demanding. "You’re coming with me. I thought Amira was your friend too."

"I thought she was your ex," I said, the bitterness slipping out before I could stop it.

He scoffed. "So? Does that mean I should cut ties with her? We’re friends. I can’t disregard her by not attending her party."

I stared at him in disbelief. Yesterday, he had no issue shoving me aside for Tia, and now he was adamant about attending his ex’s party out of respect. The hypocrisy was suffocating.

He sensed my frustration but continued, oblivious to how his words stabbed at me. "I’m going to treat you well tonight to make up for yesterday," he said as if that would fix everything. "I’ve pushed aside some work for the day because of that, so you have to attend."

"I don’t—"

"Try to look your best," he cut in again, dismissing my words. "I’ll come pick you up by 7 p.m."

I clenched my jaw, and he smirked—a half smile I didn’t return. He turned to his car, rummaged around, and came back with a small bag. "Here," he said, handing it to me. "A little present for your birthday."

I took the bag hesitantly, opening it to find a scarf—delicate, with soft fabric and intricate designs. It was beautiful, but all I could feel was the weight of his manipulation.

"Please, wear it tonight," he said, his eyes gleaming. "I want all my friends to admire you."

It’s always about him. I bit back a sharp retort. He wanted me to impress his friends, the same ones who barely acknowledged me. I was just another accessory to him.

I sighed, my patience running thin. "I’m sure Tia won’t mind since they already like her, right?"

Skyler’s brows furrowed. "Tia? Why bring her up now?"

"You were with her yesterday—"

"Yes, yes," he said, cutting me off. "She invited me to the Maldives to celebrate an accomplishment of hers. You know we haven’t shared good moments for ages. I couldn’t turn her down."

"You did it at the expense of my happiness and lied—"

"I didn’t lie," he snapped. "Forget about it. I apologized already." Without another word, he pecked my cheek, a gesture so empty it made my skin crawl and walked back to his car.

Later that night, we stepped into the hall, and the sight hit me like a wave. The chandeliers sparkled like starlight, and people were dressed in the finest attire. I glanced down at my simple outfit—a modest dress that Skyler didn’t even bother to notice when he picked me up earlier. He, of course, looked impeccable, wearing a sleek black suit that clung to his muscular frame like it was made for him, the Alpha everyone admired. His hair was perfectly styled, his jaw sharp as ever. He looked every bit the powerful leader they saw him as.

As we walked in, heads snapped in our direction, but no one saw me. It was as if I wasn’t there. I felt small and out of place. How had I believed they would ever accept me?

“Hey, Skyler, love.” The sudden voice cut through my thoughts like a blade. I turned my gaze to find Tia, rushing up to Skyler with her perfect, elegant stride. My chest tightened.

His face lit up, and I loosened my grip on his hand, expecting him to notice. But he dropped my hand first as if he’d forgotten I was even there. His arms wrapped around her in a hug, while I stood there like a lost soul, watching them. They separated and she leaned in, pecking his lips before wiping the smudge of her lipstick away, oblivious to me.

“Oh, how lovely,” Amira’s voice cut in. She waved at us, giving Skyler a side hug before glancing at me with cold indifference.

“Thank you for gracing my party, Skyler,” she said, her eyes flicking between him and Tia.

“Welcome, Raya,” she muttered as an afterthought. I forced a smile that felt unnatural.

“Belated happy birthday, Raya!” Tia’s voice was sweet, mocking. Before I could respond, she locked arms with Skyler. “I reserved your seat, Sky,” she said, pulling him closer.

“Thanks, Tia,” he replied, his tone casual, almost grateful, as he gestured for me to follow. I bit down on my lip, trying to suppress the hurt.

I arranged my scarf as if it could hide the rawness inside. Amira watched me from the corner of her eye, that knowing smile playing on her lips. She was waiting for me to break, but I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction.

Skyler settled next to Tia and Amira. He glanced at me briefly, then down at the table, and I realized there wasn’t a chair for me.

Amira walked up, pretending to be the most gracious host. “Um, Raya, I’ll get a chair for you,” she said, her voice dripping with false concern. She grabbed a chair and breezed past me, placing it far from Skyler. “It’s better here,” she announced.

“You can sit there, Raya,” Skyler said, his eyes barely meeting mine as he flashed that cool smile—the one meant for Tia. The indifference in his voice pierced through me. I stood there, frozen, while everything inside screamed to run.

I decided to sway past that and not act affected in any way. Keeping my chin up, I walked to the far end of the table and sat down. I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of seeing me crumble.

Amira was all over Skyler, laughing at every word he said, touching his arm, leaning in too closely. To him, it was like I wasn’t even there. He seemed so at ease with her, so free like he never once raised his voice at me. He looked happy and carefree.

“You and Tia looked so good together, I must say,” one of his friends remarked, shooting me a dismissive side glance.

“Exactly. They make a good pair,” another chimed in.

“Hey, Raya,” Amira suddenly called out, her voice laced with hidden mockery, “do you think so?”

Without hesitation, I replied, “If they looked any better together, you’d think they were rehearsing for a show.”

Her eyes widened, clearly taken aback by my response, and for a moment, I savored the shocked silence around the table.

We ate in an uncomfortable quiet, and I watched as Tia made Skyler sip from his glass. In return, he playfully stained her lips with oil, gently rubbing it off with his thumb. Their soft laughter filled the air, as he fed her like her hands were incapable of doing it herself.

“It looks like you both can’t get enough of the time you spent in the Maldives,” Amira mused.

Skyler smiled. “It’s a pleasure to have her back.”

I fixed my gaze on their clasped hands, the knot in my stomach tightening.

Tia acted like I was nothing to Skyler. The entire time, she clung to him as if I didn’t exist, her fingers resting on his arm, her laughter ringing in his ears. I was clearly the unwelcome one at this table. I couldn’t take it anymore. I dropped my fork, the clatter drawing their eyes to me.

Tia, ever so composed, feigned concern. “Oh, I forget to thank you, Raya. My bad.”

“Thank me for what?” I asked, my voice tight with barely concealed irritation.

“For letting me spend such a great time with Skyler yesterday in the Maldives. It was memorable.” She leaned closer to him, resting her head on his arm, her expression smug as her fingers intertwined with his.

“It was no big deal. Don’t mention,” Skyler added casually, patting her cheek with a smile that stung like a blade.

I felt my blood boil, but before I could respond, Amira chimed in, “Is someone missing out on the great moments?” Her eyes settled on me, gleaming with satisfaction as she watched my discomfort surface.

“I think I’ll take my leave now,” I said, pushing my chair back, my voice barely holding steady. No one said a thing; they simply continued eating as if I were invisible.

Just as I turned to leave, Tia’s voice cut through the air. “Oh, you got that scarf? I guess it was impossible to get the real one.” Her head tilted as she fingered the fabric around her neck, and for the first time, I noticed it—the real designer scarf, wrapped elegantly around her throat.

Amira gasped dramatically. “Is that the latest piece by Antonio Rivadeneira? It’s stunning!”

Tia smiled sweetly. “Yes, Skyler got it for me from Paris. It’s even custom-made.” She touched it delicately as if it were a crown.

Amira glanced at my scarf, her smile faltering as she quickly tried to mask her words. “Oh... I didn’t realize they made knockoffs of such a recent design.”

Skyler shamelessly shrugged. “I just picked it up from a thrift shop downtown. Thought it suited Raya.” His words hit me like a punch to the gut.

How could he do this? I instinctively touched the scarf around my neck, feeling the cheap fabric, my eyes drifting to Tia as she beamed at me with satisfaction. It was as clear as day—I meant nothing to him. I’d had enough.

I grabbed my purse and left without another word.

“Oh my, is Raya upset?” I overheard Tia's voice, sounding fake and sweet. “Go talk to her, Skyler.”

“No. Let her be. She never wanted to come here anyway,” he said, dismissing me without a second thought.

As I reached the exit, I cast one last glance over my shoulder at him, his arm still wrapped around Tia. It was like I’d never even been there. After that, I left without sparing another glance.

Things had been going well between Skyler and me—at least, that’s what I believed. Some people around the city saw us as the destined couple, the perfect pair. That was before Tia returned to the city a few weeks ago. I hadn’t realized how close they had gotten until the rumors started. People in his pack whispered about him frequenting her apartment, taking her on dates—dates he rarely took me on anymore. I was a fool, ignoring the signs, convincing myself nothing was going on between them despite his coldness toward me, which worsened after she came back.

When I got home, I felt like I was suffocating. I took a cold shower, hoping it would wash away the ache in my chest. But it didn’t. The water ran over me, but the pain remained, clinging to me like a second skin. As I stepped out of the bathroom, my phone beeped. I grabbed it, still dripping, only to see a message from Skyler.

{Why did you leave like that, Raya?}

I scoffed, tossing the phone onto the bed without replying. The nerve. He didn’t care how I felt. Before I could walk away, the phone buzzed again. More messages. I reluctantly glanced at the screen.

{You’ve disrespected me in the worst way tonight and ruined the moment for everyone.}

{You need to make up for this. Tia is upset, and you made her feel terrible.}

{Apologize to her, or it’s over between us.}

Fury surged through me, white-hot and uncontrollable. I slammed the phone down onto the bed. Tia. It was always about her. He didn’t care that I was hurting, didn’t ask once how I felt, only concerned about her feelings. Screw him.

I sat on my bed, my mind swirling with thoughts of the life I had envisioned with him. How had we ended up here? I thought we were building something real—something permanent. But now, all I could see was the truth I had been too blind to admit. Tia had him wrapped around her finger, and I was nothing more than a placeholder until she returned.

I didn’t want to think about him anymore. I needed a distraction. I picked up my phone and scrolled through my X feed, trying to lose myself in mindless posts. But I froze when I saw her name pop up. Tia. She had just posted a photo of her and Skyler in a fancy, beachside restaurant in the Maldives.

The caption read: *I’ve won the heart of my first love again.*

My chest tightened, but I scrolled further. Another picture. This one was from tonight; her arm looped through him, with a radiant smile that made my stomach turn.

Caption: *My best friend, my soulmate, my lover.*

I laughed softly, more out of provocation than amusement. My face twisted in bitterness. My fingers hovered over the keyboard, and before I could stop myself, I typed, “Wow. A pleasant match from heaven.”

Almost immediately, my phone dinged. She responded.

But I didn’t care to read it. I logged off, tossing the phone aside. The message was clear. I finally understood what Skyler wanted. He had always wanted her. And me? I was just a backup plan, something to hold onto while he waited for Tia to return. But I wasn’t going to let that happen anymore.

It’s over. Completely. I’ll move on, and forget Skyler ever existed in my life.

Period!

The following morning, I arrived at my office door and immediately noticed something odd. A card rested on top of a food box, neatly placed by the door. Hesitantly, I picked it up and peeked into the box. It was breakfast—perfectly arranged, still warm. My fingers opened the card, and the words hit me like a slap in the face:

{Hey, love, enjoy the breakfast I’ve given you, and think of me always. Skyler.}

My face twisted in disgust as the memories from the night before surged back—Skyler’s effortless affection for Tia, treating her like a queen, right in front of me on my birthday. My stomach churned. Without a second thought, I carried the box out of the building, headed straight for the trash bin, and dropped it. The box hit the bottom with a hollow thud. I dusted my hands off, feeling a small surge of satisfaction as I turned to go back inside.

Then, I saw him. Skyler stood there, his face slowly twisting in anger, eyes flicking between me and the trash bin.

“What the heck did you just do?” His voice rose in fury, his fists clenched. “You threw away the meal I got you?”

His words didn’t even make me flinch. Where his anger once intimidated me, now it was just noise. I met his glare with cold indifference. “I don’t want anything from you, Skyler.”

I turned to walk away, but he grabbed my arm roughly, yanking me back. “What’s wrong with you, Raya? Are you still upset?”

I chuckled, mocking him with my eyes. “Upset?” I raised an eyebrow. “You used to treat me like this too, right? Shouldn’t I be used to it by now?”

“So, this is payback?” he spat, his face hardening.

“No. This is reality. I’ve realized that you don’t care about me. Now, I don’t give a damn about you either.”

“Why?” he demanded, confusion creeping into his voice.

“I used to care a lot, didn’t I? But you once said that irritated you.”

He hissed in frustration, but I kept going, the memories flooding out like poison. “I remember when you were sick, Skyler. I watched over you. That’s something you’ve never done for me. Do you remember? You had a fever the other night, and I went out to get you medicine. It was late, and I was nearly harassed by some perverts, and I managed to call you for help but you kept ending my calls. Then I made it back and found out you left. And what did you say? ‘I can’t come, Raya. Tia just returned, and I’m with her.’ You didn’t even hesitate.”

His eyes stayed fixed on mine, but there was no remorse. “Come on, Raya. I had a fever—”

“But you went to Tia’s place that same night, didn’t you? Spent the night there, didn't you?” My voice was cold, cutting through his excuses.

He faltered, waving his hand dismissively. “For goodness' sake, she wasn’t feeling well. I had to stay overnight to watch over her.”

I let out a bitter laugh. “Oh, I get it. Just like you said when I was sick. ‘I can't come, Skyler. Tia just returned, and I’m with her.’ Sound familiar?”

“Raya…”

“You two are perfect for each other,” I said, jerking my arm free from his grip. Without sparing him another glance, I walked away, my chest burning with anger but also a strange sense of freedom.

I returned to my office and threw myself into work, ignoring the buzzing phone and Skyler’s increasingly desperate messages. Flowers arrived later in the day—lavish bouquets, gifts—but I didn’t bat an eye as I instructed my assistant to reject them all.

By noon, I was numb, his desperate attempts nothing but background noise to the clattering keyboard and shuffling papers.

In the days that followed, I felt alive again. When my friends invited me to go shopping and watch a movie, I didn’t hesitate. I did whatever I wanted, finally feeling free. For so long, I had spent less time with them or myself, always glued to Skyler, doing what he said. Now, I felt joy in doing what made me happy. Without Skyler and Tia, most of my troubles evaporated, leaving only the sweet solitude of being alone.

But then Simon, one of Skyler's friends who treated me slightly better than the rest, called. "Raya, why are you keeping us waiting? We're all here, just missing you."

I blinked in confusion. "Waiting for me? Why?"

"Aren't it you and Skyler treating us to dinner? Hurry up and come over. We're waiting for you." He hung up before I could protest.

I stood stunned as my phone beeped again. Simon had texted me the address of the restaurant and the private room number.

For a moment, I hesitated. Should I just ignore this and finally make a clean break? But then, maybe this was the time to confront them, to clarify things. After wrapping up my work, I headed to the address.

It was the five-star lounge I had mentioned to Skyler so many times before, begging him to take me so we could make memories together. I had seen rave reviews about it, and everyone online was crazy about the place. But, as always, Skyler had come up with an excuse. Too busy. Too much on his plate.

I exhaled, pushed the memory aside, and walked inside the building. The hostess gave me directions to the private room. As I reached for the door, I froze, overhearing Simon’s voice from inside. “Raya thinks so highly of herself. I can't believe we had to call her countless times before she agreed to come.”

My eyes narrowed. My heart pounded in my chest as I pressed my ear closer to the door.

"I don't know why Skyler humbles himself for someone like her," Simon continued, lacing his words with spite. "She's unappreciative."

Tia’s soft laugh followed. “She’s just a middle-class girl. Of course, she gives off an attitude. People like her are insecure. But I know she’ll come crawling back to Skyler. She’s nothing without him.”

They all laughed, mocking me, and I felt the world tilt beneath me. Simon’s next words pierced through the haze. “Raya is unworthy of him. Everyone can see that Skyler and you, Tia, are the perfect match. You're better in every way. If you hadn’t left to build your modeling career, you’d still be by his side."

I stumbled back, barely catching myself. My mind reeled. Tia left for her career? Skyler had told me she left because he rejected her. My stomach twisted. He had been lying to me all along. His tolerance, his tenderness toward her—it wasn’t just friendship. It was love. She was the one he cherished, not me.

“Why are you standing here?” Skyler’s voice startled me from behind. I turned, clutching my bag tightly. He was there, standing so casually like nothing was wrong.

I met his gaze, anger bubbling up inside me. “What do you want me to go in for? To hear you announce your new true lover?”