Alpha’s Mistake Chapter 03
The next few days, I lived in that house like a ghost.
My mom was busy buying Nicole new training gear and a new suitcase.
My dad came home every day with Nicole’s favorite honey cake.
Hugo showed up like clockwork, chauffeuring Nicole to parties.
And me? I stayed in that windowless storage closet.
I read up on the Shadow Strike Team’s base location on my phone.
I wanted to report early and pick up a part-time patrol job on the pack border.
That afternoon, the house was empty.
I slipped out of the storage closet and snuck into my parents’ bedroom.
In the bottom drawer of their nightstand, I found the family blood contract registry.
I tucked it in my pocket and went back to the storage closet.
Once that acceptance letter arrived, I was heading straight to city hall to deregister.
I didn’t want any legal ties to this family anymore.
I barely had the registry hidden when the front door opened.
Hugo’s voice echoed through the living room.
“Natalie? You home?”
I didn’t answer. I just sat on my little stool and kept reading border patrol recruitment flyers.
The storage closet door wasn’t locked. Hugo pushed it open and walked right in.
The tiny space got even tighter with him standing there.
He looked down and his eyes landed on my phone screen.
I didn’t lock it in time.
“Shadow Strike Team Training Schedule” was right there in plain sight.
Hugo’s eyes went cold.
He squinted and looked down at me, his voice dripping with mockery.
“Why the hell are you looking at Shadow Strike Team stuff?”
He stepped closer, the toe of his boot almost touching mine.
“Don’t tell me you’re still hung up on the Elite Academy.”
I looked up and met his gaze.
No sympathy in his eyes. Just pure disbelief that I’d be so delusional.
“The application’s already changed. You’re stuck rotting in that crap academy for three years.”
Hugo let out a cold laugh, his tone getting sharper.
“You’re not gonna tell me you’re planning to go play cannon fodder on the border just to be close to that school, are you? Can you be any more childish?”
He reached for my phone, but I hit the power button fast. The screen went black.
“Helping a classmate look something up.” My voice was flat. No emotion.
Hugo blinked, like he didn’t expect that answer.
But then his smug look came right back.
“Your classmates’ success is their business. Don’t be jealous of Nicole.”
He shoved his hands in his pockets and stared down at me.
“Tomorrow night, your parents are throwing Nicole a graduation party. Every important family in the pack will be there.”
Hugo paused, his tone turning into a warning.
“Wear something decent. Don’t walk around with that sad face all night and embarrass us.”
I watched him stand there, so sure of himself, and felt my stomach turn.
“Okay.” I nodded.
Hugo seemed satisfied with my obedience.
He turned and walked to the door, then stopped and looked back.
“After the party, my parents are coming over. We’re going to talk about the engagement. Me and Nicole.”
He locked his eyes on mine, searching for pain or jealousy.
“Nicole needs security. Locking it down early will help her focus on school.”
I looked back at him calmly.
“Congrats,” I said quietly.
Hugo’s face went sour.
“You better really be over it,” he said coldly, then turned and slammed the door.
I listened to the lock click and lit up my phone again.
On the screen, my bus ticket to the United Pack base showed “Payment Confirmed.”
