The Alpha king's Rejected Mate

R

ard. The deep red fabric pressed against my chest, squeezed my rib

at all. Sitting would be impossible unless I lifted the go

tly what my f

meone's lap. Straddling them. On purpose. Tonight, that lap b

cage. I was leaving my father's rule and stepping into anoth

All I could do was hope he was better than my father. That h

m, hard enough to warn me, not hard enough to leave a mark yet. "I

a crowd without a second thought. Even tonight. Even in front of the man meant to claim me. No one w

ttered above. Soft music filled the air and reflected off the polished floor. It

ed at me with sharp stares and tight smiles that held no kindness. My dress did not fit this place. A

ft nothing to

r proper underclothes. One wrong move, one slip of fabric, and

bent down until his mo

hispered, "you know what

d him use heated tools and silver needles. I had seen him torture a man in human form until he was

at my father,

oked at him, t

apped a man on the shoulder. When the man turned,

than me, I guessed. That brought a strange relief. Or maybe it should h

y father. His eyes moved to me. Surprise crossed his face. Then

. "Aria. My most p

d curtsied as far as the dress allowed. The fab

ake a suitable mate,

a wife tonight. From what Victor had said, there wer

he used and threw away. He spoke of her with disgust. His own blood was what

face," he once told me.

oked at me now, my f

d to deal with something," he said. "You'll keep her company tonight. And you'l

my body relaxed a litt

od before

Alaric asked, hol

o the floor and pulled me close. Too close. My body was pressed against

back and settled firmly. He

mile to stay. I was meant to charm him. To be sw

c not

ackwood has a daughter. He talks about you often. Yet no one has seen you. Now I see why. He keeps you hidden