Unwanted By The Alpha Heir, Marked By The Northern King

is

mething I want to

nd me. His thumb stroked the back of my hand, his

vorite. Sunlight streamed through the glass panes, catching the gold in his hair

thout sugar. The delicate china clinked softly, a sound th

ed against my r

abit. I twisted it, the cool metal a stark contrast to my heated skin. We ha

egan, his eyes holding mine. "Two hundred thousand silver coins. Your family's generosity i

rt of the Rowe Pack. My mother could not bear to see

for me to petition the Alpha King for a hereditary noble title for a family. The Cr

s would change everything. It would silence the whispers about my mother's me

with hope, because a gentle,

e this opportu

my lungs turned to ice. The greenhouse, once a

e. "Carson?" I whispered

of impeccable lineage. Your uncle's influence in the Rowe Pack is indispensable. As the Pack's second-in-command, his support can make or break my claim to the throne. And unlike your family, Elois, the Rowe name carries no stain of commerce.

ow bumped my teacup, sending it tipping over. The hot liquid

spine. "And what about me? What am

e were dealing with a difficult child. "You will alw

aint of trade. Your mother's money will have funded the title, yes, and the Crown will always be grateful for her compassion. But the title must go to Carson. Her bloo

said, my voice dangerously quiet.

e," he said, as if this were a grand concession. "It is the only way. I swear to you, Elois, my heart will only ever belong to you.

t suffering in the Rowe Pack, of being the 'merchant's daughter' who was never good enough. My entire b

ly against the stone floor, the sound rippin

thousand silver coins to feed the starving and shelter the homeless, and he was using that money, that act of kindness, to buy a title for my cousin while casting me aside. He wanted my family's fortune to fund his ambitions, my mother's goodness to greas

n that single, horrifying moment. All that remained

t it into a title for my cousin? You use her kindness to elevate someone else while you sho

eceived defiance instead. "Elois, don't be dramatic. This is how politics works. You knew what you

ove alone. But I will not be anyone's shameful secret. I will not be the woman you hide in the shado

was gone. In his place was a stranger-a greedy, calculating stranger who had

throne on his own merit. A man who needs my mother's compassion to buy his political allies and my uncle's name to make his reign legitimate. You took he

t no sound came out. No one had ever spok

"There is no future for us. My f

n him. I walked away, my spine rigid, my h

ing. The sound of the silver bell followed, summoning a servant. He was already retreating

se but regaining its command. "Go and info

ence was in his voice.

ing. It stung my eyes, but I refused to let a single tear fall. T

take of his life. He thought he

et the heiress of