The Alpha King's Billion Dollar Mate

ther clock in the main hall chimed, sending deep vibrat

terrified energy that had plagued the pack all day had finally settled into a heavy, paranoid dread. The lodge was suffo

r ago in the freezing dark of her small room. It held two faded sweaters, a spare pair

ds. The Alpha King's midnight summons likely meant the sam

ably here. The royal guards had secured this corridor, extinguishing t

stood outside the heavy oak

a shadow carved from solid stone. He tracked her approach with slow, calculating precision. His dark eyes ass

begging for mercy. He expected her to d

m. She did not lower her gaze. She lo

cker of genuine respect cross

ed quietly. His voice was a low,

a replied. Her tone was calm. It betrays none of

n, he reached out and turned the brass handle of the heavy oak door. He pushed it open. He did no

pped into

hut behind her, sealing

ating, dangerous scent of dark amber and ozone. The royal aura in the room was thick. It pre

behind a massiv

aling the strong, tanned column of his throat. The sleeves were rolled up to his forearms,

ek black phon

ade the room feel ten degrees colder. "Take the northern shipping routes. Burn his political alli

rantic, pleading voice bleedi

Thomas replied smoothly. "I

onto the polished wood. He had just ruined a po

he loo

atory eyes loc

from his face. A dark, possessive intensity replaced it. The temperature se

ibs. Her dormant, sealed wolf thrashed against its unseen cage, desperate to answer the silent, pulling call of the Alpha K

ard. She walked toward the desk,

. His gaze dropped to the canvas

murmured. The heavy silence of t

made his intentions clear this morning. I assume you called me her

ather executive chair. The t

omas replied. His voice was smooth and deceptively calm. "He d

ack leather briefcase resti

rface with a heavy thud. He placed his large, elegant hand over the dark cover

Thomas comm

at her to turn around and walk out the door. The heavy folder lo

e reached out, her fingers trembling sl

ed in thick gold wax at the top of the first parchment. The legal text

r eyes caught on a specific li

fr

n. She counted the zeros. She blinked, sure that the dim l

not a m

llion

ad generated in a decade. It was enough money to buy a private island, a private

the paper. She met the Kin

sked. Her voice was b

fingers together. "The terms are very simple. You will leave this freezing wasteland tomor

d for the logic. She searched f

o live in your house," Amara said slowly

re your presence

humorless laugh. The so

had laughed in the presence

uriously in his mind, thrilled by her fierce defiance and furious at the physica

the folder back onto the desk. "I am a defective Omega from a border pack. I have no po

ight of her flushed cheeks and the fi

step closer to the desk, her anger overriding her fear. "People do not hand over a billion dollars fo

d tight. It felt like a heavy wi

s sto

nd he was sitting calmly behind the desk. The ne

p, but she forced her boots to plant firml

of her worn canvas jacket. The scent of dark amber and crushed pine clouded h

ference cracked just a fraction, revealing th

ached

roat. He did not strik

neck. The touch was feather light, a stark contrast

in her stomach. Her pulse hammered frantic

homas murmured. His voice was a dark, gravelly caress

straight into his eyes. She r

anded softly, her breath ghosting o

sudden loss of contact left a

n walls of his control slammed back into place. The dangerous, obsessive pr

l once more. "I am compensating you for a severe inconvenience. The royal court is

yes. "I do not belon

here I put you," Thom

The gesture was defensive, shielding

. Why me? Why go through this elaborate charade? You could have any noblewoman in the ki

heavy in the di

him to tell her the truth. The wolf wanted to roar that she was theirs. The instinct

e down with bruta

d use her as a political pawn. The enemies of the crown would hunt her down just to

mand of the mate bond. He needed her under his roof to p

give her the titl

hrough the only language a surviv

ht," Thomas

ght off guard by h

ahogany desk. "I have endless wealth. I have a court full of strategic alli

sting. They were designed t

using to let him see the brief

ct?" Amara pushed ag

. The shadows of the dimly lit office clung

tion. I need a variable that the royal council cannot predict. Bringing a wolfless girl from a northern border pack into the heart o

strategy. A cruel, manipulative game of chess

rrible, pe

wolves. That made her the perfect pa

d," Amara tra

as the shield. He was the one rearranging an entire empire just to kee

ill live in the private wing of the palace. You will dine with me. You

e leather folder r

d never have to fear the cruel whims of Marcus Rook. It meant she could buy her way out of the supernatu

ack up at th

refuse?" A

did not

ty. "You are a survivor. Survivors do not walk away from a

ugh her armor. He understood the cold, calculating

p the heavy gold pen resting beside the folder.

ara said, holding the pen

yebrow. "You are in no positi

ajesty," Amara countered, he

rly fascinated by her. She was standing in the presence of lethal power,

omas comman

s clearly. "Not a royal treasury. Not a pack fund. Only my name on

thout hesitation. The we

me. "I will not pour your wine. I will not clean your floors. I will play you

n," Thomas replied smoothly. "Anyone who disrespects

or air in the courtyard. She remembered Marcu

his. "This is a business arrangement. A contract. We pretend for the public

ce turned heavy. It tur

thrashed, demanding he cross the room and take what rightfully belonged to him. The urge to

esk. The thick wood groaned in protest un

low and steady. He forced the preda

t, strained with the immense, agonizing effort of h

eneath the surface of his tailored shirt. But she also saw the truth in his dar

gold pen to the

r name on the

ed her fate. She traded the brutal cold of Silverpi

osed the leather folder and p

eling the crushing weight of exhaustion. The adrenaline was fading,

de his briefcase. "Commander Kane will escort you to a secure room fo

hed down and picked up

ready to leave the suffocati

ma

was low, smooth, and laced with

n the brass doorknob. She turned h

him, making his sharp features look even more lethal. The mask of political

den, sharp spike

lat against the polished wood of the desk. His

l, binding rules o

mercy. "You will attend my meetings. You will eat at my table. I want your time. I want