His Father's Mate

A

rethorne and Draevenmoor nobles. Laughter and hushed conversations ripple through the crowd, but beneath it all, there's an unspoken tension like a pulled string. I feel out of place; I am supposed to be se

s tall. His presence alone is imposing, his silver-streaked hair glinting under the c

re us has dared to attempt. Tonight, we forge unity where there was once bloodshe

lap, my pulse erratic beneath my veil. I can feel the weight of

f it is played by invisible musicians, their movements fluid, silk skirts swirling as they begin a performance meant t

ut warning-han

twirl around me, their steps precise and barely skimming the polished floor, their energy surrounding me like a sto

ath sh

part of t

n unreadable. He extends his hand, and though

n and speaks wit

ur of uniting our packs. In doing so, you will leave behind your ol

rd lingers in my

wering figure at the other end o

a Za

e is rigid, unreadable. Beneath my veil, I

me down. The guests part like a sea, giving us a path to pass. I avoid rising my gaze from the marble floor in case anyone will s

h and my fake father places my hand in hi

er's grip tightens ever so slightly as h

oney, all eyes are on me,

llow

sound of my voice, not realis

ng of Peace, Alpha Zareth?

to marrying the wrong woman; a lowly Omega instead of royal blood

d

years of battle. He studies me through the veil, his piercing gaze unsettling. Applause bursts in

not looki

the man standing

ounge

sharp angles of his face. He is striking-intense in a way that is different from his father an

ost unner

oking ri

delibera

rls in my chest, spreading thro

ee me. Not thr

blur into a muffled hum. The warmth of the room is stifling, suffoca

sion

ng isn'

h as I try to grasp onto something-anything-but all I feel is the slow pull of gravity. And t

s fai

a piercing pair of ey

-not

into my skin. Not ice

and sleep, my mind floating in fragments

t have collap

she

as fine th

ic. The scent of something fa

luggish, my limbs refusing to r

re

ath hi

loser this time.

wakin

ing I notice

f something unfamiliar-clean linen, burning resin, and something sharper, like steel left too long in t

my eye

their glow casting restless s

the voices, the shock in my father's tone, th

d stone, and soft candlelight flickers along the walls. I'm

eil i

e flickering light. He is still, too still, like a beast waiting for a reason to move. My breath catches. His

. His eyes flick to mine the moment I stir. His gaze-steady, unrelenting-sen

s the room, watching me with

" he says mat

my throat

, elbows resting on his k

e. "I..." I hesitate, my m

eplies smoothly. "You coll

me. I failed. I humiliated m

hough my limbs protest t

ding. "You won't be of much

ere's an edge to it, like he'

to Alpha Zareth is undeniable-the same

realizat

is son,"

, though it's not quit

lse picking up. "Th

e finishe

y mind, settling there like a

Zareth

s watching me like he alre