pte

A B

na'

ike a second skin, ill-fitting for my spirit, though it perfectly sculpted my form. The congregation held its breath as I took a step

mured a voice,

itter honey of jealousy. My could feel my sibling's eyes drilling into my back,

sound. I could sense Elara's discontent, the air thrummi

orce that the very sky seemed to acknowledge. My heart stuttered against my will, a betrayal by my own body as he n

onant. It was not warmth that colored his words but the chill

r than submission. Yet inside, my mind reeled, grasping at the frag

g had struck the very core of my being, leaving the taste of ozone on my tongue. My eyes flew to his, se

ble," I

g replied, his steel-blue gaze beari

s gasp was audible, a sharp intake of breath that cut through the thick tension. My mind

inst the very notion of belonging to another. He was supposed to be nothing more than a title, a mea

d to ask, defiance sparking in my eme

d, his voice devoid of humor. His hand, still clasped wit

nce a distant concern, now seemed trivial in comparison to the torrent of emotion

of destiny," I said, the fight draini

rtbeat, I thought I saw the glimmer of something other tha

King, a man I did not love, but fated to. And yet, the searing connection between them could not be denied.

r the growing murmur of the crowd. His suggestion was a command wrapped in velvet, and I

o their reluctant union. The whispers of the courtiers bled into a distant hum, yet one remark from my envious sister cut through, sharp

erfection, that it was a farce cloaked in silk and ceremo

ha King said, his tone unreadable.

eplied, my voice a whisper of silk sliding across cold s

the world seemed to narrow down to the space between them. His

d quietly. "Or they can be forged into

ce?" I countered, m

, gone as quickly as it came. "Perhaps w

lt the undeniable pull of the bond that linked me to this man-the Alpha King and s

my voice steady despite the tempest within. "Not a

, releasing my hand only to place a light touc

be treacherous," My remind

ry tone that suggested he knew

ty-being bound to him by an unseen force was my unexpected reality. And while uncertainty coiled within my like a restless serpent

, part of the training I had gone t

tle conversation with my earlier. This was who he truly was. A ruthl

ed every item of clothing on my. The marriage had been a merger of power, not passion; an alliance between packs

fabric rustling was a harsh whisper in the silence. I tried to read something more into this act, some hint of

e barely above a whisper, "i

e moon's pallor. "It is not a question of want. It is necessity. It is duty."

, pushing my body further down into the soft mattress, with a grunt, he started his movement. It was brutal and ev

inished. Not, giving me a chance to find my own pleasure, he pulled out, a

ver the roof. After all they were mates and it is

e answered coldly, I frowned, forcing

his a

hy would I mark just a breeder?" My tried to process his words,

sbelief, feeling the crack of my