lac's

oming flowers and the rich aroma of roasted meats. The chandeliers above cast a golden glow over the room, their light reflecting off the polished marble floors and the jewels adorning the guest

he Reventhorns were not a family to be trifled with. Their power was absolute, their pride unyielding. A beta female like me could never refuse them, not without facing consequences that would ripple through my entire family. I could feel the h

gh the silence, soft and apologetic. I turned to see

re of pride and concern. I wanted to tell her the truth, to explain that this was not overwhelmin

a Cassandra replied, her v

responsibility upon her shoulders." Her words were k

g with him as he brought Coco into our lives. She had called it normal, a necessary part of life for an Alpha. "My son is an Alpha and he needs his mate to keep his sanity intact," she had s

weight pressing down on me. I took a shaky step forward, my heart pounding in my chest. The crowd watched me with bated breath,

f defiance that seemed to silence the entire room. I could feel the tension rise, the unease of the crowd palpable. In my past life, I h

e was a flicker of something in her eyes, sur

tone still warm but wi

ur mates yet. Above all, finding mates is rare, so we must rely on chosen ones." Her

see the shock on their faces, the way their eyes darted between me and Kael. In my past life, I had never dared to ask this question. I had accepted my role, my fate, w

sence commanding and undeniable. His golden eyes locked onto mine,

echoed through the hall, a vow meant to reassure not just me but the entire crowd. "On

favor of the nobles and secure his place as the future Alpha King. He needed their support, their votes, and I was just a pawn in his game. My

t my knuckles, a gesture meant to be romantic but one that only deepened my revulsion. I hated him. I hated him for everything he had done, for the pain he

soft but carrying the weight of a promise. "From

freedom being buried beneath the weight of duty and expectation. I forced a smile, my lips trembling as I met Kael's gaze. His eyes w

thought I would play along quietly, he was wrong. This time, I would be the one in control. This