The Alpha's Quiet Mate

operty on the eve of my twentieth birthday to

gainst a common enemy. But to me, it's a death sen

was the price unt

oom when the

you in the counci

ing in my chest. Nothing good ever followed those summons–just

smoke. "There she goes, Mooncrest's little curse." I kept my gaze fixed on th

whole. The kind of silence that was thick with judgme

filled with something colder than indifference-contempt. My father, Alpha Braxton,

d of anything resembling warmth. "You're he

ct that'd been collecting dus

iff, my hands cle

're of no use to this pack. Mute. Weak. A shadow of what an Alpha's daught

quiet joy he took in putting me down as if see

't react. I was used to this-used to being

his voice dripping with false diplomacy. "An alliance ha

hit me l

traded like livestock. But my voice-if it even existed anymore-was

oared insi

IG

ating stillness that had wrapped itself around me for years. It echo

her rage thrumming through me like a

coul

d slightly as if to study my reaction. "But that doesn't matte

ed faintly in the back of my mind, her fury coiling like a storm. B

ed, shaking his head. "She's broken. He

my chest. Maybe they'd reconsider. Mayb

's voice cut throu

apped. "He needs the alliance. She's

end? So that

burned, but no sound came out. No scream, no cry. Just s

ng inside, "H

l of strength. But that was before I lost everythi

to every nod, every glance. "Alpha's little warrior," they'd whisper, smiling as I darted through t

ing with admiration. "You'll be stronger than me one day, Elara," he'd

en there's no one le

thing changed. One moment, I was

to, but because I can't. My voice is buried somewhere deep inside

othing comes out. I've forgotten what my voice even sounded like, and ma

one n

even

ss Alpha whose name is whispered like a curse, his reputation built on fear, blood, and batt

aid, like I was a stain he was f

hoing in the suffocating silence. The walls felt tighter somehow li

e door quietly. No point in

g, like it held answers to questions I was too afraid to ask. My chest burne

*

the door flew op

w stretching across the room. His face was the same as alwa

p," he

dn't

e and the door c

You'll stand when he enters. You'll be respectful. Presentable

ass hi

ted

e anger I couldn't voice, my fingers dug into the thin blanket o

the one I thought cared. He was sup

f my mind, her rage simmering lik

ponse I couldn't give. Then, as if disgusted b

re he co

tst

teady. P

ch one a warning. The air shifted, and grew colder

faded into

s stopped ou

cks. Not poli

back rigid, his jaw tight. The door crea

here