Chapter 66
His gaze flickt up sharply.
I don’t wait for him to speak, “He’s your royal messenger, isn’t he? He delivers your personal letters. That means he could pull somethin make it look official”
The Alpha King squints, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “Your uncle doesn’t have access to my personal office. Nor to the royal seal. That’s kept under magical protection only accessible to me and any royal by blood. My queen is out of the question…” He trails off, visibly reluctant to speak about h “My daughter, Celestia. But she-”
He frowns, shaking his head. “No. She wouldn’t. I dnulit she’d go so far.”
“Wouldn’t she?” I mutter, bitterness lacing my words “Where is he? Where’s my uncle now?”
The Alpha King shrugs, clearly losing interest. “Why should I know where a messenger is when I have bigger problems to deal with? He could be out running deliveries. Or maybe crawling under some rock he belongs under.”
Iball
my
fists at my sides, my nails digging crescent moons into my palms.
That son of a bitch.
He played me.
Dangled the King’s
‘s authority over my bes
my head just to get me out of Blood Fang. Away from Kali.
But why?
A sick feeling curls in my gut.
“I should’ve killed him when I had the chance…” I mutter under my
breath.
The Alpha King raises a brow. “I’ll make sure to scold him,” he says dryly, clearly unimpressed. “If it turns out he’s the one behind this.. prank.”
“Don’t worry, Your Majesty,” I growl. “It’ll be my pleasure to make him pay.”
“Thanks for your time. If you’ll excuse me…” I grit my teeth, fighting the rising panic in my chest as I turn toward the door. “I have a mate waiting for me.”
I reach the door, the weight of wasted time pressing heavily on my shoulders, when the Alpha King’s voice stops me
“Speaking of mate…..”
I stop, jaw tightening.
“Jack, since you’re here, maybe the Moon Goddess sent you to me.”
My fingers curl tighter around the doorknob. I don’t turn around yet. “What is it?” I ask, keeping my voice level, even though irritation claws at the edges of my tone.
I feel like I’m on fire, seething. My time. My mate. Wasted. All because of a forged letter and a power–hungry uncle who’s still breathing.
I hear the Alpha King step away from his desk and approach. “This is a royal favor, Jack. You can’t refuse it
That
st makes me spin.
Try m
y me
But he’s not offended. No, his face is serious. Grave, evon,
Chapter 66
I need you to really think about what i’m about to take Lady Celestin as your second wife and mate
(blink.
“Come again, Your Majesty?” The words rip from my throat like a growl. “I’ve already told you—I want nothing to do with your —”
“It will only be on paper,” he cuts in quickly, holding up a hand. “You won’t have to touch het or be involved with her in any way. No bond, no bad, obligations.nothing beyond the title. I just need you to assume the role of Alpha King–temporarily. I’ve been thinking about this for works, and journ the only one I trust not to let power corrupt him. You’re the only one I believe can protect this kingdom without being blinded by selfish greed. I’m asking this not as her father–but as your king”
1 stare at him.
He’s… desperate.
And the Alpha King doesn’t do desperate.
“Celestia’s your blood.” I say slowly. “She’s next in line. She should be Alpha Queen. Let her rule?”
He lets out a long, pained sigh and rubs a hand over his face like the words physically hurt him.
“My daughter…” he starts, then stops again. “Celestia is still a child in too many ways. She makes rash decisions based on emotion. She isn’t ready to lead. Truthfully, I don’t know if she was ever meant to lead. But she’s all I have left. My only surviving child. I can’t strip her of her future. I have to give her what she asks for–while I still can.”
I swallow down a sharp breath. Something in his voice… it aches.
“What you’re asking is impossible,” I begin, but he cuts me off again.
“Think about it, Jack. I’m not asking for forever. A year. Two, tops. Just until she’s ready. I’ll put it in writing. You’ll still lead Blood Fang, this will just be a royal role. No real marriage, no Luna bond. Nothing changes with your true mate.”
I study him. “Are you alright?” I ask at last. He hesitates for a long moment. Then finally speaks.
“Since I am asking you for a life–changing favour…i think you deserve to know a little bit of truth about why I am asking you to become the next alpha king” he sighs tiredly. “My Queen… my mate… His eyes drop to the floor, then slowly close. It’s the first time he is opening up about her.
“She’s dying, Jack. Slowly. Since we lost our first daughter, she’s never fully recovered. Her body’s here, but her spirit left long ago. I need to be with her. Not as Alpha King. Not as a leader. Just as her mate. I want to spend what time we have left… by her side.”
The desperation in his words settles on me like a storm cloud. I nod once. Quietly, I’ve never seen the Queen. People whispered she was dead. She never appeared in public. I thought she was a myth… a ghost. Because for as long as I can remember, the throne she was meant to sit on has always been
emply.
But none of that matters now because his pain is real. Before I can respond, the door slams open.
“Daddy!” a shrill voice squeals.
Celestia.
She nearly skips inside, long black hair falls in waves bouncing, eyes wide and manic with excitement. “Did you grant my request? Tell me you did!”
The Alpha King exhales like he’s been holding his breath for years.
“Celestia-
Her eyes land on me.
She freezes.
Like a thief caught in the act
2/1
Chapter 66
The excitement drains from her face, replaced by something sharp and calculating
I gaze at the Alpha King. “I’ll think about it,” I say tightly. “But don’t get your hopes up”
He nods silently. There’s nothing more to say.
I turn to leave again but fingers clutch my wrist.
I know that touch before I even look.
“Are you really going to ignore me like I don’t exist?” she asks, her voice soft but venomous.
I clench my jaw. Hard. My woll growls inside me, eager for blood, and my patience hangs by a frayed thread as I stop myself from ripping her damn hair out by the roots,
But I don’t
use of her father.
Because of his pain.
“Don’t touch me,” I say coldly.
She blinks, then frowns. “Why are you being so stubborn? Do I really have to get rid of her before you accept the and see only me as the one meant for you?”
That’s it.
I shove her hand off my arm, not gently, and storm out of the room.
The door slams shut behind me with a satisfying thud but I don’t get far before her voice echoes behind it.
“Did you at least see what I want for my birthday tomorrow?” Celestia is whining now. I can practically hear the stomp of her foot.
“What you’re asking is basically impossible,” her father sighs, sounding exhausted,
Chapter 67
It takes another three goddamn four fo teach the pack, and of course, my well never stops clawing at the midde of the throat the entire time. He grows more restless and agitated with every passing minute, increasingly impatient and pissed?
to tell me why.
The second cross the territory line, I don’t slow down. I shut off every mind link trying to reach me Fury, pack warriors, even the damn omégas. I don’t care who it is. Tblock them all There’s only one peison I want right now.
So why the hell isn’t her scent fresh?
“Jasmine?” | breathe, confused. What the hell is she doing here? Not in her secret treehouse, not in her mate’s home, but my house?
She slowly lifts her head to look at me like she’s trying to convince herself I’m not some ghost or monster. Her eyes are red and glassy, like she’s been crying for hours. Her lips tremble.
I step inside slowly, my brows knit together. “Are you okay? What happened?”
She lets out a small whimper and hides her face again. Her body is visibly shaking.
Still no answer. Another small sound escapes her throat–almost like a sab–and she curls in tighter, burying her face into her hands, her shoulders
un you crying 1T
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