THE ALPHA KING'S FORGOTTEN MATE

le. The second was her father smiling at Elara. Lena stopped in the doorway, the serving

n't just stand there." Lena blinked

Her sharp eyes moved over Lena before settling on the bowl. "Put that do

es

" Lena had already turned when

. Behind her, Adrian's low voice carried across t

d. "Thank you, Fat

he woman this family e

d. "I told y

as already sitting comfortably, her long hair falling neatly over one shoulder. She had

n she returned, Elara looked at her. "You've been

t the empty pl

ing is served,

to Elara. "You should remember what I t

nothing to worry about

d. Lena looked at Elara. Her sister met h

stopped their conversation. She listened while Adrian asked Elara questions and Miriam praised her answers, keeping her hands together and wait

ian looked up

d at her. Elara stopped eating. Adrian

onful. "It's fine." Lena w

" Lena lowered her eyes for a second.

dinner. Like you were supposed to

was

"You're twenty-two," he said. "You should know better

her head wishing she never said anything. "An

an stopped her. "Lena." She looked

e her uncomforta

Lena's fingers tightened around the

known for years that she was unranked, had known what that meant every time someone els

. At twelve, she had watched Elara shift for the first time, and everyone had celebrated. Lena had gone to bed that night believing her own wolf would come soon. It never did. There had been no voice beneath her

im. "And nothing that makes this family except

a moment, then nod

d in her sea

"What?" Elara glance

them and carried them into the kitchen. Her own plate was still on the counter. Lena looked at it, then

ced her plate on the small table beside her bed. Her room w

She took a

door opening and closing. Lena continued eating. When she finished, she carried the plate downstairs, washed it, and returned to

t she had kept it carefully for years. She began to hum, softly ,the same little tune she used whenever she wanted the hous

m her father. Instead, she had asked for it and learned tha

s she kept for herself. She took out a small box and placed the ribbon inside, then closed the lid and locke

r treat her like Elara. But she could decide what she gave them. Tomorrow, she would still wake early. She would still do the work expected of her. She would sti

beneath her pillow. Then she lay down, pulled th

e at her family's table. Tonight, she s