ughts whispered as their eyes locked. In th

d-imposing, int

ed, drowning out

onstricted, her breath came shallow,

e sensed something gentler in his gaze. B

tracting any warmth she had briefly fe

mmanded, his voic

ed frozen, rooted to the plush carpet, unable to tear

ix feet tall-down to his intense

ure; her own five-foot-five fra

shed across his right brow, and trailed d

s smooth, the rest of

ght of him? Instead, Elara found the

rd, emphasizing the stre

es burned wit

Roman nose and sun-kissed skin. She reflected on the rumors

ugly now. Her heart nearly skippe

ered, breakin

tly against the padded chair. He settled across from

at your father said to the King. I detest this marriage

ty when every fiber of

uth to respond. "I

he interrupted, eyes flashing

espite the King's decree, t

ent across the table, the

the paper-stipulations, clauses, res

air in public and before the King. Yo

thout witnesses, we have no

will not share my wealth, dwell in

dissolve or amend this

rk me, and I wil

none of it seemed lethal; it actual

ll never love you. You will reside two floors belo

n his words-never love her-but also hope. N

destined to be real. She closed her eyes, palm to

s's gaze froze her in place. The tense question

led. "No,

hair, authority th

my Beta and my most trusted few s

wled her signature, finali

done, he comm

ers. The ceremony is next week. Be pre

de-appeared, urging h

chamber hung with tapestries an

sh pillows lay arranged neatly. Elara's lips twitch

eyebrow. "Fo

It's beautiful

hinking of the att

... the daughter of A

owered

th in years." She paused, ashamed

how to respond-until she relea

the Alpha's daughter...

is as it seems. But thank you. You've bee

. She touched the pa

d for a mate. None of this is by choice f