Queen Larissa's POVThe doors to my private chambers closed with a soft thud, and I allowed myself a moment to breathe, the air thick with the weight of my plans. Lucas still didn’t fully understand the necessity of my actions, but he would, in time. He had no choice.I glanced at the documents spread across my desk, the foundation of everything I had worked for. The alliance between the council, the royal family, and the packs was fragile, and I would not allow a girl like Amelia, someone with no true standing, to jeopardize it. She was a temporary obstacle, nothing more.A soft knock interrupted my thoughts. “Enter,” I called, knowing it would be Lucas.He stepped inside, his expression guarded, the tension in his posture evident. He was always like this around me—watchful, cautious. He understood the stakes better than most, even if he was reluctant to accept them.“Mother,” he greeted, his tone formal, but the cold distance was unmistakable.I motioned for him to sit, but he remai
Amelia’s POVThe next morning, I woke to an empty bed. Again. Lucas had already left, and though I told myself I didn’t mind, a small part of me couldn’t help but feel disappointed. I lay there for a moment, staring at the ceiling, trying to shake the feeling.“He’s your husband,” I muttered to myself, “it’s only natural to want to see him.”But even as I said it, I knew that wasn’t entirely true. The blood bond we formed last night made it hard to ignore the growing connection between us. The sense of his presence lingered, even though he wasn’t physically there. I tried to convince myself that this was why I felt that slight pang when I woke up alone.“Right,” Snow snorted, clearly unimpressed by my attempt to rationalize. “Keep telling yourself that.”I sighed, knowing my wolf was right. The bond might have something to do with it, but there was more. Something I wasn’t quite ready to admit to myself yet. Before I could get too lost in my thoughts, Snow’s voice cut in again.“He’s
Sabrina's POVI sat at the back of the classroom, barely listening as Ms. Gentle’s voice droned on about etiquette. My gaze, sharp and cold, was fixed on her. Amelia. She sat near the front, her posture all proper and perfect, like she actually belonged. Like she was the true Crown Princess.The thought alone made me sick. Every time I looked at her, it felt like a slap in the face. How could Lucas, of all people, choose her? She’s a rejected mate—cast aside by her true mate. Someone that weak, that unwanted, had no place in the royal pack, let alone beside Lucas, the Crown Prince. It was beneath him. It was beneath me.I couldn’t believe my plan had failed. I’d suggested to Ms. Gentle that Amelia read a paragraph in French, fully expecting her to stumble, to make a fool of herself in front of everyone. I wanted to see the look on her face when she realized she wasn’t fit for this life, when everyone saw how unworthy she was. But no. Amelia had read it flawlessly. Effortlessly, even.
Amelia’s POVI left the etiquette class feeling… lighter. It wasn’t the class itself, though Ms. Gentle seemed surprisingly kind and understanding, nor was it Sabrina’s failed attempt to humiliate me. What had eased the tension in my chest was something more subtle—a small victory, one that I didn’t realize I needed until I felt the weight lift.The way Sabrina’s face had twitched when I flawlessly read the French paragraph was something I couldn’t help but replay in my mind, savoring the look of shock she tried to hide. She wanted me to fail, to stumble over words that had long since been second nature to me. I wasn’t just a rejected mate thrown into a royal role—I had my strengths, my abilities. And they were more than enough to carry me through this.That felt good, Snow murmured in my head, her satisfaction radiating through our bond. You should’ve seen her face. Priceless.I smiled to myself, the thought soothing the undercurrent of unease that had followed me into the class. “Yo
Lucas’s POV I hadn’t meant to leave Amelia alone again, but the council meetings were relentless. Every day, another strategy to discuss, another alliance to consider. Time was slipping away, and the more I got pulled into the realm of politics, the less time I had for her. A nagging sense of regret followed me through the halls, and Titan wasn’t shy about letting me feel it.“You’re wasting time,” Titan growled in my head, pacing. “This is when we could be with her, showing her who we are. Instead, you’re stuck here, letting her slip further away”.I winced at the truth in his words. I knew Titan was right. I could feel the distance forming between us, even though we’d recently bonded through blood. That connection should’ve made things easier, but it seemed all I’d done was complicate things.“She’s starting to notice,” Titan added, his voice harsh. “She deserves more than being neglected while you play prince.”“I know,” I muttered aloud as I walked the corridor to the council roo
Amelia’s POVI couldn’t shake Kurt’s words from my mind. Every look he gave me, every barb he threw, they weren’t just about challenging my role as Crown Princess. It was more than that. His words felt like a reminder that I wasn’t truly a part of this world. It didn’t matter how many councils I attended or how many royal duties I fulfilled—there would always be people like him who saw me as an outsider.The bite in his voice echoed in my head: This is why some of us are skeptical about her being the right fit.I tried to push the thought away, but it clung to me like a heavy cloak. As much as I hated to admit it, he wasn’t entirely wrong. I wasn’t born into this life. I wasn’t raised to be a princess. And yet, here I was, walking a path that could be snatched away from me at any moment. Lucas and I had entered into this marriage for convenience, not love, and even though we had bonded through blood, that didn’t mean anything would last forever.Queen Larissa’s words haunted me too. S
Amelia’s POVI closed the door behind me, the cool air of my chambers offering a momentary respite from the lingering weight of my conversation with Lena and Cassidy. They had warned me—Sabrina wasn’t going to play fair. I needed to be prepared. The seriousness of it all hung over me, but as I stepped inside, something else took over my mind.Lucas was there, sitting on the edge of the bed. His posture was relaxed, but his gaze was anything but. His dark eyes followed my every move, lingering as if he were trying to understand something about me that even I wasn’t fully aware of yet. His presence, commanding and familiar, filled the room, and it made my pulse quicken unexpectedly.I froze for a second, taken aback by the sight of him here at this hour. Butterflies erupted in my stomach—a strange reaction considering how often we were around each other now. But there was something about the way Lucas looked at me in that moment, something deeper. His intent gaze seemed to pierce right
Amelia’s POVThe sunlight filtered softly through the tall windows of the etiquette classroom, casting warm patterns across the elegant, old-fashioned décor. Ms. Gentle, standing with her usual composed air, adjusted her glasses as she started the lesson, her voice clear as she spoke about social graces and formal greetings for high-profile gatherings. As much as I tried to stay focused, my mind kept drifting to what Lucas had told me about the upcoming Alphas’ meeting. I didn’t know if I was ready to face Ethan again—not to mention every Luna and Alpha in the kingdom.But Ms. Gentle’s sharp voice snapped me back to reality as she called us up one by one to practice a formal greeting in front of the class. I took a deep breath, calming my nerves as I waited my turn. Sabrina was up first, of course, flashing a dazzling smile as she approached Ms. Gentle, looking every bit the picture of grace and poise.Sabrina glided up, her movements fluid, her chin lifted high. She curtsied with exa