Chapter 25Azalea sat stiffly at the dining table, barely touching the food in front of her. She could feel the tension in the air, thick and suffocating, as conversation buzzed around her. Federico sat across from her, his attention completely absorbed by Maya, who seemed to be the only one capable of drawing any emotion out of him. Every laugh they shared, every fleeting glance, made Azalea feel more out of place, more unwanted in this royal family that didn’t seem to care about her.A tight knot formed in her chest, and she knew she couldn’t sit there any longer. She gently placed her fork down and stood up, causing a brief pause in the conversation around her.“I’m not feeling well,” Azalea said quietly, her voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions inside her. “I think I’ll go rest for a while.”Federico didn’t even glance her way. Maya shot her a curious look but quickly returned her attention to Federico as if Azalea’s presence was merely a passing thought. Queen Selena w
Chapter 26Leandro stood before his mother in her private quarters, his arms folded across his chest, still fuming from the breakfast earlier. Queen Lucia paced slowly, her steps deliberate, her eyes cold as they considered their next move."You need to get closer to Azalea," Queen Lucia finally said, her voice measured. "Make sure she trusts you."Leandro's brows furrowed, his mouth twisting with distaste. "How do you expect me to do that? She barely knows any of us, and Federico is all over her. The girl is nervous around him."Queen Lucia stopped in her tracks and turned to face her son. "Exactly. She feels isolated and confused. If you play your cards right, she'll cling to anyone who shows her warmth." She gave Leandro a pointed look. "That's where you come in."Leandro sighed, his fingers tapping lightly against his arm as he mulled it over. "You think she'll open up to me? She probably doesn't trust anyone here.""She will if you approach her the right way," Queen Lucia said wi
Chapter 27Federico sat at his grand desk, the large mahogany surface piled with documents and scrolls, his mind restless. Gabe and Jake stood by the doorway, holding a small stack of letters and files."Sir, there are some new mails for you to check out," Gabe said, stepping forward to place the documents on the desk."Thanks," Federico muttered, barely looking up as he sifted through the pile. His thoughts were still lingering on the awkward breakfast and Maya’s pointed questions about his marriage. He could feel the tension building, but he was a master at suppressing emotions. He turned his focus to the task at hand, flipping through the letters one by one.As he shuffled the papers, one document caught his attention—a letter, thick and sealed, sitting beneath the pile. The seal wasn’t from his kingdom; it bore the emblem of the Dynamite Pack. Federico frowned, knowing instantly it came from Azalea’s homeland."Interesting," he muttered under his breath.Jake looked over. "Somethi
Chapter 28: MatesAzalea stood frozen in Federico’s office, her heart pounding so hard it felt like it might burst from her chest. The revelation that her sister was meant to marry Federico had already shaken her to the core, but what she felt now—the pull, the undeniable force between them—was something she couldn’t ignore.Mate.The word echoed in her mind, terrifying and bewildering. It couldn’t be. It just couldn’t.Federico’s piercing gaze remained locked onto her, his confusion evident despite his anger. He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming, and Azalea found herself taking a step back. Their connection was unmistakable, something primal, something far deeper than the arranged marriage they had been thrust into. It felt like fate itself was mocking them."You’re my mate," she whispered, barely able to get the words out. Her throat felt dry, and her pulse quickened.Federico’s jaw clenched. He shook his head, as though trying to deny what they both knew to be true. "No," h
Chapter 29Federico woke up in his office, his neck stiff from the awkward position he had slept in. He groaned, rubbing the back of his neck as he slowly sat up. Papers were scattered across his desk, a half-empty glass of whiskey beside them, and his royal robe draped haphazardly over the chair. He glanced at the clock on the wall, realizing it was already morning."Damn it," he muttered, annoyed at himself for falling asleep there. He hadn’t intended to stay in his office all night, but after the argument with Azalea and signing the contract, he couldn’t bring himself to return to their shared room.With a sigh, Federico stood up and quickly put his robe back on, adjusting it with precise movements. The ball was approaching—the annual event where their Pack would host all the clans this year. It was a huge responsibility, one he couldn’t afford to mess up, especially with the eyes of every pack on them.He left his office, walking briskly back to his room. As he pushed the door ope
Chapter 30Leandro and Thomas exchanged glances as they watched Federico and Azalea standing together. The shift in their dynamic from the previous day to now was jarring. Just yesterday, it seemed as though they barely knew each other, spoke. But today, they were acting like the perfect, affectionate couple—too perfect. It was enough to raise eyebrows.Leandro, always more observant, whispered to his brother, “Something’s off.”Thomas nodded, his eyes never leaving the couple. “Yeah, I noticed too. Yesterday, they were practically strangers, and today, look at them.” He gestured with his chin toward Azalea, who was leaning slightly toward Federico, her hand grazing his arm as they spoke quietly. “All cozy like they've been married for years.”Leandro narrowed his eyes, his suspicion growing. “Think they’re putting on a show for us?”Thomas chuckled under his breath. “Wouldn’t surprise me. I always figured their marriage wasn’t as solid as it looks.”“Doesn’t make sense, though,” Lean
Chapter 31Ophelia sat across from Mack at the long, polished dining table, her delicate fingers stirring her tea absentmindedly. The breakfast had been laid out before them, but neither of them had touched much of it. Mack’s mind seemed elsewhere, his focus distant, as Ophelia picked at the food on her plate.“I can’t wait for the ball,” Ophelia said with a smirk, breaking the silence between them. “Federico’s pack hosting? How delightful.” She leaned back in her chair, her gaze sharp and full of amusement. “I just know that he’ll treat Azalea poorly. And when he does, I can’t wait to see the look on her face. That will be a sight.”Mack shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his hands resting on his lap. The tone in her voice made his stomach churn, and guilt began to creep its way into his chest. He hadn’t said much throughout the breakfast, but now, the knot in his throat grew tighter. He couldn’t pretend that her words didn’t affect him, and the bitterness in her voice felt too sharp
Chapter 32Azalea stood in front of the mirror as Vick carefully helped her into her dress, adjusting the straps and smoothing the fabric against her skin. The gown was a deep shade of emerald, complimenting her dark hair and eyes, and Vick gave her a satisfied nod once everything was in place. “You look perfect, my lady,” she said, stepping back to admire her handiwork.Azalea glanced at her reflection, her face calm, though her thoughts were elsewhere. Tonight’s dinner wasn’t something she was looking forward to, but it was part of the charade she had agreed to with Federico. Their contract may have dictated their actions in public, but she was under no illusion about what it meant behind closed doors.Federico was across the room, adjusting the cufflinks on his royal robe. The quiet sound of his movements was interrupted by the sharp ring of his phone. Azalea glanced toward him just as the phone lit up on the nightstand. The caller ID flashed: Maya.Her expression didn’t change, an
Azalea POVI ran out of the throne room and tears began to flow down my face. I tried to hold it in but I couldn't even hold it in for long as all the tears poured and I tried to cover my mouth just to silence it.I can't continue doing this, I keep lying to alpha Federico that I love him when I don't…yes, I have affection for him but that love could never be like the one I felt for Luther, Alpha Federico kept asking me if I loved him but I kept saying I loved him when I didn't.I wish I could just truly love him but I couldn't do it. Walked sluggishly to my room and closed the door as I began to think about all that Alpha Federico said, he kept mentioning my second chance mate coming back but I couldn't really agree to my mate ever coming back. What if he came back and I hate him? What if I reject him because I have become too deeply in love with Luther?But I won't want anyone to pass through the rejection. I knew how much pain I held in the day Kade rejected me and now I would hav
ALPHA Federico The priest and everyone stared at me as my beta asked the same question for the second time. I knew that I wouldn’t dare tell them that I had just stolen my own son's mate.“It’s nothing, I just remembered that I need to discuss something with Luther.” I lied before moving backward a little and then left the secret room and went back to the palace.I staggered slowly through the hallways as I was unable to believe what just happened…it began to make perfect sense to me, that was why Azalea wasn’t able to stay away from Luther even though my inner wolf was very weak.It was because of the pull which she kept feeling and that was what I had always thought was cheating.“I tried to separate them but I was just making the situation worse and their bond to keep getting close,” I muttered to myself as I staggered like a person who was drunk, I stopped again when I realized something.“How am I even sure that they haven’t slept with each other in secret already?” I asked myse
Alpha Federico povKade was soon done with his childish treat and walked away but I wasn’t as calm as I sounded, I looked at Azalea and she was happy because I backed her up…I was also happy because happiness was the only thing I wanted, all I wanted to see was a smile on her face at all times and she never deprived me of that….I smiled back at her subconsciously before looking away, “You shouldn’t mind him, If truly she was seeing things and kept having nightmares we like to have heard her shouts at least once or twice but none of that has happened.” Azalea said before looking at me with a smile.Just when I was about to reply to her my phone beeped and when I checked it was a message from my Beta letting me know that the priest I had sent on an errand had arrived.“I need to go, I have very important things to attend to,” I said to her and stood up even before she could question my reasons,As I walked down the hallway I hoped that he had found a way and that the priest had nothing
Azalea’s povWith those words, I was a bit taken aback by what she was trying to insinuate.“What do you mean?” I asked.“I won’t tell you anything, you just keep acting dumb and trying to find out why Luther cannot do without you,” Susan said and even though I was at the doorway she still walked away and left me in the garden again, while I thought about why exactly I felt this way and why she just said those words but yet I felt like what she had just said had some hidden meaning I have to find out more on.“She wouldn’t say those things if she hadn’t heard something or knew about what was going wrong in my life,” I whispered to myself before walking out of the Garden and into the palace only to see Alpha Federico waiting in front of the doorway with a frown making me wonder if I have done something wrong to him.“Why are you standing there and staring at me like I have done something wrong?” I asked Alpha Federico as then his frown turned to a cheerful look.“I was worried Susan wa
Azalea POVI couldn’t say anything and just kept quiet. Susan walked towards me with a smirk as she became so close to me I could feel the harsh breath from her nose on my skin making me very uncomfortable.“I understand what you mean,” I said but I still didn’t understand what the secret was all about.“I know you think the secret is a minor something but I called you here just to let you know that I would make your life a living hell, I liked you back then as I always thought that you would favor us when you became the Luna but now we all paved way for you to be the queen and now Alpha Federico made you the queen even without a ceremony and you threw us all away,” Susan said with bitterness oozing out of her voice but I still stood cool as I knew deep within me that she was the one who took that photo but with the way, I saw things now I knew she couldn’t do anything… she just wanted attention and to be favored by alpha Federico she was not as determined as Lucy.I walked up to her
Azalea’s povI lay beside Alpha Federico who was fast asleep, I couldn’t help but remember what he said. What good I possibly do to Isabelle that would make her regret ever being born into this world or even being in this pack?I don’t know why Alpha Federico can’t just chase them all away, at least Alpha Rozan left but why weren’t Isabelle and Kade leaving?Suddenly I remembered Kade and that made me angry with myself, I don’t know why I always remembered him. He rejected me and yet acted so emotionally with me,I stood up from the bed and wore my key favorite dress to stroll around and that’s when I searched around for my novel from the other day but couldn’t find it, “where could I have kept it?” I questioned myself and then I remembered the night of my intimacy with Luther, he had collected the book from me while he kissed me and took me to his room and that’s when I recalled seeing him drop it on the shelf in the hallways.I checked on Alpha Federico and he was still fast asleep,
Kade povIsabelle scoffed at my words but that was the truth and I didn’t intend on lying to Isabelle anymore, the love I had for her had slowly begun to wash away and I couldn’t deny the truth anymore.Isabelle paced towards me and with a frown she slapped, I held my cheek in surprise…I never expected her to slap me yet she did.She raised her hand to slap me again but I held her hand and threw it to the ground.“You can’t tell me who to love Isabelle,” I said to her but still she grinned.“I am your mate!!” Isabelle yelled and I couldn’t help but smile.“You are not my mate, you are the main reason why I lost someone as precious as Azalea, just to be with your fucked ass!!” I said to her out of anger and annoyance that Azalea was my mate but was deflowered by another alpha.“What do you mean my fucked ass!! Do you know what I passed through just to be with you!!” Isabelle yelled at me with a teary voice and even though I felt so much pity for her and tried to come close to her I rem
Isabelle povI rushed into my bedroom and touched my cheeks one more time to be sure I wasn’t dreaming…I yelled angrily and threw my phone into the mirror as I couldn’t help but yell.“Ahhh!!!!” I yelled angrily, I couldn’t stop thinking of what she said to me…“You think you can just walk in here and steal what’s mine!? Well, think again!” I recalled,How dare she do something like that, how can she say I was trying to steal what was hers ... .Alpha Federico didn’t even belong to her and still, she was in love with Luther.“I can’t take this, for goodness sake she almost killed me there and Alpha Federico couldn’t even stop her,” I muttered to myself before taking my seat and angrily starting at all the injuries in my body, I can’t believe I would need to hide my body due to how badly she treated me.I looked at my phone on the floor and I was slowly tearing up and unexpectedly the tears slid down my cheeks.“I should call Father,” I muttered and rushed to my phone as I tried turning
Azalea’s povI took my seat on Alpha Federico's bed as I tried to relax my nerves from all that I had just done, Alpha Federico handed me a glass of water which I collected with a wide smile and gulped it in.“I still can’t believe you did that to Isabelle and could still act cool about it.” Alpha Federico said followed by a chuckle, I smiled as I slowly sipped my water like it was wine…I couldn’t even tell how I felt, if I was being angry with myself for showing Alpha Federico I liked him.Suddenly everything I said previously started coming back to me as I dropped the cup and covered my face in embarrassment.I still couldn’t believe such words came out of my mouth. I told him I loved him!!Alpha Federico noticed I was shy and pulled me in for a hug.“I know you are a jealous kind but why would you take it to the extent of beating her almost to a coma.” He muttered to my cheek before kissing it gently.“I didn’t know what hit over me but it’s not just about jealousy, I just hate Isa