Dump the Alpha, Mated to the King

ned that on such a bright, ordinary afternoon, sh

shing and sudden, like a fist tightening around her heart. Her breathing came

er to understand. Her Alpha, her

e at the pack house, dealing with pack affairs. There had be

take control and rush to their mate's side. Without a sec

nd that only sharpened the

ie to me. Tell me

phantom pain in her own chest intensified. Tears burned behind her eyes. They had only been married for thre

ppery scent of blood and the sharp sting of antiseptic. Pack members moved swiftly through the c

a f

s broad body smeared in red, the white sheets beneath him ruined. Drops of b

still feel the faint, strained thread

oved to step forward, to take his hand, another figu

ar and tears. They streamed down her cheeks as she clutched Adrian's hand

d. "This is all my fault. I sho

turned

d around him like a controlled tide, instinctively commanding the space. His fingers tightened around the

r cheek. Then he pressed something into her palm. A white flower. Its petals were

soft. "I know you always wanted one. It's

-a silent, intimate curren

ood utterly still, the co

d, and his concern was for

aying on her? Had she woken up wrong and stumb

ore her remained unchanged. The two were still lost in their

r. The initial shock and absurdity were rapidly c

n Goddess herself. For three years, they had

s, she was certain he had n

rt of being an Alpha, a burden of his title.

y before her, a wave of fearful re

speak yet-if she opened her mouth, she mig

the operating room. As he passed

n apology. She saw nothing. Only

t behind him with a

ce dangerously soft. She felt fury a

hesitate

peated. Her tone

the mate-bond's reaction didn't lie... Adri

is mouth, seeming

the woman from befo

f submission. Her eyes were red-rimmed, her gaze fi

ourse, rec

nd's side three months ago. The widow of Adrian's

drian had publicly and unequivocally decl

Mira herself had initially felt sympa

, the fragile peace of Mira and

a's jaw for lingeri

a to the cells for spil

inkable lapse for any strong leader-b

a. Before Ivy, Mira would have t

vy, he di

to... to make her "smile". So what did that mak

to the storm of fury rolling off Mira. "I never mea

shot out, gripping th

y fell utt

e of powerful, oppressive force radiated outwards-Mira's

sed, her voice low and lethally calm. "You are

to leash her Luna

tepped forward. "Pl

," Mira

lotus grows near the cliffs there... it's said to grant the Goddess's favor to whoever claims it. Th

ropping to the flower still clutched

worth forgetting the wife waiting fo

truly only mentioned it in pass

slapp

sharply in the

hand flying to her ch

for," Mira snarled, her voice colder than winter ston

from Ivy's hand. It hit

eact, the operating r

body cushioned the worst of the fall. A broken leg

trayal. Despite everything, despite the humiliation he h

to his office to complet

private room, the whispers in the corrid

e nearly di

irst love, before he m

e didn't move. She focused on the voice

by the bed, w

is ruined,"

. His voice was low, firm, a vow wov

e pushed the door open and

gaze snap

." No greeting. No con

back, her voice trembling with su

d. "She is under

of sweat breaking out on his forehead. The sight

d softly, the fight mome

surv

early

as my c

she tried to ignore the fresh wound his words carved. She

did not deserve it. A man who valued neither his own l

you give the Council?

n said, his tone fina

ing Ivy

ll stay." The command in his voice

d hurt and accusation. But this time, he had already averted

Alpha." He had even an

self apart with a pain so visceral it was a wonder he couldn't

Remember this. It was you who sent me away." Then she strode

over the steering wheel, shoulders shaking as sobs wracked her body. Behind her

holding a softness she hadn't seen since, "I swea

omise whose expiration date, it seemed

eensaver was their wedding photo-her smiling up at him,

spered, the wor

n on 'delete.' The image vanished,

empty car, her voice hollow with resolve, "