Dump the Alpha, Mated to the King

gain. Not once. She didn't call. Didn't text. Didn't

y play

her sensitive,

ad a right to heal. It took him nearly half a week just to walk on his own. The pack began to

idn't

a, something inside her had already started packing its bags. Sh

e wrapped i

ofa. Her tablet glowed in her lap, screen filled with legal archives and old ritual texts-anyt

t door open. A pau

was spotless-it always was-but for the first time in three

ir

ugh the mind link, sh

le

answe

th

door swung open. His scent hit her first-sandalwood and pine, dark and warm and infuriatingly

her sitting there, still dressed in lounge cloth

e said, voice low. "Why di

ced her expression into somet

said. "After all, don't you have your

outh, she regretted them. They

oo late to t

r thickened around them. "You know Ivy has been through a lot

Ivy

attered again

nst the floor. "She's sensitive. She's fragile. She needs pr

yes wide and burning with te

g his features before it vanished behind tha

her shoulder. Firm.

quietly. "You should never

red. So he does reme

eath brushed her cheek, warm

art cl

ot "I'm sorry". Not

eed

finest doctors, the strongest wolfsbane tonics-none of it could quiet the ache of a blood v

worthy

la

ad f

lower lip, blind to the tears gathering in her eye

n't wa

n her entire life. Her hands slammed

a. My patience has limits. You c

rms wrapped around her, pulling her against him with the certainty of someone who had every right to do so. The bed cau

," he growled. "That

t cracked c

e man she h

Not the patient one who had promised her safety. This

own darkne

ouse, days filled with fear and uncertainty. Her mother had died trying to save her. The memory of that helplessness, that terror,

ould never have to feel that fear again. "I will n

re at her clothes. His strength held her down while she squirm

Her breath came in short, sha

ember reaching

the crack of cera

ood streaming down his temple. "Wha

r. Didn't stop t

of the room. Her fingers tore at the torn blanket draped over the armchair and she wrapped it

le body

e. His wolf

p, sour terror flooding off her skin. The bond be

c at

ai

raising one bloodied h

cracked, splintered,

ss Adrian's face. Not quite guilt. Not

down at her-curled in the corner, wrapped

w tigh

ow. Exhausted. Done. "I am your Alpha. You have to move past

d the do

the las

icked shut

, hugging the blanket to her ches

ed sometime in the dark. Not because the pain had faded, b

r phone

, vision blurry. A delive

d to ice. It was

ed over her lik

ur symptoms are improving, Mira. The avoidance response is w

in awake planning. Their anniversary. A candlelit dinner. Soft music. And then-if she wa

d be touched wi

he moon blessed

ted an heir. Th

t

against her fingers, the echo of his weight pressing her do

ress. The doctor had said so. And then one moment of weakness-hi

dered, did t

he first grey light of morning crept through the curtains, thi

ne buzz

own, and her