THE ALPHA KING'S FORGOTTEN MATE

rarely called for her unless he needed something done, so she stood outside the open

d for me,

e the

al controlled expression still in place, but there was tension around his mouth that Lena had no

t Father?"

l seconds before speaking. "You

emem

to be

arefully. "What ar

d against the paper. "I

ened. "What kind

to the Moonlit

r him to explain, and when he

ore returning to her. "You will be sold there.

, and Lena's hands tightened in her

know, you add nothing to this family so why keep you" His

to understand if he actu

. "You've already a

ment has b

really noth

"Lena, arguing with me w

with, but this was different. He was not pretending the choi

ra?" Len

n changed slightly

he st

rrangement." Lena nodded

start" She folded her hands mo

kno

ed away for a moment. "Your mother un

ve her instructions, corrected her, or reminded her where she belonged. Never had sh

I suppose

hings you cannot leave behind

gs you won't need." Lena looked at him.

o you." It was the closest thing to kindness he had offe

ulders stiff

he was sorry. Instead,

now." Lena stood, then reached the door, but

was hard again, but the str

is harder than

pened the door, walked into the hall

ather ever tried to take something from her, demanding an explanation until he listened. But A

ed toward

d her door when she h

en

end of the hallway, her long hair

ow," Elara said. "Yes." Lena knew either one of her parent

Lena's room. "Have y

t y

er's face. "Are you relieved?" Elar

Lena off guard. "Be

asn't going to give up my

Elara might still care about her as a sister. She had not expected Elara to fight their

comfortable. "I don't know what

her d

looked at her. The words were quiet, but they carried no

glanced toward the bedroom door.

han happiness. Elara left, and Lena watched her di

cked it, and lifted the lid. The faded blue ribbon lay where she had left it,

believed her family might eventually see her differently. She had never expected much. A

cause hope was easier t

r. Lena placed the ribb

ng immediately to the clothes spread across the

placed it beside the others. "Did you

r was going

ned. "Your father had

was the on

he believed w

dress in her hands. "Wer

e been t

on the bed. "Did you

"I thought you would u

o bu

ke trouble bef

ah sure like I always do." Lena

o the blue ribbon in Lena's

ers around it. "I'll

ne last look before leaving, and Lena waited until her mot

es to fold, along with the handful of personal things she considered worth taking

the small key to her wooden chest. She held it for a moment before

tly, then closed th

her to settle a debt. Lena slipped the key beneath her pillow and