After My Mate Faked His Death, I Married the Alpha King

The moment I said it, the floating text stopped.

Hester froze too.

Kane's mouth curled into a smile. A wild scent filled my nose as his shirt split across his swelling muscles.

The next second, a large hand tilted my chin up with surprising gentleness.

"As you wish, Selena."

Looking at him this close, I realized Kane's eyes were deeper-set and more intense than Derek's.

My fingers traced his waist. He was leaner than Derek, and firmer.

I was more than satisfied with him.

A charged, sensual tension slowly filled the room...

But Hester stood there dumbstruck, with no intention of leaving.

I covered my half-bare shoulder and reminded her, "You just lost your son. This probably isn't a show you should be watching. Why don't you rest in the guest room?"

I had never met such a kind mother-in-law.

Her son had barely been declared dead, and she was already eager to help his widow move on.

But as traditional a wolf as I was, I couldn't bear to make her keep watching.

Besides, Kane looked lean and powerful enough that the two of us would hardly need anyone's help.

I meant well, but Hester was shaking with rage.

She pointed at me and snapped, "Derek has only just died, and you... you would take another mate this fast! The Moon Goddess will punish you!"

What?

I stared at her, baffled.

"Weren't you the one who gave him to me? If the Moon Goddess wants to punish someone, she'll start with you."

Hester's face went red. "I only did it because you were so devoted to Derek. I was afraid you would do something to yourself. I never thought... I never thought you would be this eager."

Then I remembered the floating text's prediction: the Luna Queen would imprison me for life.

A chill went through me.

I shook my head. "No. It's been four hours since the crash. If we wait any longer, my wedding night is a write-off."

If my sister-in-law found out I was inconsolable over Derek, only one thing would happen.

I'd be doomed all over again.

I had no intention of spending eternity locked in the deepest cell of the royal palace. Never seeing daylight again would be murder on my vitamin D levels.

Actually, before Derek became my chosen mate, there was a rumor about someone he had never gotten over.

I just never guessed... it was my brother's current Luna.

Wonderful.

Apparently betrayal ran in the family.

My brother and I even got cheated on as a matched set.

Just then the text in front of me started scrolling again.

[Is she... actually going to take Kane?]

[What! Then we don't get the scene where the hero and heroine go at it in front of her cage? There goes my favorite late-night read!]

[Huh? The original really was kind of twisted, wasn't it?]

[So what if we like a villainess lead? If you don't like it, don't read it!]

[Maybe the side character just felt too awkward to turn Hester down. She has been in love with the hero for eight years! She swore an oath in front of the Moon Goddess: she would live and die with him!]

So naive.

Sweet talk was just another kind of lie. Derek had never understood that. Hadn't these people figured it out either?

I was still marveling at their naivete when a she-wolf in an elaborate gold mermaid gown came storming in.

"Selena! What did you do to my mother!?"