MasukMia's face was a study in confusion. Her brows were drawn together so tightly they nearly met in the middle, creating deep furrows across her forehead. Her mouth hung slightly open, lips moving soundlessly as if trying to form questions she couldn't quite articulate. Her eyes darted between Emilia and the two men flanking her, trying to piece together what was happening, how these strangers had come to Emilia's defense, and who they were.The confusion wasn't unique to Mia. It rippled through the entire ballroom like a wave. Guests who had managed to pull themselves to their feet stood swaying slightly, their faces reflecting the same bewilderment. Some rubbed at their eyes as if they could clear away what they were seeing and make it make sense. Others leaned toward their companions, whispering urgent questions that no one seemed able to answer.Alexander's expression mirrored the confusion around him, though his was tinged with something darker. His jaw was clenched tight, muscles j
Alexander tried his best to move his body toward the direction of the voice. His neck strained as he attempted to turn his head, muscles trembling with the effort. His feet tried to pivot, to shift his position so he could see who had spoken, but his body refused to fully cooperate. The command to kneel was still pulling at him, still trying to drag him down to the marble floor.Before he could manage more than a slight turn, another voice spoke up from the same general area."And I lent her some of mine too," the second voice said, carrying the same authority as the first but with a slightly different tone which was more cheerful than the first. At that moment, two men walked into view from the back of the ballroom. They moved side by side, their steps perfectly synchronized, weaving through the kneeling bodies with practiced ease. Mason and Julian walked toward the throne with their heads held high and their postures radiating confidence and power. They were both dressed impeccabl
The way Alexander said the words struck Emilia like a physical blow. There was something in his tone, something bitter and resentful, that made it sound like discovering she was the lycan princess was a bad thing. Not a revelation or a surprise or even something neutral, but something negative. Something that complicated his plans or threatened his ambitions.Emilia's eyes widened a bit as she zeroed in on him. She looked at Alexander properly for the first time since sitting on the throne, really studied his face. His expression was twisted with pain from resisting the command, yes, but there was something else there too. Something calculating in his eyes despite the physical agony he was enduring.And suddenly, like pieces of a puzzle clicking into place, Emilia remembered.It had been just a few days ago. Mason and Julian had asked to see the contract marriage document that Emilia had signed with Alexander four years ago. She'd retrieved it from where she'd kept it hidden all this
As soon as the words left Emilia's lips, something changed in the air. It was like an invisible wave had swept through the ballroom, a force so powerful and absolute that resistance seemed impossible. The power in Emilia's command wasn't a request or a suggestion. It was a fundamental law of reality that had to be obeyed.Each of the guests went to their knees one after the other, their bodies dropping like dominoes in a carefully arranged pattern. It started with those closest to the throne and rippled outward through the crowd. There was no grace in the movement, no dignity. They fell like puppets with their strings cut, like robots being controlled by a remote control device that had just been activated.The sounds of bodies hitting the marble floor filled the ballroom. Knees struck stone with dull thuds that echoed off the high ceilings. Expensive fabric rustled and tore as people collapsed in their formal wear. Several guests cried out in surprise or pain, the sound quickly muffl
"A human claiming royal blood?" Mia's voice cut through the silence like a knife.She laughed, the sound harsh and grating in the hushed ballroom. It was clear she was trying to overcome her shock, forcing the sound out even though it came out strangled and unnatural. "You've got to be shitting me," she added, raising her voice even louder.Mia turned in a slow circle, looking around at the other guests with wide eyes. She was searching for support, for someone else who would validate her disbelief, who would agree that this was all some elaborate trick or mistake. Her hands gestured wildly as she spoke, encompassing the throne and Emilia and the entire situation."How can a lowly human contaminate sacred grounds?" one of the other guests asked, his voice rising above the murmurs.He was a middle aged werewolf with salt and pepper hair and an expensive suit that marked him as someone of status. A frown had replaced the shock on his face, his brows drawing together as he stared at Emi
'It's not me he's worried about. It's his pack,' Emilia said to herself.The realization settled over her like cold water, dousing whatever small flicker of hope had tried to ignite in her chest. For a few seconds, she had let herself hope that the concern she had heard in his voice was out of love for her. That maybe, somewhere deep down, Alexander actually cared about what happened to her. That maybe the four years they'd spent together had meant something to him beyond a contract and convenience.But she was wrong. Yet again.Of course, he wasn't worried about her. He was worried about scandal. About his reputation. About what it would mean for the Redstone pack if his secret human wife died at a royal event. It was always about image with Alexander, about maintaining appearances and protecting his precious political ambitions.The disappointment was sharp but brief. Emilia had spent the past two weeks learning to let go of expectations where Alexander was concerned. She'd cried en







