The Alpha’s Cursed Queen (Eternal Oath Saga #1)

Chapter 7

Darian

The look of shock on Alice’s face makes me want to chortle.

I’m not surprised by the quick flash of anger that follows. I had anticipated that. I’m sure I’m going to get an earful later on.

My father leans toward me as I sit down next to him. “Is that the young lady you can’t seem to stop jabbering on about?”

“Pretty, isn’t she?”

My father sighs. “If it were looks you were going for, I’m sure you could have found more beautiful women. But I guess it was more than just that.”

“The fates chose her for me, Father. She’s the perfect fit for me.”

My father’s health has begun to decline in the past decade. My mother died during childbirth, and while my father has not been the most affectionate of parents, he hasn’t been completely neglectful. I see him watching Alice, a wistful look in his eyes.

“What is it?”

He’s silent, as if thinking something over, and when he speaks, his voice is tired and filled with a heavy grief. “She reminds me of Freya.”

“My mother?” I look at Alice, surprised.

I’ve never seen any pictures of my mother. After her death, my father destroyed all her portraits, not only in the palace but in the entire Wolf Kingdom. The loss of his fated mate was too much for him to bear. But he never resented me for it. Any mention of Queen Freya was banned within the Wolf Kingdom. It’s almost as if she ceased to exist, even in memory, after her death. So, to hear my father mention her is nothing short of a jolt to me.

He seems to realize the slip of his tongue and clears his throat. “You’re not going to introduce your fated mate to your father?”

I get to my feet, unable to hide my smile. “Of course.”

Since the main event is now over and everybody is mingling, I make my way toward where Alice is standing with her friend, still looking shell-shocked. As soon as our eyes meet, hers turn wide as saucers, and she turns around and walks away.

I sigh.

Of course. Why does this not surprise me?

The ballroom opens up to multiple terraces where couples can step away to get some privacy. It’s in one of these spaces where I find Alice. She’s standing in a corner, her face pale.

“Room for one more?” I ask, closing the terrace doors behind me.

She doesn’t say anything, just stares at me.

“You know, you can talk to me.” I sit down on the bench in front of Alice, gazing up at her. “I don’t bite. At least, not yet.” She presses her lips together, and I continue. “You can get mad at me. I know you want to.”

“I wouldn’t want to offend His Highness.” Her words are sharp, and I try to hide my smile.

She’s angry, alright.

“I would have told you,” I begin, struggling to hide my amusement, “but you wouldn’t have gone out with me if I had.”

“That’s not tr—”

“Oh, you know it is.” I cross my arms over my chest. “You were planning to hide out in the human world, away from wolf society. I would have ruined your plans.”

“You did ruin my plans.” She makes a face, rubbing her arms.

“Alice.” I get to my feet as the music starts to play inside. Taking her hand in mine, I pull her gently toward me. “Let’s dance.”

“I don’t want to.”

“Well, I want to dance with my mate,” I inform her, sweeping her off her feet, into the air, and twirling her around. Her startled gasp fills me with delight. Lowering her back down till her feet touch the marble floor of the terrace, I breathe, “From the moment I laid eyes on you, I felt something, and that something just kept growing with each meeting. The more you tried to push me away, the more certain I was of this feeling. I wasn’t surprised by our fated bond. In fact, you could almost say that I have been expecting it.”

I feel a surge of happiness when her eyes sparkle with emotion. She looks away as if overwhelmed. “You have far more faith in me than I do. I didn’t even know it was possible for me to have a fated mate.”

“Why not?” I ask, puzzled. “Every wolf shifter has a fated mate out there. Why should you be any different?”

“Because—” She pauses, searching my eyes. Suddenly, she pulls away from me in an abrupt movement, realization forming in her expression. Her voice is shaking as she whispers, “You didn’t check, did you?”

I hadn’t expected her to figure it out so late. To be honest, I never had any intention of doing research on her. I found her address by following her scent. It wasn’t hard.

I try to move toward her but she recoils, horror in her eyes. “You never looked me up. All this time, I thought you knew.”

“Knew what?” I demand, feeling frustrated now. “What is so horrible that it could matter at this point? We are fated mates, Alice! What is it?”

“I—”

She’s about to say something when the terrace doors swing open and Jimmy hurries outside. “The king isn’t feeling well. He wants you.”

I take Alice’s hand in mine but my second-in-command shakes his head, stopping me.

“Alone.”

There’s something in his tone that has warning bells going off in my head. “My father wanted to meet Alice.”

“I think it would be better for you to go by yourself, Your Highness.”

Jimmy’s strained voice has me pausing. I look at him, and after a second, I say, “Take Alice to her suite and make sure nobody tries to gain access to her.”

Alice balks. “Wait, what? Why are you—” She’s staring at Jimmy now. “You’re the driver from before. Darian, what is—”

“It’s for your own safety, Alice,” I say distractedly. “Go with Jimmy while I tend to my father.”

I hurry away, leaving her in the safe hands of my friend.

My father is nowhere to be seen in the ballroom. However, his attendant, Lucius, is waiting for me.

“His Majesty is in his study. He’s requesting your presence.”

I stop in my tracks to look at the man. “I was told he has taken ill.”

Lucius’s upper lip curls in disgust, but his expression remains blank. My father’s attendant has never liked me. The man is a professional, though. He hides his dislike for me quite well, but I have spent enough time with him to be able to read his small tells. Lucius looks down on me for some reason. I’ve never understood it since I have been the perfect crown prince, never neglecting my duties and always looking after my father.

“His Majesty is upset, Prince Darian. He asked me to send you to his study.”

When he begins guiding me, I scowl, walking faster. “I know the way, Lucius.”

I don’t understand what could have happened in the span of just a few minutes that my father has decided to retreat to his study and summon me. But judging from the expression I saw on Jimmy’s face, it can’t be anything good.

Reaching the study, I knock on the door, and my father calls out to enter.

To my surprise, he’s not alone. And the person standing in the room is not someone I expected to see here, especially during the mating gathering.

It’s the beta of Alice’s pack.

The man looks smug, one corner of his lips curled upward. I don’t bother to greet him, walking over to my father instead. “Is everything alright?”

My father has a grave look on his face. “You know Thomas. He’s the beta of the Moonlight Pack. They are a very important pack—”

“I’m well aware who he is,” I cut my father off abruptly, my tone dismissive. “I’ve been very interested in Thomas’s actions lately.”

To my satisfaction, the beta’s smirk fades at my threatening words.

My father raises a brow but doesn’t ask me what I mean. Instead, he says, “Thomas just told me that your fated mate is not suitable for you. In fact, she’s not suitable for the royal family.”

My jaw clenches, and I give Thomas a hard smile. “Is that so? And why would that be?”

“Alice Lane, Your Highness, has no wolf spirit.” Thomas almost sounds gleeful.

Of all the things I thought I might hear, this was not it.

“No wolf spirit? How is that—”

Suddenly, everything Alice has said to me makes sense. No wonder she was so shocked that I wanted to pursue her. The fragile hope and happiness in her eyes, clouded with a layer of doubt, take on a whole new meaning now. And then, the horror in her voice when she confronted me on the terrace.

My heart sinks. This is what she wanted me to find out.

I can’t blame her. Without saying it out loud, she hinted at it from our first meeting. She even asked me to look her up in the registry. If I had done so, I would not be standing here, shocked by Thomas’s revelation.

Anger sears through me as I glare at the man. “If she doesn’t have a wolf spirit,” I begin, forcing my voice to be even, “how does she have a fated mate bond with me?”

Thomas is clearly taken aback by my question, and my father turns his attention toward the beta. “My son has a point.”

“It’s not unheard of for shifters without a wolf spirit to form fated bonds,” Thomas says quickly. “It’s not common knowledge, Sire, but it has happened. Those bonds are hollow. Without a wolf spirit to support that bond—”

“I began to pursue Alice long before the mating gathering,” I reveal. “My wolf felt a connection to her. That would not have been possible if she did not have a wolf spirit.”

Thomas’s expression tightens. “Her parents abandoned her in our pack when she was an infant. She has never once shown any sign of having a wolf spirit. I think your feelings for her are affecting your judgment, Your Highness. She is not suited to sit by your side. There are far better options out there—”

My body locks up with rage. “And I suppose your daughter is on that list of ‘far better’ candidates?”

He flushes. “Willow has been taught from a young age that she is to be a Luna. She has pure blood, unlike Alice, whose birth origins are unknown. Her parents threw her away because she was defective. How can a girl like that rule the Wolf Kingdom alongside you? Willow, on the other hand, has been educated in all fields of life. She knows how to carry herself, how to mingle with nobility. She would be a good addition to the royal family. She would never bring shame upon the family, and nobody would ever question her legitimacy.”

“Your daughter is a bully. I’m not going mate a woman who likes to torture others.”

Thomas bristles. “Whatever Alice told you is a lie! Willow has never—”

“Did I say Alice said anything?” I sneer. “She hasn’t mentioned Willow or you. It’s interesting that you immediately thought Alice must have revealed something about your daughter’s questionable behavior. I was referring to how she acted that evening in the restaurant, but I think I’m going to have to question my fated mate about Willow’s interactions with her.”

“Your Majesty!” Thomas looks toward my father, aggrieved. “I was simply trying to guide the crown prince into not making a mistake. He’s insulting my daughter now. You have met her; she is nothing like what he is claiming. Alice Lane is a troublemaker. She will forever taint the bloodline of the royal family—”

I see my father’s expression flicker before he holds up a hand. “You said you wanted to discuss something with me, Thomas. I’ve heard what you had to say. You can leave now.”

Thomas takes a step forward. “But Sire—”

In the blink of an eye, I draw out my sword and press it against the beta’s neck. He freezes.

Wolf shifters don’t need weapons, but the royal family is a stickler for tradition. I can fight with a sword as well as I can fight with my body.

“You can leave now,” I say coldly. “My father has spoken.”

“Lower your sword, Darian.” My father gives me a displeased look. “Thomas, please go. I wish to have a word with my son.”

Without another look at us, Thomas walks out. The door closes behind him, and I sheathe my sword. “I’m not mating his daughter. Before you say anything, know that that’s not going to happen. I don’t like her.”

“She’s quite beautiful.” My father leans back in his chair, studying me.

“You always preach to me about fairness.” I give him a heavy look. “That woman is ambitious, and she has a cruel streak. How can I even consider—”

“You could keep her in check. A Luna, even if she is the queen, isn’t going to build any power unless you give it to her.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose. “You keep forgetting the small matter of me already having a fated mate, Father. I care about this girl. You don’t know the kind of life she has been forced to lead in the Moonlight Pack. Why would I choose somebody else when I already have her?”

“Is it true that she doesn’t have a wolf spirit?” my father asks.

I take my time in answering, and he sighs. Dismay pierces me. I know that sigh. I’ve heard it plenty of times before.

“Next time, if Thomas says something you don’t like, pointing a sword at him isn’t the way to deal with it. You will be sitting in my seat soon enough, son. The Moonlight Pack is very important, and its beta holds a high position within the Wolf Kingdom. Do not make an enemy of him.”

“He tortured the woman who is my fated mate!” I burst out. “He and his daughter have constantly abused her, hurt her—”

My father’s brows knit together. “Be that as it may, Thomas has the potential to become a dangerous enemy. From the look of him, he’s a quiet man, handling the affairs of the pack to assist his alpha. But if he wanted to, he could divide the pack in two. He has been amassing far too much power. We need to rein him in. Having him as a father-in-law would be beneficial to you.”

I start. “But Alice—”

“If your fated mate does not have a wolf spirit, Thomas is right: the Wolf Kingdom will not accept her. And he will go the extra mile to ensure it.”

“Father, I’ve felt something with her. How do you explain the connection we shared before the mating gathering? Are you going to force me to walk away from my fated mate simply because you want to keep an eye on Thomas?”

My father falls silent at my accusation. “I will send someone to examine her. But son, without a wolf spirit, Alice will not be suitable as queen. I know you have reservations about Thomas, but his daughter is a good candidate. And it is not unheard of to take a fated mate as a mistress.”

I stare at him. “You want me to go to my fated mate and tell her to stay with me as someone who will simply warm my bed? While I take the woman who has abused her as my queen?”

“Sacrifices have to be made for the good of the kingdom,” my father says heavily. “Your woman should understand.”

“And what if I refuse?”

I rarely see my father angry, but his eyes now flash at me. “This is an order. You are not to take Alice Lane as your mate.”

“According to the laws of the Wolf Kingdom, the only person who has the right to reject a fated mate is the other fated mate. She’s not your mate, she’s mine. And I refuse to reject her.”

“You are being foolish!” My father slams his hands down on his desk and gets to his feet. “The good of the kingdom comes before your personal feelings!”

I shake my head. “You’re asking me to do this, to tear out my heart and throw away my fated mate, as a political gesture?”

“There’s no need to be dramatic.” My father scowls. “I told you, keep the girl as your mistress. If she truly loves you, she’ll be more than willing to become your bedmate. And Thomas’s daughter is the ideal candidate for queen. I have met with her several times now—”

The moment he says this, he freezes.

“Thomas brought her to the palace a couple of times, and I met her in passing…” he begins to backtrack, but it is too late.

I stare at him. “Have you been planning all along to mate me off to Willow?”

“Once again with your theatrics!” He sounds furious now.

I look at the king, bitterness filling my mouth. I’ve never enjoyed a particularly close relationship with my father. In the eyes of the world, he has been an attentive parent, but I’ve always felt that something was missing. To reject a fated mate is no small thing, and for my father to ask me to make such a sacrifice when my own wolf is not willing is beyond cruel.

“Whatever you’ve decided for me, I’m not going to do it.” My voice is harsh. “Whatever deal you have struck with Thomas Elvin, you can call it off. I’m not going to participate. If you think Willow will make such an excellent queen, why don’t you take her as your own mate? After all, my mother has been dead for years now—”

“Enough!” my father roars. “Do not forget who you are speaking to! I am your king!”

I stare at him as he begins to cough violently. My jaw tense, I move forward when he slumps into his chair, but Lucius has already rushed into the study, almost as if he had been waiting outside, his ear against the door.

“Sire!” He pushes me aside and rushes toward my father, his voice stricken. “Call the royal healer!” I hear the footsteps of the guards running in the corridor as Lucius glares at me, unable to hide his emotions. “What did you do?!”

“Nothing,” I reply coldly, still reeling from my father’s actions. “He overexerted himself. Take him to his chambers. Send the royal healer there.”

Lucius tosses me a hateful look, and as he helps my father past me, I murmur, “You seem to be forgetting your place, Lucius. Don’t ever use such an accusatory tone with me again.”

My father’s loyal attendant stiffens. “I–I apologize, Your Highness.”

I watch him leave, feeling hollow inside. I may be warm and carefree around Alice, but that is a side of me only she is privy to. I am still the crown prince of the Wolf Kingdom. My father has always taught me to be ruthless in my dealings.

I stare blankly at the desk. The truth is that my father is merely a figurehead now; he has handed over the affairs of the kingdom to me. I have more power than he does, but because I love him, I still let him do as he pleases. All my childhood, I craved his affection. I worked hard, produced excellent results, and became the perfect heir. But it was never enough for him.

I take a few steps forward, lean into his cabinet, and take out a bottle of whiskey. He was never happy with me. It is only lately, when he started to grow sicker, that he began to lean on me. I had thought that we were growing closer, but at the end of the day, he still put his status as king before my needs.

I am his subject before I am his son.

I sit down in his chair and take a gulp of the whiskey, letting it burn my throat.

He has been planning to sell me off. That is the only way I can see the situation. Forcing me to mate Willow and walk away from my fated mate is something he never even should have considered. Sure, there are shifters who reject their fated mates, but those cases are rare, and most of the time it’s because the shifter already has someone they are interested in, and they’re able to resist the lure of the fated mate bond. In other cases, this simply don’t feel any attraction to their fated mate.

The royal family has always chosen to be with their fated mates. If it hadn’t been for my father’s declining health, he would not have suggested that I simply choose any suitable female this year. I now realize his intention has always been to push Willow on me.

I take another chug from the bottle.

I wish I could feel angry at Alice, but since our first meeting, she has been completely resistant to me. What am I supposed to tell her? That I have to be with the woman who hates her? I can only imagine what she will say if I tell her she can still be my mistress. She has pride in spades. She’ll probably spit in my face.

My lips curve at the thought, despite my hurting heat. Even if the image is an unsightly one, my wolf feels proud of how fiery a mate it has chosen.

I drain the bottle of whiskey, getting progressively drunker. I wonder why my wolf is not turned off by the fact that Alice has no wolf spirit. My wolf is pleased with her; I can feel his happiness inside me.

I have no intention of filling Alice in on any of this. She doesn’t need to know that my father doesn’t want her in the royal family. The king will have no say in whom I take as my mate. It’s my decision.

I’m glad I told Jimmy to take her to her suite. I shudder at the thought of how Thomas and his daughter might have cornered her. But how do I protect Alice from my father? He’s not going to sit still while I court her over the next couple of days. I know him well enough to know that he always gets his way.

I am going to have to figure out how to keep my father from having access to Alice. That is not going to be an easy feat considering he is the king and has eyes and ears everywhere. Leaning my head back in his chair, I look at the ceiling, my inside churning.

The truth is that, if I were to put my feelings aside, I know that as the prince of the Wolf Kingdom, choosing a mate with no wolf spirit is a bad idea. It could potentially cause unrest within the kingdom, and I have a feeling that Thomas and my father would make sure that happens.

I simply have to decide whether I am willing to face that and put Alice through it all. If she stays with me, her life is going to be the furthest thing from easy. And yet, I don’t want to walk away from her. Even if I didn’t dislike Willow because of what she has done to Alice, there’s something about the blonde girl that rubs me the wrong way.

I reach for the other bottle under my father’s desk. I don’t normally drink like this, but tonight, I feel the urge to seek some sort of comfort. I don’t trust myself to go to Alice. I don’t know what to say to her that won’t crush the happiness in her eyes, the happiness she had been struggling to hide. My mate has a tough exterior, but her heart is soft. I don’t want to break it.

I need to warn her of my father’s intentions, though. And I have to keep Thomas away from her.

I take a chug from the bottle, sighing heavily.

It’s typical of my father to ruin my mood. I don’t know why I expected things to be any different today.

Getting to my feet, I walk over to the window and look outside, my heart heavy.

I’ll have to make a decision soon.

Obey my father as I have always done, or choose the woman whom the fates have decreed for me.