The Mad Alpha's Substitute Bride

(DARIAN)

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 had not had 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 humiliate the family, and nobody would ever question her legitimacy."

"Your daughter is a bully. I’m not going to mate with 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.