Rejected by the Alpha, Claimed by his Brother

She sighed like I was being a petulant child who refused to eat his vegetables. "Look, I understand. Truly. Rosa is difficult—vain, selfish, and manipulative. But this wedding isn’t about love, Axel. It’s about duty. Alliances. Survival. You think every Alpha here came to celebrate your union? No. They’re here to test our strength."

Argh! How the fuck was any of that my business?!

"I don’t care about the others," I snarled. "Let them test us. Let them see what I’ll do if they try anything."

My mother walked to the window, parting the curtains and peering out. "Then pull yourself together. Because right now, you look like a wounded pup licking its ego."

I stood from the bed, finally. My body was stiff, and my muscles were aching. "I need time."

She turned to face me again. "You have until tomorrow."

I met her eyes. "I’m serious. I need space. I need... to clear my head."

She paused, then nodded, smoothing down the front of her elegant navy gown. "Fine. But the maids will be in shortly to drop off your suit. It’s custom-made. Italian fabric. Tailored to perfection."

"How lucky I am."

She walked to the door, then paused, hand on the knob. "All you need to do tomorrow is show up. Stand beside Rosa. Smile at the guests. You don’t even need to speak much."

Then, she left, the door clicking shut behind her.