Royal

The moment you’re about to slip into the hot bath, your mind is yanked awake by an urgent mind link. You could try to ignore it, but you know it’ll only give you a pounding headache. There are only a handful of people who can force their way into your mind, and one of them is your Alpha. Your fated partner is also among those with this power. And, as luck would have it, it's Alpha Chase reaching out.

You brace yourself and open your mind to receive the link. His voice crackles through your thoughts, terse and filled with an undeniable urgency. “All of us must meet at the castle. The new so-called king has called a meeting. Those who do not attend will be executed.”

Your heart lurches. The audacity. But before you can even respond, the door to your room slams open, and your mother bursts in, her face pale and tense.

“This is bad! How can he call a meeting during a heatwave?!” she nearly screams, pacing around the room in a panic.

“Mom, relax,” you try to soothe her, rubbing your temples. “I’m sure it’s just a formality. They’ll wrap it up fast.”

“You need to bathe—NOW,” she urges, already marching toward the bathroom. “We can't waste any time.”

You groan, glancing at the bathwater that’s waiting for you. “There's no time for that.”

“I don't care! You smell like sex, like a rogue! If you show up like that…” Her voice is sharp, her eyes frantic. “Who knows what could happen? You can’t risk it!”

Before you can protest, she shoves you toward the bathroom. “Get in. I’ll get your clothes ready. You’ll meet us at the castle.”

“Don’t wait for me, Mom,” you say, closing the bathroom door with a firm click.

But the moment the door is shut, another mind link flares up, more demanding this time. "Move it. Get to the castle. NOW."

You mutter a curse under your breath. You rip off your favorite jacket, thinking of how you'd left your tailored one in Henry’s office. You can't go without it.

Then, halfway through pulling on your crop top, a thought flickers. What the hell am I thinking?

You tear off the crop top, throw it aside, and search for something else. Your eyes land on a black T-shirt, and you throw it over your head, followed by your jacket.

As you start to leave, an unexpected voice in your mind makes you pause. You should put on underwear, trust me on this one.

Rolling your eyes at your own foolishness, you snatch some pants and get dressed as fast as possible. But there’s no time to waste. The pressure from Alpha Chase's command forces you to move faster. You grab your clothes, bundle them up, and shift into wolf form, taking off in a blur.

‘Okay, okay, I’m on my way!’ you mind link back, teeth clenched as you run through the woods, the scent of your pack still fresh in your nose.

Your mother’s panicked mind link hits you next. “Honey, hurry! They’re waiting, it’s bad! They’re all waiting!”

Tell them to wait! I’m coming! you respond, still running at full speed. As you close the distance to the castle, you pull your clothes back on, already aware of the looming danger.

When you reach the castle, you skid to a halt, not bothering to announce your arrival. Your eyes immediately lock onto the chaos unfolding. You see Alpha Chase kneeling, his head bowed, the flickering lights of torches casting shadows over his tense form. The smell of blood hangs thick in the air.

They’re going to kill him…

Without a second thought, you storm through the doors, your entrance loud enough to make the whole room freeze. You don’t care. Not now.

“No! Take me instead!” you scream, throwing yourself in front of your father.

“No!” Your mother cries out, but the rogues are already holding her back, their grip strong as they try to keep her from interfering.

You can see the panic in her eyes. She could stop them with her royal authority, but would she risk your life to do so? The question gnaws at you as you throw yourself between your father and the blade.

A rogue grabs you by the arm and wrenches you away from your father, and that’s when it hits you—the scent of your fated mate. It’s faint, barely noticeable in the whirlwind of emotions, but it’s there.

Will they forgive me for being late when they realize I’m one of them? You wonder, the thought making your stomach tighten with anxiety. Am I one of them now?

“Stop,” a voice barks from the shadows, cold and authoritative, stopping the rogues in their tracks. “Release him.”

You almost collapse with relief as the pressure around your chest eases. Your mother rushes forward, practically throwing herself into your father’s arms, both of them overwhelmed with relief.

Thank goodness… you hear her silent thoughts. She’s about to use all her royal leverage to save your father. She was willing to do anything.

A rogue’s voice breaks through the silence. “One of you fated to our king. Step forward.”

You flinch. The king?

Suddenly, everything makes sense, and nothing makes sense at the same time. So, at least he’s not really the king? I’m just an Omega, and he can only mate with someone of his own rank. That’s why they’ll kill Alpha Chase if I don’t show up.

Your thoughts race, but the rogue’s voice rings out again, demanding more. “All unmated females, strip down to your underwear!”

Your blood runs cold as you watch the women in your pack comply. One by one, they peel off their clothes, and your eyes flick to your mother. She’s trembling with the same fear you feel.

I fated with that man who took me earlier.

Strip. They can’t know you have royal blood in you, your mother’s urgent mind link hits you.

How will they know it’s me? Royal blood?

Your mind spirals as you try to make sense of everything. But your mother’s command comes again, more desperate this time. He demanded this. They aren’t stripping because they want to. If you don’t, they’ll know. You’re his fated mate. He might kill you for your royal blood.

Royal blood? you echo in disbelief.

Just start undressing, please. I will explain later, she begs.

You hesitate, but when you strip off your jacket and let it fall to the ground, you feel his gaze on you. I’m not wearing any underwear, you mind link back to your mother, feeling the weight of the situation crash down.

The men avert their eyes as Alpha Chase orders them, and yet, you can’t help but feel exposed. The rogue’s voice sneers at you. “Did you have a good time during the heatwave?”

“A very good time,” you respond, your voice cool and unafraid, despite the nerves that pulse through you.

You don’t know why you feel so fearless, but the raw power emanating from the rogue before you only fuels your defiance.