Contract With The Alpha King by Brey Mitchylle

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Chapter 45

Zachariah Yelchin walked into his father's office. He barely had time to close the door behind him before Alpha Cris, his father, hurled a piece of paper at him. The paper hit Zachariah's chest and fell to the floor, but he didn't move to pick it up. He stood frozen, his confusion quickly turning to anger.

"What the hell is this?" his father growled, leaning forward in his chair, his eyes blazing with fury.

Zachariah frowned and glanced down at the paper, still lying between them. It was an invitation, with the royal crest stamped at the top. He bent down, picked it up, and read it. The King was hosting a ball to celebrate the completion of the first stage of the Rite of Kings. Confused, Zach looked at his father. Was his father angry because of the ball? What does this have to do with him?

"Father-I-"

Zachariah started, confused and unsure why his father was so furious.

Before he could finish, Alpha Cris suddenly threw the glass he was holding. Zach dodged it easily, watching it shatter against the wall behind him.

"Guess who else will be attending that ball?" Alpha Cris growled, his voice low and dangerous.

Zachariah froze, his mind racing. But it didn't take long for one name to pop into his head. Fiona.

His face twisted with anger as soon as the thought of her surfaced. "Fiona," he muttered, his voice barely audible.

Alpha Cris snorted, standing up from his chair. "That's right. She's hiding in the palace. She's working in the infirmary, playing the good little healer. And I have no doubt she'll be at that ball."

Zachariah clenched his fists, the muscles in his jaw tightening. "Why would she even be there? She's not a Royal. She's not the daughter of an Alpha. What business does she have attending something like that?"

Alpha Cris rolled his eyes, shaking his head in disbelief. "Are you stupid, boy?" he snapped. "Why do you think Prince Elijah was adamant about saving that woman? Do you really believe it was just because she can heal and is useful to him?"

assumed Elijah's interest in Fiona was purely political, maybe even strategic. But now, as he stood there under

"Prince Elijah has... some interest in Fiona?" He thought about the boring Fiona. The Fiona that would do everything that he asked her to. How could someone like that attract a Royal? Alpha Cris smirked, leaning back in his chair. "It's obvious, isn't it? Why else would a Prince go through

Fiona? It was something he hadn't considered before. But now that it was out there, the idea infuriated

Zachariah. That ball is your chance to show everyone-including Elijah-that you're not some washed-up, pathetic excuse of a future Alpha. Don't waste it." Zach's expression darkened further. Ever since his failed marriage, the other packs in Northern America had mocked him and his pack, questioning his position as the future Alpha. Many believed

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Chapter 45

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fool for marrying an omega just to prove he could father a child. The humiliation had driven him into a downward spiral, and in his eyes, Fiona was the root of it all. After a few more minutes of his father's scolding, Zachariah was finally

he entered his office, he immediately stopped, his mood souring even further. His new wife, Carrie, was sitting on the couch with a book in her hands. She looked up at him, her face pale but

are you doing here?" he snapped, not bothering to hide his irritation. "You were advised by the healers to rest. Your pregnancy is complicated. Why aren't you in

placing it on the table beside her. "I was feeling better today," she said softly, avoiding his gaze. "I didn't want

voice cold. "You

kept her composure. "I just needed a change of scenery," she said quietly. "I thought

wanted to do was have a conversation with her. Every time he looked at her, he was reminded of how desperate he'd been to prove himself after Fiona left. Marrying Carrie hadn't solved anything. It had only made him

line. "About the baby," she said, her hand moving to rest on her stomach. "I know things between us have been... difficult. But I

and trying to make things work, only fueled his anger. He didn't want this life. He didn't want her. Everything had gone wrong, and now he was stuck in a situation he

you want to help, listen to the healers

up slowly. "I'll go back to bed," she whispered. "I just wanted to feel... normal

nothing normal about this. You were Fiona's best friend, and you still spread your legs for me the moment

and he

bitterness.

this is a real marriage?" he continued, his tone cruel. This is just damage control. You're nothing more than a bandage I slapped on a wound. You're the joke that's keeping me from being an even bigger laughingstock. The only reason I married you is because I needed