“I’m not running away. I’m moving on.”

Irvine Welsh

It wasn’t the first time someone had referred to me by that title, but coming from Alessia’s mouth, it made me feel like even more of an imposter. It didn’t fit – I knew it, and given the amused expression on Alessia’s face, she knew it too.

“We could just go inside and talk, you know,” I said, taking her jacket, “That way, nobody has to stand out here with no jacket.” Although it still couldn’t compare to the Canadian cold, the jacket definitely helped me tolerate the freezing night.

Alessia rolled her eyes. “Please, there are guards everywhere,” she said, “You want the entire castle to hear our conversation?”

“Definitely not.”

“That’s what I thought,” she said, and then she gave me a teasing smile, “So, your Queen now, huh?” (3

“I’m surprised you heard,” I told her, “I didn’t see you at the meeting earlier.”

It was weird to think the meeting had only been a handful of hours ago it felt

more like months.

“Oh, yeah,” she shrugged, “I didn’t feel like going. A room full of territorial Alphas fighting over a pack dispute? No thanks. But the castle has been in an uproar given all the drama, I kinda wish I wouldn’t have missed it.”

“By drama,” I said dryly, “You mean Griffin recognizing me as his mate and then killing his father in the span of five minutes? I don’t know if I’d classify that as

drama.”

I guess so,” she chuckled, “So, how does it feel?”

“How does what feel?” I asked.

“Being Queen, being the mate of the Alpha King – whatever you want to call it. Had I known you were going to be such a big deal when we talked last night, I would’ve kissed your ass more.”

I couldn’t stop the laugh from bubbling up. Although I didn’t know Alessia well at all, something about her was comforting. She wasn’t someone to be trifled with the scar on her face proved that but she wasn’t fake either. She wasn’t afraid to tell me the truth, and in turn, it made me feel like I could be honest with her.

“You want the truth?” I asked her, leaning against the balcony.

She nodded.

“I can’t tell what’s coming from me and what’s coming from this stupid mate bond,” I confessed, “When Griffin recognized me as his mate, I was horrified. I know mates are supposed to be a good thing, and for werewolves, I’m sure they are. But I had a life, things I wanted to do…like go to college.”

the King for the rest of your life,”

will.”

him…but I can’t. This mate bond or

I’m around

that I would know from firsthand experience or anything, but that’s usually how those things

it.”

time around him, I’m going to forget about everything else going to college, seeing my family, doing normal human things. I’m worried I’m going to lose myself. I’ve seen mated couples before. They pretty much revolve around each other and that’s it. But it’s not like I

same teasing smile, “I mean, by yourself sure. You don’t stand a chance of getting

know how to

which you don’t, I’m

screwed. The only other way you’re getting out of here

to at least realize I couldn’t navigate the forest on my own. I regularly got lost on the way to school, there was no way I’d make it through a thick Canadian forest alone. If I didn’t die of

chance was hitching a ride with someone

who wouldn’t immediately find me and report me to Griffin. Someone I could reasonably trust

Someone like Alessia.

I said, “I know we don’t know each other very well but you could be my

I could

me like I’d grown three

crazy?” She hissed, “I wasn’t trying to give you ideas,

this book on n𝘰𝚟el5s.com, you might be missing out on the complete story. Head over there to dive

sure my head would end up on the floor like the former Alpha King’s did

out.

told her. Suddenly, the gears in my head were

is through. “You would just have to smuggle me out

do you suggest I smuggle you out? You’re the literal Queen,” she

crossing her arms.

1

I said, “Some people know about me…but it’s unreasonable

word has spread that far. You could just say I’m part of your pack one of your warriors sent to protect you. Once we make it onto that plane, you’re home

that?” she asked, “My pack is in

California.

live as far as I knew. It’s not like I had a

family in California. I just need you to get me

sympathize with you, girl – I do. I wouldn’t want to be in your position, and normally, I’d

a big risk. for her, and it’s not like I had much to

on my

she suddenly asked. She sniffed the air with her

“What do you mean?”

me, nostrils flared. “It’s the same scent I caught last night – it’s coming from you but it’s not actually you. God, it smells so good. It smells like

eyes gleamed in

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