~RAGNAR~
Bloody werewolves.
My fingers tap impatiently on the armchair of my seat as I watch the Alpha of Moonfang speak. All I want to do is wipe out all werewolves in existence, starting from this cunning and greedy Alpha Lawrence, who will stop at nothing to bring the Lycans down.
I want to kill him so badly for what he did to my family and my pack, but I think the plan I have to marry his most beloved daughter is a better one. None of them knows what I plan to do to her or with her.
"Your Highness," Alpha Lawrence begins with a slight bow of his head. "Surely, there are other ways to maintain our treaty. We've been paying our tributes without delay. We can increase the amount."
"I don't want your tributes anymore," I say coldly. "The only way we are not going into war again is the way I've proposed. A marriage of convenience, and that's final."
Before he can respond, the double doors of the courtroom sweep open and in comes his sobbing Luna and their beloved daughter.
Silence falls over the court as every eye turns to them. My fingers stop tapping immediately as my gaze falls on Alpha Lawrence's only daughter.
Three things strike me instantly: she is indeed beautiful as I've heard, she is the same girl I saw swimming alone in the river last night, and she has no wolf. My brows furrow as I watch them enter. Something is off, and I can smell it.
From what I gathered yesterday when I secretly snuck into their pack in disguise, she was celebrating her birthday last night. But she had also been at the river alone, swimming. Why would she leave an elaborate party thrown for her to go swim alone? My sharp eyes take in everything—her posture, which seems a little awkward despite the aura, and her sad eyes, as if she has been crying.
Her eyes scan the hall and find mine. I see recognition cross her face before confusion takes over, but I keep my face a cold mask. My gaze leaves the girl and settles on Alpha Lawrence. He takes his eyes away from me immediately, looking uncomfortable.
"Is this maiden here your only daughter?" I ask.
"Of course," Alpha Lawrence answers so quickly. "You can ask her yourself."
My gaze shifts to the girl. I see her chest rise and fall with the intake of breath. Then, she holds my eyes defiantly.
"I am Emily Thornclaw, the one and only daughter of my… Alpha Lawrence. I understand the price I'm paying and am willing to pay it."
"Good," I say dismissively, as if she does not matter. "Then, I don't see why this meeting still lingers."
Her mother bursts into uncontrollable and dramatic tears, falling to her knees and pleading with me to have mercy. For some reason, I feel she is not genuine. I exchange a glance with my Beta and best friend, Dray.
We've done our research on Alpha Lawrence's daughter, but we find it a little strange that she does not have a single picture online. Something is amiss, and I hate that I cannot put my hands on it.
Dray rises with the contract and hands it to Alpha Lawrence's beta, who hands it over to his Alpha. My eyes shift back to the girl. She tilts her chin up, refusing to cower under my gaze.
Of course, she is Alpha blood, and I see the hint of it in her proud eyes. Her defiance stirs a mix of feelings in me. Anger and something else, something I cannot name. I watch as she walks over to the other side, where her father and his council sit.
I'm sure I see a wince in her face, and her steps falter, even though she tries to walk as a proud princess. I hear she is a spoilt brat too. But all that is about to end after I'm done with her.
"It is done," Alpha Lawrence says after signing. "You can have my daughter for peace to reign."
My eyebrows knit together. For a man who grieves losing a direct heir to his throne to an enemy, he is too eager to sign.
"Dray," I call my Beta through the mind-link. "Something is fishy here. I don't think we should continue this until we find out what it is."
"Should I stop the process, Your Grace?" Dray replies.
But my beast stirs in disapproval. It surprises me. We Lycans do not find our mates just like the werewolves. We choose someone our beast agrees with and bond their soul to ours. Our emotion is our weakness; it is the goddess's curse on us.
She doesn't bless us with a fated mate; she makes us work for it, and if our soul bond does not reciprocate our feelings or betrays us, it is very dangerous. This is very dangerous ground I'm treading, but my need for vengeance will make me do anything.
"No, don't," I find myself saying. I can feel she is Alpha blood. But something is definitely fishy. That I know.
The goddess help Lawrence if he tries to deceive me.
"Give it to the girl to look at," I say finally. "I want her to understand the nature of what she has agreed to."
Alpha Lawrence hesitates, but he hands the contract to the girl. She takes it and her eyes scan the contract, then I see her face twist into anger.
"I'm not going to be a baby-making machine," she says sharply, her gaze snapping to mine.
"It says 'breeder' in the contract," I taunt.
"I can see that," she retorts.
"Su—Emily," her father calls to caution her. "Don't talk to the king like that."
I watch them as they stare at each other. I swear they are glaring. Then, her father's eyes soften, and he places a hand on her arm.
"Sweetheart, you have already agreed to this. Do you want to see our pack go to war again? Do you want to see your papa die?"