Chapter 48 - My Omega Queen

POV: Grace

“Let’s go break our mate free.” Raksha’s voice echoed confidently in my head as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

My muscles tensed, and my gaze shifted towards the nearest window. But then, laughter erupted from within me. Initially a subdued chuckle, it soon escalated into uncontrollable laughter, forcing me to clutch my belly due to the ache.

“What’s wrong with you?!” Raksha growled, “Our mate is deprived of his freedom, cuffed in silver and goddess knows if he’s tortured!” She paced anxiously, “How can you just sit by and laugh, Grace?!”

Her concerned tone only fueled my brief bout of madness, my laughter potentially echoing throughout the entire building.

Finally regaining some composure, I managed to respond, still interspersing my words with sporadic chuckles and wiping away tears. "Break Zain Free?" I retorted mockingly. "Raksha, we're the only daughter of the King, the heir to his kingdom. Zain is our mate." I paused, allowing her to connect the dots herself. Yet, Raksha remained too agitated to piece it together, prompting me to press on. "Raksha, let me lay it out plainly. Zain is the most untouchable rogue this pack has ever known. Father might be furious, frustrated, or... whatever he's feeling right now, due to this unexpected twist. But ultimately, he cannot do batsh*t. Do you genuinely believe that our father would kill the fated mate of his heir, regardless of lineage?"

After my statement, Raksha took a step back, her expression pensive.

With my fit of laughter subsided, I concluded my plea, "He won't take drastic measures. Once Dad returns and settles down, I'm confident he'll allow us to see Zain and sort this out."

However, even as I spoke these words, a trace of uncertainty lingered within me.

"That better be the case, Grace," Raksha warned, her tone carrying a threat. "Otherwise, I might just have to demonstrate to the big King how rebellious a daughter can truly be. With or without your help."

I rose from where I had settled and made my way to the bed, lying down and waiting for a sign. Attempting to contact anyone from the outside seemed futile; whenever I was grounded by Dad, everyone else received strict orders not to talk with me. I suppose being the Alpha King's daughter came with its share of advantages and drawbacks.

I tossed and turned for what felt like an eternity, sleep evading me. By this time, the sun had disappeared, replaced by the faint glow of a waxing moon. My body jolted awake as agitated sounds emanated from just beyond my window. Hastily pushing aside my blanket, I hurried to the window to peer outside and witness the commotion.

It seemed that the agitated sounds were those of the Silver Fangs pack’s Alpha and his Luna that greeted my Father upon his return.

Even though my father’s anger was no longer rolling off of him, I could still tell by the way he held his shoulders and the stride of his steps, that he returned determined. He had made a decision.

The three of them and their guarding warriors went inside the building, where I lost sight of them. My heart thumped with fervor in my chest as I paced throughout the room, waiting to be summoned any second.

My father was my idol, my hero, my model in life. His role was difficult, always balancing the lives of others. Yet, I could always trust my father to make a good judgment call.

Seconds turned into minutes and minutes turned into hours, and I was still anxiously waiting by the foot of the bed. No matter how much I had tried to eavesdrop, no sound was audible through the doors. Then it clicked. Of course I couldn’t hear anything. This room had seemed glamorous, just like a Luna suite. Because it was a Luna suite! A glamorous, soundproofed Luna suite.

Sh*t.

Just as I punched a hole into the wall out of frustration, the door beside it opened with a click. Jason, the Silver Fangs’ Alpha’s second son, came into view and his face contorted into a surprised expression.

I quickly withdrew my hand, crumbles of the wall falling to the ground.

Jason barely contained a chuckle before he cleared his throat and said, “The King has requested your audience.”

A warm flush spreads across my cheeks, prompting a simple nod of acknowledgment. Following Jason down the hallway, I maintain a hushed silence until we come to a halt in front of an imposing mason door.

"Typical Alpha office door," I muse inwardly, a gulp of air slipping down my throat, carrying with it a wish to consume my fears and anxieties in a similar manner.

Jason opens the door, revealing an expansive room filled with significant figures. A long table dominates the space, and at its head sits my father, his fingers elegantly intertwined. Amanda's presence at his side surprises me, although not as much as the absence of my mother.

The Alpha, Luna, and Beta of the Silver Fangs pack are also in attendance, their gazes converging on me. The door behind me clicks shut, and I sense Jason's lingering presence. Adjusting my stance slightly, I stand tall, ready to face my father.

"There's nothing to fear. My father would never harm me," I repeat to myself like a mantra.

“Grace,” my Father spoke and the room listened, as always, “You are, and will always be my little girl. However, your mating to this repulsive rogue is utmost undesired and unfortunate. It was most certainly a mistake on the Moon Goddess’ part. Hence, we have decided that it would be most beneficial for everyone present that you take Leonard’s boy,” He gestures toward Jason behind me, “as your chosen mate.”

My mouth drops open and I remain like that for a moment, frozen and bewildered. A mistake? Who is this person talking to me?

I feel Jason’s shadow behind me and a sudden urge to distance myself from him takes over me.

Technically, since Zain has not marked me yet, Jason could forcefully mark me and Raksha, forcing a bond over us. However, this would mean that Zain’s part of the bond would remain intact. It would mean… he would feel everything; starting from Raksha’s feelings of anger, powerlessness, sadness, to the moment we would mate. Over, and over again. This would be worse than torture.

Raksha’s anger rolls off of me, sending shivers down my body. I do my best to reign her in, putting up a mental wall between us. The last thing I want is for her to question the King’s authority in front of another Alpha. After all, no matter how he stated it, his sentence was an order. A King’s command.

However, I can't suppress the question that's been plaguing me since the moment I entered the room. "Where's Mom?" I inquire, unable to let it go.

There's no logical reason for her to be absent during a conversation of this magnitude… unless she's unaware of it.

"She was tired, so she retired to our chambers to rest," my father responds with an unwavering expression, although I can see right through him.

I offer a nod in acknowledgment.

My blood goes cold at the way my father is behaving. A part of me fights to believe that this is actually happening, yet my other side struggles to maintain a straight face while I plead my case, “Father, I must highlight that Raksha has already confirmed her bond with the rogue. Based on my knowledge, taking a chosen mate at this stage would mean that Raksha will never meet her full potential, eventually even weakening in strength due to such a trauma.”

My father’s eye twitches and he exchanges thoughtful glances with Amanda before returning to me, “That’s a risk we’ll have to take. Jason is a strong lad; once he ascends the throne, his wolf's prowess will compensate".

Out of the corner of my eye, I catch a glimpse of the Silver Fangs pack's Alpha, who proudly tilts his chin forward, perhaps already envisioning himself as an Elder under the King's reign.

Numerous comebacks and retorts bubble up, ready to escape my tongue, but I clamp down on my cheek until the taste of iron floods my mouth, stifling the words' formation. Instead, I offer a soft, obedient smile, akin to that of a dutiful daughter, and inquire, "Certainly. When is the ceremony scheduled?"

My father's gaze sweeps around the table before returning my smile. "I must admit, I anticipated a more ardent resistance from Raksha. It warms my heart to see that you've gained better control over your wolf since the earlier incident," he remarks with pride.

Rising to his feet, my father's expression radiates confidence. "I see no reason for delay. Let's hold the ceremony tomorrow, during the Mating Season feast. It'll add to the celebration."

Everyone at the table voices their agreement.

As turmoil simmers within me, I ponder, "Will my mother discover this alongside the others?" Despite the boiling feelings churning inside, letting them out here is not the smart play. So, I maintain my smile and jest, "Sounds perfect. May I retire to my chambers now? I'll need my beauty sleep before this joyous occasion."

"Of course! Sleep well, Grace," my father replies, brimming with excitement.

"I'll escort you to your room," Jason's deep voice interjects from beside me, uncomfortably close for my liking.

Just before I instinctively pull away, I manage to halt myself. "Oh, thank you, but really, there's no need. I'm quite capable of finding my way."

His insistence follows promptly. "I insist."

This time, the certainty that I wouldn't be able to contain my anger or prevent Raksha from emerging if I spoke was crystal clear. Therefore, I opted for a simple nod, allowing Jason to guide me to the room-that-was-definitely-a-Luna-suite.

When we arrived, I stepped inside and turned to close the door, but something was blocking it. When I looked down, I saw Jason’s foot.

"What are you doing?" I questioned, a prickle running along my arms.

Jason leaned in, his voice a low whisper, " Do you truly wish to do the marking ritual in front of a crowd of strangers? We both know forceful marking turns ugly for the forced wolf. How about we just get it over with now and call it an accident?" He concluded with a wink, "I'm certain the King won't mind it."

My breathing quickened, and I could no longer suppress Raksha's rage. My vision narrowed as my hand, adorned with elongated claws, closed around Jason's throat. Raksha's lethal, purring voice issued from my lips, "You best hope the King himself holds me down, pup. Otherwise, I might just get it over with and call it an 'accident'." She threatened as her claws nipped the skin of his neck. I noticed Jason's eyes darkening as his wolf surged forth. However, Raksha relinquished her hold, then promptly crushed his foot under hers, making him recoil in pain. I seized the opportunity to shut and lock the door from the inside.

Taking a few steadying breaths to calm my racing heart, I spoke to Raksha, "Impressive performance."

Raksha scoffed, "You’re lucky we can feel each other’s feelings. Otherwise, they would have had to kill me before I even left the office of that Alpha. And I still would have gotten away with some heads in my jaws."

"I can't believe Father actually uttered those words." The words left my mouth and silence followed.

In that moment, a tinge of sadness passed between us, acknowledging the gravity of what lay ahead. As I began stretching my limbs, Raksha interjected, "Are you prepared for our rebellious years?"

"Hell yeah."