Chapter 3 The Alpha King's Secret

Author

The drive to the werewolf mating registration office was quiet.

Dominic gripped the steering wheel tight as his wolf paced inside him, restless and eager.

He couldn't help but think back to the first time he'd seen Elara. Three years ago, right after the annual Alpha Academy lecture.

The moment he laid eyes on her, something deep in his wolf stirred with desperate longing. Her scent hit him like a punch to the gut - bergamot and rain, completely intoxicating.

His mind took seconds to process what his wolf knew instantly. He wanted her more than he'd ever wanted anyone.

But Elara hadn't noticed him at all. Instead, her gentle eyes and hopeful smile were aimed at someone else. That bastard, Zack Blackwood, who smelled like lies and fake loyalty.

In that instant, Dominic's wolf went completely wild with jealousy and rage.

His eyes flashed gold as the need to challenge Zack and steal her away nearly took over.

The urge to mark her, to replace Zack's claim with his own, was so strong he had to leave just to get control back.

To fight his feelings for her, he threw himself into wild parties and meaningless hookups.

He could go through the physical motions with other women, but emotionally and spiritually, it meant nothing. No matter how many women he was with physically, their scents smelled wrong and fake.

His body could function, but his wolf hated every moment.

His wolf rejected them all, whining and retreating deeper into his mind whenever another woman touched him.

The pack council kept pressuring him with arranged marriages, parading eligible she-wolves before him like prize breeding stock.

As the only remaining Alpha Royal bloodline, they desperately needed him to produce an heir.

Each rejection made his wolf more angry and protective of the mate he couldn't have.

So he started an elaborate deception.

He'd meet the council's chosen women, take them to bed, but secretly take pills to prevent pregnancy.

The women got paid well for their time, but never got what they really wanted - the chance to bear his puppies.

Dominic only wanted one woman. Elara Park.

The monthly council meetings became a ritual of harassment, their wolf scents thick with disapproval every time they cornered him about heirs and duty.

Just yesterday, at 3 PM in the Royal Council Chamber.

Twelve pack elders sat around a huge stone table carved with old wolf symbols.

Their combined energy made the room feel heavy and hard to breathe in. Each elder was important in their own pack, connecting their people to the Alpha King.

"Alpha King, you're thirty years old now!" The Chief Elder's wolf pushed forward, making his frustrated voice stronger. "As the only awakened Lycan royal bloodline on this continent, you cannot keep waiting!"

"Our enemies can smell weakness!" Another elder added. "If our royal bloodline dies out, Lycan powers from other continents will attack immediately!" He slammed his fist on the table, the sound echoing like a challenge howl. "All wolf packs across North America will become slaves!"

Twelve pairs of eyes stared at the throne carved with ancient wolf symbols. Their combined wolf energy pressed against Dominic like a physical weight. Their pressure would have made any ordinary Alpha give in.

But Dominic just lounged lazily on his throne. His fingers tapped the precious gems in the armrests. Each tap was like a territorial warning.

When their noise became unbearable, he stopped tapping. Dominic stood slowly, his true Alpha aura unfurling like dark wings.

Instantly, crushing dominance flooded the hall. The ancient wolf magic in his blood pressed down on every werewolf there, forcing their wolves to submit completely.

"I am the only Alpha King on this continent," his voice carried his wolf's deep growl. Each word was a territorial claim that echoed in their bones. "My mating decisions need no one's approval."

To calm their wolves and prevent a real challenge, he gave them hope on purpose: "As for the heir issue... maybe an answer will come sooner than you think."

At the time, he just wanted to shut up the old fools and stop their wolves from doing something stupid.

He never expected fate would bring Elara to him so perfectly.

But here she was, about to become his Luna.

A mindlink suddenly crackled in his head. It was Owen, his Beta.

The man's mental voice sounded urgent and panicked.

[Alpha, the council found out about your lie. You...] Owen 's thoughts were jagged with worry.

[We can stop this stupid act now,]Dominic replied through the pack bond. His mental voice was warm with satisfaction. [I found my Luna.]

[What?! Alpha, you mean a real mate?] Owen's shock hit the mindlink like a physical blow. His excitement bled through their connection.

[There's just one small problem. My mate thinks she married Damian Sterling,] Dominic added.

[Please tell me I'm hearing things wrong, Alpha. Are you saying you stole Damian Sterling's fiancée?] Owen's mental voice practically shrieked.

[She was always mine,] Dominic said. [Now stop freaking out and make Damian Sterling disappear from public view for a week. Keep the Sterling family quiet too. Unless you want those twelve old fools bothering us constantly.]

[Got it, Alpha. I'll put our best people on it right away,] Owen responded.

[Make sure his scent doesn't go anywhere near my mate. I need to focus completely on courting my mate properly. Let her wolf recognize mine naturally,] Dominic added.

[Completely understood. I'll make sure it's handled perfectly.]

Dominic looked down at the marriage contract in his hands.

His wolf preened at Elara Park's signature next to his real name.

His mate had suggested a contract marriage to him. The Moon Goddess herself couldn't have planned a more perfect beginning.

He couldn't wait to see Elara's reaction when she found out she married the wrong man.

Soon, the entire werewolf world would know who Elara Park belonged to.