Chapter 3 3

As I entered the familiar surroundings of my home, the scent of freshly baked cookies and the sound of my parents' voices greeted me. My mother turned around, her face lighting up with a smile as she saw me.

"Madeleine, darling, you're back!" she exclaimed, wrapping her arms around me in a warm embrace.

"How was the party, sweetie?" my father asked, looking up from his newspaper.

I forced a smile, not wanting to reveal the turmoil I was feeling inside. "It was fine, just a usual party."

My parents didn't seem to suspect anything, and I was grateful for that. I didn't want to worry them with the knowledge of what had happened to me. It was better if they remained in the dark, at least for now.

As we settled down to have some cookies and talk about our day, I couldn't help but think about the alpha. Would he come looking for me? Would he try to claim me in front of everyone?

I tried to push those thoughts to the back of my mind and focus on the present. My parents were here, and they loved me. That was all that mattered.

But the nagging feeling in my gut refused to go away. I knew that my encounter with the alpha was far from over. He had marked me, and I couldn't escape his hold on me. It was a false hope to think that he would forget about me.

As I took a bite of the warm cookie, I made a silent promise to myself. I would do everything in my power to protect my family from the dangers that came with being the alpha's mate. Even if it meant sacrificing my own happiness in the process.

The following day, a beautifully crafted invitation with the royal seal arrived at our doorstep. My father was taken aback by the sight of it, holding it up to the light and inspecting it closely. I tried to maintain my composure, pretending as though I had no idea what it could be for.

"What could this be about?" my father asked, turning to me.

I shrugged, feigning ignorance. "Maybe it's an invitation to some sort of royal celebration?"

My mother entered the room, her hands still wet from washing the dishes. She gasped as she saw the invitation in my father's hand.

"What is that?" she asked, coming closer to get a better look.

"It's an invitation from the palace," my father explained, holding it out for her to see.

My mother's eyes widened in excitement. "Oh, how wonderful! We must have done something right to receive an invitation from the king himself."

I forced a smile, trying my best to mask my growing anxiety. I knew exactly what the invitation was for, and it wasn't anything to be excited about. But I couldn't reveal that to my parents.

"When is it for?" I asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

"There's no date mentioned," my father replied, frowning slightly. "Just the time and location. It's in two weeks at the royal palace."

Two weeks. That was plenty of time for me to come up with some sort of excuse. I had no desire to attend a royal function, especially not with the Alpha lurking around. But I couldn't let my parents down. They were so excited to be there.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. "Well, we'll have to make sure we dress appropriately and prepare ourselves for such an occasion," I said, trying to sound enthusiastic.

My father nodded in agreement, his mind already working out the logistics of the event. "Yes, we'll need to find suitable attire and make sure we arrive on time."

My mother clapped her hands together excitedly. "Oh, this is just wonderful news! I can't wait to see the palace and meet the other guests."

I forced another smile, feeling the weight of the impending event settling heavily on my shoulders. But I knew I couldn't let my fear and anxiety show. I had to go to the royal palace and face whatever was waiting for me there. And maybe, just maybe, I could find a way to overcome my fear and confront the Alpha once and for all.