Alpha's Impostor Bride

10

Cedric Raine

My wolf is unhappy with me. I can feel it vibrating with tension inside me. Normally it’s easy for me to control it, but lately it’s been getting harder.

My parents were fated mates, as were Derrick’s. However, my father had been betrothed to another before he met my mother, who coincidentally happened to be his fiancée’s closest friend. Whenever he and my mother recounted the tale of their meeting, they always disregarded the fate of the woman who had been engaged to my father since childhood. Her family, a noble one, was disgraced as a result of my father rejecting her. And his betrothed? She killed herself in shame.

As much as I loved my parents, their callous disregard for the woman my mother had considered her best friend and my father had known his whole life infuriated me. Their excuse was always that the Goddess had chosen them for each other.

The Goddess. She was their most convenient excuse, as if their ability to make decisions had been stripped from them. I refused to believe it then, and I refuse to believe it now. The idea of having a fated mate almost became repulsive to me. I understand my wolf’s desire to be with her, but I refuse to give in. It’s probably getting anxious because the night of the full moon is drawing closer. On this side of the Veil, the full moon only occurs every three months, and it is the one night when wolf shifters can conceive. Another two weeks and I will make sure that my mate is carrying my child.

It’s after a particularly long and tiring day that I find myself making my way to my bedchamber. I come to a stop outside my door, and my eyes flick toward the one that leads into Leanna’s room.

Leanna. I find the name suits her better than Vivian. I like how it rolls around in my mouth. It is simple and elegant.

It has been two weeks now, and I have made sure that our paths don’t cross. That doesn’t mean I’m not watching her, though. I have to keep an eye on her since she is not trustworthy. So far, all I have seen her do is visit the villages nearby and meet with the farmers and the local artisans. She likes going on walks by herself in the palace gardens. I’ve had all the benches repaired, and I’ve seen her use them. She’s not doing anything to rouse my suspicions, but I know if I turn my head, she’ll probably take advantage of that.

My mother used to maintain the greenhouse within the gardens, but it has fallen into disrepair. I have a feeling that my mate would not mind reviving it. She does seem to like spending all of her free time outdoors. Wolf shifters are not immune to mild illnesses; if she is so determined to sit outside in the cold, she may as well fix up the greenhouse and sit there instead.

Ever since Rothan took over Bella’s position, he’s been reporting to me regularly. Despite her quiet and reserved personality, Leanna has been working hard. He did tell me that the plants she was interested in are not available in either the East or the North and that she had been disappointed. Bella had been thrilled. My childhood friend is vindictive to say the least.

I look at the small parcel in my hand. I was planning to hand it to Rothan, but perhaps I can simply…

My hand clenches the parcel as I walk over to Leanna’s door. I don’t bother knocking because it’s not so late that she should be asleep. I open the door and enter her bedchamber.

The flames from the fireplace are casting dancing shadows along the wall. I look around. It is my first time in this room since the day of our mating ceremony. She has not sought me out even once. In fact, from what Harriet tells me, she goes out of her way to avoid me, going so far as learning my daily routine and avoiding areas where I would normally be.

It makes sense that I want nothing to do with her, but why isn’t she trying to change my mind? Female wolf shifters crave affection, especially from their mates. I was harsh with her after the mating ceremony to make sure she understands her status in my eyes. I thought she’d come crawling to me, trying to seduce me, and this lack of effort makes me uneasy. Shouldn’t she be even slightly bothered?

Leanna is not here, so I take the opportunity to look around. Why is this room so bare? Even my bedchamber has more character. Two weeks and she has not bothered to decorate at all. It is my understanding that females like to put their personal touches on their rooms. There’s not even a potted plant in here. Rothan told me she likes to read, but there are no books to be found.

I make my way to the wardrobe and open it. I heard that the designer Harriet hired sent some dresses today. But inside the wardrobe are simple frocks, not ones a queen or even a noble would wear. I remember how my mother used to dress, the things the women who flocked around her wore. My mate has ordered dresses that look cheap! Anger flits through me. The queen of the Northern Kingdom is dressing like a commoner. Is this a tactic to embarrass me?!

As soon as the thought crosses my mind, I glimpse something at the back of the wardrobe. Pushing the plain clothes aside, I see three fancy dresses. Elegant designs. They’re not very colorful, but somber and powerful. Confusion fills me. What was this woman thinking when she ordered them?

Just then, I hear a noise from the attached bathroom. I turn around and see the door swing open.

My mate walks out of the bathroom, in the process of wrapping a towel around herself, her long hair dripping. She hasn’t sensed my presence yet and pushes one of the wet strands of hair behind her ear. Her head is bent slightly forward, and I see the water droplets clinging to her thick eyelashes. The towel she’s wrapping around herself is tiny, leaving nothing to the imagination. Her skin is damp, looking soft and supple. She is too thin, but the curve of her breasts and the way her hips jut out have me feeling a flare of attraction.

I was never attracted to Princess Vivian. Visually, she was an appealing woman, but I found those coy looks she shared with men and her flirty gestures off-putting. But this woman…She looks like Vivian, but she is so different from her. Right now, in this unguarded moment, she looks delicate and charming. My wolf rumbles, wanting to take a bite out of that moist, flushed skin.

For all my talk of not wanting anything to do with her, I’m overwhelmed by the desire to rip off that towel and throw her down on the bed. I want to see what her skin tastes like. The night she spent in my bed, I didn’t lay a finger on her, but she kept gravitating toward me, seeking out my body. At one point, I gave up trying to push her away. She fit in my arms perfectly, as if made for me. Her face burrowed in my chest, and our legs became entangled in our sleep.

I’ve never taken a lover to my bed. Never held a woman within the privacy of my chambers. But that night, I was too tired to think much about it. And right now, I’m tempted to do more than just hold her.

As if sensing my thoughts, her head jerks up. Those gentle brown eyes grow terrified, and she clutches the towel to herself, squeaking, “Your Majesty!”

I stare at her, trying to think of something to say. “Why are you taking a bath at this time? Where are your maids?”

Her skin flushes. “They left.”

“They left you alone?” I frown, knowing that aside from Harriet, she has two maids who are supposed to wait on her.

She looks uneasy, and I instantly know there is more to the story. “Why did they leave?”

She presses her lips together. “I asked them to.”

She can’t lie worth a damn.

Her eyes dart toward the wardrobe behind me, and I can see that she wants to cover herself. Sighing, I take off my coat and walk over to her. She flinches. I don’t like it.

Throwing the coat around her shoulders, I snap, “I’m not going to hurt you, so stay still.”

She looks positively tiny in my clothes, making me realize how small she truly is. She’s not a short woman by any means, but compared to me, she is petite. Her head barely reaches my chest.

She pulls at the lapels of the coat, attempting to cover herself entirely. “Did you need Harriet? I can call her.”

She’s already rushing toward the bell on the side of the bed, but I grab her thin wrist, stopping her. “I came to see you.”