IN BED WITH THE WRONG ALPHA

25

ROBYN

The meal ended not long after Kane and Damien came back to the table, though the warmth from earlier had drained out of the room the second they sat down. Damien wore a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes for the rest of lunch, and June kept glancing at me like she wanted to ask something she couldn't say out loud.

I kept smiling anyway. Laughed when Wendy made a joke. Nodded along when June talked about her classes. But the second Kane returned to the table, my stomach hadn't stopped twisting, and it didn't let up until everyone finally rose to leave.

I caught him in the hallway just after the door closed behind Damien and June.

"Is everything okay?" I asked. "Between you and Damien?"

"Why wouldn't it be?" His brows furrowed.

He had been colder than ever since last night, and Goddess, I regretted opening my big mouth. He wasn't capable of loving, and it was foolish of me to want that. Selfish, even. I had to apologize.

"I don't know." I shook my head. "Nothing. Forget it."

I lingered a moment longer, searching his face for something I couldn't name.

"Is there anything you need me to do?" I asked instead.

"You can go read your books," he stated, and walked into the study. "While I run the nation." He grabbed the papers on the table.

"I'm the Luna, Kane, I—"

"The current Luna hasn't resigned yet." His eyes finally lifted to mine in a flat tone. "That's my mother. You have nothing to worry about. Until she fully resigns, you cannot assume the true duties of Luna. For now, you are my wife in paper."

My heart caved in at the words he threw at me.

"If this is about last night, I am sorry." My hands tightened around the hem of my dress. "I shouldn't have told you all those things, and Goddess, I was drunk, Kane. I didn't mean any of them. I am not here to ruin your life or destroy whatever you believe in."

His grip on the papers loosened as I said this, and his eyes drew down for a second. Was he annoyed I'd withdrawn my statement? Goddess, this was f*****g confusing.

"I want you to know that I would never make such demands, and I understand fully the terms of this arrangement. But it would help if you spoke to me with a little respect. Like an actual person." My voice cracked.

He just glared at me without a word. When it was obvious he wouldn't say anything, I turned and walked away.

**

THIRD PERSON POV:

June was still smiling when they got home, her hand tucked into the crook of her father's arm.

"I'm glad you agreed to visit the Alpha," she said, leaning her head briefly against his shoulder. "I don't care how incapable you think he is to run the nation. It meant a lot to me."

Damien said nothing, his face cold as Kane's words replayed in his head. He knew his plans had been foiled, and retreating was the only thing he could do at the moment.

"They're a great pair, don't you think? Robyn and Kane." She sighed, staring off toward the window. "I almost wish this hadn't all been a lie. The setup and all."

Her father stopped walking, drawing her back slightly.

"About that." His jaw tightened. "There's trouble."

June's face fell as she pulled away, looking at his face.

"What kind of trouble?"

"Kane suspects you, Robyn, and Leon. He thinks the three of you conspired together."

Her heart dropped straight through her chest, and she shook her head slowly. A part of her told her she shouldn't have agreed to this in the first place, but her father had promised that Robyn wouldn't get hurt. She believed him, because the man loved the nation, and if he said someone wasn't capable, it was the truth.

"No. No, that's not — how does he even—"

"There's no need to be afraid, my love." He took her hands in his, his voice gentling, almost tender. "We simply need to give him what he wants."

"How?"

"Robyn falls for it." His grip tightened slightly. "We cut her loose. Find another way through this, and that way we are saved."

June yanked her hands back as her throat went dry. She looked at the man before her, and he didn't seem to be her father.

"No." Her voice shook. "This has gone too far, Dad. I can't. I cannot do that to Robyn — she's my best friend. I want out. I can't do this anym—"

The slap landed before she finished the sentence, hard enough to snap her head sideways, hard enough that the sound of it hung in the room longer than it should have.

"Foolish girl." His voice dropped low, dripping with venom. "I am trying to secure this throne. Our bloodline. So that you can be Alpha instead of Beta." His eyes bored into her. "Imagine it, June. The first woman to ever rule Thorne."

She sank to the floor, one hand pressed against her burning cheek, tears spilling before she could stop them.

"What if that is not what I want, Daddy?" she sobbed, still in disbelief, waiting to wake up from the ugly dream.

But her father had hit her harder than he intended, and her face was beginning to swell.

"I will get a doctor to look at your face. I am sorry," he muttered, his gaze softening.

He had kept his calm with her, and allowed her to do everything she wanted, hoping one day she would have the same ideas as he did. But she never did.

She shook her head. "Dad, don't do this. This is not you."

He chuckled.

"You know nothing about me. Wait until you taste power, and you will understand."

He turned away, not wanting to see her sobs again, because a part of him was still soft for her, and it broke him.

"Go to your room. We'll finish this conversation in the morning."