IN BED WITH THE WRONG ALPHA

13

ROBYN

"Chin up. Shoulders back. And for the Goddess's sake, Miss Ford, stop looking like you're about to bolt for the door."

I forced my chin higher, biting back the urge to actually bolt for the door.

Madam Corrine had been drilling me for the better part of an hour, circling me in the mock gown like a hawk deciding where to strike first. Tomorrow was the coronation. Tomorrow I was supposed to stand beside Kane in front of the entire Thorne Nation and look like I'd been born for it instead of thrown into it two weeks ago.

"When a noble approaches to offer congratulations," Corrine continued, hands clasped primly in front of her, "you incline your head — just so — and you say, 'Thank you, I'm honored by your kindness.' Nothing more. You do not laugh unless they laugh first. You do not—"

I attempted the practice curtsy she'd shown me twice already, my heel catching the hem of the gown, and I stumbled half a step before catching myself on the nearest chair.

A chuckle rumbled from the corner of the room.

I shot Kane a glare sharp enough to draw blood. He sat sprawled in an armchair by the window, one ankle crossed over his knee, an amused glint in his eyes like this entire ordeal existed purely for his entertainment.

"Miss Ford. Your attention, please." Corrine's voice snapped back to me, oblivious.

"Actually," I said, not looking away from Kane, "will you tell His Highness to stop laughing so loudly? It's not very prim and proper of him, is it?"

Corrine's face went a deep, mottled red. Her mouth opened, then closed, then opened again, clearly caught between the instinct to scold me and the impossibility of scolding the Alpha Supreme.

"I— that is—"

"You know what." I straightened, already reaching for the zipper at my side. "I'm done with this. Let's move on to the dresses."

"Ma'am, we still have the receiving line to cover, and the bow to the council elders, and—"

"Enough."

Kane's voice cut clean through the room, and Corrine snapped to attention like she'd been struck.

"If she isn't interested in the training, then let her be." He rose from the chair, unhurried, tugging his sleeves straight. "She wants to try on dresses. Let her try on dresses."

Corrine dropped into a hurried bow. "Of course, Alpha Supreme. I'll have them brought in immediately."

She scurried out, and the door clicked shut behind her, leaving the room blessedly, suddenly quiet.

I caught Kane's reflection in the mirror across the room, watching me with an expression I couldn't quite name.

I bit down on the inside of my cheek, fighting the smile trying to claw its way onto my face.

He'd just dismissed his own etiquette coach. For me.

I told myself it didn't mean anything. That it was just Kane being Kane, unable to sit through an hour of tedium without cutting it short for his own sake as much as mine.

But watching him in that mirror, arms crossing loosely over his chest, that faint curve still tugging at his mouth like he knew exactly what he'd just done to me —

I let myself smile anyway.

"Thank you," I said quietly, before I could stop myself.

Kane's brow lifted. "For what?"

"For that." I nodded toward the door Corrine had just fled through.

"I didn't do it for you." He said it flatly, already turning back toward the window. "I just like seeing you in dresses. Purely selfish. Don't read into it."

I rolled my eyes, the smile I'd been fighting finally slipping loose. "Of course. How silly of me."

Today was the coronation. My dress was beautiful, and I had maids at my beck and call, waiting to glam me up for the crowd. I would look my very best — Kane ensured that — but it wasn't enough.

My body was shaking, more than it had ever done. I tried to calm myself, to think of some distraction, but my mind kept circling back.

My mother wouldn't be here in person, but she would watch. This time not in support, but probably waiting for me to fail. Just like every other person in this pack. No one had my back.

I was supposed to be resting for the event, which would take place tonight, but I had been pacing around my room for nearly an hour since the maids and Madam Corrine left.

Then a knock sounded at my door.

"Flowers for Ms. Ford!" a maid announced.

I forced a breath out, then opened the door. She held a huge bouquet of lilies. I flashed her a smile as I grabbed them, inhaling the sweet scent.

Kane was so thoughtful, even though he tried to deny it. The maid shut the door, and I placed the flowers on the table, taking them in. Then I found a note attached to them.

I snatched it, waiting for a flat message of concern from Kane as usual. Instead, my stomach dropped.

This is your last chance to back away, Robyn. You might consider it after you see the video. If not, I will let the entire Thorne Nation see who they're about to crown Supreme Luna.

My heart practically shot out of my chest. What video? I had never said or done anything against the Thorne throne with Leon.

The fear in my stomach turned up a notch as my shaky hands dug into the bouquet until I found a tiny flash drive. Hurriedly, I rushed to the closet and ransacked my bag for my laptop.

When I found it, I slotted in the flash drive, and the moment the video came up on screen, the air in the room vanished, and my heart nearly stopped working.

That bastard...