IN BED WITH THE WRONG ALPHA

20

KANE

I found my mother in the east sitting room, already waiting, arms crossed, with fire in her eyes, ready to devour me.

"Close the door," she said, before I'd even fully stepped inside.

I did.

"Explain yourself." She tossed me a clean shirt.

"There's nothing to explain," I said in a flat tone. "The pack laws require consummation on the wedding night, and I did that." I put on the shirt as I defended myself.

"In the throne room, Kane." Her voice rose, and she stood up. "The literal seat of this nation's authority, and you—" She stopped herself, making a fist. "Did you put that girl up to it? Convince her? Because I raised you, and I know exactly what you're capable of talking a woman into."

Her voice went lower. "But that is not how a girl raised by a Ford behaves. Elizabeth's daughter, defiling the throne on her wedding night. It's out of character."

"So it's in character for me?" I scoffed. "A man raised by the Thornes." My eyes bored into hers, just enough for her to understand my words.

"We raised you well." Her eyes narrowed. "What you decide to do with yourself is your business."

"Sure, Mum." I smirked, and she groaned in frustration.

"You are barely on that seat, Kane." She stepped closer. "One week into your reign, and you're already causing problems you don't need. Your father's body has barely gone cold, and…" She stopped herself again, and stared at me.

I saw the woman who had stood beside my father for over twenty years. The people's most desired Luna, the woman who was also my mother, loving and caring. The thought of it made my heart loosen slightly.

Then her voice softened, "Don't drag her into it with you."

"I—" I began, and she waved a hand.

"The woman always takes the fall." Her voice sharpened. "Always. Whatever mess you make, whatever recklessness you indulge, it will be her name in the papers tomorrow, her reputation dragged through it, not yours. She is barely more than a girl, Kane, and you are handing her to wolves who have wanted a reason to tear her apart since the day you claimed her."

"Mother—"

"I'm done warning you."

She turned and walked past me, out the door, down the corridor, and I followed because there was nothing else to do. She moved fast for someone in heels, faster than I expected, until we reached the throne room doors and she pushed through them without knocking.

Robyn was on her knees near the base of the throne, gathering the ruined pieces of her gown into her arms, her hair falling loose from whatever remained of the pins. She froze the second the doors opened.

"Robyn Thorne."

My mother's voice echoed through the room, and Robyn scrambled to her feet, bowing her head slightly, the torn dress still clutched to her chest.

Her right index finger caught Robyn's chin, tilting it up slightly. She took in her face, assessing her like a piece of art.

"Quite a flawless beauty," she said.

"Thank you, your majesty," Robyn said in a slightly shaky voice.

"I pray the Goddess makes me live to see my grandchildren."

A pulse jumped in Robyn's throat, and she pulled back slightly. "Mother!"

"That is when you two are ready, of course." She eyed me from the corner of her eyes before facing Robyn fully.

"You looked lovely in that gown." She paused, looking at the torn dress. "If only my son hadn't thought it wise to ruin an heirloom passed through five generations of Thorne brides, and defile the throne while he was at it."

"I'm so sorry, Luna Wendy, I—" Robyn started, "on his behalf, I—"

"You don't have to apologize for him." My mother said in the sweetest tone. "You have nothing to worry about. I trust my son to do the right thing from now on."

Her eyes cut to me on the last word, and I felt it land exactly where she meant it to.

"I'll have someone bring you a new dress," she went on, already turning toward the door. "The night is still young, and you shouldn't have to hide in here for the rest of it. It is your wedding day, and it happens only once in a lifetime."

Once in a lifetime. The words echoed in my ears, hitting somewhere I didn't want to acknowledge.

Then she left, and the doors shut behind her with a soft, final click.

I looked at Robyn, standing there in the wreckage, clutching a dress that would never be worn again, and something in my chest loosened despite the thoughts threatening to spring up.

"My mother likes you," I said. "So you're safe."

She let out a breath that was almost a laugh, shaking her head, and reached for the necklace still sitting where she'd dropped it earlier.

"You should keep that safe, or she might chop off my head. She has talked about that necklace for as long as I've known her."

She shot me a smile, then I left, going after my mother.

I caught up to her just outside the hall. There were a few guards, and I recognized the two that had walked in on us.

"I already sent a warning," she said before I could speak to them.

She looked at me for a second, then straightened my collar, like I was twelve again, ready to be paraded around rigid elders who had zero expectations of me.

"The prophecy says what it says, and we know it is rarely wrong," she murmured, low enough that only I would hear it. "But it has failed on rare occasions. A love match is still possible. Whether it accounts for it or not."

My face contorted at her words, and she gave me a pat.

"Don't ruin something good, Kane. You have other choices, but this… I believe it is for a reason." With this, she walked off before I could say anything…