Loving The Wrong Alpha.

The New Concubine.

"These are my quarters. You know how furious Mother will be if she finds you here. As the princess of the realm, you're forbidden from entering your brother's room, an Alpha's room. Under no circumstances is a woman allowed to enter a man's room unless it's her husband's. You know the punishment if we're caught. Our parents won't let this slide. So tell me, why are you here? And if you came to see me... I don't mind."

"Don't lecture me about those stupid rules as if you follow every one of them, Mr. Perfect Alpha," I mocked. "Where I go and when I stop is none of your business. Now get out of my way before I knock you aside myself."

I walked past him, but he grabbed my arm.

"Ouch!"

I winced and yanked my arm free.

"Did Mother hit you again?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.

"Mind your own business, Griffith," I snapped.

I was about to walk away when he spoke again.

"Do you remember how he died, Rowena?"

I froze but didn't turn around.

I knew he was talking about my late husband.

My fists clenched with rage as I fought the urge to slap him.

"I didn't see anything. I don't know how he died." I forced myself to lie.

"Rowena... I'm sorry."

"What are you apologizing for? Keep your apology to yourself. I don't want it. Father was the one who sent you to kill him, wasn't he? So he could take all his land and wealth and use me as bait. His plan was never to let me get married. He only wanted to use me for his twisted schemes. I understand that now."

He stayed silent.

I let out a bitter laugh.

"I'm getting married again. I'm sure you've heard about the Alpha who still wants me after three years. He even said that if I ever tried to kill him, he'd have my head served on a platter. So tell me, are you going to kill him too, just like you killed the first one? Answer me honestly, Griffith. Don't lie."

I wasn't expecting the truth.

I wanted to hear his next move so nothing would surprise me anymore.

Deep down, part of me almost wished my second husband would die too, just so my parents would finally throw me away instead.

"I won't kill him," he replied quietly with a long sigh. "But I want you by my side, Rowena. I want to protect you from any danger. I know I probably sound foolish. You may not believe me, but you have to trust me."

Then I asked the question I never should have asked.

"Is it true... that you want me? Was Father telling the truth back then?"

Instead of answering, he remained silent.

Without a word, he wrapped his arms around me from behind.

I shoved him away and glared at him.

"What was that? Are you crazy?"

"You wanted an answer, didn't you?" he said. "That's my answer."

His words caught me off guard.

"Griffith..." I whispered.

"I don't know if you've ever realized..." he began, "but I've wanted you for a very long time. You look so sexy. It's been a long time since I've touched you and you are so cold." His actions startled me. What was he talking about?

"Griffith." My voice came as a whisper.

He grabbed me once more, licked my ear and grabbed my boobs. “I don’t know if you have heard about this, about how I've always yearned so badly for you…”

Before I could pull away from his arms, we heard the sound of glass shattering.

Griffith immediately grabbed my hand, and we rushed toward the noise to make sure it wasn't intruders or rogue wolves attacking the palace.

Rumors had been spreading that my father had secretly been killing rogues to seize their lands.

"You're getting married again?" I heard my mother yell at my father.

"Don't you dare raise your voice at me, you insolent woman," my father snapped. "I'm an Alpha, and I want more children. Look at yourself. You're getting old and can't bear me any more pups. I can't spend the rest of my life looking at only these twins. I want more of my bloodline spread across the realms."

"Have you forgotten you have four children, not just the twins?" she shot back. "Why don't you raise the children you already have into the people you want them to be? Must you marry another woman, Alpha King? Just tell me the truth. Say it to my face that you're tired of sharing my bed and want someone younger."

"If you already know what I want, then why are you angry?" he scoffed. "If you have nothing important to say, get out of my sight. Another woman will be in my bed tomorrow. I'll bring a new Omega into this palace, and don't you dare lay a finger on her. Don't even think about making her death look like a suicide or a heart attack. I'll know it was you."

He took a step closer.

"Be the queen you're supposed to be. Raise your children into skilled warriors and proper princesses. I'll take as many women as I want, and you can't stop me. I've been with only you for years. I'm bored. At least be grateful."

"Alpha King..." my mother whispered.

For the first time in my life, I saw the vulnerable side of her.

"Prepare for my new bride's arrival," he said coldly. "And prepare for Rowena's wedding."

With that, he stormed out of the room.

For the first time in my life, I saw tears fill my mother's eyes. She collapsed to her knees and broke down sobbing.

Griffith grabbed my arm, pulled me out of our hiding place, and dragged me into his room. He quietly shut the door behind us.

"What are you doing?"

"Hush." He pressed a finger to his lips, signaling me to stay quiet. "The guards will be coming to watch over Mother's room. If they catch our scents together in an isolated corner, we'll both be in trouble."

He sat down on his bed and stared at the floor.

I looked around his room, noticing how neat and perfect everything was. Then the memory of what I'd seen him doing here earlier crept back into my mind, making my stomach flutter.

I forced myself to calm down, but remembering our parents' conversation only made me angrier.

"So... he's really bringing another woman," I broke the silence.

Griffith looked up at me and sighed.

"That's... that's what I was trying to tell you earlier. Yes. He's bringing a concubine."

"I see."