Her Cursed Alpha

CHAPTER 9 - CORALINE'S POV

When I woke up in the morning, I frowned in confusion. I was covered in flower pedals and I sat up quickly.

What?

Merin giggled from the end of my bed and tossed another handful over me.

"Happy birthday Princess!" She called out.

"What is this?"

"King Derick asked me to do it," She informed me, as she threw more pedals over my head, "He said he wanted to do it, but I wouldn't let him in while you were still unmarked, so he gave me the task. Though, now that I'm looking around. I realize I'm the one who will have to clean it up too."

I laughed and plucked a pedal from the cover.

"Serves you right for messing up my room."

She just shrugged, placed the basket of pedals down and pulled out a small box.

"It's not much, but I wanted to give you something for your coming of age."

"Really? Thanks." I smiled as I opened it.

Inside the box was a pretty gold ring and I quickly slipped it on.

"It's perfect, thank you, Merin."

"It's nothing," She waved her hand, "You always give me such exquisite gifts on my birthday, and I know this can't compare but..."

''But nothing. I love it." I smiled at her, and wriggled back to lean on the headboard, "But what I'd love more is your pancakes!"

Merin laughed and went to retrieve a tray she'd placed on the cupboard, and my stomach growled. Every year since she'd become my maid, she'd make me her pancakes and they were delicious.

"Have you picked out a dress for the party?" I asked her as I lifted the cutlery.

"Princess, none of your dresses fit me," She reminded me, "They're all too big in the chest."

"So just alter one you like and keep it," I shrugged, "Oh, and in that box is my mother's wedding dress. Please enlarge the chest area for me. I want to wear it when I marry the King."

"So, you've accepted him then?"

I thought for a second, before nodding, "I have. I think... I think he'll be a good mate."

"Oh he definitely will!" She agreed as she collected my wedding dress, "I've been asking around about him, and all his troops worship him. Though they did seem a little frightened of him too. But that's to be expected of such a powerful Alpha. Plus, I heard that he saved an entire school of children all on his own during the war, and got badly injured, but he kept fighting."

I thought back to his burns. Was that how he got them? Saving children.

"He's a much better choice than Eric, though I..." Merin paused when she noticed my sad expression, "I... I'm sorry. I shouldn't be talking so much about your personal life. It's not my place."

"It's okay," I told her, "I actually want to send Eric a letter, please deliver it to him in the hospital."

"Princess, you shouldn't. You should make a clean break."

"That's what I'm doing with the letter. I'll leave it for you after my bath."

"Yes. Princess." She nodded and playfully threw another pedal at me.

After my delicious breakfast and bath, I wrote Eric my goodbye letter, wishing him true love and happiness and to never return to the capital or the King would harm him. I made it clear that I'd saved him being cast out as a rogue, and that it was more than he deserved after what he'd tried to do, and finally, I added how sorry I was for hurting him, before signing my name.

I hoped this would be the last time we communicated. I had to let go now and move on. I let go of my dreams for a peaceful life. I let go of my desire to have a chosen mate that I could control. That was never right to begin with. I let go of my fears of turning out like my mother. My destiny was different now, and I had to embrace it.

I didn't dress for the party, that wouldn't be until tonight, so I instead dressed in a pale blue dress and snuck outside. I knew the family wouldn't miss me. They never did.

Roman followed me in silence after wishing me a happy birthday, but as I sat under a tree to enjoy the sunshine, a shadow cast over me.

I frowned and looked up, only to see Derick, who quickly sat beside me.

"Happy birthday, honey." He said warmly as he reached over to touch my cheek.

"I thought you were in meetings today?"

"I was, but I got bored, so I left Noah to handle it. I wanted to see you." He leaned in and kissed me.

His lips were gentle today. Nothing like the passionate embrace of yesterday that left my head dizzy, but I liked it just as much. I felt... Cherished.

"I have something I want to give you."

"Oh," I responded as I caught my breath, before blushing when I realized my thoughts turned dirty and my eyes scanned his body.

"Come with me," He said, his tone excited as he pulled me to my feet.

Derick walked me into the woods, but I noticed Roman stop by a tree and turn around. What was he going to do?

When we reached a small area filled with flowers, Derick turned back to me.

"I would have preferred to do this in my own land, but as the wedding will take place here, I have no choice."

"Do what?"

Derick dropped to his knee, and I stepped back in surprise. An Alpha was kneeling to me. No wonder he'd told Roman to look away.

"Stop, get up before someone sees!" I urged and tried to pull him up, but he just laughed and shook his head.

"I'm trying to propose, you could at least let me."

I stepped back again as my eyes widened.

"But.. I already agreed to be with you," I pointed out. "You don't have to propose."

"Formalities need to be adhered to," He smiled and took my hand, "Coraline. From the moment I saw you. I have desired you. From the moment I felt the bond, I have needed you. But only after spending some time with you, and getting to know the small amount of you've shown me, did I realize just how much I can't live without you. Please be my mate. Marry me, let me mark you. Let me grow old with you."

I bit my lip. If you'd told me even a week ago that I'd be saying yes to an Alpha, I would not have believed it, but here I was my heart racing, tears in my eyes, and all I wanted was for him to hold me. The bond was a powerful thing indeed.

"Yes," I said happily as he slipped a beautiful red ruby and diamond ring on my finger, before he kissed my hand and stood up.

Derick took me into his arms and kissed me passionately, before spinning me around.

"Mine!" He shouted out loud, scaring some birds that flew away to safety.

We stayed together in the flowers all morning, talking and getting to know each other better.

I asked him about his family. His parents were retired but still live in the capital, and his mother was especially excited to meet me.

Noah's mate Liana, was already helping organize a whole wardrobe worth of clothing, waiting for my arrival, and their three children were making welcome to the pack banners for me.

Charlotte, his adopted sister, was organizing a welcoming party with his mother, and had apparently invited all the Alpha's and their Luna's to meet their new Queen.

It was all too much. The simple life is wanted really was gone now.

"I'm not even Queen yet, shouldn't we wait until after the coronation?"

"If course not," He shook his head, "Besides, it was the only way I could calm my parents down. They aren't happy the wedding will be here and not on my land."

"We can just wait," I shrugged but my mate's eyes widened.

"No. I'm not waiting," He said quickly and gripped my hand, "Besides, your heat will hit in a few days, and I don't want you traveling for that. We will marry, consummate the union and leave the next day."

I blushed and looked down, "But... We hardly know each other."

"What? You'll sleep with the boy but not me?" He sounded offended and angry.

I was taken aback by his statement and glanced up at him, "I never slept with Eric," I told Derick, who looked like he didn't believe me, "I didn't!" I said louder, "We just kissed. It never went beyond that."

Derick frowned, "Are you telling me you're a virgin?"

"Yes." I said shyly and looked down.

Derick let out a surprised laugh, "The boy is so pathetic he couldn't even seal the deal."

"Stop calling him boy, we're the same age."

Derick ignored me and continued, "Well, where he failed. I certainly won't. The second you're marked, I will be inside you."

I blushed redder and glanced at him, but he just smiled and playfully kissed my nose.

"Don't worry. You'll love it" He said confidently, "I'll make your first time extremely memorable."

Before I could respond, my stomach growled, and I had an excuse to escape this conversation.

"I'm hungry."

"Then I shall feed you," My mate declared as he stood up and offered me his hand.

"Can I ask a favor of you." I asked as we walked back hand in hand.

"Honey, you agreed to be mine, anything you want, it's yours," He informed me and pointed to the sky where the moon was slightly viable, "You want the moon? I'll bring it down for you."

I giggled, "Nothing like that. My maid, Merin. Can she and her mate come with us when we leave?"

Derick glanced at me with a concerned expression, "It might be easier to give you the moon," He told me, "Taking a royal servant, especially from another kingdom, is complicated."

"Can't they just reject Damien and join your pack?"

"That's one way, but Damien might still demand compensation," He told me, "She's been in the royal household. She would have overheard pack secrets. Damien might kill her just to keep me from finding anything out."

"But I'm from the royal household too."

"You're different, he can't kill his own child or my Queen without me killing him," Derick informed me, "Plus, the maid would have heard more then you while she was working, not to mention that maids all talk to one another."

"So, it's hopeless then?"

"For you, I will get it done, but make your maid and her mate understand the dangers involved."

"I will, thank you." I hugged his arm, "You're the best."

"Finally, you realize that," He joked and I laughed.