Back Where 277_The Rouge ls a Female Alpha

Nyroth

 It feels like a dream. I still can’t believe it’s happening. A day like this, where I will be dressing like a groom, and my bride, none other than the love of my life, Zephyrine Ashmere.

 I have bargained just like he wanted. Varyn. I have given him Gaxib, and as fate would have it, Gaxib knows almost all of Apex’s weaknesses, and they will be used tonight. The request from Varyn said only one thing.

 “Apex will definitelye to interrupt the wedding ceremony. Do not worry. I will fend him off so you can be my sister’s husband.”

 I will abide by that because I have always wanted Apex taken away from Zeph.

 Now is the night, and nothing more could make my mother, or anyone else, happier.

 “Alpha Nyroth.” The call came from behind, and I turned to see Kai, a wide grin on his face. I hugged him tightly. When I pulled back, he was beaming from ear to ear.

 “Atst. You’ll be bagging the

 Oman you’ve wanted. I wonder how the night will turn out.”

 I punched him lightly and walked toward the elder who had just arrived to greet me.

 Tonight, we will consummate our marriage, and I will make her minepletely, driving out anything that had to do with Apex.

 I was still greeting the arriving guests when the sound of galloping horses reached me. I waspelled to walk slowly toward the window and peer out.

 Power surged through me at the sight of the Ash Pack cresting into view. Varyn led five powerful men who looked far too agile to be mere guards. Then the carriages arrived, and I swallowed hard.

 The carriages stopped, the maids disembarked, and then she appeared. Zeph. The Alpha of Ash Pack. All elegance, all beauty, still breathtaking.

 My heart warmed at the sight of her, and I couldn’t look away. It had paid off. My contribution to giving away Apex’s weaknesses. I smiled with perfect happiness, only to hear a voice behind <ol><li>me. </li></ol>

 “Congrattions, son.”

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 I turned to see my mother, now smiling, though a crease of worryy between her brows.

 “What’s wrong?” I asked.

 She sighed, looking past the gate toward thene leading to the Lycan Kingdom.

 “What if hees and spills blood? That mad king?”

 “That is why the Ashmeres are here. Do not worry, mother. Do not.” I said, voice gentle. She swallowed, looking back at Zeph and sighing in relief.

 “I still can’t believe we didn’t know she was a treasure until she got brainwashed by the Lycan King.”

 “Relief is she’s going to be mine,” I said, making her grin.

 I grinned back, then looked down at Zeph, only to see her pause mid–step. Her eyes lifted to meet mine in the window. That piercing gaze told me more than I wanted to know, making my chest tightened.

 Thest ounce of anything like love had been stripped bare and vanished the moment she fell for the Lycan King.

 Her presence here tonight didn’t indicate willingness to be my wife, but I swallowed hard and pushed the thought away.

 She is mine, and I will have her, whether she likes it or not. I looked away and walked to greet some guests, trying to stay sane and positive.

 Just then, I heard footsteps behind me. I turned to see Varyn Ashmere at the doorway, standing there with an innocent look in his eyes, though I knew better.

 I excused myself to give him attention, and he folded his hands as he smile. A smile I was beginning to distrust.

 “Your bride is here,” he said, smiling. For a moment, I tried not to give in, but the word bride hit me before anything else. I smiled back, and he extended his hand.

 “Congrattions.”

 I took it, feeling the callousness beneath his grip. A true warrior’s mark.

 “Thank you.”

 “My sister has been ushered into the chamber to get dressed. After that, we will proceed to the

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 hall where it will take ce?”

 “Yes.”

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 “Good.” He smiled further, then paused as his eyes moved past me. “Wow. Who’s she? So beautiful.”

 I turned to see my sister, Olivia, walking forward. She froze at the sight of Varyn, quickly lowering her gaze to bow but Varyn bypassed me to extend his hand to her. I almost raised an eyebrow.

 “It’s fine. We’ll be family anyway. I’m Varyn,” he said. Olivia straightened, smiling, her gaze smoldering as she met the eyes of our next Warlord.

 “I… I am Olivia,” she whispered.

 “Wow. You look even more beautiful than I imagined.”

 I nearly raised an eyebrow. Why did that sound like flirting? Varyn Ashmere has a woman.

 I watched my younger sister blush under his gaze. To make it worse, he kissed the back of her hand and leaned in to whisper words I couldn’t hear.

 When he pulled back, he didn’t nce at her again. He walked past me, saying,

 “Let’s hurry before Apex arrives.”

 I nodded, but suddenly paused. Wait a second. I whirled around to see my younger sister staring at Varyn’s retreat.

 “What did he tell you?”

 “Nothing, really,” she replied with a giggle, heading toward Zeph’s chamber, making me wary. It’s supposed to be a wedding, but somehow it felt like something else.

 Varyn Ashmere is calcting, and I spent thepensation death money of his parents. I am the first love of his sister, the one who broke her heart. Wait a second. Is this revenge? A scheme to get back at me?

 No. No way. I quickly shook my head. Apex is the real viin. He is the one Varyn will take down tonight while I marry Zeph. Yes.

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 Zephyrine 

 “You look beautiful.”

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 The voice came just as the jewelries were being ced around my neck, my wrists, and in my hair.

 The crest, the few warriors, and the carriage had all arrived in the Hue Pack under the full- moon sky, and already I could feel the tension in the air.

 My brother had been tender, and I had epted his help. We journeyed quietly, but when we emerged into Hue Pack, I realized Nyroth truly believed this was a real wedding. He had invited the neighboring packs, and all of them were here, joyous for him.

 However, it seemed the Yadevs hadn’t received an invitation, because none of them came.

 I had been ushered into the chamber at once, told to change into a wedding gown. But I insisted I would remain in my own. First, if ever I were to wear a wedding gown, it would be for Lycannar. Second, my gown would keep the runes etched into my skin hidden from public

 eyes.

 I allowed them to adorn me with the jewels, though, and that was when the voice came. Pam. Nyroth’s mother.

 I sat still in the chair, swallowing hard. After all these months, since my rejection, since the revtion of me as Alpha, Pam and I had never had a face–to–face encounter until now.

 The maids slipped out of the chamber, leaving us alone. I stared at my reflection in the mirror as she spoke again.

 “You are beautiful. You fit as the Luna of this pack, my dear.”

 I couldn’t help but roll my eyes.

 “That’s a lie,” I murmured. Catching her reflection in the mirror, I rose and faced her. “I do not fit as the Luna of this pack. I am a whore. A barren. A rogue who came to feed off your son.”

 Those were her words, and she recognized them instantly. She swallowed hard, squared her shoulders, and spoke.

 “No one is above mistakes, my dear Alpha. Even you made a mistake by loving the Lycan King.”

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 I smiled at that.

 “A mistake?” I shook my head. “The only mistake I made was not rejecting your son the moment I discovered he was my mate.”

 She went pale, but I didn’t stop there. I stepped closer, my eyes pinned on hers.

 “The second mistake I made… was keeping that same Lycan King from killing your son when he had the chance. If he had, a night like this would never havee. Would it?”

 I moved to bypass her, but her shaky voice stopped me.

 “You will realize soon this is the best decision you’ve ever made. He will be the best for you, and you know it.” She turned her gaze on me. “Being an Alpha in your pack and a Luna in this pack… that’s the best you can get anywhere.”

 I scoffed.

 “Being Alpha of my pack and Queen of the Lycan Kingdom, that is the true best I can get anywhere.”

 She stiffened at that, but I paid her no more attention as I walked out, making it clear that her son was the lesser choice. The highest, and always, was Lycannar.

 ***

 I walked down the aisle. Alone. Varyn did not lead me. Instead, he stood at the entrance of the long hall, arms folded across his chest, looking almost bored. Too bored. He hadn’t appeared. Lycannar. And I almost smiled to myself, because I knew he wouldn’te.

 Dessyn and I had spoken, and she had promised to deliver the letter. Her gaze had been so sincere, and I could not have been more grateful.

 I reached the great altar of Hue Pack and turned to face him. Nyroth. Behind him stood Kai, shing me a smile, one I answered only with a narrow re. He had been one of the bullies when I lived here as a rogue.

 “Wee,” the voice of the priestess rang out, and I swallowed as I turned toward her. Wait. Was it starting now? Was I truly going to be married to Nyroth?

 “Wee, everyone, for being here tonight. Under this full moon, we will witness the powerful union of two Alphas. And without further ado, we should…”

 “Make the speech.”

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 The voice of my brother came from the entrance. I turned to him. He still stood there, arms folded, looking utterly uninterested.

 “Make the speech, priestess. My sister is the goddess of war. She is the first female Alpha. An Ashmere. Make it long. Let them know.”

 I understood what he was doing in that moment. He was stalling. This wasn’t a wedding. He was buying time. And it was all the better, because Lycannar would note, and by the end of this night, I would still be very much single, returning to my pack.

 I smiled faintly, catching sight of Olivia where she sat. Her eyes were locked on my brother, a small smile curling her lips. I paused. What was that?

 The question was still on my mind when the priestess prepared to begin.

 And then… it came.

 The sound.

 I froze, straining to listen again. The pounding rhythm of hooves. Horse galloping.

 My heart thundered against my ribs like never before.

 Everywhere went still. Silence spread heavy across the hall, broken only by that sound, the horse,ing closer.

 I whirled around.

 But to my shock, my brother, who had been standing at the entrance, was gone.

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