Page 13 of The Alpha’s Heir

There was no doubt in my mind now.

I’d seen it happen a thousand times before. The world seemed to stop for two souls who met across the room. Some of the more open packs wouldn’t mind if they consummated their union and sealed their bond right there on the floor.

It'd seemed so romantic, like in the books I read. Where you had your person. Fate decided. It was always going to be them. No doubts. No second-guessing. A romance lover’s dream.

One I’d thought I’d never have in real life.

“Stand down, Roman,” the councilwoman whispered. She might as well have yelled it to our wolf shifter ears.

Roman. The name bounced around my head, sending butterflies dancing in my stomach even as the sense of dread buried itself deep.

My mate was a… human.

“What is he doing here?” Morrigan spoke directly to the council for the first time since she’d entered the building as she turned her attention to Roman.

A growl slipped from my chest.

The goddess glanced back at me. A knowing smile lit up her face.

Of course she knows. My thoughts started racing again. Did she set this up?

“It doesn’t matter.” The councilwoman nodded at Roman and he retook his seat, staring straight ahead. “You asked for my son in marriage. I’m afraid I still don’t understand why.”

Her son?

“Are you okay?” Alec moved closer. “You’re shaking.”

“I’m fine.” I forced my body to stand rigid so as not to worry my pack.

Morrigan’s laughter echoed through the room as she turned, sitting on the edge of the platform and giving the council her back. The goddess’s eyes lingered on me a moment longer before she spoke again.

“The gods demand a sacrifice. Retribution for the spell cast to wake them from eternal slumber. This union will be a gesture of peace. One that shows the goodwill of humans and wolves acting together as nature intended.” At least Morrigan’s eyes didn’t go white again while she talked.

“I still don’t understand,” Councilwoman Troy said. “We’ve established trade with the mu—wolf shifters. We follow a set of rules that is beneficial to both our species, and we refuse to repeat the mistakes of our history. Compared to other human cities, we’re more progressive and already acting with the outside world. Why should we have to make this sacrifice?”

Morrigan’s eyes glossed over me before she glanced back at the councilwoman. “You do know I can judge the purity of your heart, Helen. This will be the sacrifice because I deem it so.”

To her credit, the councilwoman didn’t flinch. “What happens if we refuse?”

Morrigan’s cruel smile had me and Alec and the rest of the gathered shifters crouching, preparing for the onslaught to come. The goddess clapped, then lifted her hands toward the glass ceiling.

In an instant, the blue skies gave way to darkened clouds and the rattle of thunder shook the building. I relaxed a bit. It was only a storm. But the outright horror on the humans’ faces spoke of something else.

“How is this possible?” they whispered among themselves. “We didn’t have rain scheduled for the day.”

“Do something,” another hissed. “Make it stop.”

“I understand.” The councilwoman’s voice rang out strong and without the scent of fear that was wafting off the council on the stage. “We’ll do as you say.”

“You were always going to.” Morrigan grinned as she snapped her fingers and the blue skies above returned.

“Forgive me, goddess.” Councilwoman Troy had figured it out now, thankfully before Morrigan got upset. “You have to understand a mother’s worry for her son. I don’t want anything to happen to him, and I’d prefer his union to be one he decides on. We’re a long way out from the days of arranged marriages.”

My eyes sought Roman again, but his gaze seemed a million miles away and his face was made of stone.

He was human. Of course he wouldn’t feel the mating call as strongly as I did. Mom said she never understood what it meant at first when Dad caught her scent. It took time for her to accept it.

“And we want nothing to happen to our daughter,” Kera said, motioning me forward.