Page 29 of The Alpha’s Heir

It didn’t seem like any gods were listening or coming to my aid.

“Good. Alice has your itinerary for the day. Try not to be late for any event.” Helen’s voice grew distant as the front door shut, but I could still make it out with my shifter hearing. “This is going to be a shit show.”

Katrina’s smile brightened. “Would you like me to help you run through the itinerary?”

I nodded as my wolf started to pace.

“Alice, please relay the details sent to Miss Meg from the councilwoman,” Katrina said.

Alice clicked back on and smiled her fake smile. “Dress shopping with Justus Troy at nine a.m. followed by reservations for lunch at the Horston Kitchens at noon. There will be a brief time for a staged photo op with the newly engaged couple, and then return to the manor at two p.m. Dinner promptly at six.”

“Shopping should be fun.” Katrina was already moving toward the closet. “Let’s find you something comfortable to wear to the store.”

I sank onto the edge of the unmade bed. Shopping. Yay.

But that wasn’t what worried me most.

A whole day with the councilwoman’s son. The drunk asshole that hated me. The person who was best friends with Roman.

The man I was supposed to marry, who was not my fated mate.

9

Roman

“Thank Science you’re here.” Justus groaned as the headache band pulsed red light around his forehead. “Do you know what my mother has me doing today?”

Was I aware of the itinerary? Yes. Because I’d woken up at the crack of dawn to train with my unit, and I’d been pulled away by the colonel, who hadn’t been happy with the specifically requested candidate for this security detail assignment.

Neither had I.

My thoughts kept returning to Meg, and I knew it was best if I stayed away from the woman, but I couldn’t turn down a mission—especially not one ordered by the councilwoman herself.

I didn’t tell Justus all that.

He was still pissing me off.

“Enlighten me,” I said, loud enough to make him wince. “It looks like I’m stuck on babysitting duty for some reason.”

He held up a finger and fiddled with the headache settings before he let out a sigh. “Good. Then you’ll be here to witness how ridiculous this all is. She has me taking the mutant shopping, of all things. Afterwards, we’re to have a public lunch with a tip-off to reporters so they can snap their photos for the tabloids showing me “happy and in love” with my new fiancé.”

My throat was suddenly dry as I looked around the room, gaze landing on the white velvet box on his nightstand. It was probably brand new. An expensive diamond of some sort. A ring I’d never be able to afford in my life.

That was good. A pretty girl like Meg deserved the best jewelry.

I didn’t know why I felt so irritated. “Do you plan to propose to her?”

“Science no.” The infrared pulses still flashed against Justus’s closed eyes. “This is already a done deal. I’m surprised Mom didn’t give the mutant the ring herself. Besides, if the little werewolf doesn’t play her part and act like she’s happy to be in this arrangement, that’s on her. Hey—”

I ripped the device from his head and tossed it across the room, lowering myself so we were eye to eye. “You’re being an asshole.”

Justus blinked. “What has gotten into you?”

I inhaled slowly through my nose, debating on wringing his neck. “In case you forgot, I took your seat at the meeting yesterday. That means I was there and saw your bride…” The word tasted bitter on my tongue. “I watched Meg humble herself in front of the council after the goddess tore all our guns away. She entered into this sacrifice to save not only her people, but ours.”

“How very—”

“Meg didn’t have to come here,” I cut him off. “The councilwoman could’ve sent you to a secluded location in the Fringes outside the wall where you’d be married on the mutant lands to complete this arrangement.”