Page 43 of The Princess and the Pack

“Me?” he asks, in that same light teasing tone from earlier.

He’s too handsome, too charming for the purposes of my prying.

“Yes, you, alpha. Did you know?”

Sloan hesitates, and my heart sinks. Of course he knew. I shouldn’t have hoped foronemate who didn’t hide the truth from me. Attempting to extract myself from his arms, Sloan’s strong hold keeps me still. He pulls back only slightly, so he can better look me in the eye.

“Please,” he begs. “Please hear what I have to say.”

The warmth in his hazel eyes and the genuine pleading gives me pause. Enough that he launches into an explanation.

“I didn’t know at first. When Cillian told us you were his mate, I was happy for him. We’d always spoken about the possibility of being a pack. But it was talk—dreams. When Oran scented you next, I let myself hope it could be more than a fantasy. That day, I followed you into the gardens, watched you for hours until I was brave enough to try to scent you.”

My alpha pauses, breathing deeply as though he is reliving the moment—taking me into his lungs as his whole world changed.

“When I realized you were mine, I knew nothing had ever made me feel so right and so out of control all at once. I wanted to take you in my arms, kiss youeverywhereuntil you were begging for my bite. Can you understand how that would have looked—the Lucernian princess being swept away by the gardener on her betrothal visit?”

My heart pounds, thinking of my mate being so near, having such an epiphany without me ever sensing his presence. How painful was it for him, knowing we belonged together and he couldn’t act on it?

“I don’t care if you’re a gardener,” is all I can manage in the face of such an awe-inspiring admission.

Chuckling, Sloan tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. It’s a tender gesture for such a large alpha. “I know that. But there were the opinions of others to consider at the time.”

“Cillian?” That doesn’t sound right, given the king was cradling me in my nest with Oran. But I can’t be sure.

“No, not Cillian. You were a princess—now a queen. You royals have your rules, and I wasn’t in a position to break them at the time.”

I don’t know why I trust him, why I believe every word he says without question. I can’t explain why it feels as though I’ve known this alpha all my life.

“And now?” I ask. “Are you in a position to break them?”

Sloan’s warm gaze anchors me in the seriousness of this next bit. “That’s up to you, Ivy. I’ll do anything you want me to, butyouneed to decide. Are you ready for what breaking the rules will bring? For the changes and the criticisms that could come?”

The enormity of his questions steals the breath from my lungs. That he, Cillian, and Oran would think to turn their whole lives upside down to be with me—I’m speechless and a little ashamed my answer doesn’t come readily.

Perhaps I was too harsh with Oran, maybe Cillian as well. But I felt betrayed, too reminded of my father and how I never wanted to live like him, in the shadows, carrying on in a manner that hurt people I loved.

I don’t want to hurt my alphas. But I also don’t want my happiness to come at the expense of my siblings. It doesn’t feel as simple as saying yes to my deepest-held dream when it could affect their futures as well. Other kingdoms could disapprove—even break betrothals if they found my behavior dishonorable.

All this to consider, and I’ve yet to have a conversation with the king and his most loyal advisor about their feelings on the matter. My fault, I know, for kicking them out of the nest. But I’m not ready to face them when I’m so confused.

“Tell you what,” Sloan cuts in, giving me grace despite my silence. “Why don’t you spend the night with me? No expectations, no prying eyes. Just an alpha wanting to woo the omega of his dreams.”

I blush, wet between my thighs over such a tempting offer. Being alone with this walking mountain of carnality is a dangerous thing. I could end up sitting on something other than his lap.

That said, I want to know him better beyond the sexual tension and innate comfort he brings me.

Perhaps I’ll even allow him to know me in return.

“Just us?”

Sloan smiles, likely realizing I’ve already agreed. “That’s right.”

I nod. Maybe I’m naïve, given who he’s in cahoots with. But if I don’t try, I’ll never know what could come from our Fate-blessed connection. What if it’s even better than all my fantasies?

“Woo at will, alpha.”

“This way, petal.”

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