Page 52 of The Princess and the Pack

My brother and I share a glance, unspoken sentiments passing between us.

She’s hiding something.

How very interesting.

“I wonder, Ivy, if perhaps you and I aren’t the only ones with penchants for pretty alpha princes,” Aspen mock-whispers, as though Lily isn’tright there.

I don’t know if Aspen is making some wild guess to rile our sister, or if he has some insight I don’t possess. Either way, I’m intrigued.

Callan?I’m not certain how I feel about that, given the rumors of his wandering eye. Our Lily is so very sweet. Perhaps too sweet for a rake like Prince Callan. But I can’t deny his good looks. My husband has the same beautiful face, after all.

Furiously blushing, Lily points her butter knife in Aspen’s general direction in an attempt to be menacing. “Don’t start, you nosy wretch.”

It can’t be helped; laughter bursts from the three of us—free, easy, nourishing. A reminder that these moments with my siblings are precious. I wish more than anything they could stay forever.

Before our breakfast can continue, a knock at the chamber door rings out, followed swiftly by the sweet scent of burning. I don’t need to turn to know who’s come to call.

“Your Majesty,” Oran greets, “Your Highnesses. Please forgive my interruption. But I’m afraid the king requires his queen’s presence.”

“Another alpha caller for you, sister. This is quite a morning.” I can practically hear the smirk forming upon Aspen’s lips. If he only knew the days I’ve had, he would lose his gossip-mongering mind.

Dread drops heavily in my gut. I haven’t seen Oran, or Cillian, since I screamed and forced them from the nest. I’m not sure I’m prepared to look Lord Rafferty in the eyes at the moment, let alone be dragged off to see Cillian.

What will either of them think about Sloan’s mark now decorating my skin? Will they be angry? Overjoyed? Perhaps Cillian will nullify our marriage and banish me from his country altogether.

I sigh—resigned—and rise from my seat. Whatever Fate has in store for me next, it seems high time I face it.

All night I rehearsed what I’d say when I saw my mate again. All of it was shite, and not good enough, never encompassing exactly how I felt when it came to her.

She upends me, my Ivy. Her presence drives me to madness. Would it feel like this in our bond? Crazed, untethered? How would I be able to withstand such a thing? And why do I want it anyway? Sloan is sure the storm inside me will settle once she and I bond. He says she’ll ground us all, but what does he know of bonding, really? Secondhand accounts are no match for the real thing.

Regardless of what I practiced to say, no matter how many ways I thought to tell her I’m sorry and ask for her to just fucking love me—the moment Ivy turns and faces me, every thought evaporates from my head.

She is ethereal, as always. Her long, earthen hair shines, her eyes a master study in the deepest shades of blue.Unreal.

My omega defies the bounds of beauty.

But this morning, it’s not her pretty eyes or her rose-petal lips that have me speechless, but rather the shining, silver crescent adorning her elegant neck.

Gods. What in thefuckdid Sloan do?

I move from the chamber, panicking—is this panic? This rapid thumping in my chest?

Ivy bonded with Sloan, and that is decidedlynotgood—not what we planned. So why am I grinning and aching to laugh?

Fuck.

She bonded with Sloan. The gardener. The common-born alpha before her beloved royal husband. Sloan is twice the alpha of any noble I’ve ever met, but I’ve known him my whole life. She’s known him a day and already let him claim her?

She chose him.

Hope cracks the stone walls that enclose my heart.

Maybe we could really have everything. Maybe she could want me too.

Fuck, this isn’t panic. This is madness—glee.

Cillian is going to lose his mind. He’s a planner—such a careful man—but it seems all bets are off in this new life we’re forging. Ivy has brought light, and chaos, andmagicupon us.

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