Three Alpha Princes for an Unwanted Omega

AYLA

I stood on the low stool in the center of the room while the dressmaker knelt at my feet, her mouth full of pins, her fingers working the hem of the dress.

Around us, maids moved in a careful dance, one holding a tray of combs and another with a length of pale silk draped over her arm.

Mira stood at the edge of the room with a brush in her hand, her eyes downcast, and I watched her in the glass, the way she kept glancing at me and then away, as if she could not quite believe what she was seeing either.

I did not feel beautiful. I felt like a lamb being dressed for the slaughter, ribbons and all.

My stomach churned.

Somewhere in this palace, Lucius was preparing to stand before his people and make an announcement and I was the announcement. I was the gift he was going to unwrap in front of all of them, and I had no idea what was inside me that he wanted so badly.

"Nearly done, my lady," the dressmaker said.

I looked at my reflection and did not recognize the woman staring back. I pressed a hand to my stomach and tried to breathe.

"Excuse me," I said. "I need a moment."

The dressmaker looked up, startled. "My lady?"

"Just a moment to collect myself. All of you, leave."

They began to file out but I stopped Mira.

"You can stay" I said.

I waited until they were gone before I rounded on her.

"You told me he intends to make me his mate."

She did not meet my eyes. "Yes, my lady."

"Is that what tonight is? The announcement?" I took a step toward her. "I need to know for certain. Is he going to stand in front of all those people and announce me as his mate?"

Mira’s hands twisted in the front of her apron. "I... I do not know, my lady. I heard him speaking of you. That is why I told you what I told you but I cannot be sure what he means to do tonight."

I looked at her for a long moment.

"Thank you," I said quietly.

She looked up, and for a moment there was something in her eyes, then the knock came, she flinched, and the moment was gone.

The door opened up to Lucius.

He was dressed in a tunic of deep charcoal, fitted, with silver at the collar, and his hair had been combed back from his face. When his eyes found mine, he just looked at me for a long moment without speaking.

"Ayla." His voice came out rough. "You are... you are the most stunning woman I have ever seen."

I dipped my head.

"You flatter me, my lord."

He crossed the room and offered me his hand.

"Come," he said. "Let us go to the hall."

I put my own hand in his and let him lead me out of the room.

The corridors were lined with torches. I could feel the gazes of the servants as we passed.

"You are quiet," Lucius said.

"I am nervous." It was not a lie.

"Do not be." His thumb brushed across my knuckles. "You are with me. Nothing will harm you tonight."

I wanted to laugh. I wanted to ask him if he had forgotten that he was the one who had struck me down and kidnapped me against my will. He was the harm. But I only smiled at him.

We stopped at a great set of double doors, and Lucius turned to me. He pressed a kiss to my knuckles just as the door swung open and he was introduced by a loud voice.

The hall was packed.

I had not known what to expect, but it was not this. Everywhere was crowded with people and they all had their eyes on us as we entered.

I kept my smile fixed on my face and let Lucius lead me down the center of the hall.

At the far end, I saw Soren and Willow who looked away when I met her eyes.

Lucius lead me to a high chair and gestured for me to sit. The hall went quiet when he turned to them.

"My people," he began. "You have all followed me through the dark. You have trusted me and some of you have bled for me. I have never once forgotten the promise I made when I took this crown and when I became your leader."

A murmur of approval rippled through the hall.

"Tonight," Lucius went on, "I stand before you to tell you that there is finally a way forward."

He paused, letting the silence stretch.

"I received a letter," he said, "from Alpha Kieran of the Northern territory."

The hall erupted with outrage. I heard the word traitor and enemy thrown about while I stat frozen in my chair, my mind spinning.

My father had sent a note?

"He wants a peace treaty," Lucius said.

There was another round of angry outrage. Lucius raised his hand to stop them.

"I have decided to sit with him and hear what he has to say but before you think I have turned my back on you, I want you to believe in me as you have always done and know that I will deliver on every promise I made to you... starting now"

He gestured to the right and two men stepped with two glasses of wine.

"I have an announcement and one that we are all going to toast to because it has been a long time coming and I am sure you will all agree with me." He chuckled.

As he spoke, my mind raced.

If my father had sent a letter for peace, it could only mean he was trying to get me back.

And if he was, then there was no need for me to play the game of seduction with Lucius anymore.

I could see in their faces how much they hated my father so what if...

What if I revealed the truth about my identity, right here, in front of all his people. It would defeat his purpose of trying to make us mates, won’t it?

"Your wine," Lucius’ voice interrupted my furious thoughts.

I took the cup from him.

"To our future bond," he murmured, clinking his cup against mine.

I just have to wait for the announcement, I thought. Then I would voice my rejection and reveal my identity. Throw his pack in an uproar and watch him waddle in the dissent and chaos.

I nodded at him, a smile on my face as I lifted the cup to my lips and drank.

The wine had a taste to it.

It was subtle, a bitterness at the back of the tongue. I lowered the cup but the taste lingered in my mouth.

Lucius set his cup down.

"Now for the announcement." He continued. "You all will meet someone very special to my heart, officially." His voice rang out.

"This is Ayla," he gestured toward me. "And she is my mate."

I rose to my feet as murmurs rang out from every corner of the crowd

This was it. I would reject him. I would tell them all the truth... that he had taken me against my will and I was really the daughter of their enemy, Alpha Kieran.

But before I could open my mouth to speak, heat flooded through my body. It swept up from my chest and down into my limbs, and with it came a pull tugging at me, drawing me toward Lucius.

I could not bring my voice to work. I stared at a smiling Lucius.

The mate bond? It was not possible.I had mates... three of them.

Just then I saw movement to my right. It was the witch, Amara and she was smiling at me.

It was then I understood.

The wine.

"Come, my Luna," Lucius said, holding out his hand to me. "Let us show the people."

I fought with everything I had, every scrap of will that I could muster but my body would not listen to me. My hand rose of its own accord and I watched it as if from very far away, as I placed it in his.

He lifted it to his lips and kissed it.

Lucius gestured and a box was brought up to the podium. I watched as it was opened and something, their own version of the moonstone was placed carefully on top.

He placed both our hands upon it and I watched in horror as the moonstone began to glow golden, confirm my bond to Lucius Veyr.

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