Page 52 of Alpha's Exiled Mate
Perock’s breathing quickened, his fists clenching until his knuckles whitened. He took a step forward, then stopped abruptly, his body trembling with the effort to hold himself back.
“Lilia…” His voice was hoarse, raw with emotion, as if the words were torn from him. “She… she’s…”
I signaled the guards and maids to take Anna away. She looked confused, her small brow furrowed, but she curtsiedpolitely to Perock before letting the maids lead her down the path. As her small figure disappeared around the corner, Perock seemed to sag, as if the sight of her had been the only thing holding him upright, his strength drained by the weight of what he’d seen.
When we were alone, the garden silent save for the rustle of leaves, he spoke, his voice thick with disbelief. “She… she’s my daughter, isn’t she?”
I crossed my arms, a defensive shield against the vulnerability his words stirred. “Your Majesty, is there something you need?” I asked, my voice cool and formal.
Pain flickered in his eyes, raw and unguarded, but it was quickly replaced by a steely resolve. “I know who you are,” he said, his words simple but heavy, each one landing like a stone.
Five words, and my carefully constructed world crumbled. I forced myself to stay calm, my voice steady despite the chaos within. “I don’t understand. I’m Princess Lilia of Fellinger. This is my first visit to your kingdom.”
“No,” he said, stepping closer, his eyes burning with that familiar stubbornness, a fire I’d once known so well. “You’re her—the woman I married five years ago, my… fated mate.”
Those last three words sent a jolt through me, electric and overwhelming, my wolf stirring within, yearning to answer his call, to bridge the chasm between us. I clenched my jaw, fighting it with every ounce of will. “You’re mistaken,” I said coldly, my voice sharp enough to cut. “Perhaps you should return to your true queen.”
Mentioning Viossi shifted his expression—a flash of pain, guilt, and anger crossing his face. “She was never my real wife, and you know it. From the moment I felt our bond break five years ago, I knew she wasn’t you.”
“Bond?” I gave a bitter laugh, the sound harsh even to my own ears. “If there was a bond, why did you hurt me so easily?Why did you choose Sophia over me, time and again, ignoring me as if I were nothing?” The words slipped out before I could stop them, a confession of my identity that I immediately regretted. My admission hung in the air, a truth I couldn’t take back.
His eyes lit up, a spark of hope igniting within them, and he took another step forward, his voice urgent. “I was a prideful fool, Lilia. I didn’t value what fate gave me until it was gone. For five years, I’ve searched for you, never giving up, haunted by my mistakes.”
“Too late,” I said, stepping back, my voice hard and unyielding. “Whatever was between us ended long ago. We’re just representatives of our kingdoms now—nothing more.”
“And her?” he asked suddenly, his voice thick with emotion, his eyes searching mine. “She’s my daughter, isn’t she?”
My blood ran cold, my heart stuttering in my chest. He’d seen Anna’s eyes, noted the timeline, the resemblance that was impossible to deny. “She’s Princess Anna of Fellinger,” I said firmly, my tone leaving no room for argument. “She has nothing to do with you.”
His face twisted with pain, a raw, unguarded anguish that made my chest ache despite my resolve. “Lilia, don’t lie. The timing, her appearance, her eyes—she’s mine. Anna’s my daughter, isn’t she? She’s about four, and those eyes… they’re mine.”
I couldn’t deny it outright, not when the truth was so plain, but I wouldn’t confirm it either. Anna was my everything, my reason for enduring, and I wouldn’t let anyone—not even her father—disrupt her life without proving himself worthy.
“Why do you care now?” I countered, my eyes narrowing, my voice laced with suspicion. “Because you need to sacrifice your own child to break your curse?”
The word sacrifice hit him like a physical blow, his face paling, his eyes widening in horror. “You think I’d harm her?” he said, his voice breaking. “Five years, Lilia—I’ve lived in regret and longing, tormented by what I lost. If Anna’s my daughter, she deserves to know her father, and I deserve to know her, to love her.”
“Love?” I scoffed, the word bitter on my tongue. “Like you ‘loved’ me? You couldn’t spare me a glance when Sophia was around, fawning over her while I stood in the shadows. You chose her over me during the rogue attack, left me to fend for myself. Why should I trust you with Anna?”
His expression crumpled, raw with guilt, his shoulders sagging under the weight of my words.
“I made terrible mistakes, Lilia,” he said, his voice thick with remorse. “I regret them every day, and I’ve paid for them in ways you can’t imagine. Give me a chance to prove I’ve changed—not for me, but for Anna. She deserves to know her father.”
His sincerity pierced me, stirring a softness I couldn’t afford to indulge. Anna deserved the truth, yes, but not now, not until I was certain of Perock’s intentions, certain he wasn’t driven by the curse that loomed over him. I had to protect her, to shield her from a world that could be as cruel as it was beautiful.
“I’m here to sign a treaty,” I said at last, my voice steady and resolute. “Not to settle personal scores. If you want to prove yourself, respect my boundaries and don’t interfere with my mission.”
He looked at me, his eyes a storm of emotions—regret, hope, determination, and something deeper, something that made my wolf ache.
Finally, he nodded, his expression solemn. “I understand. But you should know this, Lilia, I won’t give up. No matter how long it takes, I’ll prove I’m not the same man five years ago.”
As he turned and walked away, his broad shoulders retreating down the garden path, I let myself tremble, the weight of his words crashing over me.
My defenses had nearly crumbled under the intensity of his gaze, the sincerity in his voice, but I’d held firm, rebuilding the walls around my heart just in time.
For Anna, I had to stay strong.
Chapter 17