Page 25 of Ronan's Charming Mate

Her mom shrugged one shoulder. “There were things you didn’t understand. I told you that you would grow to love him, you should have trusted me.”

“He hit me! And he was cruel.”

“He was the one chosen for you,” her dad said. Then he waved his hand. “This is nonsense.”

“Why did you want one of us to mate with him so badly?” Serena demanded. “What are the things we don’t understand?”

When their parents didn’t answer, Serena took a menacing step toward them, clapping her hands together, the ground rumbling.

Her father spread his hand out and the rumbling stopped, counteracting her power with his own.

“The king wanted to mate off Cenrik. We were promised gold and jewels and a higher position within the council if either of you went through with it.”

“You were never in danger of being exiled or harmed by the king?” Alanah asked.

Her mom scoffed. “We’re too important for that to happen. And someone will mate Cenrik and be a very wealthy wife, living in the lap of luxury. That could have been you.”

“I can’t believe this,” Serena said. “It’s like you’re strangers.”

“We weren’t like this before you selfishly chose to be exiled from the commune and left us in danger of losing our positions on the council,” her father said. “The king did bribe us for Alanah, but the threat to our reputation and livelihood was very real.”

Ronan stepped in front of his mate with a growl. “I’ve heard just about fucking enough. You’re fucking disgraces as parents. How dare you try to better yourself at your daughters’ expense.”

“You don’t have any say here, stranger,” her mom said.

“He does to have a say,” Alanah said. “He’s my truemate.”

“Let’s go sweetheart,” Ronan said.

“I’ll never be back,” Alanah said.

“I’m certain the king wouldn’t allow it anyway,” her father said.

Her heart was breaking. What had happened to her parents that drove them to this end? That they’d sacrifice her happiness for their financial gain was unthinkable. She wanted to cry or scream out her frustration, but instead she took Ronan’s hand and pulled him away. “Let’s get the hell home.”

Ronan snarled. “The sooner the better.”

She heard Galen say something similar to Serena as the couple turned away from their parents, the sabers and wolves following suit.

They’d only gotten a few yards from the house when Cenrik appeared suddenly in front of them, his eyes blazing.

“Not so fast, dearest.”

Chapter Ten

Before they could react, the male who Ronan figured for the asshole Cenrik, clapped his hands and fairy soldiers appeared, surrounding them.

Ronan let out his claws, scanning for a safe exit and finding none.

“Serena, you know you were warned to never come into the commune again,” Cenrik said with a sneer. “You’re marked for death.”

“Anyone touches a hair on my mate’s head will be dead in two seconds,” Galen said, his voice low with his beast.

A male joined Cenrik. “Take both females into custody. There will be a mating tonight, and an execution.”

“Fuck. You,” Galen shouted. He launched himself toward Cenrik, and a fight broke out, fairies and shifters battling.

“That’s the king with Cenrik,” Alanah said, her voice filled with fear.

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