Page 51 of The Alpha's Cursed Queen

Surely not.

Was that the king?

I never got a good look at him during either of the events I attended. I was too busy looking at Darian.

What would the king be doing here, though? Maybe I’m wrong. Darian told me how much his father opposes our mating. There’s no way he would sit and chat with me. I have to be wrong. I know I’m wrong.

The king would never come here. He has no reason to.

*****

That night, I wait for Darian.

Mary goes to bed sulking. There was a dance event this evening, and she discovered that if I didn’t attend, she couldn’t, either. She kept insisting that I go with her, but when Jimmy refused to let us leave the suite, she finally went to bed with a pout on her face. I can’t blame her. She wants to enjoy herself. She had a grand time at the picnic today, and I’m glad for that. It does make me a little envious that I have to sit things out, but then again, I probably wouldn’t enjoy them the way she does.

I wait till the early hours of the morning, but Darian does not show up.

The next night is the same. No Darian.

I ask Jimmy, but all he tells me is that Darian has been called away by the king for diplomatic purposes and is simply not around. I try to text him, but my messages don’t go through.

There’s only one more event left.

“You’re overthinking,” Mary tells me as she helps me into the light green dress. “The white witches arrived this morning. I heard they would be attending the last event. He must’ve been busy with them. You know how much importance the Wolf Kingdom gives to the white witches’ coven.”

As I put on the jewelry that Darian gifted me, I recall the sweet words he whispered to me in the early hours of the morning after our night together. He meant them. We talked about the future and all the things he wanted to show me, the places he wanted to take me. He spoke of wanting an enormous family.

I smile brightly.

I need to have more confidence in myself. He’s just busy. This is not the time to feel insecure.

There’s a guard waiting for us outside.

“Where’s Jimmy?” Mary demands.

“He got called away by the prince,” the guard explains. “I’ve been asked to escort you two ladies to the ballroom.”

There’s a thrum of excitement in the air when we enter the ballroom. I can understand it. Tonight, the fated mate couples will announce their engagements. Those who have chosen other partners will do the same. Despite everything, I can’t help butfeel a little excited, as well. Today will mark the beginning of the rest of my life. Spending my life with Darian is beginning to feel like a wonderful dream. I’m happy, I realize, more so than I ever have been before.

As the event begins to unfold, the king and Darian arrive. One look at the king has me feeling faint.

It was him. He was the man in the garden.

He looks in my direction, and his lips curve kindly. I quickly lower my eyes. When I sneak a glance at Darian, he’s not looking at me. His expression is stiff.

I frown. What’s wrong with him? As he walks past me, he doesn’t even acknowledge my presence, and it worries me. I hope he’s alright.

“He looks a bit tired,” Mary observes.

“You’re right,” I whisper back to her. “Maybe he was busy with the coven.”

Mary nudges me, smirking. “Look at you, being all concerned.”

My face feels hot. “I am not—” I pause. He’s my fated mate. I have every right to be worried about him. “Stop messing with me, Mary.”

She laughs. “I’m just so excited for you. It’s not every day my best friend gets engaged to the prince of the Wolf Kingdom. Everything you’ve suffered so far in life has led to this. Nobody will ever be able to look down on you after tonight, Alice.”

I wet my lips, looking in Darian’s direction. “I don’t think that’s what matters to me. I just never thought I would get the chanceto fall in love with somebody or have somebody love me back. It was one of those dreams that seemed too far out of my reach. Now that it’s happening, I still have a hard time believing it.”

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