Page 4 of Rogue Alpha Prince

"Isn't she a little bit too young, though?" asks the Rogue King, suddenly, all of their eyes are finally on me.

To be honest, I haven't listened carefully to what they were saying for a long time now. I was too occupied with silent questions to the Moon Goddess about her silly joke of a mate bond.

I mean, we don't even pray to the same Goddess! Rogues worship the God of Night if the reports I read are true.

"She's twenty, almost twenty-one," says my dad, the true Alpha King.

Yes, I am rather young for marriage. But all of my sisters are still kids—hiding from scary Rogues in their wing of the palace. So when the Rogues asked for a royal she-wolf's hand in marriage, I was the only legal option.

Even so, my adult age doesn't seem to please the Rogue King. The prince doesn't look at me in favor either—I quickly decide to add the one thing that I know would act in favor of my maturity now.

Or rather, in favor of the union of our quarreling kingdoms, because this marriage is the last thing I want for myself personally.

"I can feel the mate pull already, Your Majesty," I look down respectfully as I should. Rogue or not, he is still a king. My King soon—if their cruel wish comes true.

There is silence for a moment, so I look up again. Alpha Rogue Prince has turned his attention elsewhere, bored again, but I can feel Rogue King's scorching eyes burn metaphoric holes in me.

My father starts to seem nervous about securing his dreamed peace, but he doesn't say anything. No, he wants me to handle all of this by myself. I know him.

Partof me wishes we hadn't decided he wouldn't open mind-link to me, in favor of being on a constant link with his Beta. In case the meeting doesn’t go as peacefully as it should.

"Well, will it be a problem?" Rogue King asks me finally, with furrowed brows.

I know what he means. He wonders if I can be loyal to his son when I can feel the pull of the true mate elsewhere.

"No, it won't, Your Majesty. I'll remain loyal to my husband no matter what."

As I have any other choice in that matter when they are one person. The same ruthless, bloodthirsty prick of the Rogue Alpha Prince.

The Rogue King nods his approval.

"And do we have to worry about your son's true mate?" my dad asks, completely oblivious I’m right fucking here.

Rogue King laughs, "She’s as good as dead.”

What the hell was that supposed to mean?

This time my father nods, and they all return to more pressing matters. Everything that will happen after I get married to my biggest enemy.

What the hell? I keep wondering—while staring at the brooding, masculine, too-good-looking-for-his-own-good, huge werewolf warrior in front of me. I'm pretty sure he's the tallest man I've ever seen, with his father a close second. I know I should at least pretend I'm listening to my dad, talking with the Rogue King about some border issues I'm probably even more aware of than them, but my eyes don't move in their direction even for a second.

They are too drowned by all the extra-sharp-looking knives strapped to Rogue Prince's broad shirtless chest.

"I hope you are at least not a virgin, are you?" he asks me suddenly, gracing us with his husky voice for the first time.

Chapter 2 – Last Minutes of Freedom

What the actual fuck?

Has the Alpha Rogue Prince really just asked me about my sexual experience? Not only in general, but also in front of my dad, the King, and future father-in-law, another King, at the official political meeting? What an asshole. I can't believe it.

I look at my father for some reassurance of how ridiculous it is, but he doesn't spare me a glance. I know what that means. Of course. He wants me to say whatever I have to say to secure the deal. No matter if I lose the rest of my dignity in the process.

I’m realizing that as soon as I entered the throne hall today, I stopped being his daughter anymore. In his eyes, I am already sold to the Rogues for the peace he so desperately needs for his people.

Fine.

"Of course, I'm not a virgin. I'm twenty, Your Highness," I cover my lie in a blanket of truth, telling the Rogue Prince what he wants to hear.