Page 60 of Alpha's Hated Mate

“His niece.” Aydan grasps my wrist so I have to stop pacing and pulls me into him. “He said he loved his brother. This could be good, Saff. You finally get to meet someone from your family—your only living relative.”

“Just so he can kill me to ensure I don’t claim the throne for myself.”

Aydan shakes his head, almost in amusement. “Okay, why don’t you think about it this way? You’ll have the ear of the Alpha King himself. No one has that kind of audience with the ruler of Clarion. What if this is an opportunity for you to make a difference? You can talk to him about how Scarlets are treated. Make him see what needs to change.”

“Hmm . . . that’s not a bad idea.” I pull away, going back to pacing the small confines of my dorm room. “Fine, but we’re still going to Claymore first, right? To deal with your pack council?”

“If you want to.” Aydan stands, watching me move. “We can postpone—”

“No.” I stop in front of him. “We face your pack first, then the king. One impossible situation at a time.”

A smile tugs at his lips. “I like how you think.”

I return to my suitcase, attempting to shove another sweater inside even though it’s already full. “Great. Now, I need to make a good impression on your packandthe king.”

Aydan comes over and zips my overflowing suitcase with a bit of effort. “You’re perfect. And terrifying. And apparently royal.”

“A royal mess,” I mutter.

“My royal mess.” He kisses me, soft and sweet.

I press my forehead against his. “Two days to convince your pack I’m worthy of being your Luna. Then we race back here so I can meet my royal uncle who might want me dead.”

Aydan tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “I wouldn’t worry about him wanting you dead.”

“Why not?”

“Eh, we can take him.”

The casual way he says it—like he’s commenting on the weather—makes me laugh despite everything. “You know he can shift into three different animals, right?”

Aydan chuckles. “One impossible situation at a time

The Vaultmore estate stands before us, a massive stone fortress against the fading twilight. It’s less a home and more a castle—a sprawling stone structure with multiple wings and turrets rising against the backdrop of misty mountains with manicured grounds stretching in every direction.

“This is where you grew up?” I murmur, suddenly aware of how different our worlds truly are. “Makes my grandparents’ farmhouse look like a shack.”

“Home sweet home,” Aydan replies without enthusiasm.

“So this is where little Aydan learned to scowl.” I try to suppress my awe while taking in the ancestral mansion.

A crowd of what must be household staff has already assembled outside the main entrance. A woman in her sixties with steel-gray hair pulled into a tight bun steps forward to be the first to greet us. Her posture is impeccable, her black dress crisp and formal, but her stern expression breaks into genuine warmth when she sees Aydan.

“Alpha.” She nods respectfully, eyes crinkling at the corners. “The house has been too quiet without you.”

“Mrs. Eleanor.” Aydan’s voice softens. “You haven’t aged a day since I left.”

“Always the charmer, my lord.” She turns toward me, her expression shifting to something more measured. “And this must be—”

“Saffron Kamaria,” Aydan says proudly. “My Luna and the Princess of Clarion.”

My cheeks burn at the introduction. It still feels surreal to hear those titles attached to my name.

Mrs. Eleanor bows her head—not deeply, but properly. “Welcome to Vaultmore Estate, Your Highness.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Eleanor,” I say, trying to match her formal tone. “And Saffron is fine.”

Her eyes assess me with the precision of someone who’s spent decades managing a household. I stand straighter under her gaze.

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