Page 68 of The Princess and the Pack

All that will change when the people of our court learn of our pack and the plans we have for a new Namara.

“You’re not even listening to me!” Ciaran shouts, cutting through wallowing thoughts of my mate. “This is typical. You with your head in the clouds, Callan is fuck knows where, and me—invisible. No one pays any mind or respect to the middle child.”

“Fuck’s sake almighty, Ciaran,” I grumble. “Can we temper the dramatics a bit?”

My brother has been spectacularly on edge the closer we get to this coronation. I’m grateful to him for all he’s done to ensure its success while my focus is elsewhere. But I wonder if his short temper has more to do with personal matters.

His intended, Prince Lanier, is set to arrive in Namara soon. Once he does, he won’t be leaving; Ciaran’s wedding to the prince is not far off.

My brother and Lanier are like Ivy and me: betrothed since birth in order to forge alliances across the sea. Unfortunately, with Ciaran’s impending nuptials, his dalliances with Prince Aspen must soon come to an end.

We’ve yet to broach that subject, and I can sense now is not the time either. I only hope he’ll be happy, regardless of what comes.

Ciaran throws his head back, cackling. “Don’t speak to me of dramatics, you self-important prick. You’re about to turn our entire way of life upside down, and all I’ve done is support you. The least you could do is listen when I’m discussing details ofyourcoronation.”

I sigh. As much as I hate to admit it, Ciaran’s right. “I’m sorry,” I offer. “Please continue.”

My brother nods, the flush of annoyance bleeding from his fair cheeks. “As I was saying, you and the queen will enter through the?—”

The echoing clang of the throne room doors interrupt the prince. The scent of spiced apples and all things lovely floats upon the air, making my mouth water. My queen—my beautiful omega—enters, looking the picture of sensual beauty with her ocean eyes trained on me.

I wish more than anything they held the same warmth as they did on our wedding night, but I’m prepared to do what it takes to win back her heart.

Beside me Ciaran exhales, resigned to the fact he’s now lost the very little attention he held. When Ivy is near, she steals all of my focus. “Well, this has been a splendid waste of time,” he says. “I’ll leave you to it, brother.” He greets my wife, bowing at the waist with a polite “Your Majesty” before exiting and sealing off the room to give us privacy.

I’m not sure that’s what Ivy wants, given the way she’s biting her bottom lip. But, if I’m honest, I’m pleased at the chance to have her full attention.

“You’re more beautiful every time I lay upon you, darling,” I say in hopes to draw a smile from her perfect mouth. My words may mean little at this point, but she deserves the praise.

Ivy nods, unsmiling, and steps closer. “I—” She hesitates. The flush upon her cheeks speak to nervousness, or perhaps her impending heat is affecting her greatly today.

I close the distance between us, hoping she won’t retreat when I place a hand beneath her chin and draw her gaze to mine. “What do you need?”

“It’s silly.” Her tense tittering unsettles me almost as much as her belief I would ever consider her requests frivolous.

“Never, omega. I told you before, I’ll do anything you ask of me. Just tell your alpha what you need.”

My mate sighs, leaning against the steadiness of my chest and buries her nose against my throat. “I just felt like I needed you—needed your scent. But if you’re busy, I can take my leave.”

Panic courses through me and I secure an arm around her waist, holding her tight. She can’t leave. Not when this is the first contact I’ve had with her in days. Not when she sought me out. I’ll show her now that regardless of what’s happened, she can depend on me. “I’m never too busy for you.”

Ivy breathes me in, taking comfort in my alpha signature, her sweet scent perfuming the air around us. Gods, it’s so potent, so mouth-watering that I’d die to get her taste on my tongue. There’s so much we didn’t get to discover about each other and I could kick myself for not taking the opportunity to spend hours with my head between her beautiful legs.

This isn’t the important thing, at present. What I really need is for us to talk through our problems, but my scent match is so near to her heat. It’s a natural response, as her alpha, to be ready to please her at any given moment.

“I wish we could go back to the moment you realized,” she whispers. Her arms wrap around my neck, her perfect tits pressing against my chest, and I’m seconds from begging Ivy to take me back to her nest. “I wish we could start over.”

Gods. She has no idea.

While I can’t regret any of our time spent together, I would do things differently if given the opportunity. But all my wishes won’t turn back the hands of time. As much as I hate that I’ve hurt her, the only way through this mess is forward.

With my nose in her hair, I steal a bit of her scent, letting it ground me as I ask for absolution. “I’m so sorry I can’t grant you that wish, darling. But I swear, if you can forgive me, I’ll never do anything to lose your trust again.”

Ivy’s answering sigh is swift and sad, like she can’t fathom such a thing could be possible. She pulls back—her beautiful ocean eyes a storm of tears and anguish. “I don’t think I’m quite ready to do that.”

Sharp pain, like a searing blade, cuts open my chest to expose my bleeding heart to her. I can’t stand it—can’t stand how powerless I feel to make her see that my love is pure and full of good intention. But I deserve this, for breaking her trust. An omega should never have to question her alpha mate.

“I understand. I’ll wait as long as I must to earn a place in your heart again.”

---