Page 5 of Alpha's Impostor Bride

I had no intention of revealing the truth because I had thought out my plan of how to deal with Princess Vivian before we even launched our attack. However, my men want to know, and there’s no reason to hide it. “She seems to be my fated mate. My wolf recognized her.”

Derrick stills. “That murdering bitch?”

My wolf growls under its breath, but I ignore it. “It’s not a huge deal.”

“Not a huge deal?” Derrick stares at me, pale. “It’s fucking convenient though, isn’t it? You get to mate her, and she stays alive.”

My brows knit together. “It’s not in my hands, Derrick. I didn’t choose her.”

“Then execute her,” he says harshly. “If it’s so irrelevant and you don’t care, just kill her. No one will be the wiser.”

I stare at him while considering the value of the woman. I’m sure there are other ways I can control the Eastern Kingdom. “If that is what will satisfy your desire for revenge, it’s acceptable to me.”

Edgar and Rothan hiss. “You can’t be serious! She’s your fated mate!”

I hold up my hand, calm. “It was Derrick’s family that was harmed. She may be my fated mate, but his desire for revenge is equally important. She’ll be executed at dawn.” Turning around, I gather the papers on my desk and walk over to the shelf behind me to place them there. I can deal with them in the morning. “If there’s nothing further, I think we should all head to bed. Tomorrow is going to be a busy day.”

I walk toward the door, but Derrick stops me, his voice low. “Hold on.”

Annoyed, I look at him. “Whatever it is, can’t it wait? I want to eat and have a bath. And you smell worse than me.”

He winces. “I’m not sure who smells worse right now, but I don’t want you to execute your fated mate.”

I shake my head. “It doesn’t matter to me. Not all wolves seek out their fated mates. I don’t like being controlled by the Goddess—”

“Well, I don’t believe that,” my friend says abruptly. “A fated mate is a gift. And honestly, I can’t see any other woman putting up with you aside from your fated mate. You should go ahead with what you were planning.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” I walk past him, and he trails after me.

“I don’t want you to kill her, Cedric. I forgive her.”

I pause. “You forgive her? You forgive her the blood of your family?”

“Yes,” he growls. “I believe in fated mates. I don’t want you to miss out on yours. I killed her father. I killed someone precious to her. That makes us even. I can live with that.”

“Maybe you can, but I won’t force you to make this choice based on—”

“Cedric, it’s my decision!” he snaps. “I’m telling you to mate the girl! Not everybody gets to meet their fated mate. No matter your views on the subject, I won’t have you walk away from her for me!”

Edgar and Rothan voice their agreement from behind me.

“Fine.” I glare at Derrick. “You have till tomorrow to change your mind. Now, I need to bathe. Get out of my way.”

He moves aside but not before pretending to gag as I walk past him. That earns him a punch in his gut, and as I walk away, I hear him groaning while Edgar tells him, “You had that coming.”

A hot shower and a meal relax my muscles, and I head to my chambers. When I open the door, however, I’m assailed by a rich scent that has me stopping in my tracks. My wolf snarls.

Intruder!

Before I can react, I smell something else, a soft, earthy scent that’s quite familiar to me. It’s buried under that rich aroma, and once my wolf recognizes it, it rumbles in approval.

Did Harriet bring the woman here?

I told her to—

No, I didn’t tell her what to do with the princess. She must have assumed I wanted her in my chambers. I ring the rope for the bell attached to Harriet’s quarters before closing the door behind me and searching the room for the woman. She’s not on the bed. She’s not on the chair…

I pause.

---