Page 11 of Alpha's Impostor Bride

The fact that I am his fated mate means nothing to him.

Sometimes it’s best to simply appease the people around you. Does Harriet really expect me to argue with her? She could tell me the sky is green, and I’d go along with it. A doll and a puppet. Those have always been my roles. Why should this time be any different?

My hands tighten around the glass in my hand. “I understand.”

She leaves to find me some food, and I wander over to the window. The room overlooks the garden. It’s a bare landscape. None of the warmth of the East here. At least back home, the gardens were always a lush green, a variety of flowers blooming in every corner. The chirping of the birds a constant background. When I would hide out in those gardens, seeking the solitude, I learned to differentiate between the different bird calls. It used to be my favorite pastime, one that allowed me to relax. However, there are no birds here, the gray skies and frostbitten trees painting the picture of a dreary wasteland.

The door of my bedroom opens, and I turn around, expecting to see Harriet. To my surprise, it is the king.

He stares at me. “Why haven’t you changed?”

My wolf, who had perked up on seeing him, lets out a confused whine.

“Harriet wanted me to eat first.”

King Cedric tightens his jaw. “Fine.”

Why does he looks so irritated? Maybe he doesn’t like seeing my face.

“I just came to tell you not to kick up a fuss over this.”

I blink slowly, trying to follow what he’s saying. “Over what?”

“The separate bedrooms.” He sounds impatient.

“I have no problem with it,” I murmur. When he looks angry, I wonder what I did now.

“And I don’t want to hear any complaining about the mating ceremony.”

“I understand.”

Why does he look even more irked now?

“You are a stand-in for the real princess,” he says harshly. “Don’t expect the same treatment that Vivian would have received. And don’t think you will get the same privileges. You are simply a substitute, so know your place. Don’t let your position go to your head. This room was designed for the real princess. You are not her.”

My wolf flinches, the harsh and vicious rejection making it whimper in bewilderment. How do I explain to an animal who only understands instincts that our mate doesn’t want us? This isn’t a fairytale where the king rescues us from the evil princess and we get to live happily ever after. The king did rescue us, but he wanted the evil princess, and I’m just a cheap replacement.

“I understand,” I reply quietly.

Does he expect me to argue with him over my rights? What rights? I never assumed I had any.

He stares at me for a few seconds and then snaps, “Change that outfit and stop eating all the time. The servants aren’t here to accommodate your every whim.”

With that, he slams the door shut and leaves.

I gaze at the door, trying to calm my wolf. “It’s fine,” I whisper softly. “You’re alive, aren’t you? That matters.”

But I don’t know if I entirely believe it even as the words leave my mouth.

The Northern Kingdom’s castle is massive.

The gray, stone walls are depressing, and as Harriet guides me around, I find myself asking, “Why isn’t there anything colorful in this place?”

The question comes out before I can stop myself.

Harriet gives me a small smile. “The North has always been this way. None of the previous queens cared much about decorating the castle. His Majesty’s parents were never concerned about appearances, either. As I’m sure you know, the Northern Kingdom is responsible for protecting the Veil between the human world and ours. The Veil has incredibly strong magic, and it affects the wildlife in that area, causing those creatures to mutate. The royal family is tasked with ensuring the resulting monsters don’t cross into the human world, so they are kept very busy with protecting the Veil. They simply don’t think about things like having color in the castle. But if you wish to decorate, I can talk to the king about a budget—”

I shake my head. “I don’t want to change anything. I was just asking.”

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