Page 63 of Alpha's Exiled Mate
Anna was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, “I think King Perock would be a good dad.”
My heart jolted. “Why do you say that?”
“Because he’s so nice to me,” Anna answered innocently. “And the way he looks at me, it’s like how you look at me. Full of love.”
I was at a loss for words, only able to pull her into my arms and let her rest against my chest. Soon, she fell asleep, her breathing steady and even.
But I lay awake, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.
Anna’s words echoed in my mind.
I thought of the smiles on her face when she was with Perock, and the cautious way she had just asked if we could stay with him forever. A bitter sense of guilt crept into my heart—I had deprived her of five years with her father. She had felt Perock’s love, the kind of fatherly affection that didn’t need words to be expressed.
Could I trust him? The question hung heavy, I knew I couldn’t avoid forever.
It's a kind of decision that would shape not just my future, but hers—the daughter whose happiness meant more to me than my own heart.
Chapter 20
Perock
I stood in the center of the banquet hall, watching the servants busily attend to the final details of the decorations. The entire hall had been transformed into a forest, with silver and blue silk draping from the ceiling, mimicking the effect of moonlight filtering through a canopy of trees. Along the walls stood lifelike wolf sculptures, each handcrafted and unique—some with their heads raised in a howl, others on alert, and some tenderly guarding their cubs.
This wolf-themed birthday party had been in the works for a week. Ever since I confirmed that Anna was my child, I had been waiting for this day. I had the maids subtly coax the date of her birthday out of her, and from that moment, I began preparing. The guilt of missing the past five years weighed heavily on me, and no matter what, I was determined to make this birthday the most unforgettable one for her.
“Your Majesty, the cake is prepared,” my steward, Thom, reported, his voice steady but warm with shared anticipation. “As per your instructions, it’s a chocolate cake sculpted into a wolf, with layers of blueberry and whipped cream filling.”
I nodded, a quiet satisfaction settling in my chest. I’d missed too many of Anna’s milestones—her first smile, her first word, the countless moments that shaped her into the vibrant child she was—but this, at least, I could give her: a perfect birthday, crafted with every ounce of care I possessed.
“When will Princess Lilia and Anna arrive?” I asked, my gaze sweeping the hall, inspecting every detail with a critical eye—the polished gleam of the silverware, the precise alignment of the wolf sculptures, the soft flicker of lanterns casting moonlit patterns across the marble floor. Nothing could be out of place, not tonight.
“In about half an hour, Your Majesty,” Thom replied, consulting a small ledger. “The gifts from Fellinger have also arrived and are being wrapped in the preparation room as we speak.”
Lilia’s image surfaced in my mind—those sharp green eyes, always carrying a hint of wariness and suspicion. Despite the many wonderful moments, we’ve shared as a family of three these past few days, the guard she kept up in her heart had never truly lowered. I could understand her reservations; after all, the mistakes I made against her five years ago were enough to breed resentment in anyone.
But today, I hoped to break through the last barrier in her heart.
“Sam,” I said, turning to my captain of the guard, a grizzled veteran whose loyalty was as unyielding as stone, “I want security tightened tonight. Double the patrols around the palace perimeter, and station extra guards at every entry point. No one suspicious gets within a hundred yards of this hall, understood?”
“As you command, Your Majesty.” Sam bowed and exited to carry out my orders.
Even though I was in the heart of the palace, I still felt a sense of unease. Investigations revealed that Jackson’s influence hadalready infiltrated the royal court, but to what extent and who the insiders were, we still couldn’t determine. Especially on such an important occasion, I couldn’t afford to take any risks.
Half an hour later, the doors to the hall slowly opened, and my heart skipped a beat.
Anna stepped in confidently, wearing a pale blue gown. Her amber eyes—identical to mine—widened the moment she saw the decorations.
“Wow! Wolves!” she exclaimed, her voice ringing with unbridled joy, her small hands clapping together as she spun to take it all in. “So many wolves, everywhere!”
Lilia followed behind her, wearing a simple yet elegant green gown that made her golden hair shine even brighter. When her gaze fell on the decorations and then shifted to me, I caught a fleeting look of surprise and… was it emotion?
“Happy Birthday, little princess,” I said, stepping forward with a smile toward Anna, then nodding to Lilia. “Princess of Fellinger, thank you for allowing me to prepare this small celebration for Anna.”
“This is amazing!” Anna cheered, turning to grab Lilia’s hand. “Mommy, look at that wolf statue! And that one! And those blue lights, they’re just like the moon!”
Lilia nodded gently, her eyes shimmering with complex emotions. “It’s indeed beautiful, Anna. King Perock has put a lot of thought into this party for you.”
“And there are gifts.” I added, gesturing to a row of exquisitely wrapped boxes lining one side of the hall, their ribbons gleaming in the candlelight. “But those are for later, a surprise to end the night. For now, let’s enjoy dinner, then cut the cake. Sound good?”
