Rejected by the Alpha of Fire

Complexities of Being King

Helio’s POV

The morning after the Ball, my thoughts blurred as I made my way to my father’s office. Thoughts of Kora and what us being mates would mean for our territories weighed heavily on me. I couldn’t believe it. Kora being my mate made no sense. After we’d gotten past the fact that she clearly wasn’t charmed by me, I could see that she couldn’t understand or believe it either.

As I approached his office, I paused outside the door. Before I knocked, I heard my father’s and Drake’s voices drifting through the door, which was slightly ajar, and I listened closely.

“I can’t believe Cindra is mated to Knox.” My father’s voice was tinged with surprise and concern. “It poses a problem.”

“Indeed, Your Highness. It is quite… unexpected.” Drake spoke slowly, like he was choosing his words carefully. “How did your talks with King Seb go?”

“That bastard is just as difficult as ever,” my father growled. “We haven’t come to a consensus. I want your thoughts. Should I insist on them taking her, or let her be rejected?” He paused, and I heard the telltale sounds of his heavy boots on the floor as he paced on the other side of the door. “On the one hand, I’d finally be rid of her if they accept.”

“How likely is that?”

My father snorted. “Unlikely. Seb’s made that pretty clear. For some reason, he listens to his son, and it doesn’t seem like we can offer anything. Not even a big enough dowry.”

“The Erupting Eclipse Pack is the wealthiest pack in the area,” Drake said solemnly. “Tempting him into making a deal would be nearly impossible.”

“But I can’t simply let Seb slap me in the face, even if I’d rather be rid of her. Imagine her walking around with that mark on her forehead! She’s an embarrassment enough as it is.”

Drake laughed. “We could install those locks Queen Bridget has mentioned. If she can’t get out of her room, no one will see her.”

The king laughed. “A thought, of course. I have not decided anything yet. Go on and get started on that assignment.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

I stepped back as Drake emerged from my father’s office. He drew up short and greeted me with a curt bow. He said nothing, and neither did I. I watched him move down the hallway, his gait quick and purposeful. As he turned the corner, I knocked on my father’s office door.

“What is it?”

As I peered inside, he looked up from the page in his hand and c****d an eyebrow. “Yes?”

“Father,” I began, “I need to talk to you about Kora.”

The king’s lips pressed together as he made a noise in the back of his throat. He set his documents aside, giving me an impatient flick of his fingers, motioning for me to come in. “Close the door behind you.”

I did as I was told and stood before him.

“You’re certain Kora is your mate?”

It was a good question. While I’d been certain of it when I felt the pull the night before, it certainly wasn’t like anything I’d ever imagined or heard of. “I felt the pull.”

He set his jaw. “Between the Erupting Eclipse situation and dealing with Howling Winds…” He shook his head. “There is too much at stake to just accept it.”

“Father—”

“One day, you’ll understand the burdens of kingship, the choices I have to make. I have to ensure the stability and prosperity of our kingdom. If this match serves the kingdom, then by all means, marry the woman. But you should prepare yourself to reject her if it does not.”

His words stung, and I couldn’t help but feel a sense of frustration and disappointment. My father’s focus on politics and the greater good had always taken precedence over everything else, and it seemed that my desires and emotions were of little consequence. He hadn’t even thought to ask if I wanted her.

What else was new?

He growled and scratched his chin through his short, graying beard. “Don’t you have training to get to?” He waved me off flippantly. “I will send for you if I feel it necessary.”

I barely held back a grunt. Reluctantly, I left his office, my thoughts clouded by frustration and the sense that something was wrong. I tried to push it away, attempting to rationalize that my father was right. Until I sat in his seat, I wouldn’t be able to understand, but I couldn’t shake the irritation that had been brewing in me since last night. The king was usually dismissive of me, of everyone, but this was different.

Scratching my head, I headed off toward our training grounds, so lost in thought I didn’t see my best friend Cole leaning on the windowsill in front of me until I almost plowed into him. His dark hair was a mess, as usual, and his green eyes were as bright as ever. Cole’s easygoing demeanor always had a way of relaxing me.

“Your lessons must have gone well,” I said, falling into step with him as we headed down the corridor. “Or are you heading there?”

“Both,” Cole said. “Avoiding Meri at all costs. She’s in a real state after last night. Been crying all morning.” He rolled his eyes. “Such drama. She acts like not finding her mate at the Ball is the end of the world.”

“Yeah, well, I suppose your sister would have an issue with it.” I thought back to how Meri had implied she wanted it to be me and grimaced. As unexpected as it was to have Kora as a mate, thank the Goddess it wasn’t Meri.

In the back of my mind another face came to mind. Why wasn’t it her?

I physically shook my head. Don’t be an i***t, Helio.

Cole snorted, dragging me out of my thoughts. “I think Meri’s mostly upset that it wasn’t you.”

I scoffed not willing to entertain the idea. “You know better than that, Cole. I wouldn’t be mated to a Beta’s daughter.”

He shrugged.

“Did you find your mate?” I hadn’t even seen him for more than five minutes the night before.

He shook his head. “No, but there weren’t many Beta’s daughters there.”

I nodded, having noticed that as well. “What about Mable Jean?”

He pulled a face, and I jabbed him playfully in the ribs.

“Isn’t she like eighty-five? She’s the daughter from several Betas ago.” I laughed, glad to have a moment to joke around.

“You’re not funny, Your Highness,” Cole hissed. “Though, I’ll let you pass since you’re the mate of the Mountain Princess.”

“Mountain Princess?” I grimaced at Kora’s epithet. “Better luck next time. Most of the kingdoms weren’t happy about Father’s insistence to hold it here, so they didn’t bring most of their court.”

Cole snorted. “I noticed. It was about eighty percent Ember Moon. We might as well have just held a party for our nobles. Less expensive and less of a hassle. My grandfather is still pissed off about it.”

I laughed. “How is the old man?”

“Crotchety and griping about me not having found a mate after he and Mom did all that work to make sure the banquet was full.”

I draped an arm over his shoulders and gave him a thump in the chest with my other hand. “Tell him my mother much appreciates his hard work.”

Cole shoved me away. “You just want me to have a bad evening. Don’t make us all miserable just because you are.”

I snorted. Cole had told me a long time ago that his grandfather hated my mother on principle, though he had good things to say about the late Princess Asha.

The thought of my late aunt made me think of Cindra again, and as if the thought had summoned her, there she was, rounding the corner in a flourish of muted beige skirts. She looked up, our gazes met, and she froze in place, her pink lips parting in a gasp and her cheeks bursting with color. I’d never seen a girl blush like Cindra did, and I hated how much I liked it.