The Alpha King, Vaughn Olsten, sat on his huge throne in his throne room. He didn't wear a crown or ceremonial attire. He didn't need to. He sat with his back to the tall windows which brightened the throne room.
A handful of the Alpha King's personal guards were placed in strategic positions in the throne room with two standing directly behind him. A messenger stood next to him, holding a letter he read out to the Alpha King. Vaughn's expression was a mixture of surprise and amusement.
Suddenly, the huge doors burst open and Vilhelm marched in, his cane hitting the floor with more force than it needed.
Vaughn visibly sighed and dismissed the messenger with a gesture. The messenger folded the letter, bowed and sped toward the exit, bowing to the High Alpha on his way out.
Vilhelm walked closer to his brother until he was at the bottom of the stairs and glared upwards at Vaughn on the throne.
"To what do I owe this inopportune visit, brother?" Vaughn snapped.
The letter he had just read told him all he needed to know. Alpha Keenan had finally made his decision, but it didn't excuse his brother's behavior.
"If you didn't treat peasantry like royalty, I wouldn't be here."
"If you're here to complain about Alpha Keenan again, I'd suggest giving it a rest."
Vilhelm scoffed. "How low have you fallen? Giving a bottom-feeder lands and a title."
"I may be your brother but I am also the Alpha King. You should know better than to speak to me in this manner."
"The bastard you made Alpha wants my daughters!"
"Daughters? I don't think so. If I recall correctly, Maya is the only one old enough to get married."
"Do you take me for a fool, brother? Do you expect me to hand my daughter to that?"
"I did give him the right to pick any woman as his mate. A shame. I hoped he would pick Eleanor. Ellie will be devastated."
"I am not giving away my daughter!"
"My decision has been sealed and stamped. It can't be undone. As Alpha King, I cannot take back my words."
"I am not giving my daughter to a vermin. First, you give him my gold mine and now you take my daughter."
The Alpha King looked bored as he stared at his brother. "Let's face it, she is not really your daughter. Just some orphan you adopted. This will be a good look for you."
Vilhelm's gaze darkened as he stared at his brother with pure contempt. "What did you say?"
Vaughn narrowed his eyes. "If that's all you came for, you should leave. It's best you don't fight this, Vilhelm, not after what you did. As I said, this will be a good look for you."
"Good look?" he scoffed. "Don't insult me, brother! He wants to shame me. He can have any woman, anyone. Yet he picks my daughter."
Vaughn shrugged.
"And if I refuse?" Vilhelm asked.
Vaughn adjusted in his seat. "I wouldn't advise that. You will be holding his mate hostage and he will have the right to remove her from your hands."
"You wouldn't dare!" Vilhelm hit his cane on the marble floor. The sound cracked across the open space.
"I?" Vaughn asked, completely unimpressed by his brother's display. "I think we both know who. Do the needful, Vilhelm. Don't make things any more difficult than they already are."
"Useless!" Vilhelm yelled as he turned around and marched out of the throne room.
Vaughn watched his brother march out with a thoughtful expression on his face.
---
Maya sat in her room on the edge of her bed. Her room was large and luxurious, and items filled every corner. Her wardrobe, like her room, always felt too big, and it was filled to the brim with clothes of different fabrics. A testament to the daughter she was now.
She tore her gaze from the wardrobe and allowed herself to think about the letter for the first time since lunch. He shouldn't be picking his mate from the High Alpha's household, not after everything that happened.
Maya clasped her cold hands together. She didn't need anyone to tell her what this implied. Yet, despite the heavy gloom that hung over her shoulder, she was excited.
There was a little light in the pit of her stomach that was shining brighter with every thought of being Alpha Keenan's mate. Perhaps this was the chance she needed to make things right.
It was a bad idea, Maya knew. Alpha Keenan wasn't Marcus. The young boy she knew was long gone, and she was to blame. He didn't know she was Penelope, and even if he suspected, her actions had already changed that. Penelope would never have done any of the things she did.
Maya buried her head in her palms, feeling her hands shake against her face. Tears burned in her eyes, but now was not the time to feel sorry for herself or fantasize about things.
Father would never let her go.
Maya jerked and moved to an upright position as her bedroom door was swung open with enough force to snap it off its hinges.
"Father!" she yelled, frightened, as she scrambled to her feet. She tightly gripped the hem of her skirt as she bent her head.
Vilhelm stood at the entrance of the bedroom, staring at her. His face contorted with anger. His nostrils flared. Maya didn't need anyone to tell her that his visit to the Alpha King hadn't been successful.
"You're not going anywhere! You're mine, even if I have to fight the Alpha King for it."
Maya nodded, ignoring how her heart sank further. "Yes, Father." She already knew this would be the outcome. "Would you like to eat your lunch now, Father?"
Maya gripped her dress tighter. She wasn't processing any of her feelings; she couldn't even feel them.
This was best.
What was she thinking, anyway? Alpha Keenan wasn't choosing her for a happy marriage. It was far from it.
Vilhelm stepped into the room and didn't stop walking until he was right in front of her. Maya kept her gaze down, feeling the room shrink as goosebumps popped out on her arms.
Using his free hand, he lifted her chin so she was forced to look up at him. Maya met his eyes against her better judgment, but she couldn't dare close them. She didn't want to imagine what he would do while standing so close.
Vilhelm smiled as he met her eyes, his voice softer now. "We both know what he will do to you. You're better here. You're safer with Father. Have I failed to protect you? Keep you safe? Provide for you? You were nothing before I found you but unlike those orphaned children, you have the best of life as my daughter."
"Yes, Father," Maya whispered. "I am grateful."
"Good," he said and hit his cane on the floor, turning away from her. "I want my lunch now. Bring it to my chambers."
Maya winced, bowing as she said, "Yes, Father."