Her Only Alpha

Chapter 4

As I approach the Pack's Council room, I hear Uncle Dairrus's voice clearly and sense that the Pack Council is in a heated discussion. To grasp the situation, I quicken my pace, and my presence is announced. The room falls silent as I walk elegantly and swiftly to the throne, where my trusted legal counselor and loving uncle is sitting beside. I nod in greeting and take my seat on the throne.

"What's the matter?" I ask warily, glancing around the Pack's Council room. Everyone's still bowing their heads in greeting since I entered, and my question prompts a Beta chief to raise his head. He approaches the throne, bows again, and begins to speak. "Your Royal Highness, we have all agreed to marry you off to Martin, Beta Dairruss's son. We called you here to announce the decision. However, Beta Dairruss wasn't present when we made the agreement, and he argued that he couldn't ruin his niece's life, as his son has already found his mate. We were still discussing it when you arrived."

I force a smile and turn to my uncle, giving him a small smile. He's always been by my side since I became the crown princess, guarding me, counseling me, and remaining the best and loving uncle anyone could have. He stands up from his chair, walks down the stairs, faces me, bows his head, and begins to speak. "Your Royal Highness, I was never informed about the agreement to marry you to Martin. I only learned of it now. And as for my son, Martin, he has indeed found his mate - a nurse at a local hospital."

I heaved a sigh and rose from my seat, my movements fluid and graceful. As I stood, the room fell silent, and the council members, who had been watching me intently, immediately bowed their heads in respect. They remained in this position, their heads lowered, as my uncle began speaking.

When my uncle finished, I spoke up, my voice clear and authoritative. "You may all rise," I said, my words accompanied by a gentle gesture of my hand, indicating that they could lift their heads. As they did, their eyes met mine, filled with a mix of curiosity and anticipation.

"First and foremost, I will not be the cause of sadness for anyone," I continued, my voice firm. "As we are all aware, my coronation is three full moons away, and I have already agreed to marry whoever the Pack's council chooses. However, if marrying Martin will bring pain and unhappiness to my pack, I cannot and will not marry him."

The same beta chief rose again and started, "Your Royal Highness, we thought this through thoroughly and conducted investigative research. Martin's mate is already married, has a pup, and is happy. It wouldn't be right to separate them after all their struggles together. Besides, Martin has already agreed to move on since their bond has weakened due to her mating with another wolf."

"I see," I said. "Where's Martin?" I asked, turning to the guard beside me. "Summon him to the Pack's Council room, now." Almost immediately, Martin appeared alongside the guard, and I guessed he had been waiting outside all along, waiting for his call.
"Your Royal Highness," Martin said, bowing his head immediately after approaching me in front of the throne.

"Can you explain what happened with your mate?" I asked warily. As he raised his head and began to explain, I zoned out of the Pack's Council room and into my thoughts. Martin and I were never close; he was my elder brother's best friend, and they did everything together. When my brother abdicated, we rarely saw each other, and the idea of starting to bond now felt out of place. And to think we were considering marriage? It would be awkward, weird, and definitely super boring.

"Your Royal Highness," Uncle Dairruss said, breaking me out of my thoughts. "Did you hear anything Martin said?" He asked, eyeing me worriedly. Typical of him.

"Oh, sorry, I spaced out," I apologized, turning my head back to Martin. "Can you do a quick recap?"

"No problem, Your Royal Highness," Martin replied. "My mate, Sera, and I have agreed to part ways amicably since our mate bond has weakened, and she has completed the mating bond with another wolf."

"That's surprising," I said, my curiosity piqued. "How come you never found her?"

Martin's expression turned somber. "Unfortunately, she migrated to the weak species' territory - the human realm - to live after her parents passed away." Just as the weight of his words settled in, A  seasoned elder, stood up and declared loudly, "Your Royal Highness, with that settled, it's decided that you and Martin will be mated soon. Your mating ceremony will be the next full moon after Prince Nikolaus's own."