Page 37 of The Alpha King's Mate

“The authority the women held was too strong. The Alphas could not accept the opposition. The dynamics followed. New laws and regulations that divided society until the bonds weakened. Look at your father. He is the perfect example of corruption.”

“What can I do?”

“You won’t be alone,” my mother said, smirking.“You have that fine big Alpha by your side. Why, he is already about to commit mass murder over you.”

Sorin. Malakh.

“No,” I gasped.

“He passed a death sentence to them all.”

I thought of all the innocent people in the procession.

But I wanted to stay with my mother too.

I closed my eyes.

“I have to go back,” I said, my voice flat and dull.

She embraced me so tightly I felt her surround me from every direction.

“I love you. And my beautiful grandpups,” she whispered.

She was already slipping away, her hug loosening even as she held on.

“No—” I screamed, the word tearing and stretching into nothing.

The echo chased me through the void.

? ? ?

The pain crippled my body. It burned from head to toe. My lips parted, but no sound left me. The pain was too great.

“Alpha, she’s alive!” someone yelled.

I was crushed against something solid.

“Call the doctor,” Sorin roared, each word vibrating from his chest into mine.

I began to pant—short, sharp bursts, each breath a battle. Sweat dripped off my body in sheets. I opened my eyes to chaos. But there he was, clutching me as though I might vanish again. His men surrounded us from every angle.

I reached up, fingers trembling, and touched his wet cheek.

“Sorin,” I rasped.

His body shuddered. His eyes closed as he began to rock me. The motion made me dizzy, and I turned to retch. He raised me up, and I heaved—sweat rolling down my neck, my back, pooling beneath me on the grass.

It felt like a purge.

“Poison. Snake venom,” a voice said, hushed with disbelief.“Her body’s burning it out on its own—I’ve never seen anything like this.”

Then Zira returned.

We’re going to be okay, she said, her voice steady, sure.

“Look at her eyes,” someone gasped.

Murmurs rippled through the crowd.