Chapter 127

Evelyn

The throne room always felt too large. It had been so long since I had been inside the vast, sprawling space, and even then, it had been filled with others for my brother’s princely coronation ceremony when he was fourteen. But now it was just us, my father and I. There weren’t even guards in attendance; they were standing sentry outside so that our conversation could be had in utter privacy.

My father sat in his high-backed throne, his presence commanding even when silence stretched between us. I had come here rehearsing my words, but now that his gaze was fixed on me, my carefully woven speech unraveled. I wondered how frightened Alex had been before me, arriving to tell my father his own news, which was poised to be received poorly.

“I have… come to tell you something, Father,” I began, my palms damp against the folds of my gown.

His brows rose, and I caught a flicker of intrigue and exhaustion. So many revelations in one day. “Even more news today, I see. I’m not sure what I did to deserve all of this. From the way you hesitate, I’d say it’s important.”

I took a breath. “Logan and I… we’ve completed the mating bond.”

For a heartbeat, I braced for his fury. There had been a time when he had even suggested I put Logan aside after all of the concern our relationship had caused me. So I braced myself for the scolding I feared.

But instead, my father’s face lit with something rare and startling: Complete and unfettered joy.

“Well,” he said, voice low with approval. “At long last.”

Shock left me frozen. “You aren’t… angry?”

“Angry?” He leaned forward, eyes sharp but not with wrath. Instead, he looked down at me with something like pride alighting his irises. “This is the best news I’ve heard in some time. You are bound to a strong wolf. An Alpha. Together, you could produce an heir worthy of leading thousands to victory.”

My breath caught. It was like he had read my next thoughts directly.“An heir…”

“Yes.” He studied me then, weighing, calculating.

“Father,” I said slowly. “I am… already pregnant with Logan’s child.”

For a moment, he could only blink, then his face split into a grin. “This is excellent news, Evelyn! An heir is important to the line of succession.”

“Thank you for your approval, Father. It means the world,” I said.

He readjusted his position in his seat. “Truth be told, I have begun to consider placing you ahead of Alex in succession. This would make any of your children with Logan next in the line.”

The words struck me like a slap to the face. My knees nearly gave out. “You… what?”

Surely I had misheard. A woman had never led this pack. I came from a long line of Alpha Kings ruling over the land, and our father had a firstborn son poised and bred to rule after him.

Father’s smile was thin. “Alex is reckless. And now…” He let out a humorless laugh. “Now he’s chosen an omega for a mate. An omega, Evelyn. He expects me to allow the line of succession to trickle down and place the crown on her head one day? To make her Queen? Impossible.”

My stomach twisted. I had been prepared to defend Alex to him, but I hadn’t expected this. Not the thought of my father discarding him altogether. Alex had been raised to assume he would always inherit the crown and the kingdom. It had never even crossed my mind that my own placement in the line of succession might be something worthy of reconsideration.

“Some would argue that an Alpha Queen is impossible, too,” I argued.

“No one who has seen what you did in this war would say as much, surely,” he said. “Anyone who would argue against your qualifications is a fool.”

“He loves her,” I said quietly, though the words sounded fragile echoing against the empty walls of the throne room. “And you would punish him for it.”

“Love is only worth so much,” my father said, the warmth of a moment ago gone. His eyes hardened. “A ruler must make decisions based on what is best for the kingdom as a whole, and your brother has proven time and time again that he is incapable of this. Not just with this Annalise, but with other instances too. This is just another example.. You and Logan, on the other hand… You have given me hope, especially given the way you both held yourselves during the war.”

I forced myself to bow my head, hiding the storm in my chest. How could I tell Alex this? How could I look into his face—the face of the boy who had always protected and loved me—and say that his crown was slipping away because of who he had chosen to be with? And that I, of all people, would be taking it up?

“I do not feel I am worthy,” I said quietly.

“Evelyn, I know of no one else who is as worthy as you. You spent the war not only healing our comrades but also actively fighting for our cause. You are directly responsible for all of the significant deaths throughout the war that allowed us to move forward and progress. And above all, you have made almost all of your decisions with the benefit of the kingdom in mind. That is the true telling sign of a worthy Alpha Queen.”

“Alex will be furious,” I said. But I wasn’t entirely sure of that either. I knew that he would be devastated. I wondered if he loved this new Annalise enough to look past what he was losing to be with her. He would be trading the crown for her hand. It was not a simple exchange to make.

“I intend to speak with him about it shortly. Should he see the benefit in this choice, you will be my heir.”

“It is… It is an honor, Father,” I said quietly.

“It is,” he said. “And it is not one that I pass on lightly, Evelyn.”

“I understand,” I whispered.

“Good,” he said briskly, dismissing me with a wave of his hand. “Go and enjoy this moment. Soon enough, we’ll have to face the rest of the court with this news.”

I turned, my heartbeat thundering as I stepped out into the corridor. My lips trembled with words unsaid, with fear and guilt and love tangled all together. Alex needed to know. He deserved the truth, no matter how much it might break him, and as soon as possible.

I had barely made it to the stairwell when Logan appeared, his stride purposeful, his eyes catching mine as though he already sensed the chaos inside me.

“Evelyn,” he said, his hand brushing against mine. “Alex has asked us to join him and his bride-to-be tonight.”

“Annalise,” I mumbled, still feeling numb.

Logan nodded. “Yes, Annalise. I’ve just met her. She seems like a sweet girl. I told Alex of our bonding but not the… other news. He is thrilled and wants to celebrate tonight.”

I froze. Celebration. My father’s sentiment still echoed in my ear. That an omega was not worthy to sit on the throne and that Alex’s past decisions had deemed him incapable as well. My heart squeezed painfully. How was I supposed to celebrate when I carried such a heavy truth?

But I could not say no. Not to Alex and especially not now.

“Then we’ll go,” I whispered, trying to keep my voice steady. “We’ll celebrate with him.”

Even if, deep down, I knew the storm was already waiting just beyond the horizon, brewing and inevitable.