G7
Mauve’s POV
I was sitting next to Elias as his beta drove out of Shadowpine Capital. Playing with the edge of my jacket. I was thinking a lot, and each turn in the road made my questions feel stronger.
Why was he taking me to his palace? And what kind of favor was so important that it couldn’t be discussed at the hospital?
The silence in the car was noticeable until I couldn’t stand it anymore. So I asked, “Why did you choose to heal in my home rather than in the hospital?”
Elias glanced at me. “The hospital wasn’t safe at that moment. The traitor who orchestrated the coup d’état in my palace is still out there, and I wanted him dead.”
My breath hitched at his words. “Coup d’état? Your palace?”
He nodded. “Yes. I’m not just an Alpha, Mauve. I’m the Alpha of the Alphas. Every Alpha in this country answers to me. The traitor sought to overthrow me, and when I discovered his connection to the rogues, the war began.”
A chill ran down my spine as he continued. “The palace became a battlefield. I couldn’t risk being in a public place like a hospital where his spies might be lurking. That’s why I needed somewhere private, somewhere secure.
Your home provided that.”
“And now?” I ventured, hesitant. “Is it safe already?”
He leaned back. “The palace is secure now. The criminals are either dead or in the dungeons. But I won’t let my guard down until the head of the coup is dealt with.”
I swallowed hard. This wasn’t just a simple favor he needed. This was something far more dangerous and
complex.
“What’s the favor you need from me?” I asked.
For a moment, he didn’t answer. His gaze remained fixed ahead, his silence more unsettling than any words he could have spoken. Finally, he said, “We’ll discuss it after dinner. First, we’ll eat, and then I’ll take you to a room
where you can learn the truth.”
I frowned but nodded. His cryptic responses only deepened my unease, but I knew pressing him further wouldn’t get me anywhere.
I
The car arrived at a big castle with tall towers reaching up into the sky. I was amazed by how big and impressive the building was. Guards stood at the door and bowed as Elias got out of the car. Their respect made me remember that he was really a king among the alphas.
Inside, the palace was even more breathtaking, which made my stomach growl despite my nerves,
We ate in relative silence, the weight of unspoken words hanging heavily between us. Elias’s Beta stood guard near the door, his eyes scanning the room with the vigilance of a hawk. When the meal was finished, Elias rose and gestured for me to follow him.
“Come,” he said.
I followed him through a series of corridors until we reached a room at the far end of the palace. He opened the door, and I stepped inside.
A woman was lying asleep on a big bed. Her face was pale but looked very familiar.
Extremely familiar.
My eyes almost popped out of my head. The woman looked exactly like…
ME!
Her long hair spread out around her, and even with her eyes closed, I could tell they looked like mine. My legs felt weak as I got closer. Gazing down at her felt like looking in a mirror.
“W–Who is she?”
“She is my wife. My mate.”
I turned to him, stunned. “Your mate?”
He nodded. “She was badly hurt in the war.”
The room seemed to spin around me. “Do you want me to heal her?” I asked, though doubt infused my wo “Because honestly, I can’t. Her condition is beyond my abilities.”
Elias shook his head. “No. She has a team of specialists working on her recovery, and they are not from Shadowpine. What I need from you is something else.”
I frowned, feeling both confused and anxious. “What do you want from me?”
He stepped closer, his piercing gaze locking onto mine. “I need you to pose as her.”
His words hit me like a thunderclap, leaving me reeling. “Y–you want me what?”
“For now,” he said, “I need the world to believe that my mate is alive and well. Her presence is essential to maintaining peace and stability among the packs. Without her, there will be chans Since Mannolia is the one
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8:39 AM
For now, he said, I need the word to believe that my mate is alive aniu wei, nei presence is essential to maintaining peace and stability among the packs. Without her, there will be chaos. Since Magnolia is the one maintaining peace in my palace, the Elders and Alphas will not be able to hold the fragile peace together. They’ll be on edge, ready to pounce at any moment.”
My pulse raced as I tried to grasp his request. Pose as his mate? The idea seemed absurd and perhaps hazardous. But when I gazed into his eyes, I saw the desperation he fought so hard to hide.
Oh, moon goddess. What had I just stepped into?