The Alpha Begged when Her True Identity Revealed

Meredith’s POV

For three long years, the world had been nothing but silence.

Three years ago, I lost my child before I ever got the chance to hold them. I still remember the unbearable pain, the way my body betrayed me, the way the blood wouldn’t stop no matter how much I begged the Moon Goddess for mercy. And then, as if my suffering wasn’t enough, I woke up one morning and realized—I couldn't hear a thing.

The healers said it was the shock. The grief. My body shutting down on itself.

For three years, I lived in a world where voices didn’t exist. Where I had to read lips, where I had to depend on others. Where I felt less than a wolf—less than myself. But today… today, I finally heard again.

And the best part? I was pregnant again.

Holding the pregnancy test in my trembling hands, I felt something bloom in my chest—hope. A new beginning. A chance to be happy again. And the one person I wanted to share this with was the man I loved more than anything, Alpha Kael.

Even though we weren’t mates.Even though we weren’t married.I loved him. And I believed—I truly believed—that he loved me too. So I rushed back to our house, excitement thrumming through my veins. But just as I reached his office, my steps slowed. The door was slightly open, and inside, Kael was speaking with his Beta, Lucas.

I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. I only hesitated for a moment, about to knock, but then—

"I'm going to marry Princess Rachelle."

The world tilted beneath me.

"She is my love. The only woman worthy of being my mate."

My fingers tightened around the pregnancy test, my heart pounding so hard I thought it might burst.

"And Meredith?" Lucas asked hesitantly.

Kael laughed. Laughed.

"She was just convenient."

A sharp, searing pain ripped through my chest.

"How could I love someone like her? A lowly omega? Do you think I'd actually make her my Luna? She was just there when I needed someone. But now, I don't need her anymore."

I staggered backward, a strangled noise escaping my throat before I could stop it. The voices inside the room immediately fell silent.

Shit.

My breath caught as I saw Kael and Lucas exchange glances. Lucas’ face twisted in panic, his eyes darting to the door. That was when they realized I was standing at the door. The two of them looked at each other, and Beta Lucas seemed to be overthinking the situation. “Oh damn,” he muttered. “Did she hear that?”

Kael only smirked. “Relax,” he said, his tone laced with cruel amusement. “She’s deaf. Even if you curse her in front of her face right now, she wouldn’t hear it.”

A wave of nausea rolled through me. My fingers curled into fists, my nails digging into my palms. For a moment, I wanted to storm in, to scream, to throw the pregnancy test in his face and tell him what a monster he was. Instead, I forced my face to stay blank. Pretended.

Kael’s smirk remained as he turned to the door, opening it and looking down at me. “Meredith,” he signed with his hands, his expression gentle, fake. “Come inside.”

I swallowed hard and nodded, stepping inside like a fool. Like the fool they thought I was.

I sat down on the couch timidly, my hands shoved into my pockets, squeezing the pregnancy test so hard I thought it might snap. My heart screamed at me to run, to leave, to get away from this man. But my body wouldn’t move.

And then—they kept talking. Right in front of me. As if I wasn’t even there.

"Are you sure she didn’t hear anything, Alpha? What if—“ Lucas got cut off.

“Don’t you believe me? I know she’s deaf because I was the reason she’s that way," Kael mused. "Do you know why it happened?"

Lucas frowned. "I heard it was after the miscarriage. She just... lost it, right?"

Kael chuckled. A cold, bonechilling sound. "Lost it? No, Lucas. I took it from her."

A shiver crawled down my spine. He took it from me… The world felt like it was tilting, and anytime soon I would die right where I was sitting.

Lucas blinked. "What?"

"Do you really think I'd let a filthy omega taint my noble bloodline?" Kael sneered. "That child was a disgrace to me. So I did what needed to be done—I poisoned her drink."

The air left my lungs.

"I told her it was good for her health," he continued, laughing. "She drank it so easily. And then, just like that, the problem was gone." He snapped his fingers. "I didn’t expect the poison to have side effects, though. She bled too much. And well… it damaged her hearing too. But it worked out, didn’t it? She was so broken, so pathetic, she never even suspected a thing."

My fingers trembled in my pockets. It was him. It was always him. The man I loved. The man I trusted. The man I carried a child for—twice. He took everything from me.

And now he was throwing me away like I was nothing.

He sighed, leaning back in his chair. "She actually thought I was going to make her my Luna," he scoffed. "I kept telling her to wait. That my position wasn’t stable. And she believed me."

Lucas chuckled awkwardly. “She did follow you around like a lost puppy.”

Kael grinned. “And she still will. Because after I marry the princess, I’ll tell Meredith it’s just for the sake of the pack. That my heart still belongs to her.” He smirked. “This poor, silly girl will believe it. She’ll even pity me.”

Something inside me snapped. My hands clenched around the pregnancy test so hard that it cracked.

Kael and Lucas both looked up.

"Meredith?" Kael signed, feigning concern. "Are you okay? We’re just talking whout pack metters. Sorry to keep you waiting."

I stared at him. He could even lie to me at my face. How long did he treat me like a fool? Like a toy he could play with?

For the first time in my life, I saw him clearly.

Not as the man I loved.Not as the Alpha I adored. But as the monster he truly was.

And then the thing I feared the most before happened, just like what I overheard from Alpha Kael and Beta Lucas.

The crisp evening air was thick with the scent of pine and honeyed wine, the banquet hall alive with laughter and the clinking of goblets. Wolves from every corner of the realm gathered to celebrate. The Alpha King, in his benevolence, had invited all the packs, including ours—the Aurora Pack. It should have been a night of unity and joy. Instead, it was the night my world crumbled.

I had barely touched the glass of wine in my hand when I heard the sound of a spoon tapping against crystal. The room quieted. Alpha Kael Haynes, the man I had known since I was a pup—the man who had once saved me from a life of loneliness—stood at the center of the room, his sharp blue eyes scanning the crowd with confidence.

“I have an announcement,” Kael declared, his deep voice carrying easily over the hushed room.

I knew that voice too well—firm, commanding, yet smooth. It was a voice that could silence a battlefield, a voice that had once comforted me during sleepless nights at the organization that raised us. My chest tightened as I clutched my goblet, unable to look away.

Kael turned to Princess Rachelle, her golden hair glowing under the chandelier’s light. She smiled up at him, radiant and perfect in her lilac gown. My stepsister. The Alpha King’s daughter.

Kael dropped to one knee.

The air seemed to leave my lungs.

“Princess Rachelle,” he began, his gaze unwavering. “Will you honor me by becoming my mate, my Luna, and standing by my side as I lead the Aurora Pack?”

The room erupted into cheers and applause as Rachelle gasped, her hands flying to her mouth before she nodded eagerly. “Yes! I will!”

I froze. My grip on the goblet faltered, and the wine sloshed over the rim. My heart thudded painfully in my chest, the noise of the celebration fading to a dull roar in my ears.

It happened…

Eyes turned toward me. I could feel their pity—the silent glances, the murmurs. And they talked around me so freely because they were confident I could not hear.

“Poor girl,” I heard someone whisper.

“She’s been in love with him for years.”

“Bold of her to assume the Alpha will marry a mere deaf Omega.”

“Of course, the Alpha will choose someone like Princess Rachelle. Who is Meredith anyway? She’s nothing but a weak Omega. She’s not suited to be anyone’s Luna.”

I wanted to scream, tell them their words were nothing but lies, to lash out at their words, at the world, at Kael himself. But I couldn’t move. I couldn’t breathe.

I couldn’t take it anymore. My wolf stirred uneasily within me, her frustration mirroring my own. Leave, Meredith. We don’t belong here.

My legs moved on their own, carrying me toward the grand doors of the banquet hall. My mother—my biological mother, now the Queen Luna Vanessa—stood near the edge of the crowd, tears of joy streaming down her face. Her happiness was for Rachelle, for the daughter she had chosen to cherish.

Not for me.

She caught sight of me and started to speak, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t. My head was spinning, and my heart felt like it was shattering into a million pieces.

Years ago, when I turned eighteen, my mother suddenly appeared before me and told me the truth—I was her daughter. I could hardly believe it.

My mother was none other than Queen Luna of the Western Wolf Territory. And I had a stepsister—Rachelle.

Yet Rachelle knew nothing. The only ones aware of my existence were my mother and her current husband, Alpha King Theodore.

But why then?

Why not when I was still trapped in the organization? Why wait all these years?

She never gave me a real answer, only saying she wasn’t ready. One of the few things she told me was the fact that she and my biological father had split long ago.

As to why I was in the organization? She just told me my real father hid me there for years without her knowing. I had so many questions—doubts even, but she made me feel like it was a burden to ask.

“You can’t come with me at the palace, Meredith,” she told me one day. “My husband is the current Alpha King. What do you think the people or even Rachelle will think if they found out your real identity? Just pretend to be an omega for everyone’s peace.”

Since then, even Kael, the person I cared about the most, didn’t know who I really was.

The only thing my mother made sure to remind me of—again and again—was that my father was a monster. A tyrant. Evil incarnate. And if he ever tried to contact me, I was never to believe a word he said.

And then, just a month later, he did.

My father started reaching out—calling, messaging—claiming to be my blood.

The Alpha King of the Eastern Territory. The man everyone called a tyrant. A villain. A monster.

And when the incident three years ago happened, my mother became indifferent upon hearing that I had gone deaf. She had always been cold, but she grew even colder. I told myself it was merely because she was busy with her duties as the Queen Luna—I kept making excuses for her.

And yet, after Kael’s betrayal, it felt like everything had been a lie.

Meredith’s POV

I kept my head down as I walked through the dim corridors of the packhouse, my fingers tightening around the edges of my dress. I had learned long ago that walking silently, moving unnoticed, was safer. It was easier to pretend I was oblivious, easier to endure when they thought I couldn’t hear their words.

Princess Rachelle walked beside me, her steps graceful, her presence overbearing. Ever since Alpha Kael proposed to her, she had been living in the packhouse.

Then—a sudden force against my foot.

I barely had time to react before I stumbled, my balance thrown off. I caught myself just in time, but the sharp movement sent a dull ache through my stomach. My pulse spiked.

Rachelle, feigning innocence, gasped and quickly signed, "Oh, I’m so sorry!"

But her lips said something else entirely.

"Serves you right, deaf! I don’t even know why you’re still here when you’re just a nobody. A lowly omega."

I clenched my jaw, my nails digging into my palms.

"I know this deaf girl just wants to steal my man," she continued with a smirk, her voice a quiet sneer. "Thinking she can seduce the Alpha? Dream on. As if Kael would ever marry a pathetic, deaf Luna."

I lifted my head and looked at her. Just looked.

Her smirk deepened, and she chuckled before signing again. "Oh, nothing."

But her voice carried on with its venom. "How pitiful. You don’t even know that everyone has been cursing you right in front of your face for years. Even the maids of this pack laugh at you."

I swallowed the sharp sting in my throat and kept my expression carefully blank. Don’t react.

Her laughter trailed behind me as we entered the dining area.

I took my usual seat, forcing my hands to remain steady as I reached for my cup.

Then, Rachelle signed sweetly, "Meredith, could you pass me the soup?"

I hesitated but nodded, reaching for the steaming bowl. As soon as her fingers touched the edge—she shoved it forward, right into her own dress. The thick, hot soup spilled all over her pristine silk gown.

"Ahh!" she shrieked dramatically, pushing back from the table.

I stiffened in shock, my eyes widening. I hadn’t even touched her. But before I could move, before I could even process what had just happened, the doors burst open. A cold shiver ran down my spine.

Kael.

His presence filled the room instantly, his sharp blue eyes scanning the scene. His gaze landed on Rachelle first, then flickered to me—and darkened.

"What the hell is going on here?"

His voice sent a tremor through my bones. He signed to me, “What did you do?” And he had already assumed it was my fault—not even asking what happened first.

Rachelle whimpered, clutching the soiled fabric of her dress, looking every bit the fragile, innocent victim.

"Oh, Alpha," she sniffled. "Please don’t be angry. It’s not her fault. Maybe she’s just... jealous of me. I mean, I understand. After all, I get to marry you soon while she’s still just a lowly omega. Maybe she just couldn’t help herself."

The breath caught in my throat. She was playing the role perfectly. And he was buying it. Kael turned to me, his expression stern, his hands moving sharply as he signed—

"Why would you hurt royalty? Are you wishing for death?"

The words hit harder than any slap. My heart pounded painfully against my ribs. I wanted to scream. I wanted to shout the truth, to let him know what kind of woman he was about to make his Luna. But I knew it wouldn’t matter.

It never did.

Slowly, I lowered my hands. And nodded. Then, without another word, I turned and walked away. Each step felt heavier than the last, but I kept moving, kept my head high even as my vision blurred.

Then I heard it. Kael’s voice—gentle now, coaxing.

"I’ll reprimand Meredith for this," he murmured. "Don’t worry, Rachelle. I won’t let her get away with it."

A bitter laugh built in my chest, but I swallowed it down. Instead, I placed a trembling hand over my stomach, pressing lightly against the life growing inside me.

"How could your father do this to us?" I thought.

Meredith’s POV

I always told myself I’d hold on just a little longer. That maybe one day, Kael would look at me differently. That my mother might remember I was her daughter too. That things could change. But after hearing those words and learning the truth, all I wanted was to hurt them all back. To avenge my unborn child and to make him suffer the same amount I did.

I was already miserable, but tonight, the Goddess decided to cripple me emotionally.

Tonight, as I stood in the dimly lit kitchen, scrubbing the grease off my hands and listening to their laughter echoing from the dining hall, I realized something: I’d been a fool.

“Meredith, hurry up with the stew!” one of the omegas tapped me and signed, breaking my thoughts.

I clenched my jaw and nodded, keeping my expression neutral. I wasn’t above helping; I’d done it countless times before. But this? This was humiliation, plain and simple. I was no omega. I was no servant. But no one knew. For them, I was nothing but a useless shewolf, a weak deaf omega who was only meant to serve the higher beings.

And here I was, stirring pots while my mother, her Alpha King husband dined like a pictureperfect family.

Meanwhile, Kael and Rachelle were on their way to dine with them. With that, they would be complete.

A family.

The word tasted bitter in my mouth as I peeked around the corner of the wall. They were seated at the long table, their faces glowing in the candlelight. My mother smiled warmly, proud and radiant beside her mate.

I stepped back, leaning against the cold wall to steady myself. My wolf stirred inside me, pacing and restless.

We don’t belong here. Her voice was quiet but firm, a truth I could no longer ignore.

I tried to shake off the ache in my chest and forced myself to focus on the task at hand. The stew bubbled in the pot, filling the air with its rich aroma. But the scent that once brought comfort now churned my stomach.

“Meredith!” My mother signed as soon as she saw me.

I wiped my hands on my apron and hurried towards them. She sat there, regal and poised, her eyes locking onto mine with a look that made me feel small. Then she signed again, “We’re running low on bread. Can you bring more to the table? Also, as soon as Kael is finished teaching Rachelle how to drive, tell them we are here.”

I nodded quickly. “Of course, Mother.”

She didn’t even thank me.

As I placed the breadbasket on the table, I caught snippets of their conversation. I walked away after placing the food they wanted and rested my back on the wall that separated the kitchen and the dining area. I sighed deeply and was about to leave the place and go back to my room when their conversation started to intrigue me.

“Alpha King Valentin has been quiet lately,” my mother said, her voice casual but calculating. “He hasn’t sent any new threats, has he?”

The Alpha King’s voice sounded. My mother immediately answered, “No. The man knows better than to provoke us while Meredith is here. As long as we have her, he won’t dare move against the kingdom. Once we let go of Meredith, it will cause feud between the territories.”

“Exactly,” the king said with a laugh. “It’s almost amusing. Valentin—the most feared tyrant—brought to his knees because his daughter is under our roof. He can just dream, but I will never surrender Meredith to him—not when we can still milk him knowing his weakness is here.”

The table erupted in laughter.

I froze, the breadbasket trembling in my hands.

I didn’t wait for them to talk more. I turned and walked back into the kitchen, my heart pounding so hard it felt like it might crack my ribs. The weight of their words pressed down on me like chains.

That’s all we’ve ever been to them, my wolf growled. A pawn.

She didn’t care about me. Not my mother. She didn’t love me—they used me. They used me to control my father, the man they claimed was a monster.

They made me believe that my father was an evil tyrant to stop me from coming with him. For what? To milk him dry? To use his weakness—me—against him?

But how monstrous could he be if he sent gifts and letters, if he reached out while the people who were supposed to love me treated me like a tool?

My hands trembled as I gripped the edge of the counter, struggling to steady my breathing. I’d been lied to. Manipulated.

I stumbled out of the packhouse, my breath coming in ragged gasps. The cool night air bit at my skin, but it did nothing to numb the fire burning in my chest.

They lied to me.

All these years, I thought my mother was protecting me. That she saw me as someone important. That I had a place here. But I was never more than a pawn—a tool to keep my father, Alpha King Valentin, at bay.

The laughter from the dining hall still rang in my ears. Once we let go of Meredith, it will cause a feud between the territories.

I was nothing to them. Nothing but leverage.

Tears blurred my vision as I wandered through the empty streets of Aurora Pack, my feet moving without direction. My wolf whimpered inside me, but I ignored her. She was just as lost as I was.

But I was pushed back to reality when I saw a car speeding to my direction.

At that moment, I knew, I was doomed. Again.

Third Person’s POV

The late sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden hue over the training grounds near the packhouse. Alpha Kael stood beside a sleek black car, his arms crossed as he observed Princess Rachelle sitting nervously in the driver’s seat.

"Relax," Kael instructed, his voice even but firm. "Ease into it. The car moves with you, not against you."

Rachelle gripped the steering wheel tightly, her knuckles turning white. "I'm trying, Alpha, but this thing is terrifying!" she whined, pouting slightly as she flicked her eyes toward him.

A small smirk played on Kael’s lips. "It’s just a car, Princess. You can command it the same way you do people—with confidence."

Rachelle huffed but nodded, pressing her foot on the gas pedal tentatively. The car lurched forward, making her yelp in panic. She jerked the wheel to the side, narrowly missing a boulder on the dirt road.

"Focus!” Kael barked, his hand hovering near the wheel, ready to take control if necessary. "Watch where you’re going!"

But Rachelle’s fear got the better of her. She saw the massive tree ahead and panicked, her hands tightening around the wheel in a death grip. The car was going too fast. It was heading straight for the tree.

"Alpha!" she screamed, her foot slamming on the gas instead of the brakes.

Kael cursed under his breath. In one swift motion, he lunged forward, grabbing the wheel. But instead of steering them into the tree—which would undoubtedly cause injury to Rachelle—he twisted the wheel at the last second, redirecting the car.

Right toward Meredith.

She stood a few feet from the tree, unaware of what was happening until the sound of screeching tires filled the air.

Her heart stopped.

The car was coming straight for her.

She barely had time to react before the impact sent her body flying.

Pain exploded through her as she hit the ground hard. The sharp crack of her skull against the earth sent shockwaves through her entire being, but it was the searing agony in her abdomen that made her gasp.

Blood.

It was pooling beneath her, warm and thick, soaking into the ground. A sharp pain tore through her belly, and her trembling hands moved instinctively to her lower abdomen.

No.

No, no, no.

She knew what was happening even before she felt the dull, hollow ache inside her. She was losing her baby. Again.

A strangled sob escaped her lips, her breath coming in short, shallow gasps. Her wolf whimpered inside her, weak and broken, unable to do anything to stop it.

Her vision blurred, but through the haze of pain and dizziness, she could make out Kael’s towering form. Relief flickered through her for half a second.

But then she saw where he was kneeling. Not beside her. Not even looking at her.

"Are you okay, my love?" Kael’s voice was filled with concern—but not for her.

He was cradling Rachelle, running his hands over her arms, checking her for injuries. Rachelle, who had nothing more than a few scrapes and bruises.

"Call the doctor! She has scratches!" Kael roared.

Meredith’s stomach churned. Scratches.

She let out a weak, bitter laugh, though it sounded more like a ragged breath. Her vision swam, the pain intensifying, but she forced herself to look at him. To really see him.

This was the man she had once loved. The man she had sacrificed everything for. And yet, here he was, tending to another woman while she bled out on the cold, hard ground. Her wolf whimpered again, but this time, it wasn’t just from pain. It was from betrayal.

"Alpha," a voice called—Beta Lucas. He had rushed over, his face pale as he took in the sight of Meredith’s blood soaking the ground. "Alpha, Meredith is bleeding heavily. She—"

"Get her a doctor," Kael interrupted, his voice cold, impatient. "I don’t have time for this right now."

He didn’t even look at her. Meredith felt something inside her break. Not just her body. Not just the loss of her child.

Her spirit. Kael had already abandoned her.

A sob bubbled up in her throat, but she swallowed it down. She had cried enough over him. She had wasted too much of her heart on a man who never saw her, never truly cared.

Her fingers trembled as she reached for the last thread of strength she had left.

Her father.

Her mind was slipping, the darkness closing in, but she forced the mindlink open, her thoughts reaching out into the abyss.

"I’m sorry, Dad... I misunderstood you before. I’m sorry for believing them over you. I should’ve known… If only I had time left, I would spend it with you.”

She felt a flicker of warmth, as if his presence was reaching back to her, but she knew it was too late.

"I’m sorry... I don’t think I’ll get the chance to see you again."

Third Person’s POV

The packhouse was eerily quiet when Alpha Kael returned. The familiar scent of dominance and power still clung to the walls, but something felt off. The absence of Meredith’s scent. He strode into their shared room, expecting to find her curled up in bed, broken and weak—exactly where she belonged. But the bed was untouched, the sheets still neatly arranged.

She wasn’t here.

Kael’s jaw clenched, irritation flashing through him. He would deal with her later. For now, he had other priorities.

With a frustrated sigh, he moved toward the wooden dresser, pulling open a drawer. He reached for the velvet box that held a necklace—one he had picked for Rachelle. She had been whining about jewelry again, and Kael, wanting to appease her, had planned to gift it to her tonight. But his fingers brushed against something unexpected.

A folder.

Frowning, he pulled it out and flipped it open. His sharp, golden eyes scanned the first few words on the medical document. Then his whole body went rigid.

Pregnancy Report.

His grip tightened on the edges of the paper as he read further. The date was recent. Only a few days old. His heart thundered in his chest. Meredith was pregnant. Again.

A curse ripped through him, the paper crumpling in his fist. No. She can’t have this child.

He had already made sure the first one never saw the light of day. He couldn’t allow this one to live either. His breathing grew heavier. He had been careful, ensuring Meredith never defied her place, never thought she could rise above what she was. And yet, she had been carrying his heir without his knowledge?

Anger burned hot in his veins. She needed to come back. Now.

Without hesitation, he pulled out his phone, dialing her number.

Ringing.

Again.

No answer.

Kael growled, his wolf bristling beneath his skin. Where the hell was she?

He tried again. Nothing. Frustrated, he dialed another number—a healer he knew from the western territories, one Meredith had been familiar with. When the call connected, a calm yet slightly nervous voice answered.

“Alpha Kael,” the healer greeted.

“Where is she?” His voice was clipped, demanding.

A slight pause. “Meredith?”

“No, the damn Moon Goddess,” he snapped. “Of course, Meredith! Tell her to pick up her damn phone. Now.”

The healer hesitated. Then came the words that made Kael’s blood freeze. “Alpha… Meredith was here. She was in the patient ward thirty minutes ago, but now she’s gone.”

Silence.

Kael’s fingers tightened around his phone, his knuckles turning white.

“What do you mean, gone?”

“I—I don’t know, Alpha. She was resting with… uh, but when I checked just now, she wasn’t there.”

A dark, menacing growl rumbled deep in Kael’s chest. His wolf stirred, furious, restless.

Meredith had disappeared? He forced himself to stay calm. “What about the pregnancy report?” he demanded. “I just found it in our room. Is it true?”

The healer hesitated. “She… hasn’t told you?” Kael didn’t respond, only waiting. “Yes, Alpha. Meredith was confirmed pregnant a week ago. And the child is healthy.”

The words crashed into him like a storm, sending an unsettling chill through his body.

His child. Another child. No.

He wouldn’t allow it. Before he could respond, the healer continued, almost too casually.

“I thought she would have shared the pregnancy news with you… along with the fact that she got her hearing back.”

Kael’s world tilted. “What did you just say?”

“That she got her hearing back. It happened about a week ago. You didn’t know?”

Kael barely heard the rest of the healer’s words. His entire body stiffened, the room spinning around him. Meredith. Could hear. For a whole week. He staggered slightly, his breath coming in sharp, shallow pants. How? How had he not noticed?

She had heard everything. Everything. His callous words. The way he dismissed her. The way he talked to Rachelle in his arms while she lay bleeding on the ground.

He swallowed, his throat dry. No.

That wasn’t the worst of it.

As if the Moon Goddess was toying with him, another blow came just moments later.

The television screen in his room flickered to life, a news broadcast filling the silence.

Kael barely paid attention—until he saw it.

The headline burned into his mind like a curse.

PRINCESS MEREDITH IN CRITICAL CONDITION AFTER DEVASTATING ACCIDENT.

His breath caught in his throat. His heart pounded, a sickening dread settling in his gut as the screen switched to an image.

A woman, unconscious in a hospital bed.

Her long, dark hair. Her delicate features.

His mind reeled.

Meredith?

No.

His Meredith was an omega. She had no royal blood.

Yet…

His eyes locked onto the screen, and realization slammed into him like a thousand bricks.

The princess of the Eastern Territory.

She looked just like her. Too much like her. And her name…

Meredith.