Chapter 9 Love Can Be Cultivated
Melissa’s POV:
“Leticia, did you forget where you are? This is the Alpha King’s territory. Are you going to attack me here?”
I questioned her calmly.
Sure enough, Leticia froze.
She forced herself to shift back from her wolf form, glaring at me through gritted teeth. “Shut your mouth!”
Then she seemed to realize something and lowered her voice, threatening me, “Good thing you had the sense not to expose me just now. Otherwise, say goodbye to your adoptive parents.”
I laughed coldly.
“Ha. So dramatic. You want to keep quiet about what happened? Fine. Adrian promised 100 million for saving his life. I’ll give you a discount–five million. Consider it hush money.
Otherwise, once he finds out the truth–I, your dear half–sister–won’t just have a shot at becoming the next Alpha heir of the Silverblood Pack … I might also need to start picking out your headstone.”
“Five… Five million dollars? You’re dreaming!” Leticia hissed, her eyes burning with rage.
“Whether I’m dreaming is none of your business,” I replied coolly.
“But if you don’t do what I say, I swear I’ll turn your Luna fantasy into a full–blown delusion.”
Adrian’s POV:
Camila explained everything that had happened the night before.
She looked at me, her voice firm. “I spoke with the Council of Elders. They all agreed–any girl who can drive you to lose control like that must be the one chosen by the Moon Goddess to be your Luna.
“Only a child born from her will be a true heir to your throne.
“All these years, your wolf hasn’t found your fated mate. This was the only way I could help you. And thank the heavens, I found her–Melissa.”
I had assumed Melissa was the one who drugged me, which is why I thought she schemed her way into the elevator with me.
Now that I knew it was Camila who drugged me, it didn’t completely clear Melissa of suspicion.
“Grandma,” I said, “how could Melissa possibly be the Luna chosen for me by the Moon Goddess? My wolf didn’t feel anything for her. She doesn’t even have a wolf spirit.
“I think what happened between us that night was just a fluke. You’ve tested me with so many women over the years–can’t you accept that I might’ve simply lost control, just once?”
Still, I couldn’t shake the memory of that night.
There had never been a woman like her. Her scent had drawn me–and my wolf–in, made us lose all sense of control.
But my wolf hadn’t confirmed that she was our fated mate.
And as the Alpha King, I refused to believe that the Moon Goddess would match me with a woman who didn’t even have a wolf.
After taking a moment to compose myself, I looked at Camila and said firmly, “I’ve already chosen my mate. As for Melissa, we’ll compensate her.”
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I heard Melissa say it last night–she was only after money.
If that was what she wanted, then I would give it to her.
Camila shot me a sharp glare and snapped, “Hmph! You think I’m old and blind? Don’t think I didn’t see through your little act–you and Leticia are clearly in on this together, trying to fool me.”
“Then what do I have to do for you to believe me?”
I was genuinely at a loss.
Camila thought for a moment, then said calmly, “Wait. In two months, whichever one of you ends up pregnant first–that’s the one you’ll make your Luna.”
She was so insistent that I didn’t even know how to argue anymore.
“Don’t look at me like that,” she added, catching the doubt in my eyes. “Love can be cultivated.”
Then she seemed to think I was hesitating because Melissa wasn’t attractive enough, so she added, “Don’t be so shallow. Looks jaren’t everything.
“Sure, that girl máy be plain, but you know what they say–beautiful women invite trouble. At least with her, you’ll have peace
of mind.
“And besides, Melissa is the mate chosen for you by the Moon Goddess. Maybe–just maybe–she can break the curse the Witchborn Clan placed on our bloodline, the one that’s kept us from having more than one heir each generation.”
She patted my shoulder. “Melissa will be staying here for the next couple of days. You take Leticia and leave first.”
Camila had clearly made up her mind to push Melissa into the role of my Luna. The thought made my chest tighten with frustration.
As the most respected elder in the clan, Camila’s opinion couldn’t be ignored. I didn’t want to argue with her, so I chose to leave.
“Alpha, you’re back!”
Leticia greeted me with a bright smile the moment I stepped out.
I brushed past her without a glance and walked straight up to Melissa.
Gripping her chin, I tilted her face upward, forcing her to meet my eyes.
“I’m warning you–don’t you dare try to manipulate Grandma. Or I’ll make sure you regret ever being born.”
“Ugh…
Melissa winced in pain, but there was no fear or deference in her eyes.
She shoved me away. “You think I want this? I‘
But halfway through her sentence, she glanced over at Leticia and seemed to change course. “You’d better ask Grandma what
she wants.
“Whatever she says, I’ll follow.”
THIMEN
The way she said it—so defiant, so deliberately antagonistic–it made my blood boil. I was this close to losing control, shifting, and tearing her apart.
Ph, calling her ‘Grandma‘ already?” I sneered. “You must be dying to become my Luna.”
“You think I want that?” She shot back. “But if I end up pregnant, I’ll have no choice but to marry you. I’m not about to let my child be born without a father.
“After all … ”
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She paused, then locked eyes with me again–bold, reckless, and completely unafraid.
“If the most respected elder on this entire continent insists I marry you … What can I do but say yes?”
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