The Alpha King's Princess
The Alpha King’s Princess – Chapter 56

I thought he would come out, surely, he heard me, but he didn’t show up. I almost called his name again.

Then, I heard Sibyl’s voice. “I didn’t think I was asking anything hard! You should pay for my dress!”

“Have your father pay for it,” Candido replied.

She growled as I leaned against the wall near his office door. They had to be around the corner.

Normally, I would have walked on, but I couldn’t muster up the strength, so I slumped down and simply listened.

“You’re being so selfish. I’m not the only one getting married! I’m going to be queen-“

“You will never be queen, Siby!,” he growled. “How many times-“

“I’ll be your wife! You can’t deny me my right.”

“I can do as I please,” he said. “The budget stands as it’s the only thing your father can afford. Perhaps you should be focused on replaceing something suitable since you moving up the date so much has eaten through over half of it.”

“Why can’t I just be excited to be married to you?”

Sibyl asked. “Why are you acting like this is such a burden? You’re marrying the daughter of the Red Moon Pack and-“

“Who currently smells like another man and looks like she just stepped out of a dark alley with her lover.”

My eyes widened. I had no idea that Candido knew.

There was no way that she’d just walked into the estate after her little meeting with the vampire without at least checking her appearance! Hadn’t she run into anyone on the way here? One of her guards? Her father? It almost made it seem like I shouldn’t show him the video. I shook my head. There was more to that video than Sibyl’s affair. Showing him the man’s face might help, letting him hear what he had to say might lead Candido down a path to replaceing him or at least prosecuting the Red Moon Pack.

After all, Sibyl’s father knew about her little tryst.

Even if he didn’t know it was a vampire, he knew she was cheating and that was bad enough.

Silence stretched on, and Candido let out a little laugh.

“Nothing to say now?”

“I-I don’t know-“

“Save your lies, Sibyl. He’s not even the same man I smelled on you when you showed up here in the rain.” He scoffed. “At least that time, you had the sense to reapply your lipstick and not let him mark you.”

She gasped. “I’m not-“

“So those are what? Mosquito bites? I am indifferent to you, Sibyl. Not stupid.”

“Candido, if you really think I would cheat on you, why are we-“

Sibyl, for once, shut up,” Candido said with a tired sigh. “The budget isn’t changing. I don’t care if you show up in some bargain rack dress. I don’t care if you don’t get the flowers you wanted or the jewelry you like. None of that is my concern. Finish the plans on your own, or push it back. It has nothing to do with me.”

“You have to-“

“Yes,” Candido cut in. “I have to marry you because I have integrity and honor, a debt to repay that state you will be my wife. That’s all. There will be no love. Don’t imagine children, so if you’re pregnant, I suggest you get rid of it because I will never claim it.”

She took a sharp breath. My stomach turned. Was she pregnant? I clenched my fist at my side. The thought sickened and infuriated me. Having a child by another werewolf was bad, but willingly having a child with our enemy was something unforgivable.

What could she have been thinking? If it was true, did Norton know?

“You can’t talk to me like that.”

… are you pregnant, Sibyl?” He asked, his tone cold.

I heard one of them move, and I bet it was Siby!. I hoped she tripped on whatever she was wearing. She would deserve it after everything she’s done and plans to do.

“Don’t try and get out of this by accusing me of things.” Candido scoffed. “Hardly an accusation. I only asked, but your defensiveness tells me you might at least suspect that you could be. Unbelievable.”

I-“

“Did you think I wouldn’t know if you had that child after we were married?”

“We have to consummate the marriage-“

“No, Sibyl, we don’t,” he chuckled. “Amazing. Your father has really not told you.”

.. what does that mean? Every marriage has to be consummate! You have to sleep with me, Candido, whether you like it or not. I’m going to get pregnant and have your heir.”

Candido laughed, but there was no joy in it. What did that mean? Why was he laughing?

“The only person who would benefit from us consummating our marriage is you, Sibyl? Sure, by law, a marriage can be annulled if it is never consummated, but you would be the only one who could pursue that, and you never will.”

She gasped, and my eyes widened. It was almost diabolical. He was allowing this farce of marriage on paper, but that was all. It was still too risky in my mind to even have it on paper, but hearing this made me feel a little better.

“If you were smart, you’d understand that you’re the one missing out on this stupid deal and call it off.” He snorted. “Or at least get rid of it before you start showing. No one, not even a priest, is going to stand behind you if you have another man’s child while married to me.”

“I’m not-You don’t know-“

“The public will call to have you stoned in the streets,” Candido said. “So, think about that.”

“You can’t trick me! I-“

“Go away, Sibyl. I don’t want to see you again until the ceremony. If you move the date, provide that information to Allen, but I won’t be involved in the planning. I don’t care what colors you choose or the flatware at the reception. I don’t even care if you have to bike to the ceremony. Figure it out on your own.”

She huffed and stomped her feet before charging around the corner. I watched her storm past me, flushed with embarrassment and scowling, and I couldn’t even think to make her trip.

I was too stunned at all this.

How long had Candido known? Why wasn’t he bringing this up to Norton? Why wasn’t he doing anything to make it stop? Was it all just a ploy to wash his hands of the guilt of this falling apart? That seemed to be what he was doing, but he could just be done with it all at this point instead of continuing down this path.

My lips twitched. Maybe he had some lingering affection for Sibyl and wanted to give her a chance to save face after all this time. I knew they’d known each other since they were children, so it didn’t seem so far out there that he was trying to protect her in some small way.

It was something I could see him doing. I glanced down the hall to where they had been. If I hurried, I could probably sneak away without being seen or heard

I turned onto my hands and knees and started to crawl away.

“Hedy,” Candido called. His voice was tired and soft. I froze as I heard him come around the corner.

I turned back to look up at him. At this angle, he probably couldn’t see much of anything, but he didn’t seem to be looking at me either. His gaze was on the floor between his feet.

“Come to my office tomorrow,” he said. “We still… have a lot to talk about.”

Then, he turned and walked into his office. The door closed with a soft click behind him and I had half a mind to go see him tonight.

I tried not to dwell in the hallway long. I was still shaky and felt weak. Maybe I was also a bit hungry, but I couldn’t focus on that. I dragged myself to my room and into the bathtub, pulling off my dirty clothes and sighing as I slipped in the steadily rising water.

For a moment, I just let my body relax in the tub, turning over the conversation between Candido and Sibyl. It seemed like he’d known about her infidelity for a while. It would make sense why she was never welcome. Maybe Candido had always known that Norton was just using his daughter for power, that Sibyl was just using him for power.

But then why hadn’t he used this all to his advantage?

Calling Norton out, calling Sibyl out in front of all the other alphas would have gone a long way towards pressuring Norton to let this go. The older alphas might resent Candido because of his age and power, but no one would suggest that they have a queen who was carrying another man’s child.

Especially not a vampire’s child.