Mated To The Blood Wolf

Hazel's POV

I stared across the long dinner table at King Aldrich of Eldoria.

My father.

Even after all these years, calling him that in my head still felt strange.

I looked away from him and glanced toward the woman sitting beside him.

Queen Seraphina.

My stepmother had spent most of dinner talking about Amelia. Amelia's dresses. Amelia's lessons. Amelia's latest accomplishments.

It was always Amelia.

And there she was.

Sitting beside her mother like she belonged on a throne already.

Her blonde hair was perfectly styled, and her dress probably cost more than everything I owned combined. She smiled whenever Father looked at her.

But whenever he looked away, the smile vanished.

Her eyes met mine.

I quickly looked down at my plate.

I knew better than to stare at Amelia.

"Hazel."

I nearly dropped my fork.

I looked up.

Father was staring at me.

"Are you enjoying the food?"

For a moment, I didn't know what to say.

He had spoken to me.

Not because I had done something wrong.

Not because he wanted me to leave.

He was actually asking me if I was enjoying dinner.

"Yes," I said quietly. "Father."

His gaze lingered on me.

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat.

Something about tonight felt wrong.

Seraphina hadn't said a single cruel word to me since I entered the dining hall. Amelia hadn't made a single remark either.

They were both watching me.

Quietly.

Almost patiently.

And somehow, that frightened me more than their insults ever had.

Why were they suddenly being nice?

My grip tightened around my fork.

I didn't trust it.

I had spent my entire life learning what their kindness looked like.

Usually, it came with a price.

My mother had been a maid in the palace.

She had an affair with the king, and I was the result.

She died giving birth to me.

I never knew her.

But I knew exactly what everyone thought of me.

A mistake.

An unwanted child.

Something that should never have existed.

Seraphina had never let me forget it.

Neither had Amelia.

And Father...

He never had to say anything.

He simply watched.

He watched while they treated me like I was beneath them. He watched while I was ordered around, insulted, and humiliated.

Sometimes I wondered if he even remembered that I was his daughter.

So why was tonight different?

Why was he looking at me?

Why was he suddenly interested in me?

I swallowed.

"Yes, Father," I repeated.

My voice came out softer than I intended.

Father continued staring at me.

A cold feeling settled in my stomach.

Then a thought entered my mind.

What if this wasn't kindness?

What if something had happened?

What if they had finally decided that keeping me alive wasn't worth the trouble?

My heart began to pound.

I lowered my eyes quickly, hoping no one would notice the fear on my face.

Whatever was happening tonight...

I had a terrible feeling I was about to find out.