Sold to Bastard Alpha after My Divorce!-Chapter 62

Kael’s POV

The Blood Crown estate loomed ahead like a threat.

Every window was lit. Every shadow seemed to watch as I pulled into the driveway. The engine died, but I didn’t move.

My hands were still gripping the steering wheel. White-knuckled. Shaking.

I forced myself out of the car. The night air was cold against my skin. Sharp. Unforgiving.

The front door swung open before I reached it.

Mother stood in the doorway. Her silver hair was perfectly styled. Her dress was immaculate. But her eyes—those knowing eyes—held something I couldn’t read.

"Kael." Her voice was soft. Careful. "You came."

"Did I have a choice?"

She flinched. Just slightly.

Guilt twisted in my gut. This wasn’t her fault. She was as much a victim of my father as anyone.

"Where is he?" I asked.

"The dining room." She stepped aside to let me pass. "We’re having dinner. Your father thought it would be nice if we ate together as a family."

Family.

What a joke.

I walked past her into the foyer. The chandelier cast prismatic light across the marble floors. Everything was beautiful. Everything was cold.

I pushed through the doors.

Father sat at the head of the table. Of course he did. His red-gold eyes tracked my entrance like a predator watching prey. A wine glass dangled from his fingers. Casual. Controlled.

"Kael." He gestured to an empty chair. "Sit. Eat."

Mother took her place at Father’s right. Her movements were graceful. Practiced. She’d spent decades learning how to exist in his presence without triggering his rage.

Lucian was nowhere to be seen.

"Where’s my brother?" I asked.

"Resting." Father’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. "He wasn’t feeling well earlier. But he’s fine now."

Fine.

I knew what that meant. What it really meant.

Rage flickered in my chest. I pushed it down. Now wasn’t the time.

Servants appeared. Plates were set before us. Roasted meat. Vegetables drizzled with something that probably cost more than most people’s rent. Wine poured into crystal glasses.

I didn’t touch any of it.

"You should eat." Father’s voice was deceptively mild. "You look exhausted."

"I’m fine."

"Are you?" He raised an eyebrow. "You’ve been... distracted lately. Missing meetings. Ignoring calls. People are starting to talk."

Let them talk.

"I’ve been busy."

"Busy with what?"

None of your damn business.

But I didn’t say that. Couldn’t. Not yet.

"Personal matters," I said instead.

Father’s eyes narrowed. "Personal matters."

Silence stretched between us. Heavy. Suffocating.

Mother picked at her food. Her fork scraped against her plate. The sound was too loud in the quiet room.

I waited.

Whatever this was about, he’d get to it eventually. He always did.

"Your mother and I have been discussing your future," Father finally said. He set down his wine glass. Laced his fingers together. "It’s time we talked about certain... expectations."

Here it comes.

"What expectations?"

"You’re twenty-five years old, Kael. In two months, you’ll turn twenty-six." He paused. Let the words sink in. "And you’re still unmated."

My jaw tightened. "So?"

"So that’s unacceptable." His voice hardened. "The Blood Crown heir cannot remain unbound. It’s tradition. It’s law. Without a Luna by your side, you cannot inherit the Alpha position."

"You’ve mentioned this before."

"And you’ve ignored it before." He leaned forward. Those red-gold eyes burned into mine. "That ends now."

I said nothing.

Mother’s hand trembled slightly as she reached for her water glass. She knew what was coming. I could see it in her face.

"You need to get married," Father continued. "Soon. Within the next few months."

My heart slammed against my ribs.

"What?"

"Don’t act surprised." His smile was cold. "You’ve known this was coming. The council has been patient. I have been patient. But patience has limits."

"I’m not ready to—"

"I don’t care if you’re ready." His voice cracked like a whip. "You will choose a mate. You will have a mating ceremony. And you will produce an heir. Those are not suggestions."

The rage was harder to control now. It burned in my chest. Clawed at my throat.

"And if I refuse?"

Father’s expression didn’t change. But something dark flickered behind his eyes.

The threat was clear.

I forced myself to breathe. To stay seated. To not leap across this table and tear out his throat.

"Is this why you called me home?" My voice came out flat. Controlled. "To threaten me into marriage?"

"I called you home because you’ve been behaving erratically." Father’s tone sharpened. "Running around the city like a lovesick puppy. Abandoning your responsibilities. Making a fool of yourself."

"I haven’t—"

"Rebecca came to see us."

The words hit like a punch.

I went still.

"She was very upset," Mother said softly. She was staring at her plate. Couldn’t meet my eyes. "She said you’ve been cold to her. Distant. She doesn’t understand what she did wrong."

"She didn’t do anything wrong." The lie tasted bitter. "We just... grew apart."

"Grew apart?" Father laughed. Harsh. Mocking. "You’ve known her your entire life. You’ve been together for years. How exactly does one ’grow apart’ from their destined Luna?"

"She’s not my destined anything."

Father’s eyebrows rose.

"Interesting." He sat back in his chair. Studied me like I was a specimen under a microscope.

"I’m not marrying Rebecca."

"Excuse me?"

"I said—" I met his eyes directly. Let him see the resolve there. "I’m not marrying Rebecca. Not now. Not ever. I’m not going to marry someone I don’t love just to satisfy your political ambitions."

The words hung in the air.

Father’s face darkened. That familiar rage was building behind his eyes.

"Love?" He spat the word like it was poison. "You think love matters? You think your feelings mean anything? You’re the Alpha heir, Kael. You don’t get to be selfish. His voice rose to a roar. The windows rattled. "You’re thinking with your cock, not your brain!"

My control snapped.

"I FOUND MY MATE!"

The words exploded from me. Raw. Furious. Unstoppable.

The room went completely still.

Father’s mouth was open. Nothing came out. For once in his miserable life, he was speechless.

Mother rose from her chair. Her eyes were wide. Shocked.

"Kael..." Her voice trembled. "You found your... you have a fated mate?"

I was breathing hard. My heart pounded. The confession hung in the air like a physical thing.

There was no taking it back now.

"Yes." The word came out rough. "I have a fated mate. Fenrir recognized her. She’s mine."

Mother stepped closer. Her face was a mixture of emotions—surprise, curiosity, something that almost looked like hope.

"Who is she?" she asked. "Where is she from? What’s her surname?"

I shook my head.

I couldn’t tell them. Not yet. Not like this.

If Father knew it was Aria—the Shadow Moon Omega he’d just finished insulting—he’d do everything in his power to destroy her. To destroy us.

I needed to protect her. Even from my own family.

"It doesn’t matter," I said.

"Of course it matters!" Father’s voice was harsh. Demanding. "If you’ve found your fated mate, we need to know who she is. We need to verify—"

"Verify what?" I cut him off. "That she’s good enough for your precious bloodline? That she meets your standards?"

"Kael—"

"I’m not telling you anything." I stepped back. Put distance between us. "All you need to know is that I won’t marry Rebecca. I won’t pretend to love someone I don’t. And I won’t let you control this."

Father’s face twisted with rage.

"You’re being a fool," he snarled. "Whoever this woman is—whatever spell she’s cast over you—it won’t last. You’ll come crawling back, begging for forgiveness."

I turned. Started walking.

My footsteps echoed through the silent foyer. The night air hit my face. Cool. Clean. Full of possibilities. "Don’t interfere with my life." I said the words into the darkness