The Alpha's Debt the King's Claim novel · Chapter 15 of 24

Chapter 15: The Steps

Torin was on the palace steps, and the whole market had come to watch.

He stood in the same clothes he had worn at the mine, with burned cuffs and no cloak.

He had no wolves with him, and no ring.

I came down the steps beside Evander with my left hand bandaged and my hair pinned up.

The crowd went quiet.

"Maeve," Torin said.

"Alpha Brackley."

"I'm not that anymore." He took a plain gold band out of his pocket and held it up. "I came to say what I did, so you'll hear it from me and not from the ledger."

"Then say it."

He swallowed.

"Two winters ago I did not catch the silver fever by accident," he said, loud enough that the back rows heard. "Elspeth put a pinch of silver dust in my wine. She told me you were the best healer in three packs."

"She said if you saved my life I would owe you, and the pack would want us bonded."

A hiss ran through the crowd.

"I knew it was wrong," Torin said. "I drank the wine anyway. I lay in your hands for nine days and watched you save me. Then I swore the debt on the king's seal, and I called it gratitude."

"You used my gift."

"I used you. I needed a healer-line mate by pack law. I needed her too. I thought I could keep both."

"And the ceremony," I said.

"I knew she was faking that day. She had told me she would." His voice cracked. "She said it would only make the room look away from you. I let you stand there alone."

Someone in the crowd spat on the stones at his feet.

He took it without moving.

← Chapter 14 · All chapters · Chapter 16 →

Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend