Chapter 193: The Marriage Decree.
Alessandro’s POV
Tamara was the last person I wanted to see.
My relationship with Aurora had been shaky ever since I asked her that stupid, reckless question.
And I hated that I’d been feeling insecure ever since.
Even after taking her on what was supposed to be the impossible date, the thought kept gnawing at me: what if she still had lingering feelings for Leonardo?
Tamara’s voice yanked me out of my head.
She’d hooked an arm around my neck in a rough, familiar grip.
“I’ve missed you, Al. You sure never call.”
Across the room, Aurora was already heading for the door. She didn’t look back, but I caught the flash of something on her face—tight, guarded.
What was going through her head when Tamara walked in?
I pushed the thought aside. “I’ve been busy with Pack affairs,” I said flatly.
“Hmmm…” Tamara tilted her head, smirking. “Or you just never thought of me.”
I didn’t take the bait. “What are you doing here? We never sent for a meeting with your pack. So why are you here?” My tone was sharper than I intended, but I wasn’t in the mood for small talk.
She shook her head, laughing softly. “Still ever so direct. Well… silly, why are you acting like you don’t know about our families coming together?”
My brows furrowed. “I don’t understand what you mean, Tamara.”
She sighed dramatically and glanced at Rafael and Gabriel, who looked as confused as I felt. Then she reached into the bag slung over her shoulder and pulled out a folded letter.
“Maybe you should see for yourself.”
I took it from her, tearing it open.
The more I read, the tighter my jaw became until the words blurred. Rage surged through me.
“How dare he?!”
I crushed the letter in my fist and strode out of the dining hall without another word, leaving Rafael, Gabriel, and Tamara staring after me.
By the time I reached my father’s office, my pulse was pounding in my ears. I didn’t bother knocking—I shoved the door open.
“FATHER! HOW DARE YOU DO THIS?!”
Alpha John didn’t even look up at first, calmly signing whatever document sat in front of him. Only after he placed his pen down and closed the file did he meet my glare.
“You know I’m in love with someone,” I snapped. “And you do this? You arranged my marriage? You have no right to—”
“I have every right,” he interrupted, voice cold. “You’re my son. The future Alpha of this pack. And just like I did, you will make sacrifices for it.”
I shook my head, my hands curling into fists. “No. I won’t let you control me the way you controlled Leonardo. You ruined his life. You’re not going to ruin mine.”
His jaw tightened, but his voice stayed maddeningly even. “Listen, Alessandro. This decision wasn’t easy for me, alright? Alpha Maverick is trying to force this pack into an alliance—his daughter is pregnant with your brother’s child. That means he gains power, enough to think he can control me. I can’t allow that.”
He stepped forward, hands in his pockets. “I need a stronger alliance—one I control. Your marriage will give me that. It ensures Maverick doesn’t get the upper hand and cause trouble in the future.”
I let out a harsh, bitter laugh. “So that’s why you want me to marry Tamara.” I met his eyes, unflinching. “I don’t even love her.”
My father’s expression didn’t waver. “Love is a luxury for an Alpha. Stability is what keeps a pack alive.”
I took a step forward, my voice sharp. “Stability? You mean control. You want to control me the same way you’ve controlled everyone else in this house.”
“You think this is about control?” His voice rose, just a fraction. “It’s about survival.
You’ve been raised with the privilege of not having to make these decisions.
But I have. And I will, again and again, if it means protecting this pack.”
I scoffed. “Protecting the pack, or protecting your throne?”
His eyes hardened, a flash of warning there. “Alessandro, you will marry Tamara. That is final.”
“No,” I said, my tone low, steady, and defiant. “You can give orders to the rest of the pack, but not about my mate.
You can take away my title, my inheritance, hell, even my place in this house, but you will not decide who I spend my life with.”
His jaw clenched. For a moment, the office was silent except for the sound of my own breathing.
“You’re going to regret this rebellion,” he said finally, his voice calm but laced with steel. “And when you do, I hope she’s worth it.”
“She’s worth everything,” I fired back, my voice sharp enough to cut through the tension.
I turned away, ready to walk out, but his voice followed me like a hook.
“Aurora doesn’t have anything to offer you,” he said coldly. “And one day, when you really need your mate’s help… will she have the power to help you?”
I froze mid-step, his words burning into my spine.
Slowly, I turned my head, meeting his gaze over my shoulder.
“Power?” I said, my tone low and dangerous. “You think that’s all a mate is good for?”
His jaw tightened. “In this world, it’s survival. Love won’t shield you from enemies, Alessandro.”
I stepped closer again, closing the space he’d just pushed between us.
“She’s worth everything,” I fired back, my voice sharp enough to cut through the tension.
I turned away, ready to walk out, but his voice followed me like a hook.
“Aurora doesn’t have anything to offer you,” he said coldly. “And one day, when you really need your mate’s help… will she have the power to help you?”
I froze mid-step, his words burning into my spine.
Slowly, I turned my head, meeting his gaze over my shoulder.
“Power?” I said, my tone low and dangerous. “You think that’s all a mate is good for?”
His jaw tightened. “In this world, it’s survival. Love won’t shield you from enemies, Alessandro.”
I stepped closer again, closing the space he’d just pushed between us.
“No,” I said, voice hard, “but I will. And that’s all that matters.”
His eyes narrowed. “And when you fall?
When you’re too weak or too broken to stand, what then?
Will she protect you?
Will she fight for you the way you fight for her?”
“She already has,” I snapped. “And not because she had to. Because she wanted to.”
“Wanted to?” he scoffed.
“Feelings fade. Loyalty can be bought. But strength, real power, never leaves your side.”
“You’re wrong,” I said, my voice steel.
“Power can be stolen. Love… can’t.”
He leaned in just enough for his shadow to fall over me.
“Then pray you never have to learn how quickly love can turn into a blade against your throat.”
For a second, the air between us was nothing but heat and silence.
My fists curled, but I didn’t swing.
Instead, I turned away again.
His final words followed me out like a curse.
“When she’s the reason you lose everything… don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
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