Chapter 57: Magic of a fated bond

"What happened?" Caroline asked the moment Andrew ended the call.

"I heard that Prince Alarick is being forced to marry."

"Jessica couldn’t marry me, so she targeted Alarick instead," Andrew scoffed, setting his phone aside.

"Mom has lost her mind. She’s willing to sacrifice her own son’s future just to keep a political promise. Now Alarick is terrified that our father will issue a formal decree binding them together, one he won’t be able to defy."

Caroline frowned, realizing the severe trap Alarick was caught in.

"I advised him to hold his ground," Andrew continued, leaning back against the couch. "But Alarick is the eldest. He’s spent his entire life playing the dutiful prince and obeying every command."

"Then we should fly back and help him," Caroline suggested softly, looking at him with concern.

Andrew let out a sharp chuckle. "How could we possibly help him? Besides, I have no intention of setting foot in that palace. She won’t listen to me anyway. Alarick needs to handle this matter in his own way."

"Why did the Luna Queen set up your marriage with Jessica in the first place? I’m sure Her Majesty is furious that her chosen bride isn’t by your side," Caroline observed, her curiosity piqued.

"She made a promise to her best friend, but that was just an excuse," Andrew explained coldly. "The real reason is that she couldn’t stand my refusal to obey her. She wanted control over my life, and Jessica was meant to be her informant, spying on everything I did."

Caroline frowned, visibly confused. "That sounds toxic. That’s not how a marriage is supposed to work at all."

"I never let her dictate my choices," Andrew added, a bitter chuckle escaping his lips. "I was the youngest, yet she rushed to arrange my marriage first. Ironically, when it actually came to raising me or caring for my well-being, I was always her lowest priority."

Caroline could see a flicker of sadness cross Andrew’s face. She reached out and placed her hand over his, caressing it gently.

"Yet you still turned out to be so good to the people around you. I’m sure the people of Redwood High love you for how you govern that place."

"Not many think well of me. You haven’t seen my evil side yet," Andrew stated, tilting his head slightly as he looked at her.

"You’ve never shown it to me. And even if it exists, everyone has a darker side," Caroline replied softly.

"I just feel terrible knowing all this chaos was created because of me."

"No. It isn’t because of you. I married and broke my mother’s plans. That’s why it happened," Andrew answered. "I am sure Alarick won’t marry Jessica either."

~~~~~~

"Your Majesty, I cannot endure this humiliation any longer. Even Prince Alarick has refused me," Jessica declared, her voice trembling with engineered grief. "Your promise to my mother can no longer be kept. My mother was right. I should have never set foot in this palace."

She pushed herself up from her seat and wiped the stray tears from her face, making sure her anguish was on full display.

"When I saw the news flashing everywhere that Prince Andrew had married Caroline my heart was completely shattered. I spent years preparing to stand by his side as his Luna."

Her raw reaction was entirely calculated. Playing the helpless victim was the only guaranteed way to keep the Luna Queen firmly in her corner.

If she pushed Seraphina’s guilt far enough, the Queen would pressure the Alpha King into issuing a binding royal decree—an official command forcing Alarick Kensington to marry her. That had been her true goal.

Seraphina stood up and held Jessica’s arms. "I’m sorry to hurt you, dear. But rest assured. I will make sure you become Kensington soon."

Jessica let out a cold laugh, shaking her head. "I do not trust Your Majesty anymore."

She turned away, her shoulders trembling as she forced herself to weep.

"No one truly understands my pain. What was my fault that I had to watch my fiancé betray me and marry another woman? I endured the embarrassment then, but I cannot do this anymore. Please just let me leave, Your Majesty."

She paused, casting a sharp look back over her shoulder. "Unless the Alpha King himself issues a binding decree, I will not believe another promise from the Luna Queen."

"Even if he does, I am not marrying you, Jessica," Alarick’s voice boomed through the chamber as he strode back inside.

He cast a furious glance toward his mother before fixing his cold gaze entirely on Jessica.

"Alarick, mind your tongue," Seraphina interjected sharply, stepping between them. "You will not find a woman as suitable as Jessica. Your father will certainly approve of this match."

"Then I will leave this palace as well," Alarick declared. "What if I meet my fated mate tomorrow? A forced marriage will never hold me back. The title of my Luna belongs exclusively to my fated mate." He paused, casting a dark glare at Jessica.

"If you have even an ounce of dignity left, you will leave this palace immediately and never show your face here again. I swear, if you make one more demand to marry me or either of my brothers, I will have you thrown into a dungeon."

"Alarick!" Seraphina shouted, her voice laced with anger.

"Mom, don’t test me. You know I have the full authority to lock her up right now," Alarick warned, his eyes darkening with fury.

Jessica clenched her fists tightly. She bowed to the Queen and dashed out of the chamber.

"Alarick, why did you do that? How could you make me lose face like that?" Seraphina demanded, her chest heaving with indignation. "You defied the Luna Queen today. Do you even realize what you have done?"

"I am fully aware of what I did," Alarick replied, standing firm. "But you cannot force me to marry a woman just because she fits your preferences, Mom. For the first time, I actually understand why Andrew always fought against your interference. In moments like this, you act like a ruler calculating political moves rather than our mother."

He stepped closer, his gaze hardening. "Have you forgotten how you and Dad met? You found each other as fated mates at a grand ball. How can you try to force an arranged match on me when you experienced the magic of a fated bond yourself?"