Chapter 56

56.A Sacrifice

THEON

I entered the king’s office, trying to do my best to remain emotionless. The burning rage of resentment
and hatred bubbling beneath the surface of my skin was growing ever stronger.

I couldn’t remove the image of her from my mind, in that thin white shirt, as she stood in the cold with
concern and fear clear in her grey eyes… I hated it, hated that I had left her when I could see her
breaking before my very eyes. She had only wanted one small gesture of reassurance that I wasn’t
leaving her, but I was, and I couldn’t string her along any longer than I already had. It was one of the
hardest things I have ever done in life, but I had to. She was a distraction from my goal.

“Theon, are you alright?” Andres asked, frowning as he looked up at me from behind his desk I gave a
curt nod.

“You wanted to see me?” I said. Never had I detested him as much as I did at this moment.

He was the reason for all of this. “I did, but if now isn’t the right time, we can postpone our meeting…”
“Just carry on. I’m fine.” I said through gritted teeth. He observed me for a moment before he nodded.

“It was regarding your Beta position; I was thinking about the upcoming ceremony… I wanted to ask you
a final time… Are you sure?”

I looked into his grey eyes coldly, and frowned. It was the first fucking time I realised his eyes weren’t
much of a different shade than Yileyna’s. The only difference was I hated this pair with the same
vengeance as I did the man they belonged to. A

“Sure about what?”



I had a feeling he meant if this was the position I was happy with. Dad’s words rang in my head, but I felt
sick at the very thought of having this man’s daughter as my mate.

Remember the goal.

“About my offer, Charlene may not be the same as Yileyna, I know she is very popular when it comes to
the terms of her beauty and personality, but Charlene would make a good mate. Besides, I know you are
very chivalrous, Theon, and this is for the betterment of the kingdom. We need someone worthy of being
Alpha.”

Alpha., it was the position I needed… I could take her as my mate and then, with me as Alpha… no one
would be able to disobey… The plan was for the attack to happen before this winter passed… That
wasn’t too long a time… If I just… The unage of Yileyna flashed through my mind; her blonde hair, her
soft plump lips, her

gorgeous grey eyes… and with it, the clarity that I had indeed strayed hit me like a fucking avalanche.

She was ruining everything. “You are right. This kingdom needs a strong Alpha, and despite Charlene
being your daughter, she doesn’t have the will of an Alpha.” I said coldly. “I guess I will accept this deal.” ;
The guilt that washed through me as those words left my lips was suffocating. Andres didn’t do anything
to hide his happiness, his eyes lighting up as he let out a raucous laugh, standing up and slamming his
hand down on the table. “Are you agreeing?! Ah, you are! That’s my son!” He walked around the table,
wrapping his arms around me in a tight hug, only making my hatred flare through me viciously. I was no
fucking son of his. The day I killed him, and his fucking daughter, would be the day I’d be happier than
ever.

I clenched my jaw, my eyes flashing as I did my all not to shove him away from me. He patted my back,
his happiness as clear as the blizzard outside. “I’m doing this for the kingdom.” I said coldly, looking into
his eyes. “Of course! Theon, you know you can keep Yileyna on the side if you so wish-” 2 “Keep her as



a whore and humiliate her in the process? I don’t think so.” I clenched my jaw, unable to hide the venom
in my voice.

Andres’s smile vanished as he looked at me with concern that almost looked real. “Do you love her?” He
asked after a moment.

I stared at the wooden table in front of me, I knew enough to know that if an Alpha didn’t want something
or someone in their way, they got rid of it. He could do anything to Yileyna… just as Dad could… “No.” I
replied without hesitation, instantly seeing how he relaxed. “She’s nothing to me, but I prefer not to
humiliate her.”

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