I Endured 99 Betrayals, Only to Be Claimed Once by the Hockey Alpha

“Mom, I agree to marry the Alpha you arranged.”

My voice came out steady, resolute, but soft. On the other end of the line, the woman exhaled in relief.

“I thought you would always love Gavin obsessively, but fortunately you woke up in time.I’ll come pick you up one week from now, Éloide,” she said gently. “I have something for you to wear. It’s tradition.”

“All right. Thank you… for accepting me.”

I ended the call and tilted my head up, watching the Vancouver sky shimmer in the summer heat.