Page 16 of The Alpha King’s Hidden Mute Mate

It was her. She was the one I'd danced with.

But my gaze immediately dropped to her pressed lips, to her frantic hand gestures. Leah said softly beside me, "Your Majesty, she's mute. She can't speak."

Mute.

The word hit me like ice water.

My fated mate. The fated mate I'd waited six years for. The other half Moon Goddess herself had chosen for me—was a mute who couldn't even howl.

I stared at her. She stared back. Her eyes held nervousness, unease, and a hint of... hope?

Hope for what? That I'd welcome her with open arms?

I couldn't.

I turned and walked away.

For three days, I didn't see her once. I left her in a guest room on the west side of the palace while I holed up in my study, checking over and over. The witch performed the ritual three times, the priest searched every ancient text, and I sent people to investigate her background. Every time, the same result. Mia Turner, orphan, mute—my fated mate. I'd thought a fated mate would be my salvation, but now she'd become my greatest crisis. How could a mute Luna stand beside me at the Howling Ceremony? How could she stay up all night talking through the pain I couldn't share with anyone else?

Yesterday morning, Elder Alden brought up the Howling Ceremony again in the council chamber.

"Your Majesty, six years, and you still haven't completed the mate resonance on the full moon." He stroked his goatee, speaking slowly. "The Elder Council is deeply concerned."

Whispers spread among the nobles.

I knew what they called me behind my back—"The Silent King." Because without a fated mate, I couldn't complete the dual-wolf resonance howl. Every lunar celebration was missing that piece, and people were growing restless.

And now, if I told them my fated mate was mute—a woman who couldn't produce a single wolf howl—what would they think? They'd say Moon Goddess had abandoned me. They'd say this kingdom was failing, that this king wasn't recognized by Moon Goddess.

Every time I thought about it, I felt rage and despair.

My wolf paced restlessly inside me. It wasn't as resistant as I was. In fact, every time I passed the west corridor, it perked up, desperately trying to lunge in that direction. I had to forcibly hold it back, telling myself this didn't mean anything. It was just instinct. I needed a mate who could stand beside me. A perfect mate.

I'd imagined her countless times—she should be powerful, able to help me suppress those old foxes in the council, able to howl with me on full moon nights, using doubled resonance power to intimidate the border wolf clans. She'd help me break free from Elder Council control, let me truly become a king whose word was law.

But now? Moon Goddess gave me a mute. A mate who couldn't even complete the most basic howl. Forget helping me suppress the elders—she'd become their new target for attacking me.

"Perfect mate." I laughed bitterly, swallowing those words whole.

On the third night, Elder Alden came to see me.

He walked into my study with his cane, goatee bobbing with each step. He was the eldest of the elders, advising the royal family since my father's time, never mincing words.

"Your Majesty, the neighboring kingdom's envoy arrives in two days." Straight to the point. "Do you plan to let them see a mute Luna?"

I leaned back in my chair, fingers drumming the armrest. "What do you suggest?"

"Let Miss Taylor temporarily take Luna's position." He said it matter-of-factly, like it was already decided. "As for that mute girl, keep her in the palace. Let her fulfill her duties as fated mate. That's enough."

Duties.

That word made my teeth grind. This was how the elders bound me—with "duties."

I slammed my hand on the desk and shot to my feet.

My voice was ice-cold. "Say that again."

Alden wasn't intimidated by my outburst. He leaned on his cane, speaking slowly. "Your Majesty, this is the most reasonable solution. That mute girl isn't suitable for public appearances."