Page 49 of The Alpha King’s Hidden Mute Mate

I walked straight to his study. Didn't knock. Just pushed the door open.

Zane stood by the window, his back to me. Sunset poured through the glass, stretching his shadow across the floor. He heard the door but didn't turn right away. I waited a few seconds, then walked to his desk, picked up the quill, and wrote on a blank sheet of paper.

I held it up.

He turned. His eyes found the paper. It said, "Why?"

He stared at it for a long time. Long enough I thought he wouldn't answer. Then he spoke, his voice calm as a frozen lake. "The prophet returned. He confirmed you're the child who'll bring the Siren's voice. Your voice—even though you can't speak—that power still runs through your blood. It controls minds. Brings disaster."

I stared at him.

Controls minds.

Me?

Someone who couldn't even talk?

This was absurd. I opened my mouth—knowing no sound would come—and mouthed: Are you kidding me?

He didn't respond.

I grabbed the quill again and wrote a second line, "Who am I controlling? How am I controlling them?"

I held the paper in front of him.

He glanced at it and looked away. "The prophet's predictions have never been wrong."

Never been wrong.

Those words were a knife, finding a place I'd been trying to ignore. I suddenly understood—this wasn't about prophecies or curses. He just needed a reason. A decent enough reason to get rid of me.

I lowered the paper and picked up the quill again. This time I wrote slowly, pressing hard on every letter.

"So you've been looking for this reason all along, haven't you? A reason that lets you throw me out without guilt. Now you found it."

My hand shook as I held up the paper. Not from sadness—from anger. A cold, clear anger.

He saw what I'd written. I watched his jaw tighten, but he said nothing. No denial. No defense.

Just silence.

And that silence was louder than any words.

I set down the paper and quill. Then I nodded. I didn't know what that nod meant—maybe "I understand," maybe "fine," maybe "go to hell." Didn't matter. He couldn't read me anyway.

I turned toward the door.

"Mia."

His voice came from behind me.

I didn't stop.

"In Willos, someone will meet you. You'll receive settlement funds—"

I raised my hand and waved him off.

Don't need it. Don't need any of it.