---- Chapter 7 Becky's POV Alpha Michael swayed slightly in his chair, the worn wheels creaking beneath him as he clapped his hands like a cub enchanted by the moon for the first time. His gaze shimmered with an eerie kind of wonder, though no real thought danced behind his eyes. Fingers twitched, curled, released-movements without purpose, like the wind catching dead leaves. I stood at the edge of the room, uncertain, my feet locked in place as if rooted to the cold stone floor. "This is Becky," Grandfather announced, voice calm but firm. "She's to be your future mate." Not a flinch. Not even a blink. Alpha Michael's lips parted, releasing a quiet, high -pitched giggle that didn't match the man I had ---- once heard tales about. My heart sank. Could this truly be the mate chosen for me? Grandmother's smile was tight and brittle, the kind wolves wear when hiding wounds. "Why don't you spend some time together, Becky? Let him feel your presence." I wanted to say no. Every fiber of me screamed in protest. But Alphas did not raise daughters to be defiant in the face of duty. "Alright," I mumbled. "Good girl." Grandfather laid a heavy hand on my shoulder before guiding Grandmother out. The nanny, a quiet Omega with soft hands and sharp eyes, gave me a hesitant look before following, shutting the thick door behind her. And just like that, the silence settled in. Just the two of us. ---- I took a seat across from him, not daring to get too close. Alpha Michael kept his gaze fixed on the floor, releasing the occasional breathy chuckle, as if responding to a joke only he could hear. The room was heavy with quiet tension. The kind of silence that suffocates. I cleared my throat. "Alpha Michael... do you know what's happening?" No flicker of recognition. "1m to be your mate," I said carefully, watching for any sign of reaction. "Did anyone tell you that?" His head moved slightly-just slightly-but his eyes remained unfocused, locked on the shadows dancing across the stone walls. "Nothing? No words? No growl of protest?" My voice trembled with frustration. "You really are