Chapter 9 - The Alpha King Proposed Without a Crown, and Isolda Finally Chose Her Own Fate
Spring turned into summer.
The kingdoms healed.
The Riverlands' rivers ran clear.
Fields grew again.
Villages rebuilt.
The old slave markets were destroyed.
King Cedric signed laws banning the sale of wolves as property.
The first law he wrote was simple.
No wolf is born to be owned.
Isolda insisted every orphaned child receive a home.
Elara opened royal schools.
Rowena established medical centers.
The continent slowly changed.
But Isolda struggled with one thing.
Her wedding.
The council wanted a grand ceremony.
Ancient traditions.
Thousands of guests.
A royal crown.
A blood oath.
Isolda wanted none of it.
“I want pie.”
Cedric stared.
“Pie?”
“Apple.”
“That's your royal wedding request?”
“Yes.”
He laughed.
“You're impossible.”
“I was sold for three silver coins. I think I deserve dessert.”
He pulled her close.
“You deserve everything.”
She rested her head against him.
“That's the problem.”
“What?”
“I don't know what I deserve anymore.”
Cedric became serious.
“You deserve to decide.”
That answer stayed with her.
Days later, he took her to the old auction town.
The marketplace had been rebuilt.
Not as a slave market.
As a public square.
Children played where cages once stood.
Flowers grew where the auction platform had been.
Isolda stared.
“You changed it.”
“No.”
Cedric shook his head.
“You did.”
A statue stood in the center.
Not of the king.
Of a woman breaking chains.
Isolda covered her mouth.
“Who made that?”
“The people.”
She touched the stone.
“I don't understand.”
“They know what happened.”
“And they remember?”
“Yes.”
She looked around.
Some people bowed.
Others smiled.
No one stared at her like she was cursed.
Cedric took her hand.
Then he knelt.
Not on a throne.
Not in a ceremony.
On the same ground where he had bought her.
Isolda gasped.
“What are you doing?”
“Something I should have done from the beginning.”
He removed a simple silver ring.
“No crown.”
“No political alliance.”
“No ancient command.”
He looked into her eyes.
“Just me.”
She began crying.
“Isolda Valorian, I cannot promise you a life without danger.”
She laughed through tears.
“I don't think that exists.”
“I can't promise I will never make mistakes.”
“You will.”
He smiled.
“But I can promise I will never force you to become something you don't want to be.”
He held out the ring.
“Will you choose me?”
Isolda stared at him.
For twenty-five years, people had chosen her fate.
Her family chose where she lived.
Tristan chose whether she was worthy.
The council chose whether she should rule.
Adrian tried to choose whether she would become a weapon.
Even the Moon Throne had chosen her.
But now?
It was her choice.
She knelt too.
“Yes.”
Cedric's breath caught.
“Yes?”
“Yes.”
He placed the ring on her finger.
The Moon Mark illuminated the square.
The crowd cheered.
But the greatest moment wasn't the magic.
It was the smile on Isolda's face.
She had chosen.
The wedding took place weeks later.
There were flowers instead of weapons.
Music instead of war drums.
Children from every kingdom attended.
Elara stood beside Isolda.
Gideon stood beside Cedric.
Beatrice cried throughout the ceremony.
When Isolda walked toward Cedric, he looked as though the world had stopped.
She reached him.
He whispered:
“Beautiful.”
She smiled.
“Still?”
“Always.”
The Moon Crown was offered.
Isolda accepted it.
But she didn't wear it.
Instead, she placed it beside her.
“This belongs to the people.”
The council protested.
She raised a hand.
“No king or queen owns a kingdom.”
Silence.
“It belongs to those who live here.”
Cedric smiled.
The first law of their reign was declared that day.
The crown serves the people.
The ceremony ended with apple pie.
Exactly as Isolda wanted.
Later that night, Cedric took her to the castle balcony.
“I have something for you.”
He gave her a small wooden box.
Inside was the burlap sack.
The same type used at the auction.
Isolda stared.
“I kept it.”
“Why?”
“Because I wanted you to decide what to do with it.”
She touched the rough fabric.
A symbol of everything she had survived.
For a moment, she considered burning it.
Instead, she folded it.
“I'll keep it.”
Cedric looked surprised.
“As a reminder.”
“Of what?”
“That someone can tell you who you are.”
She touched her wedding ring.
“And you can still decide for yourself.”
Cedric kissed her forehead.
Then something strange happened.
The Moon Mark glowed.
A whisper filled the air.
Not a voice from the throne.
Something softer.
Older.
Beloved child.
You have learned the final law.
Isolda closed her eyes.
“What law?”
The whisper answered.
Love cannot be inherited.
It can only be chosen.
Then the light vanished.
She opened her eyes.
Cedric looked at her.
“What did it say?”
She smiled.
“That I'm exactly where I belong.”
He wrapped his arms around her.
Outside, fireworks exploded above the kingdom.
Inside, the castle rang with laughter.
The rejected Omega had become queen.
But more importantly, she had become free.
The story should have ended there.
But months later, Isolda woke one morning feeling strangely tired.
Beatrice entered carrying breakfast.
Then stopped.
She stared at Isolda.
“What?”
Beatrice smiled.
“Nothing.”
“What?”
The old woman laughed.
“You're going to be a mother.”
Isolda froze.
Cedric nearly fell out of his chair when she told him.
He stared at her.
“A baby?”
She nodded.
“Our baby.”
The Iron Wolf, conqueror of mountains, ruler of kingdoms, and man who had once terrified entire armies...
Started crying.
Isolda laughed.
“You're crying.”
“I am not.”
“You absolutely are.”
He wiped his face.
“I'm blaming you.”
She kissed him.
“Good.”
Far outside the window, the moon shone peacefully.
No prophecy.
No war.
No fear.
May you like
Just light.
And a future waiting to be written.
