Exclusive Excerpt from The Selkie Prince’s Secret Baby

by J.J. Masters

“You are the last unbonded son of Solomon, Caol. We need to stay on good terms with the Royal Council, so you must do your duty by taking a mate and it can’t be Beck. As much as you and Beck want that, it can’t be. So, I’m sorry, but you cannot take a beta as a bonded mate.”

Caol stared at his eldest brother, Kai. The current reigning King of the North sat behind a new, more conservative desk in the royal library with their beta brother and Kai’s assistant, Aegir, standing behind his right shoulder.

Aegir spoke up, “It’s true, Caol, the Royal Council is getting impatient. The Selkie Seekers have rounded up six omegas of noble blood to present. They keep contacting me to schedule a Presentation Ceremony.”

“I don’t want it.”

Kai leaned forward and growled, “You don’t get a choice.” He sat back, shook his dark head and ran a hand down his face, clearly in frustration.

Well, Caol was just as frustrated. “All of you have produced enough heirs for the throne. There’s no reason I need to.”

“It’s law.”

While Caol couldn’t argue that, he wanted to. But there was no point. “You say you don’t want to be like Father, but here you are, Kai…”

“This wasn’t Father’s rule, it’s the Royal Council’s. The law is written in the scrolls. You know that. We have put off the Presentation Ceremonies as long as we could. The Council accepted the delay while you were traveling and doing business for the Northern Colony. Though, they have no idea what that business was about.”

Over the past couple years, Caol had traveled the globe, visiting other Selkie colonies in search for more sons of Solomon who had been traded away because they weren’t alpha-born. It turned out to be a common practice in some kingdoms, though a highly-kept secret.

It was during one of those many trips that Caol found Aegir, Marlin’s full-blooded beta brother, in the Southern Colony. He also found Zander, Zale’s full-blooded omega brother, in Laurentia, who, unfortunately, had been taken and severely abused by a selfish alpha who was not his fated mate. And in the Caledonia Colony he found his own twin, Caspian, who was omega-born and had been sent away and separated from Caol solely due to his gender.

Three sons of Solomon, that they were aware of so far, had been traded like livestock by their own father because they were not born alphas.

Of course, there had been a fourth son. Douglass. But, thanks be to Poseidon, that beta was no more. He’d been tossed out to sea without his seal skin for the crimes he committed against their family, which included the murder of King Solomon, his own father.

Besides Aegir coming to live in the castle, Caspian had been brought home, as well. But because he was an omega, Caol’s twin remained on heat suppressants until he could find his fated mate.

Zander still lived with Meesha in the nearby town of Seaport. His recovery from the awful physical and mental abuse he’d experienced was a slow process and he preferred to reside with Kai’s former human nanny. They all took turns visiting him on a weekly basis, hoping one day he would join them in the castle.

Kai pulled Caol out of his thoughts. “We can’t keep putting it off, brother, as much as you would like to.”

“You put our brother and king in a precarious position with the Royal Council, Caol. He’s risked a lot already by accepting Nic, a hybrid, as Marlin’s mate. If they ever find out the truth…” Aegir dropped his head and shook it. He had a thick head of dark brown hair like the rest of them, clearly a trait their late father passed on to his offspring. He lifted it again and continued, “And we can’t forget that Nic was never branded.”

“And won’t be,” Kai added. “Neither will your omega, Caol. I won’t allow it. We must do everything we can to keep the Council off our backs and from demanding proof.”

“While I appreciate you taking a stand on the branding without the Council’s backing, I know I put you… us… for Poseidon’s sake, our whole colony at risk by delaying my mating.” Caol took a step toward the desk and his oldest brother. His voice caught when he whispered, “But I love him, Kai, I do. Now that the time has come, I don’t know if I can give him up.”

The king frowned. “The male loves you, too, that’s obvious.”

“It would be like taking Luca away from you.”

Kai’s blue eyes narrowed, and he shook his head. “No. Luca is my fated mate. Beck can never be that.”

“Maybe not fated, but he could be my mate.”

“No, Caol, he can’t. He can’t produce pups. We have discussed this numerous times, and honestly, I’ve become weary of the topic. My answer isn’t going to change. You must start the search for your fated mate. An omega,” he emphasized. Kai glanced over his shoulder and addressed their beta brother. “Contact the Seekers and schedule the first presentation.”

Aegir nodded, his navy-blue eyes, filled with sadness, on Caol. Being a beta, he knew what it was like to be in Beck’s shoes. While both were the sons of kings, neither were considered worthy of being royalty because of their gender. Betas were considered workers. Nothing more. They were forbidden to hold a royal title or rule a colony.

“You need to break it off with Beck. If I must, I can find you another beta servant. We could send Beck away to make it easier.”

How in great sea gods would sending his lover away make it any easier?

About The Selkie Prince’s Secret Baby

An alpha prince, required to find his fated mate, has already pledged his love to another. But there’s a problem…

Prince Caol of the North has enjoyed a very active, carefree life. Being the youngest of five alpha-born princes, he hasn’t had a lot of responsibilities. As he watched his brothers find their fated mates and produce sons, he knew the time would come when he’d be forced to do the same. However, he’s in no rush since he’s quite happy with his current lover. While Caol wants to take his beta servant as his mate, the king demands the law be upheld and he find an omega who can give him sons to continue the Selkie race.

Beck can’t bear the thought of losing his alpha—the prince he not only served for years but loved just as many—to an omega. A male fated to bear his alpha sons. However, Beck’s gender makes it impossible for the prince to take him as his mate since betas cannot produce heirs.

Galen has lost so much. Trying to mend his broken heart, the omega’s thrown into the path of his alpha when he becomes a wet-nurse to the prince’s son. A son Caol has no idea even existed. The only problem is his alpha already has a lover. One Caol’s been with for years, one he loves. Just when Galen thought he’d never find a mate due to his past circumstances, the omega unexpectedly finds two. Was this what the fates intended?

Note: A 66k-plus word m/m/m ménage shifter mpreg story, this is the fifth book in the Royal Alpha series. Due to the “knotty” times in this book, it is recommended for mature readers only. While it can be read as a standalone, it’s recommended to read the series in order. And, like all of my books, it has an HEA.

Available at: Amazon

About J.J. Masters

J.J. Masters is the alter-ego of a USA Today bestselling author who writes hot, gay romance filled with heart, humor and heat. J.J. became fascinated with mpreg romance as soon as she figured out what mpreg stood for. She loves to write about “knotty” men!

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