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Chapter 14 : : : : : Searching for the Stranger
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
An Alpha for the Stolen Princess Chapter 15 : : : : : The Hope of the Whitelarks
*Alec*“This changes nothing.” My tone was firm as I leveled my eyes on Rhys, who had followed me to my study after the tense meal we had shared with the stolen princess.My Beta shook his head in clear disagreement. “It changes everything! You told me this was about striking blows to the Alpha King and Lukas Grimwood, but that’s not the whole truth, is it?”I took a deep breath to ward off my rising anger. I knew that Rhys’ concerns were valid, but he had no business questioning the decisions that I made for the pack. “You are my Beta,” I growled. “I don’t need to explain myself to you, or anybody else.”“And what about this hooded stranger the princess spoke of?” he pressed. “It seems she and him got… cozy. Where does he fit into all of this?”“Leave it!” I snapped, my anger flaring. “I’m trying to keep her safe! She’s innocent in all of this. The Alpha King abused her, and Lukas would have too if we hadn’t stepped in. She benefits from this as much as we do.”“Does she?”
An Alpha for the Stolen Princess Chapter 16 : : : : : The Library
*Ember*A thrill passed through me as I took Alec’s hand. His palm was warm against mine as he tugged me gently from the room and into the hallway. A bolt of excitement rolled in my chest as I followed him.The thought that I might go to the library whenever I liked was deliciously novel to me. It felt like a wildly rebellious thing to stride so boldly down the corridors towards such a forbidden place. What would my father say if he could see me now?As I trailed after Alec, my hand still held tightly in his, I did my best to memorize the path we took since I hoped to travel it often. We made our way downstairs, but instead of heading towards the back of the manor where we had eaten a few hours prior, we veered in the opposite direction.Finally, we stopped before a set of double doors adorned with delicately carved whorls and flowers. Alec let go of my hand and then pushed the doors open dramatically, turning back towards me with a broad smile gracing his angular features.“
An Alpha for the Stolen Princess Chapter 17 : : : : : The Mysterious Gift
*Ember*The strange young male’s eyes widened at the sound of my title. He dropped into a low bow as a deep blush spread across his cheeks. “Please pardon me, Princess. I didn’t realize who you were,” he mumbled, straightened and doing everything in his power to avoid looking me in the eye. “I am Bryan Nightwatch, cousin to Alec.”I offered him a nod of acknowledgement. “I understand your confusion. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Bryan,” I said politely.Bryan’s tense posture immediately loosened in relief that I didn’t seem to be offended by his earlier disrespect.“May we join you?” Mary asked, skipping in through the door before I could even answer. She took Bryan by the arm and all but dragged him to the armchair opposite me. He sank down into the chair while she perched on the arm like some sort of strange, exotic bird.Internally, I sighed. I really wanted to be alone with my books, but I also didn’t want to be rude to any members of the pack after they had been so wel
An Alpha for the Stolen Princess Chapter 18 : : : : : Sparking the Embers
*Alec*A week had passed, yet it felt like a century to me. I had done my best to avoid Ember after what had happened in the library. Was she scared of me now? Did she think me no better than Lukas? I didn’t even know what had possessed me to approach her like that, only that it felt like she was a magnet, her pull inevitable.In the meantime, I had tasked Lauryn with befriending her. Though Lauryn’s default manner was cold and aloof, I thought that Ember might appreciate the company. But Lauryn’s list of duties was long, and she barely had any time to spend with the princess.My biggest surprise was when Rhys stepped in to assume the role. He and Ember got along famously, spending hours slinging good-humored insults and dry jokes at one another. My Beta had taken her on a thorough tour of the manor, and I had even spotted him carrying a teetering stack of books from the library to her rooms on several occasions.Every time I saw them together, I had to stifle a pang of jealous
An Alpha for the Stolen Princess Chapter 19 : : : : : The Carnival
*Ember*Aside from the library, the garden was my favorite part of the manor.Though Alec had given me permission to explore the village on my own, I hadn’t been able to bring myself to leave yet. I told myself that it was because I would only get one chance at escaping, that I had to be absolutely sure that I could get away. If I ran away and was caught, I knew there would be serious consequences.That’s the excuse I told myself, at least, as I enjoyed the mid-afternoon sunshine slanting down into the garden. The space around me was alive with dense bushes boasting fragrant red and white roses. Bees hummed lazily through the air around me, alighting from flower to flower with bumbling enthusiasm. The grass was soft beneath my bare toes. It was as free as I dared to get.I had made it halfway through the romance novel that I had picked out from the library earlier when Lauryn appeared. She moved with such smooth grace that I hadn’t even noticed her approach, and I jumped as she
An Alpha for the Stolen Princess Chapter 20 : : : : : King of the Rogues
*Ember*As I stared into the amber eyes of the strange man, I felt pinned by his gaze.“Thank you, but I’m not lost,” I lied, falling back on the manners that had carried me through my time in the court of the Silver Crescent and offering the stranger a bob of my head befitting for a female of my station.The man’s eyes widened slightly. “My mistake,” he apologized. “Allow me to introduce myself. I am Sawyer. Some call me the Rogue King, myself included.”Before I could pull away, he gracefully caught my hand in his and brought it to his lips, kissing my knuckles gently before offering me a low bow.The action chilled my blood. That was the way a male would greet a queen or a princess; not even a Luna would be afforded that treatment. Was it possible that he recognized me as Ember Moonrise, Princess of the Silver Crescent?Feeling numb with fear, I willed my voice to remain steady as I answered, “It is a pleasure to meet you.”“Oh, the pleasure is all mine,” the man grinn
An Alpha for the Stolen Princess Chapter 21 : : : : : Ember Goes Wild
*Alec*The night was cool, but Ember was burning up in my arms. I couldn’t believe the state I had found her in and wondered just how many drinks she had consumed. At the moment, she was bellowing the out-of-tune chorus to a singularly filthy pub song, drawing curious glances from villagers as they passed us on their way to the carnival.“Where did you even learn that song?” I asked, hoping that my amusement wasn’t showing on my face.“Drunken parties at the castle,” she giggled, taking a momentary break from yelling profanities into the night. “I wasn’t allowed to go to most of them, but they weren’t exactly quiet!” She began to sing again, restarting at the beginning of the bawdy chorus.I rolled my eyes. “I bet you don’t even know what half of those words mean, Princess.”“I do!” she protested, squirming in my arms.“You don’t,” I goaded, enjoying how ridiculous and unguarded she was being. Plus, I was sure that she would remember none of this in the morning, so this mig
An Alpha for the Stolen Princess Chapter 22 : : : : : A Powerful Secret
*Alec*Sawyer smiled, but there was nothing reassuring in his expression. “Who’s asking?” he repeated, staring down at the knife thoughtfully. “I guess you could say… just a curious rogue. I have no loyalty to the Silver Crescent and the so-called Alpha King, as I’m sure you already know.”“What about the Grims?” I asked, disdain dripping from my voice.“Lukas Grimwood is a coward and a fool,” Sawyer replied smoothly. “I have no reason to tie myself to his pack, especially now that I’ve seen how easily the Whitelarks were able to overpower the Alpha’s best entourage.”I nodded in agreement. I believed that he spoke the truth. An alliance with either pack would be of no use to somebody like the Rogue King, who preferred to lounge in and mooch off of the southern territories. However, he had still recognized Ember, which could put her in a dangerous position. “What do you want from the princess?” I asked.“Who says I want anything from her?” he shot back. “It’s not me that you
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An Alpha for the Stolen Princess Chapter 80 : Bearer of Bad News
*Ember*Life in Whitelark seemed almost idyllic compared to the life I had before. Between taking care of Evan and getting to know Grey, I couldn’t have asked for a better life. As I got up and headed to Evan’s room, I greeted a few servants. “Your Majesty.”I was still a little uncomfortable with the title, but I was learning to live with it. I walked inside and found Alec lifting Evan out of his bassinet. The room was bathed in a soft, warm light that filtered through the curtains, casting gentle shadows across the walls.“You snuck away again?” I asked as I entered. “I finished a bit early,” Alec sighed, shifting Evan in his arms. I came closer and found Evan still sleeping peacefully in Alec’s arms. “I wanted some fresh air. Are you heading out?”I nodded, and we left the castle together. The gentle breeze rustled through the leaves of the trees, carrying the scents of roasting meat and the movement of the town through the air. It was filled with peace and tranqu
An Alpha for the Stolen Princess Chapter 79 : I Can’t Promise Slow
*Ember*The days had passed in a blur of recovery and adjustment, and finally, Chastine decided I was healed enough to start moving around on my own. I couldn't help but let out a relieved sigh as I stood in my room, stretching from the long days in bed. I was a bit sore, but I didn’t feel like I was in need of a nap."Don’t go wrecking your body,” Chastine said sternly. “I’m sure you can wait a few more days before trying for baby two.”My face burned with embarrassment. “Thanks. Where's Lauryn? I was hoping to talk with her."Chastine's lips curled into a knowing smile. "Probably not busy doing what you’re itching to. She has some measure of restraint.”I scowled at her. “Do you know where she is or not?”“She’s likely heading to the main hall. You might catch her before she gets there.”With that, she left, leaving me alone in the room. I took a moment to adjust my clothes and then made my way to find Lauryn. It wasn't long before I spotted her in one of the quieter co
An Alpha for the Stolen Princess Chapter 78 : He Has His Father’s Eyes
*Alec*I walked down the hallway from the nursery to toward Ember’s room the way I had ever morning since Evan was born. The castle was quiet around us. I nodded at the maid near Ember’s room.“Good Morning, Alpha.”“Good Morning.”She opened the door for me, and I stepped inside. The room was as quiet as always. Ember’s breathing was barely a whisper of noise as I closed the door behind me and rounded the bed. The soft rays of dawn filtered through the window, casting a gentle glow over the room. I sighed and sank down into the chair beside Ember's bedside, my eyes fixed on her peaceful form as she slept. She had regained a bit of color overnight, though she hadn’t moved at all. Chastine said that there was every reason to believe that she would come through, but she still hadn’t woken up. It had been nearly a week already. In my arms, Evan slept soundly, his tiny chest rising and falling with each tranquil breath. I had taken to carrying him with me everywhere I went
An Alpha for the Stolen Princess Chapter 77 : Our Son
*Ember*I clung to Alec’s hand as we walked inside. Alec’s arm was around my waist, steadying me at every pulse of pain. With every step, I could feel the weight of his concern and the depth of his love. Inside, the castle seemed to buzz with energy. Servants ran back and forth with cloth and other things to the birthing chamber. “Where's the midwife?” Alec asked as we walked down the hall. “A messenger went to get her,” a servant said.“I’ll fill in,” Chastine said, seemingly appearing from nowhere. Lauryn was just behind her. She opened the door and let Alec walk with me inside until I reached the bed. “Leave before you pass out,” Chastine said bluntly. Alec flushed. “Really?”She scoffed. “Really.”He looked at me, searching my face. I had no doubt that he would stay if I asked him to, but I shook my head and smiled. “I’m okay. I’ll see you soon.”“I love you,” he said gently. “I love you, too.”He hesitated another moment, but he retreated, and Chas
An Alpha for the Stolen Princess Chapter 76 : I Think It's Time
*Alec*I sighed, sitting back in my seat and rubbing my forehead. It was a beautiful day, and I had been sitting at this desk since about an hour after dawn. The midday sun was high in the sky, my stomach grumbled, and I still had a lot more to do. Had it really been months since Lukas’ death? It felt like I had been working on all the little problems of Allusia for years. What the hell had the previous Alpha King been doing that everything was such a mess? I glanced at the letter from Sawyer. It was probably going to irritate me as all of his reports tended to, but it was probably the most complete and most detailed of all the updates I had left to go through. From his last letter, I knew that the capital was slowly but surely returning to a semblance of normalcy. The Grimborn Pack had scattered between those loyal to Lukas’ vision and those who just didn’t want to be bothered. If it wasn’t worrying about West Allusia, it was dealing with the management of East Allu
An Alpha for the Stolen Princess Chapter 75 : Perfect
*Alec*We left Silver Crescent and met up with the forces in midwest Allusia on the way to the southern bridge. As expected, Ember couldn’t keep pace in her wolf form the whole journey, but she made it half of the way. The men greeted us, climbing onto whatever cart they needed to continue healing and embracing us. The journey south to the port city was filled with cheer. Once we passed over the bridge, it felt as though everyone started to pick up speed. The carts of the caravan bumped and creaked as we picked up pace through the forest, the sunlight dappling through the leaves as we neared Whitelark. It had been a long journey, both physically and emotionally. Ember tightened her grip on my fur as I started to pull ahead of the caravan. As we approached the castle, I could feel a sense of anticipation building in the air.The news of our impending arrival hadn’t reached Whitelark ahead of us as the defenses were still engaged, and archers aimed arrows at us. “Who is th
An Alpha for the Stolen Princess Chapter 74 : Not Your Princess
*Ember*The morning sunlight spilled through the windows, casting a warm and inviting glow over the room. Beside me, Alec was still sleeping. I shifted, and Alec let out a soft sound, his grip on my waist tightening to crush me against his warm body. "Ember," he whispered, his voice husky with sleep and a little desperate. “Stay.”I placed my hand on his arm. “Alec?”He didn’t move or stir again until there was the sound of footsteps coming down the hall. Then, he shot up, grabbing his sword in a flash of movement. His body thrummed with tension. I placed a hand on his shoulder. “Alec?”The footsteps passed the doorway and faded down the hallway. He lowered his sword and looked at me. His eyes were still red-rimmed and a bit tired, but he smiled at me like I was his whole world. He set his sword down and gathered me in his arms. “Did I wake you?”I laughed. “I think I woke you.”He hummed, a low rumble coming from his chest as he nuzzled his face against my ne
An Alpha for the Stolen Princess Chapter 73 : I Won't Break
*Ember*As Lukas stopped breathing, something in me gave out. A choked sob escaped me. My eyes filled with tears. The scent of his blood filled my nose and filled me with relief. His eyes stared out into nothing, and I knew that I was free. A hand landed on my shoulder. I turned sharply and looked up into beautiful purple eyes that I thought I would never see again. My heart thundered in my chest as the tears gushed down my cheeks, and I threw myself into his arms. He wrapped his arms around me, crushing me to his chest. "Alec," I sobbed into his chest as he stroked my hair. "A-Alec, I–""I'm here. It's over." He whispered, pressing me closer to his chest. "I've got you," The deep rumble of his voice was a soothing balm on my frayed nerves. I dug my fingers into his bag, gripping him desperately as if he would vanish if I let go. His grip felt no less desperate."I love you," I sniffled. "I tried… I didn't…"I couldn't get the words out. I didn't know what I wa
An Alpha for the Stolen Princess Chapter 72 : A Mistake I Won’t Make Again
*Alec*The night was thick with tension as we moved through the shadows, our steps muffled by the shadows under Grey’s control. As we neared the castle’s hidden entrance, my heart pounded in my chest, a mix of fear and determination coursing through my veins. Having seen Ember lying in that little room, one I knew too well had once been used by the former Alpha King’s breeder, had set a fire in me that would only be quenched when I saw Lukas’ cold, dead body at my feet. “This way,” Grey whispered, nodding down a dark alley.We followed him. The night was thick with tension as we moved through the shadows, our steps muffled by the darkness. The guards surrounding the castle were unsuspecting, their attention focused elsewhere, giving us the perfect opportunity to strike.Sawyer darted forward, quick and deadly, catching the nearest guard with a swift, silent strike. The man barely had a chance to grunt before Sawyer lowered him to the ground silently. Rhys took the next one and hi
