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Chapter 46 : : : : : Shadow Walkers
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
An Alpha for the Stolen Princess Chapter 47 : : : : : Drifting
*Ember*I was drifting. The pain had long since faded to the back of my mind. I didn't know where or when I was. I didn’t even know if I was alive or if I would be for much longer. My mind felt like it was slipping away like sand through my fingers being carried off by the wind. When things started to clear, everything was shadowy, like I was peering through dark water. A woman was talking to me, but her words were muffled as if she was speaking through water. She went in and out of focus, but I was terrified of being separated from her. I didn’t know this woman, I knew, but whoever’s eyes I was looking through did. The clearer her face became, the sooner I realized that she had some of the same features as I did. It was her hair, the same color as mine, that made me think we had to be related. She pulled me close. I felt the warmth of her arms around me and could have cried because of how safe and cared for I felt, how scared I felt at the realization that we might be separated.
An Alpha for the Stolen Princess Chapter 48 : Awakening
*Ember*My eyes snapped open, and it felt as though I was awakening to the world for the very first time. My heart pounded in my ears and I could feel panic crawling up the back of my throat. I wanted to scream, but when I opened my mouth, no sound came out.Two large, warm hands gripped my shoulders firmly but gently. It was only then that I realized that I had been thrashing around, as though my body had been trying to free my mind from the shadowy dream realm that I had been so helplessly trapped within.“Ember,” a familiar voice said from somewhere above me. “Hey, it’s okay. You’re okay.”Slowly, the figure above me swam into focus. With a sigh of relief, I recognized the intense features and dark hair of Alec. The sight of him instantly calmed me, though my heart was still racing wildly against my chest.“What happened?” I asked. My voice was cracked and dry, and my mouth felt like I had been sucking on sandpaper. I knew that something bad had happened? I could remember
An Alpha for the Stolen Princess Chapter 49 : Tidings of War
Chapter 49: Tidings of War*Alec POV* The hour was late, and the Palace of the Moon had fallen silent. The hush had spread into Ember’s bedchamber, where she had drifted off into a deep, comfortable sleep.I listened for a while to the steadiness of her even breathing while she slumbered beside me. The sound reminded me that she was safe in these walls. Lukas would never be able to touch her here – her or her unborn child.The thought of the child made me pause. When I had told Ember that it didn’t matter to me who the father was, I had spoken only the truth. If the pup were Lukas’, I would look after it as my own regardless. But something in my heart told me that the child was mine and that it had formed from part of me. I couldn’t explain it. I just knew, deep in my bones.Sighing, I sat up. Ember stirred beside me, but she did not wake. I smiled softly down at her. She looked beautiful in the low candlelight. My fingers, as if moving of their own accord, brushed a l
An Alpha for the Stolen Princess Chapter 50 : The Princess' Bounty
*Ember’s POV*I sat on the bed, watching Alec rush about the room as he haphazardly packed his belongings. I felt breathless and numb. I supposed that I had always known that war would come as soon as Alec had rescued me from Lukas, but it had always been an alien, abstract concept. Now that it was actually happening, I realized that I had never allowed myself to really consider what war would mean. And with my newfound mate and the pregnancy, what would happen to us?“How long will you be gone?” I asked softly, trying to disguise how my brain was reeling from this newest development.Alec paused to look at me, his face unreadable. “I don’t know,” he answered. I knew what he really meant, that he didn’t know if he’d even make it home, let alone when.Tears gathered in the corners of my eyes, but I blinked them back. I needed to strong for Alec, and for the baby. But what would happen to this child if Alec never returned? What would we do then?”“Alec…” I started, struggling t
An Alpha for the Stolen Princess Chapter 51 : Rejection
*Ember’s POV* Lukas wanted to take me as his Queen.I wanted to scream, or cry, or vomit, but my body went numb and all I could do was sit there are stare at Rhys in disbelief.How could this have happened? I had always known that the throne was dangerous. Shifters cheated, lied, and even killed to call themselves the Alpha King of the Silver Crescent. Even my own father had murdered his predecessor, poisoning him with silver in the same way Lukas had done to him.But I had never lived through that age. I had never known a time of war in Allusia. But this, I realized, was something more than outright war. Only an hour ago, it had been the rebels against my father, the Alpha King. Lukas had sided with the rebels, even led them depending on which pack you talked to. Now that he had claimed the throne, the rebels would split into smaller factions. The result would be immeasurable chaos within the rebel ranks, not to mention the severely dropped odds of the Whitelarks succeedin
An Alpha for the Stolen Princess Chapter 52 : Into the Shadows
*Ember’s POV*The force of Alec’s rejection tore through me in a ripple of agony. It was as if my soul had been shredded by the words he had uttered. If I hadn’t already been sitting, I would have collapsed.“Alec!” Rhys bellowed, rushing out to follow his Alpha. He had only seen the tail end of our altercation. The Goddess only knew what he thought had happened. I liked to think of Rhys as her friend, but I knew that his loyalty had always and would always lie with Alec. Would he hate me for this? Or worse, would he hate his Alpha for rejecting me?With a sick feeling, I realized that I might never know. They would leave the Palace of the Moon Maidens soon, and as much as I hated to admit it, there was a substantial possibility that I would never see either of them again.“What have I done?” I choked out, faced with the horror of the situation.Part of me knew that Alec had only done it to protect me and keep me safe from Lukas. If Lukas ever found out that Alec and I had cl
An Alpha for the Stolen Princess Chapter 53 : : : : : A New King Rises
*Alec*The words were still rattling through me, breaking my heart into a million pieces. It felt like each piece was stabbing me, shredding my insides. The agony echoed through my entire being. I opened another pain potion and drank it, closing my eyes and hoping that it would fade one day and also hoping that it never would. I had rejected Ember for her own safety. That didn’t make it easier to bear. That didn’t make me feel better. If anything, it felt like twisting the knife deeper and deep because I wasn’t strong enough to protect her. I had acknowledged it and taken steps to make sure she was safe anyway, but I felt terrible. I choked on the bitter aftertaste and shuddered as I grabbed another one and tossed it back. They weren’t strong enough alone to dull the pain enough to function. Slowly, the agony started to fade until I could stand up straight. I prepared to return to Whitelark with Rhys and Bryan. “Sawyer?” I asked, surprised to see him among the party that wou
An Alpha for the Stolen Princess Chapter 54 : : : : : What Happened to Alec?
*Ember*Before I realized it, two weeks had passed since Alec had left me in Moon Haven. Every minute since he rejected me had felt like a knife in my chest. My whole body ached. It was almost impossible to get out of bed some days, but I forced myself to get up because lying there, thinking of him, crying, and wishing that things were different would do nothing. I got out of bed and headed to the main hall, where Chastine made us gather every day. The beauty of the Palace of the Moon still left me breathless sometimes. There was a peacefulness and tranquility to Moon Haven I had never experienced. There was nothing to really distract me from the ache in my chest and the way Alec’s rejection seemed to rattle in my ears.“Good Morning,” I said, nodding at the young women who had gathered today. Chastine called them all acolytes. They were around my age and were still in training to become full maidens. As usual, they looked at me warily. One of them gave me a tight smile and look
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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
