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Chapter 52 : Into the Shadows
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
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
An Alpha for the Stolen Princess Chapter 55 : : : : : Alec Rejected Me
*Ember*Lauryn and Mary glanced at each other again. The quiet of the forest seemed even louder around me as they said nothing. Their expressions said that it was probably worse than I had ever let myself think. A chill ran down my spine, and my heart froze in my chest. Panic surged through me, and my mind raced with thoughts of Alec, injured or worse. My hand instinctively went to my belly as if thinking of the baby would help me deal with what they had to say.“Just tell me,” I said, looking at the two of them. Lauryn sighed. “Alec and the eastern forces went to hold off Lukas’ army at the bridge near Estoria. The last I heard, they’re planning to destroy the bridge.”I frowned, thinking about it. The river was always raging and treacherous. It would be hard for Lukas to get to East Allusia without it, and it would take a lot of time to try to rebuild it. It should have been a good thing, but neither Mary nor Lauryn looked happy about the plan.“Why do you still seem so w
An Alpha for the Stolen Princess Chapter 56 : : : : : Please Let Me Live
*Alec*I roared in agony. The shock of the sash of claws across my shoulder forced me to shift into my human form. The giant bastard revealed his bloodstained teeth as he rushed at me. I dodged his next attack, but he was relentless, lunging at me. I pushed his claws away with my sword. Sparks flew, burning me as the force of his swing shoved me aside. I rolled, and just as he leaped into the air, ready to pounce on me and kill me. I darted forward, shoving my blade up through his mouth. He twitched for a moment and flailed before he went limp. The visage of a wolf melted away, and the man in leather armor remained, dangling from my sword, scratching weakly at the blade as he continued to fall down the blade. I lowered it, letting him slide off the end of it, and rolled away from it.“Bastard,” I gasped, groaning as I pressed a hand to my shoulder. My hand came away sticky with blood, but it wasn’t nearly as bad as the wound I’d received earlier in the battle. The scent of bl
An Alpha for the Stolen Princess Chapter 57 : Shadows and Moonlight
*Ember’s POV*I sat at the table in the palace gardens, staring up at the overcast sky. A bowl of stew, leftover from lunch, stood before me, untouched. After receiving the news about Alec, I found that I didn’t really have much of an appetite anymore.“Please eat something,” Lauryn coaxed, pushing the bowl towards me. “You need your strength for when your wolf comes, and your baby needs the nourishment.”“I’m not hungry,” I replied listlessly, ignoring the food.Lauryn sighed sadly. I glanced at her, and to my surprise, I realized that she was crying. “I know how you feel, Ember, I really do. You lost your love, just like I did all those years ago.” We both shifted our gazes to the ring she still wore on her finger. “And I lost my brother. But we have to go on. He wouldn’t want you wasting away to nothing.”She was right, even though I hated to admit it.Without any enthusiasm, I reached over and took a spoonful of the lukewarm stew and popped it into my mouth. It tasted l
An Alpha for the Stolen Princess Chapter 58 : The Power of the Wolf
*Ember* It was time. The full moon was at its peak. Standing naked in the moonlight, I could feel it beneath my skin, as though it was alive in my veins. The clearing around me hummed with energy as the Moon Maidens chanted and burned fragrant incense around the perimeter where the grass met the towering old pines of the darkened woods. Chastine, who was facing me within the circle, recited something in a language that I didn’t recognize, but could feel deep in my bones. Only minutes before, Lauryn had dragged me out of bed, through the palace, and out into the woods. The Maidens had been waiting. As they had prepared me for the ceremony, I had grown more and more nervous. Would it hurt to shift? What if it didn’t even happen at all? What if my father had been right all along, and I really was just worthless? But now, as I closed my eyes and tilted my face up to meet the moon, those fears gave way to a certainty that I was meant to be there amongst t
An Alpha for the Stolen Princess Chapter 59 : The Shifter in the Shadows
*Alec* The world was crumbling, and it was all I could do to hang on. “Bryan!” I screamed, looking around frantically for the young shifter. The water rushed around me, and I struggled to keep my head above the surface. “Bryan!” Chunks of the bridge, blackened with soot and jagged from the explosion, flowed angrily down the river, caught in the vicious current. I dodged a sharp piece of stone and attempted to swim towards the riverbank on what I hoped was the south side of the river. I was so turned around that I couldn’t be sure, but I knew that it was better to be on dry land than to be stuck in the freezing rapids. A body, floating facedown, passed me. I clutched at it and managed to flip it onto its back before the current carried it away. To my relief, the face was unfamiliar to me, and I realized that it must have been one of Lukas’ soldiers. Not wanting to end up in the same situation, I renewed my efforts into reaching the bank. Swimming against th
An Alpha for the Stolen Princess Chapter 60 : The Truth Revealed
*Alec* “Why don’t you join me?” the shifter who looked remarkably like Ember asked. I gaped at him for a moment, trying to parse out what was going on. “Don’t worry, I won’t bite,” he joked pleasantly before checking to see if the rabbit was done. I rolled my eyes at the comment, but decided to play along and see what happened. After all, this stranger had waltzed directly into the center of our camp while Liam and Bryan were asleep. If he had wanted to harm us, he would have killed them before they could wake. Shifting back into my human form, I retrieved my clothes and pulled them on quickly, keeping an eye on the stranger the entire time. He seemed amused that I was so suspicious of him, but waited patiently until I sat beside him at the fire. “Who are you?” I questioned. “My name’s Grey,” he replied easily in a forthcoming tone. “And I suppose I’m correct in assuming that you’re the Whitelark Alpha?” I nodded curtly. “What pack do 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
