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#Chapter 91: Inner Turmoil
Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56
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His Secret Princess #Chapter 92: The Decision
CelesteThe leaves painted the town in hues of amber and gold, casting a warm glow over the familiar streets of campus I had walked down a thousand times before. The crisp air held a promise of change and I had a feeling that I knew what that change was.As I strolled through the park, hands tucked into her hoodie pockets, I couldn't help but steal glances at the person beside me. Alyx, with his easy smile and sparkling eyes, had been a constant presence in my life for the past three months.We did everything together—coffee dates, movie nights, and long walks through campus when we both had free periods. Of course, Fiona had been at the movie nights, too. Jack would have never let me go if it had just been Alyx.I marveled at how Alyx had turned out to be such a sweet, dependable friend. He hadn’t made another move since the kiss in the stairwell. I felt like I could count on him for anything, from a shoulder to lean on to a listening ear in the late hours of the night. Usually after
His Secret Princess #Chapter 93: Bait
JackJack watched from the shadows in the hallway, his jaw clenched in frustration. The air hung thick with tension as his sister and Alyx laughed as they walked side by side. They were close, closer than he'd ever seen Celeste with anyone before. And it irked him.He had always been protective of Celeste. He had to be because of what she could become. But this... this was different. Alyx was different. He was charming, intelligent, and seemed to genuinely care for Celeste. And it was driving Jack insane.But he couldn’t do shit about it. He was the one who had come up with this plan and he had to see it through. Because if he was right, if what he suspected was the truth, Jack was going to burn the campus and everyone in it to the ground.As he pushed himself away from the shadows, Jack's thoughts raced. He had to find out where Matt stood in all of this. Matt, his best friend since childhood, had been acting strangely ever since the ball three months ago. Jack wasn't stupid; he coul
His Secret Princess #Chapter 94: First Date
CelesteI couldn’t believe that I was finally going on my first official date. And that Jack had completely okayed it. After that utterly awkward conversation, I had texted Alyx and told him everything. Well, not everything. Just the important part.We had immediately set up our date for Friday night. Just in case Jack went back to his usual self and changed his mind. I didn’t completely trust my older brother. Especially since he’d been lying to me for so long. I figured going on the date as soon as possible would be the safest option.I had no idea what we were doing though. Alyx wanted it to be a secret, a proper first date. He was even coming to pick me up in his car, even though both of us preferred walking. I did manage to get him to tell me what I should wear though.Fancy, but not too fancy. In other words, not my usual attire. I looked at my sparse closet. Most of the things I owned were oversized and not the sort of thing most girls my age would wear out and about.I bit my
His Secret Princess #Chapter 95: Always Her Protector
MattThe night hung heavy with an oppressive stillness, broken only by the distant hum of city life. Matt stood hidden in the shadows, heart pounding, his breath a silent echo in the park. As much as he told himself not to do it, he couldn’t help following Celeste and Alyx around on their date. The sight made him sick to his stomach. It should have been him with her.They strolled down the sidewalk, laughter and flirtatious banter punctuating the cool evening air. Celeste's radiant smile, once meant solely for him, now danced across her face in Alyx's presence. It felt like a thousand knives, each twist of the blade reopening old wounds.Alyx, with his bed-tousled hair and confident stride, seemed to have charmed his way into Celeste’s world. Matt clenched his fists, resentment simmering beneath the surface. He should have been the one to take her hand, to share these moments. But he had let his insecurities build a wall, and now he was condemned to watch from the shadows.Just as Mat
His Secret Princess #Chapter 96: That’s What Friends Are For
CelesteAfter what happened with Alyx, I didn’t go to school for a week. I just stayed in my room, ignoring everybody. Even Jack left me alone. I just couldn’t face Fiona. She had been calling me non-stop. I know she wanted to hear about the date, but I couldn’t talk about it yet.I went back and forth between being angry and utterly devastated. I couldn’t help but feel like there was something wrong with me. The boy I had loved more than anything or anyone had brutally rejected me in front of everyone. And the guy that had been such a close friend and that I was starting to actually like turned out to be a creep.
His Secret Princess #Chapter 97: Confrontation
JackThe sun hung low on the horizon, casting long shadows across the quiet suburban street. Jack's fingers drummed nervously on the steering wheel of his car, the engine humming with anticipation. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was teetering on the edge of a precipice, about to plunge into the unknown.The plan hadn't exactly worked, but it hadn't exactly failed either. When Celeste appeared at his doorstep with Matt in tow, instead of Alyx, Jack's heart had plummeted. He had expected Matt to make his move, to finally reveal his betrayal.But the truth that spilled from Cele
His Secret Princess #Chapter 98: With Friends Like These
MattAs soon as Matt had been far enough away from Jack, he had shifted and backtracked. He was faster in wolf form so not much time had passed since they had parted. He was able to clearly see Jack pull out the lie detector.Matt watched from the shadows as Jack ran off after him. He should have been able to see this coming. Jack’s paranoia knew no bounds. Matt had been able to smell the device on him as soon as he got out of the car. There was no going back now.Jack knew the truth. He knew that Matt had feelings for Celeste. Perhaps not the depth of his feelings, but that o
His Secret Princess #Chapter 99: Matt’s Confession
CelesteI was finally going back to school. After Fiona’s visit, I had felt much better and with her support I was able to actually get out of bed and do all the things that I had been putting off. Namely showering and eating a proper meal.Fiona made sure that we stayed far away from Alyx. Instead of our usual seats, we sat in the back corners. We even went so far as to come in late so that all the good seats would be taken. We didn’t want to take any chances.In the middle of one of my lectures, my phone went off. I quickly silenced it, not even bothering to look at th
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His Secret Princess #Chapter 200: The Mask
EpilogueThe sounds of plates clinking together, and the low hum of chit-chat, merged into the background as I listened to Fiona describe her latest assignment. She was stuck in a geography class that she needed for distribution, and it was driving her nuts. Her professor was a mean, curmudgeonly old man, and a notoriously difficult marker.“He gave me a C–. A C–! That was not a C worthy paper.”Jack nodded. “I read it. It was pretty good.”She rounded on him. “Pretty good?”He put his hands up, a small smile on his lips. “Really pretty good?”She huffed but turned back to me. “Your brother is a pain in the ass.”I smiled. “You’re telling me.” They’d only been together for a few years, but they already bickered like an old married couple. Matt and I were actually married, but we didn’t even bicker like that. It was as endearing as it was exhausting.Matt sank into his seat beside me and slid me a cup of coffee. I threw him a grateful look. Our peacekeeping duties had kept us late the
His Secret Princess #Chapter 199: Ever After
MattThe nerves made me jittery, and I bounced my knee so hard it rattled the bench. Seth gave me a knowing look before bending over to finish tying his skates. I focused on taping my stick, letting muscle memory take over. All the guys knew what I planned to do tonight, and they kept throwing me knowing looks as I tried to stay calm.It was the last home game before playoffs started. A part of me kept thinking that I should wait, but an even greater part of me didn’t want to wait one more second. If life had taught me anything, it was that we didn’t know how much time we might have. I didn’t want to waste another second of it. I especially didn’t want to waste time just because I was afraid.“Dude, stop vibrating the bench,” our goalie James called. “I’m trying to focus.”“Sorry,” I answered. If there was one rule in hockey, it was to not mess with the goalie, especially right before a game. If he needed to focus, then I just needed to find a way to chill the fuck out.Enzo gave me a
His Secret Princess #Chapter 198: The Score
The arena was buzzing with energy as Matt got the puck and darted forward to take advantage of the breakaway. He sent the puck into the corner of the net, and I jumped to my feet. Beside me Fiona screamed so loud, heads turned in our direction. Jack cringed slightly, throwing her a bemused look.It was the first home game of the year, and Matt was giving everything he had to make sure the team got a win. Around us, the school cheered as he skated by, knocking fists with his teammates. It was his second goal of the night, his first a tricky tip in after Seth’s initial shot rebounded. It was 3-1 with only four minutes left in the third period.“He’s playing great,” Nina said from my other side as the cheering died down, and we took our seats again.“He is.” Over on the bench, Enzo stood in a dark suit, his head bent as he talked to one of his players.He and Nina were staying one more year. Even though Nina graduated in the spring, her father was giving her the year to clean up the town
His Secret Princess #Chapter 197: Family Reunion
“Are you ready for this?” Jack asked, his eyes trailing over my face, looking for any signs of fear or hesitation. I schooled my features into a blank mask. Sure, I was nervous, but he didn’t need to see that. He already hated that he’d gotten me involved. Too bad I was the only one that could do this, and I’d do anything to get the Schreibers out of our town.I took a deep breath and gazed up at the towering mansion. It was on the outskirts of town, far enough away that I’d never seen it, but still close enough for the Schreibers to cause havoc. The house seemed quiet, but I knew our grandfather lurked inside. Him and whoever survived the fight.“I’m ready,” I said, keeping my voice steady. Matt and the rest of the Peacekeepers had already surrounded the house. They were keeping their distance but staying close enough just in case we needed them. It made me feel better knowing he was out there. I knew, without a doubt, that Matt would do anything to keep me safe. Just like I’d do any
His Secret Princess #Chapter 196: Looking Forward
Jack“Hey!” Jack called, running to catch up with Fiona. She stopped walking and turned to give him a curious look. “I’ll walk you home,” he said when he reached her side.She gave him a bemused look. Technically, her place was only five minutes from campus, but that didn’t mean she should walk alone at night. Plus, he hadn’t seen her since she moved back in with her roommate, and he wanted a moment alone with her.“Alright,” she said with a shrug. “If you insist.”He smiled. “Better safe than sorry.”“Bye,” Celeste called, waving at them. She gave him a knowing smile, and he glowered at her. She clearly knew something was going on, but it wasn’t her business. They needed to figure this out for themselves.She and Matt were headed in the opposite direction, back toward the house. Matt was still haunting the halls. Everywhere Jack went, there he was. In the bathroom, when he needed to piss. In the kitchen, when he was hungry. Even in the living room at night, making out with his sister
His Secret Princess #Chapter 195: The Oath
“I promise to protect this town,” Jack said, his hand over his heart. “I promise to fight for peace, and to not rest until it is achieved. I promise to treat all life as equal. I devote myself to this cause from now until my last breath.”Nina dipped her head in acknowledgement, and Jack let his hand drop to his side. I stepped forward next and repeated the oath. It was the same words every person in this room had recited when they agreed to become a Peacekeeper. It wasn’t something to take lightly, and I didn’t plan to.“I devote myself to this cause from now until my last breath,” I said, stepping back beside my brother. Fiona stood at his other side. She took the oath first, saying the words with the utmost confidence.I locked eyes with Matt, and he gave me a proud smile, his eyes gleaming. Our friends sat around the room, and, as if given some invisible cue, they all began to hoot and clap. They stood up and slapped the three of us on the back. I got pulled into hugs, one after t
His Secret Princess #Chapter 194: Lovers
Matt closed my bedroom door behind us and leaned his crutches against the wall. He hobbled over to the bed and sank down onto the mattress with a soft groan. “Just as I remember it,” he said, jumping a little. “So soft.”Downstairs, Fiona, and Jack were rifling around in the kitchen. They offered to make us something, but neither of us were very hungry.Matt lay back and stretched his arms over his head, his shirt riding up just enough to reveal the smooth skin along his waistline. His hip bones dipped down into his cargo pants and I bit my lip, desperate to get my hands on him, but still worried about his wounds. Sure, he was up and moving around, but that didn’t mean he should be doing physical activity. I didn’t know a lot about werewolf healing, but I wasn’t willing to risk him.“I missed this room,” he continued, turning to look at me through hooded eyes.The purple bedspread brought back a flood of memories. I’d spent so much of my life in this room. I had so many memories, and
His Secret Princess #Chapter 193: Home
MattI held onto Celeste’s hand, leaning heavily on the two crutches I had propped under my opposite arm. A feeling of intense déjà vu swept through me as I watched Seth step forward and light the pyre. Around us, others did the same until dark smoke rose into the blue spring sky. I hoped this was the last funeral I ever had to go to, at least for a long while.Celeste had a blank expression on her face that worried me more than anything. Beside her, Jack and Fiona stood holding hands. Fiona was crying, and Jack had a stricken look on his face. As one, he and Celeste let go of our hands and stepped forward. They lit the last pyre.“Goodbye dad,” Celeste said, just loud enough for me to hear. My heart squeezed.Jack didn’t speak, he just lowered his gaze and stepped back beside Fiona. She immediately took his hand, but he didn’t look up from his shoes. I understood the warring emotions he was feeling. He hated his father for abandoning him, and he felt guilty that he got killed right i
His Secret Princess #Chapter 192: Shell Shock
Those of us still on our feet spent the rest of the day tending to the wounded. God, there were so many of them. Every wound I saw, every cry of pain I heard, felt like a knife to the gut. Everywhere I went, I saw pain, death, and gore.It was all too much.“Hey,” Jack said, giving me a concerned look. “Take a break if you need to.”He was still covered in blood, and I could barely stand to look at him. He’d taken a few minutes to wipe most of it off his face, but he hadn’t stopped to change his clothes. None of us had. There hadn’t been time.“I can’t.”I couldn’t get my father’s face out of my mind. Jack took me to his body shortly after the fight ended, tears in his eyes. I allowed myself to cry only for a minute before I helped him move the body to the small grassy area behind the church. That was where we were laying out the dead before we’d give them all proper funerals.There were already too many bodies out there. Seth had collapsed beside Jenna’s bloody form and hadn’t moved
