AdrianI was sitting at my desk with my headphones in the afternoon after the ball, trying to get some work done, when Knox let himself in and immediately went to the window behind me.I pulled out my earbuds with a frown and turned to him. “What’re you doing, Knox?” My brother didn’t normally interrupt me when I was in the study, so I knew this was something important.“They’re so fucking loud,” he growled, his face still pressed to the glass. “Can’t they be a bit quieter? They woke me up.”I was about to ask him what he meant when the noise finally registered. I hadn’t heard it before because I had been listening to music, but there was definitely a dull roar coming from outside. I rose and made my way to the window. Knox stepped aside so I could see out. To my surprise there was a hoard of people at the main gates. I’d never seen anything like it before.“What the hell do they want?”Knox snorted. “Chloe. They’re all here in hopes of getting an audience with Princess Harper.” His t
AdrianI reached across the bar and grabbed Al by the collar, unable to control myself. “What room are they in?” I growled, the threat clear. While any other patron would have been thrown out for this kind of behavior, there was nothing he could do. I was the Crown Prince.Al swallowed audibly, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “I don’t know,” he stuttered. “I just know he went up.”I let Al go and took a step back, debating my next move. I could go upstairs and start banging on doors, but that might give me away before I made it to Bryce. Not to mention I didn’t want everyone in a room to see Chloe and Bryce together. Then they’d have to get married. The thought sickened me,I can track Bryce, my wolf whispered to me. We’ve known him for years. I can get you to him to save Chloe.I considered his offer for only a moment before accepting his offer. While my wolf hadn’t been able to track Chloe earlier, I knew for a fact he could track Bryce.Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath and leased my
ChloeBryce and I separated as soon as we made it to the main street.“You’re the best, Bryce,” I said, beaming at him.He winked at me. “Don’t forget it, beautiful.” His words were flirty, but I knew he didn’t really mean it. “Now, don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”“So you’re giving me free range to do whatever I like?” I teased.“Absolutely. Now, there’s a stiff drink calling my name. See you later, Harper.” He sauntered off and I sighed.I wished I liked Bryce in that way. I really did. He was funny and kind and clever, and loyal to Adrian completely. And I did like him… but just, not like that. He was someone I would only ever see as a friend. What a pity.As soon as Bryce was out of view, I ducked back into the alley, pulling my backpack off as I went. I wasted no time in taking off the mask I was still wearing, followed by my sweatshirt and stuffing it into the backpack. I pulled out a baseball cap and slipped it on. It wasn’t one of my old, worn ones from back home, but I still
ChloeCaden reached down and grabbed me, pulling me into a bone crushing hug. Just as I was started to see stars, he pulled back, keeping his hands firmly on my shoulders and me in place. If I wanted to run for it, I’d have to rip myself from his grasp.“Chloe!” Relief and surprise mingled in his voice. I wanted to say it felt forced, but he was so open when his guard was down, as it was now. He was genuinely happy to have run into me.“Caden,” I greeted, more reserved.“What are you doing here?” he shook me slightly. “Where the hell have you been?”My mouth started falling open and I snapped it shut. “Why do you care?” the words came out harsher than I intended, but I didn’t bother apologizing. The old Chloe would have apologized so as not to cause issues between us. That Chloe died in the forest when I was attacked.“What’s wrong, Chloe?” His concern was genuine and that upset me. Why hadn’t he cared when Leah had been lying about me? Why couldn’t he have cared when he was breaking
AdrianI hadn’t meant to scare her, but Chloe jumped about a foot in the air when I spoke. She searched the room, her eyes landing on me. I sat in the wing backed chair in Chloe’s sitting area, staring at her guilty face. Wherever she had gone, she thought she shouldn’t have been there. Interesting. That narrowed down potential places significantly.“So? Where were you?” I asked again. I wanted to see if she’d admit to going… wherever she’d gone.“How long have you been sitting here?” she asked, countering my question with one of her own. She put her hands on her hips and tried to glare at me. Unfortunately for her she couldn’t work up the ire the look really needed.I’d gone to Chloe’s room as soon as I’d returned from the bar and had been sitting here ever since, waiting for her. When I thought too hard about it, it seemed creepy, but I hadn’t intended it that way. I just hadn’t known where else to go. I had to know that Chloe was okay before I could continue on with my day. I staye
ChloeAdrian rose from his seat and stepped slowly closer to me as if he thought I might run away. He stopped right in front of me, filling the space with his presence – his energy. He leaned down and I stopped breathing. He was so close I could smell the mint on his breath. He was a habitual gum chewer, especially when he was thinking. I half expected him to blow a bubble.Every wolf had their own scent, and no two wolves smelled the same. Mates sometimes had their smells combine over time, as if their souls were melding. I’d always thought it was beautiful.I’d learned the scents of my family over the last three months. Alexander smelled like books and sunshine; King Charles smelled like pastries and green tea, two of his all-time favorite treats, and Knox smelled like fresh rainfall. I couldn't help but notice that despite living in the palace, Adrian still smelled woodsy. He smelt of pine trees and freshly fallen snow. I felt my body sway towards his as if I was connected to him.
ChloeI'd spent all night tossing and turning, trying to figure out if I wanted Adrian to go with me to the healer. I wasn't sure what the healer was going to ask, and I thought his presence might make me too nervous to answer.Instead, I sent him a note via Nancy telling him that I wanted to go alone.Nancy offered to walk me down to the clinic, but I declined. It's not like I didn't know where to go. I'd gone there several times over the last couple of months for blood work. "I know where to go. Thank you, Nancy." I gave her a smile to soften my rejection." Of course, Your Highness."I could feel her eyes on me as I exited the room.As I walked, I tried to calm my racing heart. I was nervous- what if the Healer couldn't help me and my wolf lay dormant for the rest of my life? The thought left an ache in my chest that was almost unbearable. I had to get my wolf back - she was part of who I was and being without her felt wrong.I hesitated when I got to the Healer's office. I knew Ad
CadenI turned to Leah, anger eating me up inside. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” I growled, my wolf unable to hide its displeasure with her. As Alpha I should have a steady hold on my emotions, but as I watched Chloe walk away something snapped inside me.“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she huffed, not meeting my eyes. She knew exactly what she’d done, and the worst part was I know she wasn’t remorseful even though she had absolutely been in the wrong.“You know exactly what I am talking about. My conversation with Chloe had nothing to do with you, and you had no right to interrupt and speak the way you did. I can’t believe you.” I could, though. Leah had always been mean and spiteful, but as her father had been the Beta in the pack everyone had turned a blind eye to her behavior. Clearly, that had been a mistake, and we were all paying the price now.Leah stuck out her lip, obviously thinking that pouting was going to make me forgive her faster. News flash: it
KnoxThe Alpha’s house was nice, but not much compared to the palace, which was an unfair comparison. I knew that, but I’d grown up there and had known nothing else.I knocked on the front door and to my surprise Alpha Caden answered it himself.“Prince Knox?” he asked, a puzzled expression on his face.I nodded. “Alpha Caden.”“What are you doing here?”“I’m registering my presence with you. I intend to stay a few days.”Caden nodded slowly. “I see. And what business do you have here?”I cleared my throat. “I was hoping my brother and Chloe were still here.”Caden’s expression didn’t change, and he gave nothing away. “To what end?”“Well, the
KnoxI was in the middle of packing my bag to leave when Alexander barged into my room unannounced. It reminded me of how I’d barged in on Adrian when he’s been back. It was amazing how cyclical time was.“What’s up?” I asked, not glancing up from what I was doing.Alexander cleared his throat, and I glanced up for the first time.“What’s wrong?”“Are you sure you want to do this?” Alexander asked, frowning.I nodded slowly, unsure of where he was going with this. “It has to be done. Someone has to go tell Adrain what’s going on and tell Chloe that she’s actually Father’s daughter. They both have a right to know this.”“But are you sure you have to be the one to go?”I stiffened at this. “Are you implying I’m not capable of finding them and bringing them back?”Alexander rolled his eyes and sat down. “That’s not what I’m implying at all.” He paused and considered his next words carefully. “It’s a selfish reason.”“What is?”“Why I don’t want you to go,” Alexander sighed.“Well, let’s
AlexanderI didn’t know what the letter Chloe had given me for Father said, but figured it was something important. In fact, after I gave it to him he seemed to withdraw into himself and started brooding more than normal.At least, I hoped that it was the letter and not the seizures. They were happening almost daily at this point. Knox and I were scared to leave him alone. In fact, we took turns sitting at his bedside. It was absolutely exhausting, but he was our father it was our duty.“You two need to get out of here,” Father said one evening as he ate dinner from the small table we’d brought into his bedroom. His walking was okay most of the time, but we’d wanted a table closer to his bed than the one in his sitting room.“Maybe later,” I said, waving off his suggestion.“No, I’m serious. You two don’t
King CharlesTo my horror, the seizures don’t stop. With every pill that doesn’t work, my panic raises. There’s an answer out there somewhere, but I don’t know where.I start being able to warn others when I’m about to pass out, which is only marginally helpful.My closest advisor, Kellin, visited me during my second week of bedrest.“King Charles,” he greeted me.“Kellin.”“Are we alone?”I nodded and watched with mild amusement while Kellin relaxed and sat down next to my bed. “Formalities are so annoying, Charles.”“Don’t I know it,” I muttered.“So, give it to me straight. How bad is it?”I opened my mouth to tell him that it wasn’t that bad, bu
King CharlesGrief does funny things to people.Byles found me in my study, staring out the window instead of doing anything work related. He took the seat next to me and waited for me to acknowledge him before speaking.“Did you know?” I finally asked, turning to look at him.He didn’t pretend to not know what I was talking about. He nodded slowly.“I figured as much. You ran the DNA tests for everyone. It only made sense that you knew, and you kept the truth from me.” I turned back to the window. It hurt to look at my younger brother.“I never meant to hurt you,” Byles finally said. “I only meant to protect Natalie.”“Were you one of the ones she fucked?” I asked, my voice mild despite my words.I saw Byle flinch out of the corner of m
Adrian“Where are you staying?” Chloe asked, pulling back from our kiss.I frowned at her, my brain muddled from having her too close. “What?”“Where are you staying?” she asked again.I pulled back and frowned. “At the Knight Inn.”Chloe crinkled her nose at this news. “That place is known for its roaches.”I thought back to the roaches that had scurried out of sight when I’d entered my room. “Trust me, I know, but all the rooms were rented out every other place because of the wedding. I’m not exactly thrilled about it, but for the moment it’s my only option.”“That’s not true,” Chloe said, shaking her head.“What’s not true?”“You have another option
ChloeI stared at Adiran, my heart racing.“What?” he repeated, staring at my stomach with wide eyes.Caden cleared his throat when neither of us appeared to say anything. “Chloe, I think he’s asking you a question.”“What?” I said, tearing my eyes away from Adrian’s shocked face.Caden sighed as if we were causing him pain. “I think Adrian is asking if you, you know,” he gestured towards my stomach.I turned back to Adrian.“Are you pregnant?” Adrian asked, his voice soft.I nodded.To my confusion, Adrian turned and decked Caden right in the nose. His first made a crunching noise as it made contact with Caden’s nose.“Adrian!” I screamed.Caden stagg
CadenPrince Adrian did not look good. He looked tired, to start off with but he was also sweaty as if he’d been running. Had he been running? That didn’t make sense – he was wearing dress pants and a button down. Those weren’t running clothes. There’s no way he’d been running. But if he hadn’t been running why had he been sweaty?Also, and most importantly, why was he at my sister’s wedding looking for Chloe?“Prince Adrian, Chloe isn’t here. She was invited, but she wasn’t feeling well. We all understand, of course.”He blinked at me, clearly not understanding the words I was saying. I sighed and rubbed my eyes. “Why don’t you come in here with me and we can get it all cleared up.”The prince followed me without complaint, a sure sign that he really wasn’t feeling wel
AdrianI knew exactly where the Blackstone Pack was, but getting there was a different story. It was hidden deep in the mountains, spanning hundreds of miles. There was so much space, and I didn’t know exactly where Chloe might be. She could be in the capital city, or she could be off in the mountains in a tiny cabin, away from the world. I hoped she was with people who loved her, but I wasn’t sure.I decided to go to the capital city first. It was the biggest city in the territory and where the Alpha lived. I didn’t want to see Caden, per se, but I had a feeling that wherever Chloe was, so was Caden. The thought sickened me, but there was nothing I could do if she’d decided to reunite with her old mate.I took comfort in the fact that she hadn’t broken her mate bond with me, so she couldn’t have reignited her mate bond with Caden. That was something, right? I alm