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Lahat ng Kabanata ng Alpha King's Caged Mate: Kabanata 21 - Kabanata 30

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Chapter 21 Her savior

EVELYNI was sinking fast. I struggled to kick upward, but something unseen clutched at me – an intangible force pulling me deeper. Darkness crept in, its shadowy tendrils reaching eagerly toward me like living things.My lungs began to fail. Water surged into my nose and mouth, and the world around me seemed to warp and twist. In a dizzying vision, I saw my father. He dove into the water, swimming toward me with desperate speed. His hazel eyes brimmed with worry. I could feel the warmth of his presence, so close.He’s coming, I thought. Just like when I was small. He’d haul me up onto the riverbank, scold me for my carelessness, then sweep me into his arms and say it was his fault.I reached for him. But the moment my fingers stretched out, he vanished—swallowed by the darkness.“Oh, look. A little dirty savage in our room.”I turned sharply. Anastasia stood there, pinching her nose as if I were something rotten. Her lips curled into a sharp, knowing smile.“That’s fascinating, Lord C

Chapter 22 A rehearsed performance

COLE“Nonsense!” Marcel Fox roared. His angular face turned scarlet as he loomed over Skyla, who was kneeling on the ground of the throne room, sobbing.“I-I’m sorry, F-Father,” Skyla stammered between sniffles. “I just wanted to give her a warning – ”“A warning?” Marcel thundered. “Have you lost your mind? Look at what you’ve done. You’re lucky that nothing worse happened out there!”Skyla flinched, shrinking further as she clung to Anastasia for comfort. Anastasia lounged on a settee beside them, one leg crossed over the other, her expression bored. She allowed Skyla to clutch her for a moment, petting her hair with a perfectly manicured hand.“Marcel, calm down.” Anastasia said coolly, then turned to Skyla. “I’m sure Skyla had no intention of harming Evelyn Caddel, did you, love? Tell us—how did she end up in the river?”Skyla glanced at me first, then at her aunt. She wiped the tears from her cheeks. “I saw her sneaking around the garden. I thought she was trying to escape, so I c

Chapter 23 The investigation is closed

EVELYN“Ah, you’re awake! How do you feel?” Elsa entered just as I got off bed.“Much better,” I replied. My limbs still ached, but it was far better than last night. Elsa’s ghost story about Queen Claudia had worked like a magical sedative. I’d drifted off soon after she began telling me how the queen had been poisoned by King Theodore, and how the servants gossiped that there was no tomb reserved for her in the crypt. I remembered little after that.The sun was already high in the sky outside the window. I moved toward it, wanting a breath of fresh air.Elsa, reading my intent, quickly placed the tray she carried onto a nearby table and rushed to help. She threw open the window, and a warm breeze kissed my face.My gaze shifted toward the table. I hadn’t had one in my room before—clearly, it had been brought from elsewhere. “Where did you get this?”“Daniella’s room,” Elsa replied, walking over and pulling out two matching stools.I was stunned. “Daniella?”She nodded. She poured me

Chapter 24 Defiance and Obedience

EVELYNI took a few deep breaths until the frantic rhythm of my heart began to slow. It felt worse than any nightmare.Do I love him? What a ridiculous question.My throat was dry, aching for a water. As I sat up and pushed the blanket aside, I realized I wasn’t alone. Someone was on my bed, his back resting against the headboard. His silhouette cut sharp and still against the moonlight spilling through the narrow window.I might’ve screamed—if not for his scent. The sharpness of alcohol lingered on him, mixed with a faint trace of feminine perfume. Still, I was rattled. He appeared as though summoned by the very dream I’d just escaped.His eyes were closed, brows drawn into a slight furrow. He looked like he’d come straight from a celebration. I remembered Elsa mentioning that new ladies had arrived at the palace today—the last entrants joining the Selection in three days. He must have spent the evening with them. One of them, presumably, would soon be his bride.“What are you staring

Chapter 25 Maid Selection

EVELYN“Come on. Your braid is perfect enough,” I turned back to prompt Elsa. We were hurrying toward one of the larger halls where Mrs. Porter had ordered us to go, and Elsa was lagging behind, nervously fidgeting with her hair for the third times since we departed.“Are you nervous, Evie?” She asked, catching up hastily. “I mean. It’s the day.”Yes, it was the day. The day when the much-anticipated Luna Selection would finally open. This morning, all the participants were to select their personal maids – and that’s where we were heading to.“I suppose I’m just too tired to remember how to be nervous,” I said to Elsa as we rounded a corner. “All I want right now is a nice sleep.”Elsa grimaced. “That’s true.”The past three days had been grueling. I had been arranged to work the very next day after the healer declared I had recovered.We hadn’t even met the ladies in person yet, but our workload had increased drastically due to their various demands. All of us were exhausted from cate

Chapter 26 Just call me Leila

EVELYNMrs. Porter’s eyes widened slightly. She glanced at me, then cleared her throat hesitantly. “My lady, perhaps this choice would not be the best,” she advised. “There are other maids who might satisfy your needs. She is new to palace life – you might require someone more seasoned – ”“Oh? New to the palace life…” Leila mused, turning to look at Mrs. Porter. “But hasn’t she been trained here for an entire year?”“Well, yes, my lady. But still—” Mrs. Porter started, only to be cut off as Leila raised a hand to silence her.“Are you challenging my decision?” Leila still smiled, but her tone had sharpened.Mrs. Porter swallowed. “No, my lady. Of course not. My apologies for questioning you. It’s just…” she hesitated. “It’s just Evelyn was often summoned by His Majesty, so she may not always be available to serve you.”Her words were tactful, which made Leila narrow her eyes in thought.“I see,” Leila said, turning to look at me again. “Then it has to be her.”She ignored Mrs. Porter’

Chapter 27 A suprise for her

EVELYNLeila’s words perplexed me further, and I was somewhat shocked by her blunt way of addressing the Alpha King. Though I couldn’t agree more with her, I had to warn her.“It’s better not to refer to His Majesty in such a manner while in the palace, Lady Leila. You may get yourself punished” I said.“Leila,” she corrected. Then she sat back beside me. “I don’t care about the punishment. If the consequence of speaking the truth is punishment, then I'll face it. Let him punish me. But you – you don’t deserve this,” Leila grabbed my hand again. “I need to speak up for you if I must –”“Please, Leila,” I interrupted her softly. “If you like, I’d rather prefer not to discuss this.”Despite her words, despite her eager kindness, I didn’t want her to bring up the past. I didn’t know if she could be trusted. Perhaps she was still the daring girl she used to be, perhaps she had strong sense of justice and opposed the punishment for my family after Jack’s death, like the few loyalists of my

Chapter 28 The Ball

EVELYN“What makes you think I want to win the Luna position?” Leila closed the book in her hand and stared at me. It was the third time I had prompted her that we needed to start preparing for the ball tonight—otherwise, there wouldn’t be enough time for me to do her hair and makeup.The ball tonight marked the start of the Luna Selection, and it would be their official debut in front of the Alpha King and the Dowager Queen. First impressions always mattered, so the ladies were pulling out all the stops to look as attractive and captivating as possible.At noon, Elsa told me that several ladies hadn’t eaten lunch so their corsets could be tightened further. Just now, when I stepped out to refill the teapot, I saw Melanie leading a seamstress toward Skyla's room. Melanie was telling her that Skyla wanted quick alterations to the neckline of her gown so her shoulders and neck would appear more elegant. The seamstress wiped sweat from her brow, looking troubled.But Leila didn’t share th

Chapter 29 First Dance

EVELYNThe Alpha King strode in, his golden hair swept back in perfect order, gleaming beneath the flickering candlelight. His dark eyes, as unreadable as ever, flicked briefly over the crowd. Clad in a black shirt and matching trousers, his tall, commanding figure was further adorned by a gold cloak slung over one shoulder and a gleaming pin bearing his family's insignia on the other.I hadn’t seen him in three days – not since my defiance in the maid’s wing had seemingly irritated him beyond tolerance – and as much as I wanted to deny it, he looked devastatingly handsome tonight.I dipped into a curtesy as he passed by Leila. His head turned toward me, and our eyes locked. For a fleeting second, my heart clenched. I wondered if he’d be displeased that Leila had chosen me as her personal maid during the selection. I wondered if he’d lash out at me.“You hate me.”I remembered his face when he said that. He’d said it as if he cared – but now, his expression was vacant, untouched by sen

Chapter 30 Bloody Banquet

EVELYNAfter several rounds of dancing, the ball came to an end, and everyone was escorted to the dining area. Several large tables were spread across the hall. The King, the Dowager Queen, and the ladies were seated at the front table, while the courtiers took the others.There was a brief period for conversation before the banquet began—both a social warm-up and a prime opportunity for the chosen lady to impress the King with her wit or intellect.But Georgina, rather than charming the King with clever remarks or engaging conversation, seemed far more interested in the timing of the food. She glanced back at Jessica and whispered, “When will the dishes be served?”Jessica looked visibly embarrassed. It was equally mortifying for her to have to remind Georgina that eating wasn’t the most important purpose of the banquet.“Are you hungry, Lady Georgina?” Cole tilted his head, his gaze fixed on her. He seemed rather amused by her bluntness.“Just a little, Your Majesty,” Georgina replie

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