Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 78: I've Been Waiting For You

I stared at the fake me, Jasmine, on the ground. Warren was still leaning over her. His eyes were half-lidded, but I could see underneath the tears brimming in his eyes. I couldn't deny that I felt mortified, too. I promised we'd protect her, and I failed to honor my word.

"Everyone! We have all been fooled by the imposter!"

Raymond announced, waving dismissively at Jasmine's lifeless form. He had shifted back and someone had quickly dressed him with a cloak. "The Moon Goddess has sent us the real Ciana just in time. The pack can finish preparing for the arrival of our esteemed guest."

"Show some remorse!" I snapped, turning to glare at him. "You just murdered a young girl, one that you were using for horrible crimes."

Raymond scoffed and rolled his eyes at me, he whispered, "She understood the risks of disobeying me. If she wasn't going to do her part, she was no longer useful." His voice was so casual and uninterested.

"You're a monster! Moon Goddess above, in the name of Lord

Lycaon, you'll get what you deserve!" Warren said, finding his voice. He stood and balled his hands into fists.

I didn't think I'd ever seen Warren so mad, but he was ready to fight for Jasmine's memory and keep his promise to always remember her.

"That is more corruption coming from a member of the royal family. You can't just come in here and throw your weight * around. We don't bow down to royal tyranny," Raymond scoffed loudly. "Take him into custody."

"You can't! You have no jurisdiction over the royal family," I argued.

Warren added, "You claimed that the crown are tyrants that lord over Alvar. What's your evidence?"

"Seize him!" Raymond didn't answer, only gave his order. His guards pounced on Warren.

"Now, what do you think the king is going to do to Alvar pack when he finds out what you've done to his son?" I asked. I glanced at the rest of the pack.

No one spoke up at all. They wouldn't look at me either.

"Hold him down. If he twitches, knock him out," Raymond demanded. He stood over Warren, smirking and leering in front of the captured prince.

Rage pumped through my veins and my hand tightened around the feather. I'd knock that smug, arrogant look right off his face!

"Your decoy is dead. There's no way you'll complete the alliance with Luther now," I said, pointing a finger at Raymond.

He smirked and chuckled darkly in a tone only audible to me. "I see you haven't let go of the feather, Ciana dear."

"The feather?" I asked, creasing my brow.

Suddenly, a tingle shot up my arm and it dropped limply at my side. I couldn't move it! I kept telling my fingers to release the feather, but they wouldn't respond.

That same tingle spread through my shoulders.

What was happening?!

the side, catching myself on a nearby pillar.

I knew you'd come for the feather, so I made sure it would work to my advantage," he said with a toothy, wolfish grin. His

numbness kept spreading through my body. I couldn't feel my legs anymore and my mind

let Raymond

with a paralytic. The effects will wear off soon. But until then, why don't you take

he turned to the crowd and announced loudly, "Don't worry! Ciana has been overcome by fatigue.

to ear. He was a snake! I half expected him

trap?" I muttered, trying to force

He'd gained Jasmine's trust and we'd set this plan up without revealing it to anyone, but Raymond

mind got woozy, but I blinked rapidly, forcing myself

I always planned to capture you," Raymond taunted in a low voice.

stepped up to Jasmine's body. Warren watched with horrified eyes, still unable to move against the guards

being held prisoner. After all, Warren was only one person, how could he defeat

plan, I'd trusted the pack to go against Raymond by now.

but no one dared to speak out again.

or if it

he wanted with me. Even give me to Hawke...

endeavor to save my pack? It couldn't be... Father, Mother, what should I do? What else

okay." I heard a deep, smooth voice utter beside me as my body finally collapsed onto the floor.

turn my head anymore, but I flitted my eyes

I mouthed silently, I was no longer able to

shook his

sank. Tallis wasn't my biggest fan, but I couldn't believe that he was just

that it would be for the best to

stage. People parted to make way. As I moved through the crowd, I heard, "Just play along. This is your chance to find out what is really going

was about to faint and be completely helpless. Raymond could do anything... I would have shaken

and I won't let anything happen

me believe him. That kind of confidence only came

something pressing against the sweatshirt. It was familiar. I tried to place the familiar shape but my

me. I'll make sure you are safe," he said again,

Tallis' sweatshirt was a lapel pin. It was familiar because it was the same shape of the pin

almost too heavy to lift, now. If Tallis was wearing a lapel pin I'd made

I knew it!

before Raymond could notice him. I gave myself over to it, trusting that Theo would keep me safe. One last thought went through

world would wear a lapel pin under a

**

I realized was that I was moving. My ears pricked up with the whirr of car tires and the gentle hum of

was in a car, getting driven who knows

I rubbed my temples as a

forehead

seats and the leather was cool, helping my headache.