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.

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

feel my

let Raymond win like

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

overcome by fatigue. But she is prepared to

He was a snake! I half expected him to unhinge his jaw to

was a trap?" I muttered, trying to force my legs and arms to move.

trust and we'd set this plan up

blinked

to capture you," Raymond

snapped to some of his guards and they stepped up to Jasmine's body. Warren watched with horrified eyes, still unable to move against

Warren

our plan, I'd trusted the pack to go against Raymond by now. Unfortunately, it didn't

amongst the crowd, it was noisy, but no one dared to speak out again.

was from the paralyzing poison or if it was because I realized how bad this situation was. Soon, I'd

he wanted with me.

couldn't be... Father,

be okay." I heard a deep, smooth voice utter beside me as my body

turn my head anymore, but I flitted my eyes to see Tallis a few

silently, I was no longer able to

his head.

heart sank. Tallis wasn't my biggest fan, but I couldn't believe that he was just going to let me

it would be for

me off the stage. People parted to make way. As I moved through the crowd, I heard, "Just play along. This is

and be completely helpless. Raymond could do anything... I would

I won't let anything

believe

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

sure you are safe," he said again, lowering

sweatshirt was a lapel pin. It was familiar because it was the

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

I knew it!

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

a lapel pin under a sweatshirt anyway?

**

My ears

in a car, getting driven

up, I rubbed my temples as a massive headache immediately

forehead on the driver's seat in front of me.

seats and the leather was