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?!

to the side, catching myself on a

would work to my advantage," he said with a toothy, wolfish grin.

ground. The tingling numbness kept spreading through my body. I couldn't feel my legs anymore and my mind was getting fuzzy. I fought to keep my eyes open and to stay

couldn't let Raymond

soon. But until then, why

crowd and announced loudly, "Don't worry! Ciana has been overcome by fatigue. But she is prepared to honor our alliance with

was a snake! I half expected him to unhinge

thing was a trap?" I muttered, trying to force

Jasmine's trust and we'd set this plan up without

I blinked rapidly, forcing myself to stay

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

his guards and they stepped up to Jasmine's body. Warren watched with horrified eyes, still unable to move against the guards that were holding

Warren was only one person, how could he defeat the

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

it was noisy, but no one dared

was from the paralyzing poison or if it was because I

whatever he wanted with me. Even give me to

my pack? It couldn't be... Father,

voice utter beside

but I flitted my eyes

help me," I mouthed silently, I was no longer able to make

shook his head.

couldn't believe that he was just going

it would be for the best

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

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

I'll follow and I won't let

that he could keep me safe made me believe him. That kind of confidence only came from the certainty that he'd succeed.

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

you are safe," he said again,

on Tallis' sweatshirt was a lapel pin. It was familiar because

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

I knew it!

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

would wear a lapel pin under a sweatshirt anyway?

**

my eyes open, the first thing that I realized was that I was moving. My ears pricked up with the whirr of car tires and the

in a car, getting

a massive headache

forehead on the driver's seat

seats and the leather was cool,