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?!

my legs wobbled. I staggered to the side, catching myself on a nearby pillar.

feather, so I made sure it would work to my advantage," he said with a toothy, wolfish grin. His eyes lit up.

buckled and I fell to them on the 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

let Raymond

off soon. But until then, why don't you take some rest?" His

"Don't worry! Ciana has been overcome by fatigue. But she is prepared to

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

a trap?" I muttered, trying to force

trust and we'd set this plan up without revealing it to anyone,

got woozy, but I blinked rapidly, forcing myself to

always planned to capture you," Raymond taunted in

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

and Warren was being held prisoner. After all, Warren was only one

trusted the pack to go against Raymond by now. Unfortunately, it didn't turn out that way.

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

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

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

the end of my endeavor to save my pack? It couldn't be... Father, Mother, what

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

head anymore, but I flitted my eyes to see Tallis

mouthed silently, I was no longer able to make a

his

fan, but I couldn't believe that he was just going to let me get taken by Raymond for whatever horrible plan he had.

it would be for the best

As I moved through the crowd, I heard, "Just play along. This is your chance to find out what is really going on,” Tallis' voice whispered. >

he kidding? I was about to faint and be completely helpless. Raymond could do anything... I would have shaken my head if I wasn't almost entirely paralyzed.

I'll follow and I won't let anything happen to you,"

me believe him. That kind of confidence only came from the certainty that

sweatshirt over his shirt and I could see an imprint of something pressing against the sweatshirt. It was familiar. I

sure you are safe," he said again, lowering his voice so he wouldn't draw

shape on Tallis' sweatshirt was a lapel pin. It was familiar because it was the same shape of the pin that I'd made

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

I knew it!

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

world would wear a lapel pin under a

**

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

getting driven who

rubbed my temples as a massive headache immediately

leaning forward and resting my forehead on the driver's seat in front

with real leather seats and