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?!

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

for the feather, so I made sure it would work to my advantage," he said

feel my legs anymore and my mind was getting fuzzy. I fought to keep my

Raymond win like this!

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

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

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

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

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

but I blinked rapidly, forcing

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

to Jasmine's body. Warren watched with horrified eyes,

held prisoner. After all, Warren was only

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

noisy, but no one dared to speak

my spine. I wasn't sure if it was from the paralyzing poison or if it was because I

he wanted with

pack? It couldn't be... Father, Mother, what should I do? What else could

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

flitted my eyes to see Tallis a few steps away from

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

shook his head.

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

it would be

People parted to make way. As I moved through the crowd, I heard, "Just play

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.

follow and I won't let anything happen to

safe made me believe him. That

something pressing against the sweatshirt. It was familiar. I

sure you are safe," he said again, lowering his voice so

was familiar because it was the same shape of the pin

was wearing a lapel pin I'd made for Theo, that meant Tallis was

I knew it!

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 through my mind

in the world would wear a lapel pin under a sweatshirt anyway?

**

realized was that I was moving. My ears pricked up

was in a car, getting

rubbed my temples as a massive headache immediately pounded against my

my forehead on the driver's seat in

luxury car with real leather seats and the leather was cool, helping