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,

feather, so I made sure it would

I couldn't feel my legs anymore and my

Raymond win

effects will wear off soon. But until then, why don't you

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

stomach turned as his grin broadened from ear to ear. He was a snake! I half expected him to unhinge his jaw

muttered, trying to force

planned everything out so carefully. He'd gained Jasmine's trust and we'd set this plan up without revealing it to anyone, but Raymond had been one step ahead of us.

got woozy, but I blinked rapidly, forcing myself to stay awake.

capture you,"

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 him back.

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

go against Raymond by now. Unfortunately,

was noisy, but no one dared

the paralyzing poison or if it was because I realized

wanted with me. Even give me

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

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

my eyes to see

was no longer able to make a sound.

shook his head.

couldn't believe that he was just going to

soon came to the agreement that it would be for the best to believe Raymond's

off the 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

faint and be completely helpless. Raymond could do

be fine. I'll follow and I won't let anything happen to you," Tallis promised.

safe made me believe him. That

an imprint of something pressing against the sweatshirt. It was

sure you are safe," he said

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

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

I knew it!

back before Raymond could notice him. I gave myself over to it, trusting that Theo would keep me safe.

wear a lapel pin under a

**

eyes open, the first thing that I realized was that I was moving. My ears pricked

a car, getting driven who knows where.

rubbed my temples as a

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

a luxury car with real leather seats