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

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

body. I couldn't feel my legs anymore and my mind was getting fuzzy. I fought to keep my

let Raymond win like

a paralytic. The effects will wear off soon. But until then, why don't

the crowd and announced loudly, "Don't worry! Ciana has been overcome by fatigue. But she

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

whole thing was a trap?" I muttered, trying to force my legs and arms

and I had planned everything out so carefully. He'd gained Jasmine's trust and we'd set this

but I blinked rapidly, forcing

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

watched with horrified eyes, still unable to move against the

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

the pack to go against Raymond by

but no

or if it was because I

could do whatever he wanted with me. Even

pack? It couldn't be... Father, Mother, what should I

a deep, smooth voice utter beside me

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

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

his

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

came to the agreement that it would be for the best

parted to make way. As I moved through the crowd, I heard, "Just play along. This is your chance to find

kidding? I was about to faint and be completely helpless. Raymond could do anything... I would

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

he could keep me safe made me believe him. That

see an imprint 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 his

familiar because it was the same

blinked again, my eyelids almost too heavy to lift, now. If Tallis was wearing a lapel

I knew it!

before Raymond could notice him. I gave myself over to it, trusting that Theo

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

**

I was moving. My ears pricked up with the whirr of car tires and

was in a car, getting driven

temples as a massive

forward and resting my forehead on

luxury car with real leather seats and the leather was