HAYLEE~~I woke up to Alpha King Xalen’s arms around me.Although I didn’t know how long I had slept, I could perceive that I had been in Xalen’s arms for a long time because his scent was everywhere. I reeked of him. My sheets reeked of him. My room was drowning in his scent, and as I took in my first conscious breath, I drowned as well, loving every bit of his captivating aroma—a blend of primal musk and warm cedar, a heady mix of wild strength and soft spice that enveloped me in a comforting embrace, making me feel both safe and exhilarated."You’re finally back from dreamland," Xalen murmured into my ear, his stubbled beard brushing softly against my cheek.I smiled and wondered if he knew just how much I enjoyed his softness. I had found myself yearning to experience soft love, and even though Xalen and I had a rocky start, we were heading toward that kind of love.“How long was I out?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper.Xalen didn’t hesitate as he muttered, kissing my cheek a
ALPHA KING XALEN~~“What are we missing?”Although Theo had raised that question in my mind before Elder Calvin pulled the trigger, Haylee shed more light on it and made me realize that I still had more digging to do.But first, I had to find Calvin.Wyatt, Evan, and the rest of my army had been searching for him since he bolted yesterday, but somehow, they hadn't found him. None of them had caught a whiff of him, and since I was too distracted to go find him myself, I had to settle for the pieces of information that Wyatt sent to me through the mind link occasionally.Taking care of the kids and Haylee while she was out had been my priority. I didn't want to leave Haylee's side, even though I had to.“We have to, Xalen. The sooner we find Calvin, the earlier we will get answers and put an end to this charade,” Theo said to me, despite my desire to remain in Haylee’s bed.“I know. I will just stay till daybreak,” I responded to my wolf, looking down at Haylee, who was also lost in t
Princess Allison’s POV~~Apparently, news about how Alpha Prince Roy and Alpha King Xalen were saved by the ugly-ass slave has been spreading through the palace since yesterday. I didn’t find out about it until now since I have been in my room since I was humiliated yesterday by the so-called warrior healer.It wasn’t until Benita showed up in my room, claiming she had news for me about Haylee, that I learned about this.“And you are just telling me?” I seethed at Benita. “Why wait till now to tell me about it?”Benita trembled before me, stuttering as she said, “I didn’t hear about this until last night, Your Majesty, and when I tried to bring the news to you, I was told by your personal guard that you didn’t want to be disturbed.”Well, I did tell Jose to stand guard and make sure no one stepped close to my bedroom because I was hoping my dad would return the million calls he refused to answer.After Alpha King Xalen gave his healer and slave the right to humiliate me yesterday,
Princess Allison’s POV~~“Look who finally decided to answer his phone,” I breathed to calm myself.I have learned to always keep my cool whenever I have to talk with my dad. He should never perceive me as weak.“Drop the sassy attitude and explain to me how he is already on his feet, Allison,” my dad barked, his voice resonating in my ears in a way that caused my head to ache.I rolled my eyes to remind myself that I had to stay and sound confident no matter what. “How about you tell me if you tried to have him killed?”Because I have been caught in a bubble where humiliation and regret coexisted with me, I haven’t had the time to find out what really happened yesterday, but fortunately, my dad seemed to have all the sources he needed to hear the news despite the distance between both packs.“It’s all part of the plan, child. Although I was hoping he would die and this stupid charade would come to an end. It would have been a perfect opportunity for one of your brothers to take th
HAYLEE~~“Something is happening with us, Hay,” Liya mumbled to me as I prepared to leave my bedroom that morning. I was eager to see the kids and also to talk with Sophia to make sure she wasn’t still holding on to everything that happened yesterday.“Obviously, Liya,” I muttered in response to my wolf. “It’s the only explanation for the healing I performed yesterday. Plain ugly Haylee couldn’t have done that—”“It’s something else, Hay. It’s not just the healing ability. Of course, something snapped within us yesterday, but when we were in bed with Xalen, I felt the urge to bite into his neck and—”I chuckled, heat rushing to my face even though I could hear the seriousness in my wolf’s voice. “I felt that urge too, Liya. I believe it’s called desire. Plus, I also wanted to mark Xalen.”Liya sighed. “Will you let me speak, or will you continue to assume that you know everything? I thought you wanted me to find an explanation from within.”“I’m sorry. Please tell me.” I urged my wo
HAYLEE~~While panic sliced through me, my eyes also cut to Sophia and Asher, the two royal babies that could understand every word that came out of Flavia's mouth. This wasn’t how the kids should find out.Although I had never thought about how I would tell them that I was taking the crown and position that once belonged to their mom, I was certain they shouldn’t find out like this—“Breathe, Haylee. You look like you are about to pass out,” Flavia muttered, her brows furrowed with concern. “I am not telling anyone. Trust me.”In a hushed tone, I voiced, “How did you know? Did he tell you?”Xalen would have informed me if he had told Flavia or anyone about the bond we both agreed should remain hidden until Allison and her family were no longer a problem.Flavia shook her head and whispered, “He did tell me, Haylee. Call it a healer’s instinct, but I must say the affection between the two of you was unmissable. Have you seen the way he looks at you? Or the way you worry about him?
ALPHA KING XALEN~~Hour after hour, we searched but found nothing that could lead us to my traitorous uncle. It felt like a crime to refer to him as my uncle, but that was who he was, regardless of what he did. The sun had long made its way to its resting place, leaving the sky drenched in hues of crimson and deep indigo.While the chills of night began to settle in, each breath I took deepened the ache of betrayal—a bitter reminder that blood didn’t guarantee loyalty.After searching even beyond the pack borders, despite my men’s claims that Elder Calvin didn’t make it past the borders, the hope of finding him and bringing him to justice flickered like a dying flame.“He made it out, Xalen.” Roy’s voice bounced off the walls of my mind before he stepped out of the shadow standing beside me.My eyes fell on him—the last person I could call my blood aside from my kids—and I wondered if he would remain loyal despite the odds.“How do we fish him out? He needs to suffer for everything
HAYLEE~~For the next few days, rumors about me spread, and even though I didn’t know, words went beyond the borders of the royal pack. Meanwhile, within the pack, I had been preoccupied with solving the mystery behind my ability.Flavia had done a lot of explaining.Thanks to her, I now know that someone within my family must have been a healer to pass down the ability. She also made me realize that I wasn’t as ordinary as I thought I was.However, Flavia couldn’t answer all the questions I had. In fact, her explanation made my list of questions longer as I wondered which side of my family had a healer—paternal or maternal?Aside from Kaylee and our dad, I had never met any other family member. Mom had died, and Dad wouldn’t talk about her. The few times he spoke about her, he cracked a few of my ribs.Honestly, I didn’t have much to work with, and at this point, I was considering leaving the mystery as it was and accepting my ability. Groom it. Water it. Become a master and make a
Princess Allison’s POV ~~If I saw the nightmare having breakfast with the family, I desired to be a part of it, even though every member of that family hated me; I ignored her.Haylee had proven to be my nightmare. The wall I stumbled upon each time I found a way to get myself out of the mess my life had become. Sadly, Haylee had remained a constant, and I didn’t see how I would get rid of her.Not anymore.I have tried killing her. I tried framing her. I tried making everyone hate her. Heck! What more was I supposed to do?“Why is she so indestructible? Who the hell is she?” Nala growled within me as I stormed out of the palace, eyes searching the compound and nose inhaling the air to find the bastard that renewed my hope.He should have left me to rot in defeat or at least let me figure this out on my own instead of using his silly tricks. Silly, futile tricks!“This is getting out of hand, Nala.” I whimpered to my wolf, walking aimlessly around the pack after I exited the palac
Princess Allison’s POV ~~I wasn’t there, but I heard the celebration. It was earthshaking, so who in the pack wouldn’t hear or feel it? Even though I didn’t join the celebration, the rumors of what led to such happiness reached me within the next hour. Since Benita was dead, I have been assigned another servant, even though I wasn’t welcomed in the palace. No one made me feel welcome, but I didn’t care because I trusted fake Jose’s plan to work just fine. I mean, it has been working for the past week. I thought nothing could change the outcome until my new servant came to my bedroom with breakfast. “What’s the noise about, Orla?” I asked the sweet girl who had replaced Benita. Although she was no Benita, she had been serving me with respect since she became my servant.“There’s no noise, Princess Allison,” Orla answered, staring straight into my eyes for the first time since she started serving me. My brows furrowed as I took the tray of food from her. I clarified my question,
HAYLEE~~Saying I was relieved would be an understatement of the century; I was overwhelmed with elation, a surge of joy that went beyond mere relief. The sound of joy and the promise of a better future were enough reasons for me to be happy.And I was.But at the same time, I was worried. Or maybe it was fear because I wasn’t sure I could live up to the pack’s expectations. The same expectations that I had infused into their minds when I said these words to them:“I promise to be a queen who leaves marks—marks that will remain unerasable throughout history.”Even after the small celebration that happened after my coronation was scheduled, I still couldn’t figure out how those words made their way out of my mouth. It was as if a part of me I never knew existed voiced those words… a part of me that was awakened when the pack openly accepted me.“You’ve always wanted to be accepted,” Liya chimed into my mind as I walked back to the bedroom with Xalen, who was grinning from ear to ear
ALPHA KING XALEN~~Mornings and nights have become my favorites. I wake up to Haylee in the morning and share breakfast with the family before facing the rest of the world. And at night, I get to leave the chaos behind, return to my loved ones, and fall asleep with Haylee in my arms.But today, this cherished morning had to end earlier than usual. In that moment, I worried it would be yet another tough day for my mate and me.“It’s Roy. You might want to see this,” my cousin’s voice boomed through the room before I could even open the door.Sophia and Asher had been hanging on me as I stood there, but as soon as they saw Roy, they jumped on him instead, giving me a moment to compose myself after the strenuous dancing and singing.“You call that singing? Haylee calls it a sound. A bad sound,” Theo mocked me through the link.Roy’s cry for help snapped me out of it. “Can you get one of them off me? I’m not a father yet, and this is pure torture.”“More like practice, brother,” I quip
HAYLEE~~I cried my heart out to sleep last night. I was sad after the meeting with Kaylee, and even though Flavai tried to console me, I couldn’t shake off the mood. I thought sleeping early would help me relax, and I yearned to reach out to Aradia so we could talk.Before I went to bed, Jodie was cranky, and she wouldn’t stop crying until I carried her. I didn’t know when I fell asleep with her in my arms, but it was a good sleep. It was as if she was crying to reach me so she could comfort me, even though other people had failed to do so.Jodie just happened to be my little comforter.That was the first thought that came to mind as I slipped out of the sleep realm that morning. Although I didn’t get to connect with Aradia, I woke up feeling less sad, and I didn’t understand why until my eyes fluttered open and instantly connected with Xalen’s happy eyes.“Good morning, sleeping beauty.” Xalen’s voice and love rushed into my mind as he spoke through our mate bond.His eyes twinkl
ALPHA KING XALEN~~In that moment, my pack members got their priorities right. I could feel it in my bones, yet I added, “Protesting to have Haylee punished for being a good person caught in the middle of bad ones or evil would mean you are ready to have Alpha Richard as your Alpha and King.”To clarify, I added, “Yes, I will stop being your Alpha and give the pack to him. He and his family will lead you, and just like now, when they commit a crime or treat you unjustly, you won’t be able to prove it. Even if you can, the court will be against you, and your fellow pack members will wage war against you until you die in silence or get killed despite your innocence.”For a few minutes, I didn’t utter another word. I needed everything I had said to sink into the hundreds of minds listening to me.After a while, I continued, “I would be lying if I said I hadn’t thought about leaving after I found out that Laura was used against me. I wanted to give up because I was tired of losing ever
ALPHA KING XALEN~~After many hours of secret meetings with the ten elders who had come forward to take an oath of loyalty, I thought to check on my mate before moving on to speak to every member of the pack.She has been on my mind all day, and I worry about her.However, I knew I had to get this done before going to Haylee so I could give her my full attention. With that thought in mind, I shoved my desire to see her to the depth of my stomach, looking around my empty office as I opened my mind to every member of the Royal Pack, creating a general link so everyone could hear me.Everyone but the little kids under the age of thirteen.My pack members' curiosity could be felt through the link I created, but since I was their Alpha, that feeling wasn’t overwhelming. I could control it.I breathed into their minds, “Good evening, members of the Royal Pack. As you can tell, it’s your Alpha and King, and this is a general message for all of you.”I managed to calm my nerves, sealing my
HAYLEE~~“He would never have loved me if I didn't force him to. Hell, he is tolerating me because of what I know. Even now, he doesn't love me.” Kaylee smiled sadly.Her eyes were on me, and her sadness burned through the protective layer of my skin.I wished I could tell her that wasn't the truth, but at this moment, I knew nothing.“He would have loved you more than he loved me because he loved your mom more than he loved mine,” Kaylee stated, her voice blunt with no emotion. “Maybe if I didn't make him hit you, he would have felt love for you instead of the guilt I know he carries in his heart.”It was hard to believe Kaylee was the reason I got beaten. I mean, yes, I have always known she lied to our dad just to watch me suffer, but it was hard to believe she asked him to, and he did.Leverage or not, it doesn't feel right.Kaylee continued on that path, though, saying, “I couldn't let that happen, so I ruined his chances with you, threatening him every day so he couldn't hurt
HAYLEE~~Would I have turned evil and mean if I’d found out that my dad cheated on my mom when I was five years old?I asked myself that before I heard the rest of Kaylee’s story, and my answer was no.But if I had waited until she finished, I believe my answer would have been different.“Like all lying assholes, Dad didn't tell my mom that he cheated on her. And even though she felt the pain when he did the deed with your mom, he denied it and blamed her pregnancy for everything, saying it was just an early sign,” Kaylee breathed, adjusting her position on the floor where she’d sat since she entered the room.I let her continue without interrupting. I noticed tears trickling down her face, her inner child weeping as her heart was broken all over again. I could only imagine the pain Kaylee felt when our drunken father confessed all this to her.And for her to remember it so vividly—that must have hurt so much that she buried it deep in her mind.“My mom believed his lies, but the t