บททั้งหมดของ The Alpha Prince's Forbidden Scent : บทที่ 31 - บทที่ 40

(Elara's POV)I guess fun is way more than partying like Damon hosts all the time. This… this is something else entirely.“Are you sure this is allowed?” I whispered, the words barely audible above the squeak of my shoes on the polished palace floors. It was past midnight, and the silence of the royal residence was almost deafening.Kaelen, beside me, just chuckled, a low rumble that vibrated through me. "Relax, Elara. Who's going to stop the Prince from raiding his own kitchen?" He winked, and I couldn't help but smile back. He had a way of making me forget, at least for a little while, the heavy weight of my life back in the pack house. Back with Damon.Just an hour ago, I had been tossing and turning, sleep refusing to come. The babies – my twins – were restless, and my own anxiety was a roaring storm inside me. A stupid phone call to Kaelen, complaining more than anything, and here we were, sneaking into the palace kitchen like teenagers."Okay, but if we get caught," I pointed ou

The raw, untreated wood bit into my wrists. Twenty lashes. A week in solitary. All for defending myself. The injustice was a bitter pill, but the fear was a spiked one, tearing at my insides. It wasn’t the pain I feared, not really. It was what Damon's hatred would fester into."Ready, Omega?" One of the enforcers, Burke, his face impassive, adjusted the whip in his hand. His voice was devoid of empathy but not cruel, just doing a job. Beside him, Kannon, the other enforcer, stood equally stoic.I swallowed, the metallic tang of fear coating my tongue. "Yes." My voice was barely a whisper. Pride kept me from begging, from pleading. I wouldn't give them the satisfaction.The first lash cracked across my back. A searing line of fire. I bit my lip, hard, tasting blood. My body spasmed."Don't faint on us now, Omega," Kannon mumbled, his voice low.The second lash followed quickly, then the third. Each one a fresh wave of agony, ripping through muscle and bone. I squeezed my eyes shut, fo

Kaelen didn't hesitate. He scooped Elara's fragile form into his arms, her body weightless against him. He barked orders at the guard, his voice laced with royal authority that brooked no argument. "Open the gate! Now! And get a car ready! This omega needs medical attention immediately!"He didn't wait for a confirmation. He surged through the gate, his heart pounding against his ribs in a frantic rhythm that mirrored the urgency of the situation. The car was there, engine running, and he gently placed Elara in the back seat, cradling her head in his lap. "Drive!" he commanded, his eyes locked on Elara's pale face, already slick with sweat.The drive to the Royal Crescent Hospital was a blur of sirens and reckless speed. Kaelen felt a primal fear grip him, a fear he hadn't experienced since his days on the battlefield. He couldn't lose her. He wouldn't.At the hospital, a team of doctors and nurses swarmed around them, whisking Elara away on a gurney. Kaelen stood frozen, his hands st

(Elara's POV)The spoon hovered near my lips, laden with warm broth. "Come on, Elara. Just a little more," Kaelen coaxed, his voice a gentle rumble that vibrated through me.I managed a weak shake of my head. "I'm… I'm full." The lie felt heavy on my tongue, but the thought of another mouthful churned my stomach. It wasn't the broth; it was the situation. The guilt.He didn't push, thankfully. He set the bowl aside, his eyes, usually bright and full of life, shadowed with concern. He took my foot in his large hand, the warmth radiating through my skin. His thumbs began to knead gently, easing the ache that had settled deep in my muscles."Better?" he asked, his gaze locking with mine."Mm-hmm," I murmured, closing my eyes. It was better. Everything was better when he was near. Except for the gnawing guilt. Two days after I’d been admitted, Damon had tried to see me. Apparently, he had thrown a fit, demanding access. But Kaelen's orders stood firm. No one saw me without his express per

The Lady's Quarters felt alien. Grand, opulent, yet cold. I hadn't spent more than a handful of minutes here over the past five years. Damon had always ensured that. Now, forced to occupy it, I felt like an imposter."You look troubled, Lady Elara." Elder Lawson's voice rasped, pulling me from my thoughts. He filled the doorway, his presence as unwelcome as ever. Behind him stood Elder Maywood, her eyes narrowed, assessing me like a specimen under a microscope."Just adjusting, Elder," I replied, keeping my tone neutral. "It's quite the change.""Indeed," Lawson said, stepping further into the room, Maywood hot on his heels. "The pack expects a great deal from its Lady, especially now."“Especially now that I carry the Alpha’s heirs.” I finished for him, a bitter taste in my mouth.Maywood's lips thinned. "Heirs who need protection. Heirs who need a strong mother figure to guide them."I raised an eyebrow. "And you believe I haven't been strong?""Strength comes in many forms, Elara,"