All Chapters of The Forgotten Princess & Her Beta Mates: Chapter 1 - Chapter 6

Gloria’s POVPain.That was the first thing that registered. A sharp, throbbing ache in my temple and the scent of copper—blood.My eyes fluttered open. I wasn't in my car. I wasn't in the rain.I was lying on a leather sofa that cost more than my car. The room was dim, lit only by the dying embers of a massive stone fireplace and the blue light of a laptop screen on a desk across the room.The smell hit me next. Sandalwood, dark rum, and rain. It was intoxicating, a scent so thick it made my wolf whimper in submission, even though I was human.I tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness pushed me back down. My dress was ruined, torn at the hem, and dried mud clung to my skin. I felt exposed."You're awake."The voice was deep, gravelly, and vibrated through the floorboards.I froze. My eyes darted to the desk.A man sat there. He was massive, his broad shoulders stretching the fabric of a black t-shirt. He had dark hair that fell over his forehead, and a jawline sharp enough to cut gl

Gloria's POVThe tension in the room was a tangible thing, a tight wire stretched between the three of us. Arnold shrugged off Hunter's grip, but he didn't step closer. Instead, he walked to the kitchen area, grabbing a bottle of water. He moved with a fluid grace that screamed lethal agility."So," Arnold said, leaning against the counter. "Is she staying? Or are we ransoming her back to Daddy Dearest?""She stays," Hunter said, his voice leaving no room for argument. He finally stepped back from me, giving me room to breathe. "Go upstairs. Second door on the left. There’s a shower and fresh clothes. Put them on."It was a command. My wolf bristled at the tone, but my human side knew he was right. I was shivering, sticky with blood and rain."Thank you," I muttered stiffly.I stood up, my legs wobbling. Hunter watched me, his gaze feeling like a physical weight on my skin. I made my way to the stairs, conscious of how the torn back of my dress exposed my skin."Don't take too long, P

Arnold’s POVHunter was always so dramatic. The brooding, the warnings, the heavy sighs that sounded like tectonic plates shifting—it was exhausting. He wore his guilt like a wet wool coat, heavy and suffocating, refusing to take it off even when he was inside by the fire. He liked the weight of it. He felt that if he suffered enough, it might make up for the sins of the past.I, on the other hand, preferred to enjoy the slide down to hell. If we were going to burn, we might as well toast marshmallows on the way down.The door clicked shut behind him, leaving a vacuum of silence in the cabin. The storm outside battered the windows, but inside, the air was thick with the scent of seared meat and fresh trauma.I leaned back in my chair, balancing on the back two legs, and watched Gloria. She was attacking her steak with a ferocity that didn't match her delicate features. She was trying to be brave, shoving food into her mouth as if it were fuel for a machine, but I could smell the truth