Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Now Ciana almost spat out her drink.

I grunted and was about to say something but Ciana got out of her chair, standing between us.

"Thorn, it's all right, honey," she said, patting me on the shoulder while she gave me a look that was

meant to remind me not to blow our cover. "Susan didn't mean it."

I cemented my lips together in an effort to keep my language to myself.

Ciana turned back to Susan. "I think it might be time that Thorn lays down for a nap. He gets agitated

when he's tired. Perhaps you could go?" "Are you sure that's a good idea, dear?" Susan asked. "You

don' t know him that well. He might be dangerous."

Ciana laughed. "Susan, you know what I'm capable of." "True, true," she said, also laughing. She

pulled her plump bottom up out of the chair. "All right. We'll talk soon." She didn' t approach Ciana to

hug her, probably because she knew I'd strike her down like a bear swinging at a beehive looking for

honey.

The moment she was out of the room and we were left alone, I turned on Ciana. "Kicked by a mule,

huh?” "I'm sorry," she said, trying to bite back a laugh. "I just thought it would be more believable that

way, and if you did accidentally say you were the prince, I could blame it on your head injury." "Don’t be

mad... please?"

I didn't know what this girl did to me, but when she was not intentionally provoking me, it was hard for

me to stay angry at her.

I sighed. "It doesn't matter now," I said curtly. "We need to go."

Her forehead crinkled, and her eyes narrowed at me. "Go? Go where?" "Back to the palace of course."

I started to walk to the door, but she wasn't budging.

"What? No!" Ciana shouted. "I just got here, to see if my pack was in trouble, and it turns out it is. So

you want me to leave? No way!" "Ciana, I will take care of the situation here.” I folded my arms and

glared at her, thinking it would just be easier to pick her up and carry her out of there. But that would

cause alarm, so I didn't want to do it that way.

"You’ll take care of it?" she repeated. "And how exactly are you going to do that?' "I haven’t quite

worked out all of the details," I told her, but it wasn't her concern. "I’m responsible for the safety of the

country. Even in your packland, I’m still in charge here, over your father. I said I will handle it, and I will

—unless you want me to leave it to your father." "So you don't really have a plan!"

I frowned. We were running out of time. I tried to be as patient as I could. "But I will. I came all the way

here with you. You confirmed the situation, and now it's time to go." "You're the one who insisted on

coming with me. I didn't even want you here. This is my pack! I can't just leave when I know it's in

trouble!"

Letting out a loud sigh, I tried telling her the truth of the situation. "Listen—" "I don't want to." "Ciana,

think it through! You have just done exactly what those people wanted you to." "Those people?" "Those

who are trying to overthrow your parents. Can't you see? That Raymond will know you're back very

soon, and if what Susan said was true, I doubt you're welcome here." "I'm not welcome by my own

pack?" she asked, her hands on her hips now. "Please, just go ahead to make up more stories!" "You

waltzed right back into your home where they can get you." Leaning even closer to her, I said, "This. Is.

A. Trap."

She took a few moments. I was sure that as smart as she was, she understood the situation. "Now,

let's go," I urged her.

However, she didn't follow me. "Your Highness, I have an obligation to my pack members. My parents

are gone, and that leaves me as their only hope. I can't just leave."

I looked her in the eye. "You no longer had an obligation to this pack from the day you were summoned

to the palace. Now, your one and only obligation is to me. And as your prince, I am ordering you to

return to the castle with me. Now."

She stared at me long and hard, a fire burning behind her eyes before she shook her head. "You are so

unbelievably selfish." "What?" I'd never dragged a woman forcefully before, and I wasn't planning to

start now, but damn if she wasn't making it hard.

"All you can think about is your stupid berry! I wish I could just slit my wrist and pour all of my blood out

for you right now."

It was true that her blood and the berry were important to me, but was that the only reason I wanted her

to come back to safety with me?

I didn't know. What I did know was that my patience was running out.

I took a few deep breaths so that I could reason with her.

"Let me make it clear, Ciana Black. A, you stole from me, and yes, because of that, you have an

obligation to keep yourself safe-to keep your blood safe. B, you put yourself in jeopardy. I am trying to

help you, even though I don't have to. C, let me remind you, you're still tasked with the royal duty and

you were not supposed to leave the palace. After everything I've done for you, I'd hope you would show

at least some appreciation and make the right choice. I'm done arguing with you. We're leaving." "No!"

She was up in my face again. "You mean, after everything you’ve done TO me? You want to play the

victim here because I ate a stupid berry of yours? If I hadn't been half-starved, maybe I wouldn’t have

eaten it!"

Our noses were so close together now, we were breathing the same air, and even though I was

frustrated with her, my bottom lip began to quiver, and other thoughts came to mind.

I pushed them away. This was stupid. She had been nothing but a pain in my ass since the moment I'd

met her, but why was I not able to control my thoughts around her, and why did I keep breaking my own

rules for her?

"No," she said, her tone quiet now as she took a step back. 'Tm not going. You volunteered to help me,

and while I appreciate the offer, I'll stay here and find out what's going on with Raymond on my own."

"Ciana, if you stay, I will not be able to protect you. If you get yourself into trouble, I won't be here to

bail you out."

Every word came out of my mouth with a hint of pleading. How she would interpret them, I wasn't sure,

but by the expression on her face, she thought I was threatening her.

"It's okay, Prince Theo," she said. "Strong people can accomplish great things all alone. You of all

people should know that."

I took one more look into her eyes before I turned and walked away.

"Do whatever you want!" I said as I slammed the door.