The Alpha Lost Mate

a P

ESENT D

wood clung to the walls of the

one hall. The bucket beside me sloshed murky water with every swipe of my hand.

s themselves spoke. The Lycan Pack was nothing like Moonshade. Ther

s absence,

arents were slaughtered. Since I was chained and dragged from my burning home

ept on a thin blanket. I didn't eat at the table,I waited until the warriors finished an

the cracks in the windows. My hands moved faster, desperate

silence like a dagger. "You

princess, Max

olden hair twisted perfectly atop her head. Behin

head. "Yes

d down with a fake smile. "Did

rag tighter.

plashing the filthy water across the

alked away with pride, heels clicki

ken to me for a long time,I sighed, rejection, grief, humilia

ess in silence,

for the royal kitchen. It was one of the few tasks I didn't mind,bein

ushing the tops of the lavender and thyme. The sun kissed m

ss

arly droppin

rouched behin

hispered, he

own curls were longer now, wild and loose around her shoul

never find you,

d her, nearly crying. Her hug

did y

ickly. "Told him I had a cousin here I hadn't seen in years, Paid

gerous. If th

she said firmly.

to the garden, hiding

ning. "for the moon goddess, Lyr

thing they could, Maximus's mother, Selene, treats me like a disease. Nina

urned. "If Max

. "He's on a mission, No

grass. "You're not staying here, Lyra.

kill me. They'll call it treason,t

za insisted. "You have royal bl

s place," I

he scent of crushed

pulled somethi

e trader goods. Thought

endant. A small silv

reached for it wit

ht it wa

nce the attack," she said softly.

hest, tears burning i

pendant. It's not just a keepsake,the

d of ench

your mother hid something i

pond, the ground t

eard across t

liza,hide!

ws just as two palace warri

e is!" on

me by the arms and

leave the servant hall

ering herbs

basket from my hands, sending herbs scat

ran col

hrough the grand silver archways and up

in black silk. Her greying hair was twisted into a

aky bow. "You summo

, her heels clicking

said. "Did you think rolling in f

Your

istake my son will regret

t of me and slapped

to give her th

she said darkly. "talks of re

g." She signaled the guar

acking up. "I did

nst the marble pillar,

e pendant h

d the

narrowed. "W

dropped

's," I said wit

g it

the pendant in

at it for a

ething unexpe

ant bega

silver

expressio

nd tre

st time, I saw

ou get this?

I said hoarse

s ancient magic

ed to th

elow the East Wing an

y?" I s

cold gaze

er was hiding something fa

agged me away

other hidden

it scare

I truly

door slammed

something

as weak,she is, because I or my mother m