The Alpha Prince And His Bride
Book 3 The Alpha’s Substitute Bride – Episode 28

“Maggie.” Hunter growled, surprising all of us. His reaction snagged all of our attention and all eyes were now on him. His jaw was pulsing and he looked like he was having an inner battle within himself.

Why did he seem angry by her words? He gave her a warning glare and it left me totally flabbergasted. She was the woman he wanted all along and yet he got angry at her for insinuating that he and I were no longer husband and wife? That did not seem normal to me.

Did Hunter really care that much for my feelings? His body was shaking with rage and I wanted to hug him so badly. He looked constricted and confused. Maggie remained quiet after the glare he’d sent her way. She didn’t seem happy with the way he’d spoken to her.

If I’d read her right, she looked like she wanted to hurt someone, probably me.

Esma cleared her throat; she looked pleasantly surprised with her brother’s actions. In fact, there was this smirk in her face as she turned to face Maggie.

“I think we should continue these discussions another time. Clearly we’re all in a rough space right now. Maggie, I’ll take you to one of the guestrooms. When Hunter’s ready to talk again, I’m sure he will come find you.”

Maggie glared at Esma before staring down Hunter. He wouldn’t look at her however. He kept his gaze down. She then chose that moment to turn her glare directly on me. The woman looked like she wanted to pounce on me. I quirked a brow at her, not sure what she wanted from me. If I wasn’t in so much pain already I would have laughed at how stressed she looked that Hunter wouldn’t give her any attention right now.

What was he thinking?

I stayed back after Maggie angrily stomped off with Esma trailing behind of her. I was thinking of something to say to him. Neither one of us spoke. I didn’t know what any of this meant for us. I tried opening my mouth multiple times but nothing came out from it. He was frozen like a stone and eventually I couldn’t take it anymore. I couldn’t just stand here and watch him be broken over another woman.

I spun around and rushed for my room.

This time I couldn’t stop the tears. When I had first gotten here, all I would hear about was Maggie, everyone spoke about her. And now Maggie was in this house again. She was loved by everyone here . . . well most of them anyway.

I wiped at the tears and felt my heart skip a beat.

Would this mean that I would have to leave Hunter?

. . . . . . . . . . .

~HUNTER~

“What are you planning on doing now that Maggie is back? You know that this means that your marriage with Isabella is now null and void?” Bruce asked me.

I heard myself growl at his words. It wasn’t the first time I’d growled after someone had said that to me. I was surprised at myself when I’d growled at Maggie earlier, it was almost like I was more protective of Isabella than anyone else. I could sense that Maggie returning was hurting her and I wanted to take the pain away but didn’t know how to do it. I didn’t like the idea of no longer being married to Isabella. I hadn’t been able to think clearly about anything ever since Maggie showed up out of nowhere. I’d been in so much shock that I haven’t even gotten the time to focus on Isabella and what we stood as now.

I knew that I was not okay with us not being married. I wanted to own every part of her and now that we were no longer bonded in marriage I was extremely pissed.

I buried my face in my hand and tried not to show how vulnerable I was with this entire thing. I didn’t like to show weakness in front of anyone. In fact, Isabella was the only one I’d shown my weak side to since Maggie’s death . . . Or faked death as it was known as now.

“I don’t know Bruce.” I admitted to him with a broken look. “I’ve destroyed my life these past few years thinking that I’d failed Maggie. Wishing for a chance to make up for what I’ve done. Wishing that I didn’t fail her as a mate. Now I’m being given the opportunity to do all of the things I’ve wanted to do in the past but—

“But now Isabella is also in the picture.” He answered for me when I couldn’t bring myself to say it.

I nodded. “I won’t let her go.”

His brows furrowed. “Isabella or Maggie?”

. . . . . . . . . . . .

~ISABELLA~

Hunter was avoiding me. He never once came to the room after I left him in the living room earlier today. On any other day he would have followed me and made me speak to him. Today was different.

I was about to go and look for him when the door flew open. He stood standing with so much power in front of me that I was once again blown away with how handsome and incredibly irresistible Hunter was.

I didn’t know what to say to him. I didn’t know what my rights were anymore.

I was no longer his wife. Those words were enough to destroy me. I was no longer Hunter’s wife.

But what about us being mates? He was sure that Maggie was his and so was she. Then what were these feelings in me? How could both of us be his mate?

I’d seen it happen before. But did I ever see it happen at the same time like this? That, I wasn’t sure of.

There was no way that I was wrong about him being mine. No way. I felt way too territorial and possessive where he was concerned. This couldn’t just be normal infatuation. I was in love with Hunter, so deeply in love with him. It was the first time I’d ever admitted it to myself and I wished that it wasn’t under these circumstances.

I felt a hot prickle in my skin, all over my body and I already knew why.

Hunter was still looking at me. The look in his gorgeous eyes was so raw and vulnerable that I wanted to cry all over again. This entire situation was so incredibly messed up. I didn’t know how any of us could escape from it.

My heart started to race and my lungs had to fight for oxygen.

“What happens now?” I found myself asking. He looked away at my question and it was like a stab to my heart. I closed my eyes and waited for him to say the words that I was so scared to hear.

I stiffened when I heard footsteps that were growing louder with each passing second.

I stayed completely still when he picked me up. I was not expecting this. I was still waiting for his answer to my question.

My body was trembling when he laid me down on the bed. I held my breath when I felt him above me before he gently wrapped the sheet over my body. His hot breath was next to my ear now and I trembled at how strongly my body reacted to him being this close.

“Have you been eating?”

I opened my eyes and stared at him in wonder. He was avoiding my question. I wanted to scream with frustration. Why couldn’t he just answer me? Why make me go through this torture of not knowing what was going to happen to us?

Another part of me understood why he was avoiding it however. Even I wanted to forget about our problems and just focus on each other.

“Yes.”

“You lie to me Isabella.” He whispered in a low growl. “Let me feed you.”

I bit my l*p to show him that I was not allowing it. He picked the tray off the table and brought it over to me.

“Open your mouth Isabella.”

I shook my head.

I gasped when his hand touched my cheek, our gazes locked and I couldn’t help the way my body rushed to obey his every word.

He gently pushed the fork into my mouth and my mouth closed around it softly. I was not prepared for when his warm fingers touched my lips the moment I swallowed. My lips parted of their own will and I couldn’t help but lean into his touch.

“All I ask of you is some time . . . Please. Your question will be answered. I promise you. Just give me a little bit of time.”

Something in his voice had me nodding. I snuggled into his arms and inhaled his deep scent. As far as I knew, this could be our last time together like this.