The Alpha Prince And His Bride
Book 3 The Alpha’s Substitute Bride – Episode 36

~ISABELLA~

It was the next day, only one day away from Hunter and I felt like my life was falling apart. I felt like I had no reason to live, like I had nothing to look forward to. I missed so many things about the man that I was so deeply in love with. Now I wasn’t sure that I’d done the right thing by leaving. Should I have fought for him? Should I have stayed there and waited for him to finally look my way? I didn’t like the idea that I’d given up and practically taken a loss against Maggie. She didn’t deserve Hunter. She didn’t look like someone that was crazily in love with him. I would know because I was the one that couldn’t live without him.

But yet you’re here . . .Away from the man that you claim to love.

I felt like I was going round and round in my thoughts. I couldn’t decide whether or not I’d taken the right decision. Should the right decision hurt so much? I couldn’t even imagine death being this bad.

I wiped at the tear on my left cheek. I couldn’t remember ever crying as much as I did between yesterday and today. I didn’t want to cry this much but every time I thought about what I’d left behind it was like a stab to my heart.

I looked forward to seeing Hunter every day, even though it wasn’t always happy moments, I still looked forward to being next to him. He made me feel things that no one in this world would ever be able to make me feel again. He was the one true joy in my life. The man had the ability to turn my life upside down in the best way possible.

I sighed and picked myself off the bed. If I stayed here in this room I would not be able to take my mind off Hunter. I needed to try and focus on something else. I was surprised that no one had entered the room to find out how I was doing as yet for the morning. It made me wonder if everything was alright. I wouldn’t find out if I stayed locked up in here. I moved towards the bathroom and picked up a towel.

After showering and trying my best to not look like I’d been crying the entire night, I finally took the next step and made my way down the stairs.

I followed the voices and found everyone seated in the living room. I paused at the tension in the room. It was never good when the mood in a home was this bad. My sisters along with their mates and Lucas were seated on the sofa facing each other and they seemed to be deep in discussion. Whatever it was, it had caught their attention so strongly that no one sensed my presence as yet. There was this worried look on each of their faces and my sisters looked distraught.

What exactly was happening? Everyone seemed okay yesterday, at least after I’d stopped bawling. So then what could have happened in such a short space of time?

“What’s wrong?” I asked, I needed to find out what had everyone like this.

All eyes turned to me and everyone tried to mask the worry on their faces but it was already too late. I’d already seen enough to know that something was seriously wrong.

“It’s really nothing for you to be concerned about.” Eden told me as she rushed to my side. “We can go fix you something to eat while the men finish up the conversation in here.”

I shook my head at her. “You don’t have to keep anything from me. I need things to keep my mind away from Hunter.” I explained. “Please.” I added when no one said anything.

Lucy sighed. “The Blackners visited us earlier today. They want Lucas to join them from today onwards. We tried to keep him away for as long as we could but they’re insisting that his time is up.” She explained.

Those damn Blackners again? First they destroyed Esma’s life and now they were doing the same to Lucas!

What would happen when Lucas’s real mate showed up? I didn’t want to think about it. He sacrificed himself for Eden’s happiness and I would forever be grateful to him for that. Lucas was a good man; he didn’t deserve this at all.

I looked his way and he didn’t look like his jolly self at all, there were so many thoughts running through his head and I could see that as clear as day. Anyone who knew Lucas could tell that he wasn’t okay. He caught me looking at him and his frown immediately turned into a warm smile.

“Let’s not burden Isabella with my sad stories.” He said as he got up from the chair. “It’s nothing serious, those Blackners look like they need someone like me in their lives to lively it up a bit.” He said with a wink sent in Lucy’s direction. “Don’t you agree sis-in-law?”

She laughed. “I actually do agree with you on that Lucas.”

He smiled and grabbed an apple from the tray to the left of him. “Don’t miss me too much while I’m gone.” He teased.

“We won’t.” Maya mumbled before she gave him a tight hug. “Be safe while you’re there brother.”

He nodded. “Don’t start crying for me now.”

She laughed and playfully hit his chest. “I’m definitely not going to miss you teasing me.”

Even though Maya said those words, her voice gave her away. I could tell that everyone here was extremely attached to Lucas. Who wouldn’t be?

“It’s getting late; they expect you there for a specific time.” James said as he checked the clock.

Lucas nodded. After saying goodbye to everyone he left with Austin.

It was only a few minutes later when he rushed back into the house. Everyone stared at him in confusion. Why was he back here so soon and why did he look like something was wrong?

“We have trouble coming our way.” Lucas informed us as if reading my mind.

The tension reentered my body when I saw the look on Austin’s face. This wasn’t something simple, they’d definitely seen something crazy.

“What’s wrong?” Lucy asked as she rushed to her husband’s side. Even she could sense that there was something bad happening.

“It’s the council. They’re here.”

“The council?” Eden whispered. “What are they doing here?”

Austin shrugged his shoulders. “I have no idea. They don’t usually come this far unless they’re looking for a fight. A lot of the members are present; they have this determined look in their eyes. It’s only a few seconds before they barge in here.”

“I hope it’s nothing crazy.” Lucy prayed. “I can’t handle another big battle right now.”

I felt sorry for my sister. This wasn’t the time for her to have to worry about these kinds of things. We were growing closer and closer to her delivery date; this wasn’t good for her baby.

“The women can stay here; we will talk to them and find out what they’ve come for.” James announced.

Eden shook her head just as fast as Lucy had done. “No, we’re coming with you. We are a unit, all of us. Where the men go, the women do as well.”

“It’s no use trying to fight it.” Austin said with a defeated look sent James’s way. “I’ve tried with Lucy; she just doesn’t listen to me . . . Ever.”

James sighed and accepted Eden’s words. “Just don’t do or say anything that could put you in harm’s way.” He warned.

“When do I ever do that?” She asked, feigning hurt.

He shook his head at her and I followed my family out the door. The council members were already gathered outside the gate with a bunch of guards. If they brought this many guards then they were definitely not here for something good. Whatever it was, they expected a fight to get it.

“What are you doing here Vincent?” Austin growled.

“We’ve come for Isabella.”

I fell completely still at his words. They came for me? Oh God, they must already know everything. I was stupid to think that I would be able to stay out here with my sisters for a while when I was still tied to the council. My marriage to Hunter had broken that tie but now that they knew that the marriage was null and void, all of that would change. Vincent saw my horrified gaze and there was an evil glint in his eyes at seeing my unhappiness.

“Word travels fast my dear.” He explained. “We understand that Hunter’s wife returned and that he wants nothing to do with you anymore. As such, we’ve come for you.”

I was hoping that they would set me free to live my life but again I was crazy to ever hope for something like that.

Eden gasped and had to hold onto James for support.

“Can’t she stay here with us for a few more days?” Lucy pleaded.

He shook his head. “I’m afraid we can’t do that.”

“And why is that?” Eden asked with narrowed eyes. She knew the council just as well as I did. They’d definitely done something crazy if they came all the way over here to fetch me.

Cassandra stepped forward then. “Since you no longer belong to Hunter, it means you’re still indebted to us. As such, we went ahead and planned your wedding with Jerome, the Alpha you were supposed to get married to before Hunter entered the picture.”

I gasped and clutched at my chest in horror. Get married to the Alpha I was promised to before any of this? No!

I couldn’t imagine being married to anyone that wasn’t Hunter. He held my heart and it would always be that way. I could never give myself to someone else, that would completely break me if I had to do it.

“Please,” I whispered. “Is there nothing else that you can do? I do not want to be remarried. I would do anything you ask of me, anything, just don’t get me married to that Alpha. Please.”

Vincent shook his head at me. “Now now Isabella, we’ve thought you to be better than this. I don’t know if Hunter allowed you to have an input in decisions back at his home but you should know that the council is not like that. Your father sacrificed your freedom in return for protection. Now you must repay us. We need you to marry someone that can benefit us, Hunter was the perfect fit but now that he isn’t available, Jerome is the one that you must marry. He was quite upset when he’d found out that we’d married you off to Hunter. Now we can fix that alliance and we’re quite happy with this turn of events. You should be as well.”

“You can’t do that to her.” Austin hissed as he pushed himself between our family and the council.

“You need to leave.” Lucas added.

“This is our territory.” James said as he joined his brothers.

I looked at my sisters. They were happy. They had a good life here with their husbands. I didn’t want to be the reason for any uproar in their peaceful lives. I needed to stop this before it got out of hand.

“It’s okay.” I said. “My life is with the council now that Hunter is no longer in my life. I understand this and I need to do my part. Please do not disrupt your lives for me. I will be fine, my parents and brothers are still back home. They will help me get through this. I promise.”

Lucy and Eden looked at me and I could tell that they were confused on what to do.

“Isabella has always been smart in situations like this.” Cassandra pointed out. “Now let’s go, we have a lot of things to get done at home.”

“You don’t have to do this Isabella.” Eden cried. “We will fight for you. You don’t have to let them bully you into this.”

I smiled at my sister with tears in my eyes. I gently took her hand in mine after stepping forward. “You’ve thought me to be strong. I can handle myself sister. Please look after your family now.”

She opened her mouth to oppose but I quickly shushed her. After saying goodbye to my sisters once more, it was time to leave.

I was going back to the council.

I was going to have to marry Alpha Jerome.

And I was about to lose my life while doing so . . .