The Alpha Prince And His Bride
Book 3 The Alpha’s Substitute Bride – Episode 50

~ISABELLA~

I lifted the covers off Hunter’s body and snuggled against him. I missed being this close to him and after everything we’ve been through in the last couple of hours I wanted to stick to him as much as possible. The doctor had just left and he informed us that Hunter would be completely healed in a few minutes. He’d injected him with something that was supposed to speed up the healing process and I was desperate for it to start working.

I froze when I felt his arms move from under me and I gasped when they squeeze me tightly against him.

“Isabella?” He whispered as he stroked my hair.

I lifted my head to stare at his handsome face. “You’re awake?” I asked with hopeful eyes.

He g*****d. “What happened? I have this splitting headache and I can’t remember s**t . . .” He paused and I paused along with him.

Totally surprising me he pulled away from me and fell straight off the bed with how quickly he’d moved. He quickly picked himself off the ground and moved backwards a bit.

He stared at me like he couldn’t believe I was there. “Something isn’t right.” He swallowed. “How are you . . . Alive?”

“Or did I die?” He asked again.

I shook my head. “You’re alive Hunter.”

His eyes widened and he looked as though he was scared that his mind was playing tricks on hime.

“Then what are you doing here with me? You didn’t have a heartbeat and . . .”

My heart broke at the pain mixed with sorrow that soon spread across his face. He looked as though he was remembering everything that had happened. He must still believe that he’d killed me.

That disgusting Maggie was the reason for all of this. She had wanted to drive him to the point of no return and he’d definitely gotten close to it.

“You didn’t kill me Hunter.” I promised him.

He shook his head. “This can’t be real. I’m dreaming this aren’t I?” He demanded. “There is no way you’re alive.”

I picked myself off the bed and made my way towards him. His body tensed as I approached him but he did not move.

I grabbed his hand and placed it directly above my chest. His eyes widened and I knew that he could feel my heartbeat. “Feel my heartbeat. Feel how it beats for you and you alone. I’m alive Hunter. Why would you ever think that you would ever hurt me? You’ve done nothing but protect me since the moment I entered your life. You saved me multiple times, so tell me, why would you ever think that you killed me?”

“Isabella,” he whispered still in disbelief. “I saw you. I saw you lying on the ground and I was covered in your b***d. I even had the bloody dagger in my hand.”

“Forget what you saw.” I insisted. “Instead feel our bond and feel the love that we have for each other. And tell me, will you ever hurt me?”

He stared at me now, like really stared. I felt all of the love and emotions flowing between us like a powerful chord holding us together. I could see all of the thoughts swirling in his beautiful eyes as he searched for the answer to my question.

“No.” He answered and there was no doubt in his voice this time.

I smiled. “There is your answer.”

“Oh,” Lucy said at the doorway. “Hunter’s awake guys.”

No sooner had she said those words did my entire family come bolting through the door.

“It’s good to see you man!” Marcus said as he greeted him like never before.

Austin nodded. “We’re all happy that you’re awake now.”

Hunter looked confused by their greetings and I could tell that he was beginning to think that he was dead again.

Thane walked in then and took a glance at me before he walked over to him. “I owe you an apology. I’m sorry for attacking you. I should have known that my sister’s mate would never kill her. I hope that you’ll be able to forgive me some day for what I’ve done.”

I was happy that my brother had apologized. It made me love him even more.

Hunter still looked puzzled and I knew that it was time to tell the truth to everyone.

“I think we are all ready to learn of the truth Isabella.” Austin said as if reading my mind. “We need to find out who took you and we need to find out quickly so that we could get rid of them.”

I looked at Hunter and I didn’t know how to break the news to him. I never liked Maggie but he once loved her and I knew that a small part of him still cared for her. It would completely break him to know of everything she’d done to him. She’d purposely let him suffer all of these years and she was still trying her best to make him suffer.

“Why aren’t you saying anything?” He asked me as he took a few steps until he was standing right next to me. His eyes showed his love and affection for me and I almost melted at the tenderness I saw there. “It’s okay. They can’t harm you anymore. I won’t let anyone take you from me again. I promise.”

A small, warm smile formed on my mouth as I stared lovingly at him.

I lightly touched his cheek. “I’m not scared for me. I know that I’m safe whenever you’re around. I’m just worried about how you would take the news.” I swallowed and finally built up the courage to tell him. We didn’t have much time left to plan something to get back at Maggie for all she’d done to us. I needed to let everyone know now. “Someone close to you is behind my kidnapping.”

Hunter frowned. He looked like he was searching his brain to find the person who could have possibly betrayed him. I knew he trusted the people around him and could never see anyone hurting him or the people he cared about.

“Tell me.” He growled. “I’ll rip their heads off. Just say a name.”

I gently touched his neck and leaned closer into him, I wanted to help him get through this in any way that I could.

“It’s Maggie.”

Hunter’s eyes grew wide with shock and I felt the tension on his body through my fingers. I could see multiple thoughts flowing through his mind as he tried to make sense of my confession. I was positive that she was the last person he was expecting me to say.

“M-Maggie?” He asked in disbelief.

I nodded as my gaze softened. Just as I had thought, the news totally crumbled him.

“Was it because I’d chosen to be with you instead of her?” He inquired as he tried to understand why she’d kidnapped me.

I shook my head. “I also thought that was the reason at first but Maggie has been planning all of this since she first met you.”

Hunter looked confused and I could see why. I obviously wasn’t making any sense to him. “I’m sorry Hunter. I knew how much you trusted her. But she’s the one who’s behind everything. She faked her death the first time. No one had even kidnapped her back then; it was all her plan to make you suffer. I don’t think she ever accepted you as her mate. It’s why she never wanted you to mark her and its why the bond between the two of you must have been broken. She probably rejected you when she chose to betray you.”

I paused for a moment after seeing the tension on his body; I was worried that he was going into a state of shock. This was what I was afraid of. I didn’t know how what could possibly be the right way to tell him the truth about Maggie. It was unfair that while she enjoyed seeing him in pain he still cared for her. It showed who the real monster between the two of them was. It was her all along; she was the reason behind all of the bad things that ever happened to him.

“She had a lot of plans Hunter. She wanted to see you suffer and in the worst way possible. After she found out that we were mates and after she’d seen you mark me she came up with this horrible plan. She placed me under a spell so that I would . . . So that I would hurt you.” I whispered as my lower l*p started to tremble.

Lucy and Eden covered their mouths in horror while Esma looked like she wanted to murder someone. Esma always knew that something was wrong with Maggie but I was positive that she never thought that things were this bad. No one expected this from Maggie and that was the most shocking thing of all. She had all of us completely fooled.

“That was her plan, for me to hurt you. Then the same witch that put me under the spell used a spell on you that knocked you out and made you think that you’d killed me. When you woke up I was already under the same spell Maggie was years ago. The spell that made all of you believe that she was dead and had been killed. When in truth she was just using that to get to you, to make you think that she was dead. I don’t think she planned for Thane to come in and try and kill you however. She wanted to be the one to get rid of you. She wanted you to suffer thinking that I was dead just like you had done with her.”

Hunter pulled back from me like I’d just slapped him hard across the face. His hands tightened to his sides and he looked like he wanted to punch something. His entire body trembled and it was becoming difficult for me to look at him when he was like this. He shouldn’t ever have to deal with a betrayal as big as this one, Hunter did not deserve it.

“I don’t understand.” He whispered as his eyes searched mine for more answers. “Why would she do that? Why would she betray me after everything? Why would she fake her death just to watch me suffer?”

The horror in his voice completely broke my heart. I wanted to see that woman cry and burn in hell for everything she’d done to Hunter.

“While I want to hear the rest of this story, if it is indeed Maggie behind all of this, then she’s waiting to see the outcome of her plan. She could be planning another attack while we’re all here talking and I think that we should be prepared for it.” Austin pointed out. “She clearly had the help of a powerful witch and that alone is dangerous. We need to act now for the safety of all of us. I don’t want to put Lucy in any more danger while she’s pregnant.”

“But how do we get her to come out so that we could attack her?” Thane asked. “She’s good at hiding. She did it for five years already, she could do it again. And if we let her go back into hiding we don’t stand a chance at catching her again. That will only leave Isabella’s and Hunter’s life in a mess wondering when she will strike again.”

Everyone grew quiet at his words. It was true, Maggie had the help of a powerful witch that could come up with crazy spells whenever she liked. I saw the way her eyes had lit up with excitement after I’d broken her spell. It was almost like she was happy she’d finally been faced with a real challenge. Hunter and I would always be worried that she would pull a sick trick like this again if either she or Maggie remained alive. We needed to get rid of both of them some way or the other.

“This is what we will do.” Ermanno said as he approached us. “The fight happened inside the house. Maggie isn’t sure what’s taking place inside of here. Isabella we will have to use you as bait to get her out of hiding. She’s most likely near and waiting to see the outcome of everything that she’d planned. You waking up from the spell wasn’t part of her plan and therefore we can use this to our advantage. We will announce to everyone that Hunter died and was killed by Thane. News travels fast and I’m sure Maggie would be one of the first ones to hear of it since she’ll be waiting for it. I’m sure she will try and see you then to confirm everything. We will be waiting for her and there is where we will attack.”

Austin nodded. “I actually like that plan.”

“Yeah,” James said. “This might actually work but we have to move fast. We’ve already lost a lot of time and if we want her to believe this we need to make it as believable as possible.”

“Who will do the announcements?” Marcus asked as he looked between us.

“I think it’s best that Hunter’s sister as well as some of his men do it.” Ermanno answered. “But you need to make it look like you’re mourning your brother’s death. Maggie cannot know that we are laying a trap out for her. She must have known that Isabella broke the spell so she would already think that we know she’s behind of everything. But she would risk it all if she thinks Hunter is dead. She will want to confirm it.”

Esma nodded. “Don’t worry. I’ll make it believable. She must pay for everything she’s done to my brother and I will make sure that she does.”

“Alright, it’s set then.” Austin confirmed. “Esma we need to start now. Let’s go.”

Hunter’s eyes were still in shock and I watched in horror as he followed Austin and Esma out the door with my brother as well as James. I didn’t know what he was planning on doing and I had no idea how he would react when he finally saw Maggie again.

“I knew it was her from the moment I laid eyes on her.” Eden hissed as soon as everyone exited the room. “That sneaky bitch.”

I wanted to respond to her but I couldn’t. Now that Hunter wasn’t in the room I was hit with something I never wanted to think of again.

“Hey,” Lucy whispered as she touched my shoulder. “What’s wrong?”

“She put me under a spell. She made me hurt him.” I whispered as I felt the tears in my eyes again. Images of me stabbing Hunter flashed in my head, reminding me of what I’d done. The guilt was eating at me raw and I didn’t even know if I would ever be able to look at him the same again. I will always remember that I could have been the reason for his death. If I didn’t wake up in time I would have had to live with it for the rest of my life. That was something I wouldn’t have even able to do. Knowing that I was the reason that my mate was dead . . .

Lucy touched my shoulder. “It’s not your fault. These witches are extremely strong. I keep trying to tell Austin that it wasn’t his fault when he was under a spell and couldn’t recognize me sooner, just like this isn’t your fault either.”

I wiped at the tears, I truly wanted to believe her words but I couldn’t. “I should have been stronger Lucy. I should have stopped the spell sooner and I didn’t.”

“The main thing is that you did eventually stop the spell and you did it when it mattered the most. I know you may see it as your fault but it isn’t. This is all Maggie’s fault and she wants you to think like this. You can’t let her win. You need to forgive yourself and move on.” Eden pressed. “Hunter loves you and you love him. You’re both alive and you have each other. Nothing else matters but that. You need to see that. Be thankful that you did wake up in time to save him. You may think that you were the one that put him in danger in the first place but that’s not true. The real threat is Maggie and it always has been. If you weren’t around she would have found someone else to do the same thing for her and that person might have gotten Hunter killed. You’re the reason he is still here today and you’re the reason he still has a chance of being happy again.”

I peered at Eden through my wet eyelashes and gave her a sad smile. Even though I didn’t think that I could ever forgive myself for what I’ve done; I knew that she was right about Hunter and I having a chance a happiness once we had each other.

Hunter was still alive and that was what should matter the most.

Now I just needed to get rid of Maggie once and for all. My next aim was to make her pay. I needed to see her suffer just like Hunter had suffered because of her.

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

~MAGGIE~

“How could she have possibly broken free of your spells twice in one day?” I snarled.

Salem was supposed to be a powerful witch. She wasn’t the best out there but she was still extremely powerful.

“You may not like hearing this but the love Isabella has for Hunter is truly something spectacular. I’ve never seen anything like it before. The power of her love managed to break the spell.” Salem answered. “I’m both angry and impressed.”

My body shook with rage. “Because of your stupid spells we’re now in this mess!”

“If I can recall correctly, it was because of my spells that you even were able to stay hidden all of these years as well as fake your death. Never forget that I’m the reason many of your plans actually worked. Without me you would be nowhere and you know it.”

I glared at her. “Now everyone must know that I was behind Isabella’s disappearance. Hunter would know as well and he will come for me. I’m not prepared to fight him just yet. Not when so many people are around him. I need to go back into hiding immediately.”

Salem shook her head. “We don’t know if Hunter is still alive. Do we? The last we saw was Thane attacking him. He thinks Isabella is dead, he would let anyone kill him at this time.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Hunter is too strong to die so easily.”

“Would you really be saying that after you hear the announcements?”

I tensed. “What announcements?”

She laughed. “It seems like your work was done for you by someone else. Hunter is dead. He was killed by Thane. There will be a private ceremony held for him in the forest.”

Pain pierced through my heart at her words. “You’re lying.”

She shook her head. “He’s dead Maggie. Hunter is finally dead.”

No! He couldn’t be dead! I was the one that needed to kill him, not Thane! He was mine to kill . . . MINE!

I needed to see him suffer and I needed him to know why. I needed him to know that he’d killed my brother.

He couldn’t be dead. There was no way that he would have died so easily.

“This can’t be true. I need to see for myself!”

Salem raised a brow at me. “Are you sure that’s the smartest thing to do right now?” She asked me. “Everyone will be looking for you, especially Isabella. She would want you to suffer for killing Hunter and she has the support of everyone around her.”

“I don’t f*****g care.” I hissed. “I’m going there and I will find out the truth.”

He couldn’t be dead . . . He couldn’t.