The Alpha Prince And His Bride
Episode 15

LUCY’S POV:

Black pillars stood on each side of a long bridge that at the moment seemed never ending .I peeped out the window of the vehicle to get a better look at the ocean beneath us.

The fresh sea breeze plucked at my hair and for a moment I lifted my face and inhaled deeply , allowing myself to get lost in the moment but for a few seconds , closing my eyes and imagining my life wasn’t filled with so much pain.

Content with my daydreaming I sighed quietly and leaned back against the seat.

After a few minutes I opened my eyes to study my brothers who’d been surprisingly quiet the entire drive , all of them for some reason seemed tense , it was the first time I’d seen them look this worried.

“Where exactly are we going?”I asked.

“The council is built on an island .”Ermanno explained . “They built it centuries ago to keep far away from humans .”

This was the first question about the council he had actually answered . In fact none of them were willing to tell me more about this council they spoke off .It was beginning to worry me.What were they hiding from me?

After what felt like hours , the island finally came into view .I rose up from my slouched position on the seats and looked out the window again .To the side of us , what seemed like hundreds of young boys or more were training to fight , each had swords in their hands and were attacking each other…Fighting as though to survive .I watched in horror as one boy stabbed another and he fell to the ground completely motionless .

Where the hell was this place?

“Why are they killing each other?”I asked in horror , my chest hurting at the horrible sight in front of me.

“The council only wants the best working for them.”Thane said bitterly before turning to stare straight at me.”Only the strongest survive here Lucy.”

My heart ached for these poor boys , why were they even here?

“Why would anyone want to work for these people?”I demanded .

Luthais looked at me with sad eyes.”If a family isn’t strong enough to survive on their own they join the council for protection and in hopes of a better life .”He explained.”Sadly no one knows exactly what they’re getting themselves into until they finally join.”

Why did he speak like he was one of them?Unless —No!It couldn’t be.

I gasped .”All of you work for them , don’t you?”

They nodded their heads at me.

“How long now?”

Ermanno spared me a quick glance before answering .”Over ten years now.”

“Don’t look at us like that .”Thane complained .

“We’re doing absolutely fine as you can see.” Marcus pointed out with a grin.

I wanted to respond but no words formed in my mouth , I couldn’t even begin to imagine what they had to go through in this horrible place.

We passed through a small village before the car finally came to a stop in front of a gigantic black gate , ‘The Black Council ‘ imprinted bold and black on the stone walls .

As the gates opened a statue of a great dragon was the first thing that caught my eyes , there were two demon like horns on the sides of its face ,its eyes sitting lightly on a narrow skull was the scariest most intimidating feature of all , it seemed as though it were looking straight through your soul, almost as if the statue were alive. The mouth was opened widely showing off rows of large teeth and my mind subconsciously imagined the mighty roar that would have escaped the dragon if it were indeed alive.It’s massive demonic wings were spread out high up in the air along with two of the creature’s massive feet.

That dragon.

I’d seen it somewhere before .

My eyes suddenly snapped up to my brothers as my gaze travelled to each of their arms and there it was , the same exact dragon was drawn in black ink , imprinted on each of their shoulders.

My brothers caught my open stare .

“It’s the symbol that lets everyone know you belong to the black council.” Thane explained before the question could even escape my lips.

“Here she goes giving us that pity look again.”Marcus g*****d .

“Lucy.” Ermanno said , placing emphasis on my name. “You have no reason to worry about us , at first it was difficult but we all eventually adapted , we wouldn’t be the men we are today if we didn’t go through those hardships , it only made us stronger.”

Before I could respond the car came to an abrupt stop in front of a massive castle , my eyes widened , it was the biggest structure I’d ever set my eyes on. Even though it was daylight and the sun shone its light on the castle I still couldn’t help the sudden shiver that ran down my spine in fear at the powerful negative vibes that radiated out from it.The entire castle was covered in black , everything except the windows which were tinted in a dark red , resembling the eyes of the devil himself.

I slowly stepped out the vehicle , never taking my eyes off the sight in front of me.

“Ah I see the Cross brothers have finally returned.”My eyes studied the middle aged man in front of me who was watching me with curious eyes.He slowly moved his gaze from me back to my brothers. “I’m sure you know your father has been in a bad mood ever since you left , thanks to you men we’ve all had to deal with his wrath for days.”

Father?

My heart raced at his words , my father was here?

And my brothers didn’t say a single word to me? Is this the secret they were keeping from me?

They all turned and gave me apologetic smiles , all except Marcus who had his hands stretched out above his head behind him , avoiding any eye contact with me whatsoever.

Those traitors !

“It’s nice to see you too Uncle.”Thane said dryly.

Uncle?

This man was my uncle?

“Well I would advise you boys to not waste any time in going to see your father , that is if you want any of us to live to see another day again since your father is going to explode any minute now.”

Suddenly every single one of my brothers stiffened besides me , their faces a pale white.My eyes followed their gazes and spotted a man who stood a distance away from us at the castle’s entrance.

His entire being radiated power , his stance demanded everyone’s attention , even the magnificent castle drowned out behind him , his eyes were on my brothers with a look so deadly that if looks could kill they were already dead by now .I actually felt sorry for them to be under a gaze that strong but all thoughts immediately flew out my head as he turned those eyes on me.

And I knew .

I just knew …from the blond hair that looked very much like Thane’s to the green eyes that was strikingly similar to Marcus’s and the face that closely resembled every single one of my brothers .

This man … was my father.

……………..

AUSTIN’S POV:

I stumbled onto the bed , feeling completely lost.My room was the one place I craved being these days since it was the one place where Lucy’s fragrant scent still lingered .I inhaled deeply , her sweet scent filling my nostrils and calming my racing heart but only a little , for the body couldn’t be fooled , it knew Lucy wasn’t here by my side.

I g*****d in distress , the restlessness was becoming unbearable and soon enough not even her scent in the room would be able to comfort me for even that was slowly withering away with each second that ticked by.

Sudden footsteps outside my door caught my attention , followed by a loud impatient knock.

“You may want to hear this .” James said barging into my room.

“What’s that?”I asked on alert.

“Follow me.”

I did as he said , everyone were already in the living room with a strange young boy I hadn’t seen around before .

“Tell the rest of them what you told me.”James commanded him.

The young boy looked scared to speak but eventually went on. ” I was ordered by Alpha Eric to dig up on Princess Lucy’s background.”He started , my heart leaped in my chest at just the mention of her name.

“What did you find out?”I demanded , impatient to know what he knew.

The boy looked shaken at my tone. “A-Alpha Richard is her father , the Fire Cross Pack is Princess Lucy’s real family.”

Shock raced through my veins at the speed of light , paralyzing my entire body.

They were her brothers?

Her brothers?

Lucy didn’t have an affair ?

What the f**k did I do!

My mother gasped. “Oh no , what have we done?”She asked in horror.” We didn’t give the child a chance to explain herself.”

Lucas shook his head at me .” I told you Lucy wasn’t capable of having an affair .”He snapped.

“You said Alpha Eric told you?”I asked the boy.”Did Ariana know as well?’

The boy swallowed and slowly nodded his head.

The betrayal ate at me raw , she knew all along?

“Why did you come to us?”I asked suspiciously .”What is it you want?”

“I would like to join your pack Alpha .I have no where else to turn too.”He answered honestly.

It made sense now.

“I see.”I said studying the boy in front of me , he looked like he really had no where else to turn. “I will discuss it more with you when I return in the meantime have James help you.”

“Where are you going?”My father asked anxiously .

“To pay someone a visit.” I answered , my voice sounding ice cold to my own ear.

…………..

As soon as Ariana saw the look on my face she doubled back against the wall in fear.

“You knew?” I spat at her in disgust .”All this time you knew ?”

Her face instantly paled.

“‘I-I don’t know what you’re talking about .”She stuttered .

“Don’t lie to me Ariana , you knew all along that they were her f*****g brothers1″I roared as my fist connected to the wall behind her ,some of the blocks falling to the ground into a million pieces.”And yet you continued to say all those things about her , making me believe she really was having an affair.”

I looked at her in disgust for the first time ever since I’d found out we were mates.

“I was scared I was losing you .”She cried .”I needed to do something .”

“I don’t want to hear anything .”I shouted . “Don’t expect to see me for a few days.”

“Where are you going ?” She asked in horror.

I gave her a death glare. “To bring Lucy back.”

She gasped. “You can’t”

“I can.”I growled . “And I f*****g will.”

I was halfway out the door when her next words lashed out at me.

“You don’t understand they took her back to the council!”She screamed .

My body froze , the council?

For a moment I stood there paralyzed , unable to think or breathe properly .

They took her to the f*****g council? Lucy couldn’t be there , it wasn’t safe for someone as delicate as her , f**k even the strongest struggled to survive in that hell hole! I had to leave now before anything happened to her.

“Don’t go!”Ariana screamed again.”Please Austin , I love you!”

I ignored all her calls as the anger of her betrayal mixed with my fear for Lucy’s safety pounded against my temples , giving me an instant excruciating headache .

I felt my gut twist in agony ,I needed to get to Lucy , needed to see her in front of my eyes , needed to touch her , caress her , needed to see for myself that she was safe and out of any danger , needed these things more than I needed f*****g air to breathe.