The Alpha Prince And His Bride
Book 3 The Alpha’s Substitute Bride – Episode 25

~HUNTER~

“Is this the direct location?” I asked Bruce as we stood outside the shopping center.

He nodded. “She was a few feet away from me talking to someone. They seemed to know each other well.”

I pulled the picture out of my pocket and stopped in front one of the vendors. “Have you ever seen this woman around here before?”

The man’s eyebrows shot up the moment he recognized me. His fingers started to shake and one would swear that he would faint any minute now. I was used to these reactions from villagers now, I wasn’t proud of it. People who used to smile at me now gazed at me as though I was a threat to them.

“Isn’t that your l-late wife?”

My jaw clenched. “Have you seen anyone recently around here that looks like this? Did anyone share a close resemblance to her at all?”

He immediately shook his head. “I meet many faces a day and I can assure you that I haven’t seen this woman or anyone that look like her.”

I gave Bruce a look and he shrugged his shoulders at me.

There were many persons left to ask these questions to. I’d have to spread out my men and have them ask for me as well. If Bruce saw her, there must be at least one person here who’s seen her as well.

I cornered about five of them next and every single one of them gave the same response as the first. No one had seen anyone that looked anything like Maggie.

“I swear to you . . . She was here.” Bruce assured me. I could see that he was becoming nervous and I understood why. He didn’t want to seem like a liar in front of me. He didn’t have that to worry about. I already believed him.

But it was weird that no one here saw what he had seen.

“We will stay for about an hour longer and then I’ll return home.”

Bruce studied me some more. “You’ve been avoiding Isabella since yesterday. You can’t keep this from her forever.”

His words stopped me in my tracks. I closed my eyes and suddenly had a strong feeling to drop all of this and go back to her. I wanted to hold her and caress her, wanted to hear her m***s and sniff her sweet aroused scent all over again.

I had been avoiding her and I knew that Bruce was right. Eventually I would have to tell Isabella the truth. I just knew that now was not the right time for that.

. . . . . . . . . . .

~ISABELLA~

It was the next day after Hunter had gotten news from Bruce in which he’d chosen to keep from me. I’d tried multiple times this morning to catch his attention but everything failed. In the end he’d left with Bruce to go somewhere that he’d made sure to keep from me.

I didn’t understand the need for secrecy at this time. It was beginning to worry me. Was it something extremely dangerous that they were dealing with this time? Nothing really worried Hunter as far as I knew, at least nothing that didn’t concern people that he cared about.

“You look a little worried.”

I looked up to find Esma standing in front of me with a bothered gaze. Hunter had apparently taken my advice and brought his sister to live with us for her own safety. I was thrilled when I first found out the news yesterday. It would be good to have someone around here that I bonded well with; it made me feel closer to my sisters in a way.

I managed to give her a smile and motioned for her to come join me.

“I appreciate you not telling my brother anything about what I’ve told you.”

I nodded. “I think you should tell him as soon as possible. The Blackners are dangerous people and when they want something, they set out to go get it. It would be better if he knows about this so that he can be prepared for any attack from them.”

Esma sighed. “I know, I’m just trying to build up the courage to do so. Hunter is a force that’s really difficult to control. I’m fearful of what his rage could lead to.”

I nodded and a soft sigh escaped my mouth. “You’re right. He doesn’t stop when he wants something . . . Hopefully we can try to stop him from retaliating against them.”

She nodded and took a second glance my way. “You’re always here to listen to whatever I have to say. I notice that you’re a bit on edge. Did something happen?”

I froze, not sure if I wanted to speak to anyone about this.

Her hands touched mine softly and she offered me a reassuring smile.

“Hunter has been distant with me since yesterday. Bruce told him something and he doesn’t want to tell me what it’s about. Whatever it was, he wasn’t willing to talk to me about it.”

Her brows shot up and her nose did a little crinkle. “Do you think he somehow found out about my connection to a Blackner?”

My face paled. I hadn’t even thought about that. But why would he keep that from me?

We heard a Jeep pull up and it was no doubt Hunter returning.

“I guess I’ll have to try and find out now.” I said as I heard the door open.

I didn’t even have to go looking for Hunter however. I heard his footsteps one minute and the next he was in the living room searching for something. When his eyes finally settled on me I was surprised to see the relief on his face.

Was he worried about me while he was gone? My heart warmed at that thought.

But that feeling didn’t last long since he was already turning to leave again without saying a single word to me.

I excused myself and quickly followed after him.

I knew the moment he realized that I was following him, I could tell by the way his shoulders tensed, even his walk had changed almost immediately.

I expected him to keep going but instead he turned and I almost bounced straight into him.

“You’ve been avoiding me and I want to know why.” I demanded from him without giving him a chance to say anything else.

“I’m not avoiding you.” He answered. “I just have a lot to do.”

I narrowed my eyes. “You’re lying to me.” I insisted. “Stop lying to me Hunter. I want to know the truth.”

We both glared at each other and I didn’t realize what I was doing until my left hand touched his cheek gently. He closed his eyes at my touch and I was awarded with the most beautiful view ever.

I gasped when he grasped my waist unexpectedly with one hand and pulled me against him. “I don’t want to talk about this right now Isabella.” He insisted as he opened his eyes and faced me with a passionate stare. My lips parted and he blew out a breath before lowering his voice. “Please, just drop this.”

Bruce entered the house then and found Hunter and I gazing at each other. He gently placed some distance between us and walked away from me . . . again.

I didn’t understand anything; he’d just started to open up to me. Then what could have possibly changed in a matter of seconds?

My eyes went to Bruce immediately. If Hunter didn’t want to tell me the truth, I knew someone else that would have no choice but to.

“I need to talk to you.”

His gaze widened and he studied me with a guarded look on his face.

“Tell me what you told Hunter.”

“I’m sorry but that is between us, he will tell you when he wishes to.”

My jaw clenched and I angrily blocked his way. “I’m his wife. I’m the woman that’s affected when something’s wrong to him. He hasn’t been acting right at all ever since you spoke to him. I want to know what’s wrong to him. What could you have possibly told him that could make him like this?”

He shook his head at me, totally disregarding my question. “I’m sorry Isabella; this is not something that I can discuss.”

“Bruce, please.” I begged when he turned to leave just like my husband had done just a few minutes ago. “Hunter was just starting to open up to me. I deserve to know. Please tell me something.”

My plea managed to stop him and I blew a sigh of relief when he turned to face me. “I don’t know if this is something that will destroy you Isabella. It’s the reason why I didn’t want to tell you this in the first place. It’s a very sensitive topic and I need to know that you’ll be okay after I tell you this.”

His words shocked me but I was already deep in this, I needed to know. I needed to know so that I could get through to Hunter and be able to help him get through whatever it was he was going through right now.

I nodded, encouraging him to continue.

“I saw someone whom I believe is Maggie and she’s definitely alive.”