The Alpha Princess
Chapter Fourteen

Christopher

I watch my mate breathe; reassuring me that she’s still alive. She’s been so still that I’m almost convinced she’s dead. It’s taken me three days to be allowed in her room; that was out of the kindness of Dr. Benson. Marcus will not let me go anywhere near his daughter. I can’t say I blame him, since the Council has been absolutely furious with me as well. I’ve been given probationary status. My father has been on the phone nearly all hours of the day with them, trying to calm them down; trying to prevent my execution. It is highly illegal to mark someone during the Claiming when you’re not a participant. I could be executed this time tomorrow.

I almost groan in frustration. I’m over a century and have finally found my mate, only to have my life forfeited by an archaic ritual. My hands are tied. I’m at the mercy of the court, and if my father can withhold his temper. Those odds are not looking good for me, considering my father is known for his temper, and the Council favors Ruben over me any day. That’s what I get for living in London all this time.

Celina’s hand twitches, making my heart stop. I look up, seeing her eyes squeeze shut, trying to shake her stupor. My heart releases from an invisible vice while my lungs fully release for the first time in days. I stand up and lean over her, hoping she’ll open her eyes. When she opens her sky-blue eyes, I feel as if I’m falling into them; no longer able to feel gravity. Rajin howls, sensing Celina’s wolf. “Mate,” he proudly declares, wanting more than anything to see her.

Her perfect face twists in confusion before giving me a hard blink, seeming bewildered about something. Is she hurt? “Celina, are you doing okay?”

Frustratingly, her brows furrow, and she still doesn’t answer me. However, she does look cute with her brow furrowed like that. I gently touch her cheek to guide her attention to me; wishing more than anything to know what she’s thinking. She leans into my hand, and I have to resist a smile. “Do you remember what happened? Do you remember me?”

Her furrow deepens before she finally speaks in a raspy voice, “Christopher.”

I can’t help the smile that spreads on my face. “That’s right. Do you remember what happened?”

She frowns, “Wolfsbane.”

At least she’s remembering, but does she recall the part that’s likely going to get me killed? “Do you remember anything else?”

I get my answer when she shies away from my hand. “Did-Were you the one that bit my wolf?”

Doing my best not to be hurt by her reaction, I give her a soft smile and try to explain. “My beast marked her. I haven’t marked you in your human form yet.”

She doesn’t look like she understands while doubt spreads across her face. “Why?”

Busying my hands to suppress my insulted beast, I gently push some of her sweat-caked hair from her face. “You’re my mate Celina.”

Her face twists, rejecting this truth. I can’t say I blame her. “No, you can’t be. I killed my mate. You only get one.”

My entire body feels as if it’s being squeezed tightly by an anaconda while every part of me goes on lockdown; my body responding to my initial response to tell her what truly happened. I can’t fight against a direct order from my father that I was forced to accept. I force my body to relax and give the best answer I can think of as I squeeze her hand, “Not this time.”

Frustratingly, she doesn’t let it go. “No, I’m pretty sure that’s how it works.” She weakly sits up and I’m forced to sit next to her on her bed; not that I’m complaining. “Multiple mates only apply to identical sets.”

My entire body goes rigid, more than anything wanting to tell her the truth. How can my father expect me to lie to a girl who has almost the same educational background as myself? If you’re going to rule the species, you have to learn it.

She watches me, carefully monitoring my response. “Do you have a twin brother?”

Before I can reply, the door to her room slams open. I refuse to take my eyes off Celina, realizing that my time with her is running out. “Get away from my daughter.” Marcus roars in a deep growl. From the corner of my eye, I can see his beta and heir behind him.

“What is the meaning of this,” Dr. Benson demands, leaving her office to figure out why people are yelling in a hospital ward.

“You,” Marcus yells and stabs his finger at me. “Why didn’t your father tell me that your brother was the one that killed my beta, and that he was the one that attacked Celina?”

Panic spreads through me as my eyes widen. How the hell did he learn about that? Dad’s been chasing his tail trying to keep that secret. And it’s not going to go well that I wasn’t the one that told her. Not that I could. Screw it, I’m going around it since it’s already out of the bag. “Danny was my twin brother.”

“Your brother was my mate?” Celina demands; horror in her voice and face. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me?”

I wanted to; I scream in my head while Rajin tries to surface; displeased by Celina’s tone. I remain focused on Celina, trying to tell her what I can without going against my dad. “Danny ran away after he challenged my father and lost. We never knew what happened to him, until the day I came here.”

Rajin still refuses to back down, trying to bring his beautiful mate to the surface; aware this could be the last time he sees her. Her eyes darken to dark molten bronze, making my beast melt. When her eyes wander Rajin whimpers, trying desperately to make her look at him. Her wolf does something that I was not expecting. Rajin more than willingly bends down and lays on the ground so her wolf can telepathically mark him; accepting her mark.

“Are you insane?” I demand from Rajin while her wolf retreats.

“I let my mate claim me. How am I insane?”

“Because the Council already wants to kill me. This is going to seal the deal.”

“Mate,” Rajin tells me simply, implying I’m being a simpleton. “You’re just jealous that my mate accepted me,” Rajin smirks, watching Celina argue with her wolf mentally. At least I’m not the only one with a stubborn beast.

“Oh shut up,” I snap at him.

“Celina break the bond now,” Marcus demands, making my entire body tingle in rage. I watch Celina, getting more visibly annoyed with every passing second.

“Celina, I said reject him,” Marcus demands again, gathering her attention.

I hold my breath, trying desperately to see her answer. Rajin is pacing in my mind, listening intently for Celina’s wolf; my claws coming out due to anticipation of her answer.

Her words come out slowly when she finally answers. “I can’t.” Her eyes are sparking in anger, irritated by this. I, however, let out a relieved breath while Rajin slows his pacing.

“Why the hell not?” Marcus roars.

Surprisingly Celina growls, her eyes flashing; showing her wolf’s anger. “My wolf just marked Rajin.”

“That doesn’t mean a damn thing,” the pesky beta snaps with jealousy. “Reject that deplorable creature Cel. He shared a womb with the damned creature that killed my father.” I growl a warning. My brother may have been insane when he died, but he was still a lycan prince.

Marcus puts his hand on her shoulder. “He lied to you, Celina.”

Her eyes run over me, giving me an appraising look. “I have a feeling he couldn’t tell me the truth, even if he wanted to.” A smirk touches my lips as I watch her proudly. She’s observant as well as intelligent.

She gives us a hard, dominating look, and it’s clear she’s trying to stare Rajin down. “Besides, I respect Mara too much to reject her choice. However, I’m not saying I’m accepting his human half.” Rajin growls while I mentally flinch at that hard slap.

“Get lost beast,” Celina growls at him; pushing her aura on him. It’s still strong, but weaker than what we’ve felt out of her in the past. Rajin laughs before pulling back and giving me full control.

“Mara just said I was cute,” Rajin pants, sounding like a lovesick pup.

“Again, shut up,” I bark at him.

Regretfully, she breaks eye contact with me to address her father. “Dad, you know as well as I do. If Exzecial had told you that his son tried to mark me, and killed Beta Logan, you’d become overly paranoid and think Exzecial is causing a coup.” How the hell is she this smart? Maybe she was born to rule.

Marcus’s face reddens. “What else am I supposed to think?”

“Did you ask them what the real story was? Because the prince just told us,” she says; pointedly motioning toward me. Seriously, how?

“And how do you know he’s not lying?”

“Because I’m the one that deranged beast bit into,” she answers while touching her neck. “Believe me when I say, he wasn’t in his right mind.”

Her father tightens his grip, while I fully realize she was truly the last person to see my brother alive. “That doesn’t comfort me, Celina.”

“It still doesn’t change the fact that I ripped out that beast’s throat, so justice has already been served.” She cocks her head as I flinch at that imagery; slightly angered and nauseated by that description. “Besides, Exzecial could argue he has grounds to declare war since I killed his son.”

“Celina,” Marcus warns, “you’re still not helping.”

“I am by avoiding a war.” She sounds like she would roll her eyes if she could.

“Then how are you going to deal with that mongrel for a mate?”

“By being a big girl,” she answers with as much enthusiastic sarcasm as she can muster, while I resist trying to kill her father. “Either way, it’s my problem to deal with. Not yours or the Beast Council.”

“Celina,” Marcus says while that pathetic beta glares at me. I glare back, realizing he’s upset that I was the one to mark Celina.

“Either let it go, or kindly get out,” she hisses through clenched teeth, and I can just see a tint of pain in her eyes.

“Celina,” Marcus starts before Celina’s monitor goes off.

“No she’s right,” Dr. Benson says, reminding me she has been in this room the entire time. “Her fever is spiking, so you all need to leave.”

Immediately I get to my feet, responding to her annoyance and the desire not to piss off the one person who allowed me to see her.

When I get out into the hall, Father is outside waiting for me. “Did you tell them about Danny?” He demands, pulling me away from Marcus; who had reeled to turn around and tear into me again.

“Don’t get on him,” Marcus snaps. “I was sent this.” He pulls out a picture of our family before I had gone to London. “Since I was the one to bury your son, I knew what he looked like. I knew Christopher looked familiar to me. It didn’t click until I read this message.”

He holds it out for us to read, and I read it out loud. “One son dead in the ground. Do I hear two?”