The Imprisoned Princess
Chapter 17

Adelaide

I stretch my legs feeling soft sheets under me. Wait... I didn’t fall asleep in a bed. I sit up looking around, I’m in a very large bed, I didn’t fall asleep on here. I hear breathing and frantically look around, there’s a figure on the sofa.

Wade’s the figure, his head rests on the arm of the sofa, his breathing deep and slow in sleep. I quietly slide out of bed, but I’m safe from Samual’s wrath if I’m here, so I tiptoe into Wade’s bathroom.

When I came out Wade’s stirring. His eyes fluttering open and he looked to the bed, not seeing me there he looks around. His eyes soften when he saw me stood in the bathroom doorway. “Good sleep?” he asks groggily, rubbing his eyes.

“Yes, thank you. You?” Samual’s back, I need to pretend to be infatuated with him... I’m not sure how that looks...

Wade hums in response standing and stretching, he hasn’t put a shirt on yet and his chest makes my knees week. Dammit Adelaide, what’s wrong with you? Maybe I can use a bit of my lust for those abs. Maybe put Trey’s face on those abs? I hum to myself out loud by accident. “Checking me out again princess?” his tone gloating. “Maybe a little,” I try to sound coy, flirtatious even. He chuckles, moving towards me.

Wade stood in front of me, gently putting his hand in mine “If you stay with me, you can stare whenever you like, you could even...” He moves my hand to his chiselled stomach. I took a breath, I don’t really want to touch him but that electricity is back. It shoots through my hand and up my arm. I slowly stroke my hand down each ridge of his stomach to remove my hand, if I retracted it suddenly I was concerned he would take it badly.

“Dad’s asked us for dinner tonight,” he glances over to a clock on his bedside table “Damn... we slept for a while, dinner’s two hours.” He looks apologetic, his grassy eyes soft.

“Oh, I should probably replace something to wear, do you... do you want to help me?” I ask, he looks up into my eyes, seemingly surprised by my request. If Wade was with me, his father can’t hurt me without drawing suspicion – you’re allowed to call me a coward; I am.

“O-of course, I’d love to help you pick,” his goofy smile back, it’s both endearing and irritating, but it’s not a smile of a born Alpha. ‘Well he’s not, he’s a beta,’ my wolf scoffs. I had to agree with her. Wade pulled on a t-shirt and headed to the room I’d been staying. I follow, silently insulting his soon to be Alpha status.

Wade made suggestions from my limited wardrobe. At first, he frowned but soon a smile was back on his face. He suggested the dark ivory dress but when he looked at the shoes I had he shook his head. “I-I didn’t think I would be staying long, I didn’t pack appropriately,” I look to my feet scuffing the floor a little, I would never have so few clothes on me at any time normally.

Wade turns his head looking to me, an apologetic look on his face “I’m sorry Princess, it was me who asked you to stay after you arrived. You weren’t prepared.” I shrug and pick up the black dress and the taller black heels “Will this look nice?” He smiles and nods.

“You’ll look beautiful whatever you wear. But that will look stunning,” he takes a step towards me, his eyes darkening. His wolf coming out to play. I step to the side, hoping to break his beeline for me “I need to get ready,” My tone a little too harsh for someone who would want him... his mate. He blinks, his eyes returning to green, “Of course, can I escort you to dinner?” I smile and incline my head, stepping out of the closet.

Must act like I like him.

Must pretend to be infatuated.

Must fool Samual.

Fuck.

Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck.

I’m soon brought out of my monologue and cussing when there's a knock on my door, I unlock it. Wade is stood just beyond the threshold, I not so subtly cast my eyes over him, taking in his pale blue shirt rolled up to his elbow and black slim-fit trousers. “You look beautiful.” He also cast his eyes up and down,

“Thank you, you... you look handsome.” I push a convincing smile to him before I take the arm he offers me.

We stride into the banquet hall, Samual sat at one of the smaller tables, he smiles his disgusting smile as we walk in. I stiffen slightly at seeing him again, I try to remain relaxed but it wasn’t happening. Wade seems to have noticed and places his hand over mine that was in his arm. Those stupid tingles spreading up my arm.

We sit and the meal of mushroom risotto almost instantly arrives, delivered by the cook I saw a few days ago. We ate in increasingly uncomfortable silence. Samual keeps looking towards me with a smirk, as if he knew something that he’s dying to tell me. I know my brother’s lying broken in his cell. I disobeyed him and my brother paid for my rule-breaking. My imagination was doing enough without Samual rubbing it in.

Wade keeps subtly making contact with me. His foot against mine, his hand brushing my leg, brushing my hand. I try to pretend to enjoy it, I force myself to brush his hand once, but relieve spreads through me when Wade excuses himself after the main course, saying he would be back before dessert.

I realise my mistake too late.

“Well, well, well alone at last.” I blanch at his cold voice as he slides into Wade’s seat. He roughly pulls at the strap of my dress and I realise what he had noticed too late. “My son hasn’t marked you,” he spits, an evil grin twisting his features.