“Are you crazy?” She hissed, “I wasn’t trying to give you ideas, Clark! There’s no way it would work, and even if I did agree to help you, I’m pretty sure my head would end up on the floor like the former Alpha King’s did once your mate found out.
“Not if we succeeded,” I told her. Suddenly, the gears in my head were turning as I tried to think this is through. “You would just have to smuggle me out of here.”
“And how do you suggest I smuggle you out? You’re the literal Queen,” she said, crossing her arms.
“Only as of today,” I said, “Some people know about me…but it’s unreasonable to think that everyone would, right? Like whoever drives you to the airport? I doubt word has spread that far. You could just say I’m part of your pack one of your warriors sent to protect you. Once we make it onto that plane, you’re home free.”
“And where are you going to go after that?” she asked, “My pack is in California and there’s no way you’re staying with me.”
California.
That’s where my mom lived. Or that’s where she used to live as far as I knew. It’s not like I had a current address for her.
“I’ll be okay,” I said, “I have family in California. I just need you to get me out.”
Alessia scoffed, shaking her head. “Look, I sympathize with you, girl – I do. I wouldn’t want to be in your position, and normally, I’d be all for sticking it to the monarchy but not when it comes at the price of my own head.”
Realistically, it was hard to argue with her. I knew that helping me was a big risk. for her, and it’s not like I had much to offer in return.
Guess I’m on my own.
“What is that smell?” she suddenly asked. She sniffed the air with her eyes closed.
“What do you mean?”
“It’s you,” she said, and her eyes narrowed. She walked closer to me, nostrils flared. “It’s the same scent I caught last night – it’s coming from you but it’s not actually you. God, it smells so good. It smells like mate.”
Her eyes gleamed in the darkness.
Mate? How could I smell like her mate if I’m not actually her mate? It must’ve been someone I interacted with or shared clothing with or
Reality suddenly dawned on me. D
I couldn’t believe I hadn’t pieced it together before. Last night, I’d shared a bedroom with Lily before I talked to Alessia. Today, I was wearing Lily’s dress that she had left me.
I wasn’t Alessia’s mate. [2
But my sister was.
Granted, it was just a theory but it made sense. Who else had been in such close contact with me today and last night? Not even Sebastian had gotten that close and her mate certainly wasn’t Griffin.
“Alessia,” I said, “What if I told you I could you offer something in return? For helping me?”
Her eyes narrowed dangerously. “Oh? Like what?”
“Like the name of your mate and where they are. I have a pretty good idea of whose scent you keep smelling.” O
She growled. “You know my mate?”
“If you’re sure the scent you’re smelling belongs to your mate, then I know who it just the teensiest, tiniest favor in return.”
“Let me guess,” she huffed, “You tell me the name of my mate and I let you leave the castle with me. Tell the driver and anyone else we encounter that you’re a part of my pack.”
Coercing Alessia’s help felt manipulative but she was my only shot out of here. I didn’t know her that well but I at least knew her better than the other forty Alpha kids who had made an appearance at the diplomatic meeting.
And if worst came to worse, I’d protect her from Griffin. I wouldn’t let her head up on the floor. She wouldn’t suffer for me. I’d throw myself at his feet and beg his forgiveness, lock the chains on myself I’d do whatever I needed to protect Alessia from his wrath.
But it won’t come to that. @
You’ll get away and nob*dy will get hurt. It’ll all be worth it.
“So, that’s it then? I help you and you tell me where my mate is,” she said. Her face was blank again, unreadable.
“Yeah, that’s the deal.”
She sighed, looking up at the moon. “Moon goddess help me,” she muttered, “I’m only doing this because you know the name of my mate. And I want to stick it to the monarchy. And also…you’re kind of okay.”
I grinned. Relief flooded me – I was going to get out of here. I could be in California by this time tomorrow.
“You’re pretty okay too, Alessia.”
“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”@
Benjamin Franklin
Alessia and I sat on the balcony for more than an hour fine-tuning the plan. I learned very quickly that Alessia was a natural strategist. Maybe it came from her Alpha heritage, but either way, I was glad to have her in my corner.
“I’ll meet you by your rooms at 11:30,” Alessia told me, “I’m supposed to meet my driver by the south entrance at noon, so that should give us enough time to get there. You’re sure that the King won’t be in the room with you?”
“Pretty sure,” I said, “He’s dealing with some crisis regarding the incident with the Alpha King. He explicitly told me that he’d see me tomorrow. It would surprise me if he was back in time.”
“Okay, good,” Alessia said, “There’s no way I’m going through with this if the King is with you. If I run into him, you’re on your own.”
Even I could realize that our plan was dead in the water if Griffin showed up early. I couldn’t say for sure that he wouldn’t be back before Alessia was set to leave, but it was a risk worth taking. This was my one shot out of here and I wasn’t going to waste it.
“We should exchange numbers too,” Alessia said, “It’ll be easier for you to just text me if something’s wrong that way I don’t have to explain why I ended up at your bedroom door.”
“Deal.”
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