The Alpha's Unwanted Bride

Chapter 686: An awakening

I jolted awake so suddenly that my heart slammed violently against my ribs.

My hands flew to my chest instinctively, fingers pressing hard as if to make sure it was still there still beating.

My breath came fast and shallow, and for a moment I just sat there, staring into the dimness, trying to remember where I was.

I swallowed hard.

Then slowly, I lifted a trembling hand and wiped my face.

I was drenched in sweat.

My hair clung damply to my temples, my nightdress sticking uncomfortably to my skin. My entire body felt overheated and cold at the same time, as though I had been running for miles and yet frozen in place.

Seeing my mother.

Hearing her voice.

Standing before my father in a world that wasn’t my own.

Portaling without even meaning to.

Something I had never even known existed.

It all crashed into me at once.

I closed my eyes briefly and exhaled through my nose.

My dreams weren’t dreams anymore.

They were visions.

There was no denying it now.

If I had dreamt of my father, seen him before ever meeting him if I had recognized him instantly in an entirely different world, then that was confirmation enough. My mind hadn’t invented him. My soul had known him.

And if that was true...

Then I was going to see my mother again.

The realization both baffled and fascinated me, twisting my insides with awe and fear all at once.

Slowly, I turned my head toward the window.

Night had fully fallen.

Soft glowing lights dotted the city beyond the glass, lanterns and crystal lamps illuminating winding streets and curved rooftops. The distant lands looked even more beautiful at night peaceful, alive, impossibly serene.

I must have slept far longer than I thought.

The pack below shimmered like something out of a storybook, and for a moment I simply stared, my chest tightening.

This place felt real in a way my old world never had.

And then the truth hit me again.

My mother.

Scarlett.

The missing princess.

The daughter King Roland and Queen Rose had been searching for their entire lives.

I clenched my fists tightly in the sheets.

How had she lived?

What had they let her endure?

They had lost her and instead of searching with love, they had allowed time to swallow her existence.

Especially the King.

The Queen whom I had grown to love and believed to love me.

Only to find out she was the grand daughter she had been so obsessed to find.

And then... they had done the same to me.

My jaw tightened as anger flared hot and sharp.

I thought of the cell.

The cold stone.

The way I had been accused without hesitation, thrown aside as expendable while Auburn, the imposter, had stood where she never belonged.

I thought of Queen Rose, who had looked at me with false concern, only to sentence me to death in a blink. The disappointment in my chest twisted into something bitter and painful.

The King.

My supposed grandfather.

The man I had caught betraying his own wife with her sister.

The man who had never once hidden his hatred for me.

Fate had been cruel enough to make them my grandparents.

The irony burned.

I chewed on my bottom lip, rage simmering dangerously close to the surface.

I wanted nothing to do with them.

Nothing.

They had abandoned my mother.

They had abandoned me.

Their throne meant nothing to me.

Their crown meant nothing.

Their blood meant nothing.

Not after the way they had treated me.

Not after everything.

They would harm my child.

I knew it.

And I would never allow that.

Maybe this place, this world, was the peace I needed.

A fresh start.

Just me and my baby.

Away from all of them.

Including Xaden.

The thought of him came unbidden, soft and painful.

The last night.

The warmth.

The way his hands had held me like I was something precious.

The night this child had been conceived.

Heat crept into my cheeks and I turned my face away, shaking my head.

No.

I couldn’t think about him.

I wouldn’t.

He was my past.

No matter how much I loved him, loving him had nearly destroyed me.

And my child?

Xaden would always have enemies.

Always.

There would always be someone watching, plotting, waiting.

Someone ready to hurt us.

Kidnap us.

Use us.

I couldn’t live like that.

This was better.

This was safer.

This was the choice a mother made.

I told myself that over and over until my chest hurt.

Then my thoughts drifted back to my mother.

How happy she had looked in my vision.

How her eyes had lit up when she saw me.

How she had smiled like the world had finally made sense.

I wondered how terrified she must have been carrying me alone.

Unlike me, who had chosen to leave Xaden, she had been forced to live without Aiden.

That thought twisted something deep inside my chest.

I wanted to know everything about her.

The dreams weren’t enough anymore.

I needed to hear about her from the one person who had loved her completely.

Slowly, I sat up in bed.

A soft kick pressed against my palm.

I smiled faintly, exhaustion melting into something gentler.

"You had a nice nap, didn’t you?" I murmured, rubbing the curve of my stomach.

Another kick followed, firmer this time.

A response.

I let out a quiet breathless laugh. "I’ll take that as a yes."

I leaned down awkwardly and pressed a kiss to my belly.

My sweet baby.

My second chance.

The child I was determined to protect.

But fear crept in again.

Low and quiet.

I didn’t want to die.

I didn’t want to lose this baby the way I had lost my first.

Aiden had said I had power.

That had to mean something.

That had to mean hope.

A small flame ignited in my chest.

If I had power... then maybe I could shift.

Maybe I could survive childbirth.

Maybe this time would be different.

A soft knock interrupted my thoughts.

I stiffened immediately.

My eyes darted to the door.

"Who is it?" I asked cautiously.

"My name is Fiona," a gentle female voice replied. "King Aiden sent me to check on you."

King Aiden.

My father.

The word still felt strange.

Unreal.

I swallowed and straightened my back.

"You may come in," I said quietly.

The door opened slowly.

A petite woman stepped inside, no older than her early thirties. Olive skin, soft features, her dark hair pulled into a neat bun. She wore a simple pale green dress, modest and elegant.

She didn’t look threatening.

If anything, she looked kind.

"Hello," I managed.

"Hello," she replied politely. "Did you sleep well?"

"Yes... thank you," I said, still a little dazed.

"You must be hungry," she said gently. "Your father has arranged a private dinner for just the two of you."

Right on cue, my stomach growled loudly.

I flushed.

Another kick followed.

I laughed softly, rubbing my belly. "Well... I suppose we both are."

Fiona smiled. "Would you like to bathe first?"

And suddenly, my body felt unbearably heavy.

Every muscle sagged as if surrendering.

"Yes," I breathed. "Please."

She stepped closer. "May I assist you?"

I froze, heat rushing to my face.

"I.... Uhmmm er... i never-

She quickly added, "Only because you’re pregnant. I thought it might be difficult."

She wasn’t wrong.

I hadn’t had a proper bath in weeks.

Bending over was impossible now.

The last real bath I’d had was in a lake weeks ago.

I looked at her, then sighed softly.

"Okay," I said gently. "I’d like the help."

She smiled warmly.

"Then come," she said. "Let’s get you comfortable."

I was led to a door in the bedroom before Fiona turned the nob.

Inside was a beautiful wash room with a lovely bath.

The walls were white with plants inside.

There was a beautiful iron chair and I watched Fiona motioned to the chair for me to seat.

Before I did, she helped to take off my dirty rags.

Once those were gone, I felt immense relief drop on my shoulders.

I heaved a sigh of relief and despite being naked, I sat on the chair.

She picked a bowl from inside the bath of water and just as she slashed the water gently on my shoulders I trembled for the impact of cold water.

But it never did.

It was warm.

I looked up at her in absolute awe.

"The water is warm." I blinked in disbelief.

She looked at me strangely.

"Your water doesn’t get warm or cold by choice where you come from?" She asked me.

I shook my head and she seemed puzzled.

And it truly occurred to me how different they were.

She helped me have my bath and once I was done, I felt so fresh and squeaky clean.

My orange hair was made into a single braid while I wore a beautiful large dress.

"You’re ready to have dinner with your father." She informed me.