The Alpha's Unwanted Bride

Chapter 694: THE FIREFLIES

The pack house loomed ahead of me like it was waiting.

Not welcoming.

Not hostile.

Watching.

The massive doors opened at my approach, servants bowing and stepping aside, their movements precise, rehearsed.

The echo of my steps followed me inside, every sound amplified in the cavernous hall.

And there he was.

My father stood at the base of the stairs, hands clasped behind his back, posture straight and immovable.

He wasn’t dressed formally tonight as usual and yet there there was something colder about him in simple attire.

He didn’t look pleased.

My stomach tightened.

And I felt like a girl who was about to reprimanded by her parent

"Father," I greeted quietly.

"Jasmine," he replied, voice even. Polite. Controlled.

A pause stretched between us, thick and deliberate.

Then he spoke.

"I was informed you were upset at one of the massage workers today." He said in a cool voice.

The words landed softly, but they carried weight.

I knew they were going to tell him what happened but not this soon.

I inhaled slowly. "Well I was upset and I know perhaps you think I snapped at her, but I didn’t. I declined her services."

His brow furrowed instantly. "Why?"

"I wasn’t comfortable with her," I said honestly. "She made me uneasy."

That did it.

And worry was written all over his face.

The entire alpha person subdued and his father persona simply came up.

"Did she touch you inappropriately?" he asked sharply, stepping closer. "Did she hurt you?"

"No," I said quickly. "Nothing like that. She just..... well..." I struggled for the right words. "She didn’t feel right."

Concern flickered across his face.

And I felt more sympathetic.

He was truly only worried about men

"You should have told me," he said, more softly now. "You should always tell me when something feels wrong or when it is wrong. Your instincts are never wrong Jasmine."

I let out a tired breath. "I just wanted Lydia back."

His jaw tightened.

"Why didn’t you tell me this earlier?" he asked.

The question snapped something in me.

"Why didn’t you tell me Lydia was gone?" I shot back, exhaustion bleeding into my voice. "I came to you, and suddenly she’d resigned. How exactly was I supposed to tell you anything when she vanished the moment I trusted her?"

He closed his eyes briefly, as if pained.

"I didn’t want to burden you," he said at last.

I stared at him. "With what?"

He sighed heavily, the sound weighted with false reluctance.

"Because Lydia was arrested."

My breath caught.

"Arrested?" I echoed.

"She was a rebel," he said calmly.

The world tilted.

"No," I whispered. "That’s not.... she was kind. She was gentle. She was afraid for her son and we even spoke a few times. She just....

"Yes," Aiden interrupted gently. "Because she had already enlisted him."

My chest tightened painfully.

"What?" I demanded. "Why would she do that?"

"Because the rebels prey on desperation," he said smoothly. "They whisper promises of change. Of justice. They take mothers who feel powerless and twist that pain into treason."

I shook my head, struggling to reconcile his words with Lydia’s trembling hands and sad eyes.

"That doesn’t make her evil," I said weakly.

"It makes her dangerous," he replied. "Never said she was evil."

My throat burned.

"What will happen to her?" I asked quietly.

"She’ll stand trial," he said. "And she’ll be punished according to the law."

The finality in his voice drained all the strength from my legs.

I swayed slightly, and instantly his arms were around me, solid and firm, holding me upright.

"I didn’t tell you to protect you," he murmured against my hair. "You’re pregnant. Vulnerable. You don’t need the weight of this world on your shoulders."

I shrunk into his arms and softened at his voice.

I melted completely at his warm embrace.

"She was good to me," I whispered.

"I know," he said. "And I’m sorry. But once your wolf is unleashed, once the veil is lifted, we won’t need to make these choices anymore."

The words were meant to comfort.

They chilled me instead and I became worried.

I was sad.

"I need some rest," I said, pulling away gently.

"Of course," he replied. "I’ll have dinner sent to your room if that would be helpful to you."

I nodded in agreement.

That night, I ate alone.

The food was exquisite. Perfectly seasoned. Carefully prepared.

I barely tasted any of it.

The room felt too big.

Too quiet.

I lay back against the pillows, one hand resting over my stomach, the other clenched tight against my chest.

I missed them.

Xaden.

Fiona.

Erik.

Otto.

Kire.

Xaden whom I had sworn I never wanted to see in my entire life.

And yet here I was missing him.

I missed laughter that wasn’t careful. Voices that weren’t measured. Love that didn’t come with expectations.

Even with my father only rooms away, I felt utterly alone.

I reminded myself why I was here.

The King and Queen who betrayed me.

The sentence of death.

The pack that would never stop hunting us.

This was safety.

This was protection.

For my child.

I hardened my heart around that truth until it felt sharp enough to hurt.

Sleep came slowly.

Restlessly.

And then later at night.

I woke.

The room glowed faintly.

Tiny points of light hovered near the window, drifting lazily through the air.

Fireflies.

My breath hitched.

They floated in a loose trail, pulsing softly, beckoning.

Follow the fireflies by midnight.

It was fascinating

The servant’s whisper echoed in my mind.

If I wanted to find Lydia follow the fireflies.

My heart pounded violently.

Lydia.

Rebels.

My father’s voice.

Father would be worried for me.

I could hear putting myself in harm’s way.

Fear warred with curiosity until curiosity won.

I swung my legs over the bed, moving slowly, quietly.

The fireflies drifted toward the door.

And against every instinct telling me to stay, I followed them.

Barefoot.

Silent.

Into the night.