The Cursed Alpha Prince's Replacement Bride

{Third Person}

The atmosphere in Elowen’s had become considerably lighter.

The serious topics had gradually faded away, replaced by something far more important.

Ginger.

The cat had somehow become the centre of attention. At first, Ginger clearly disapproved.

The moment Hazel reached toward her, the cat immediately buried herself deeper into Amara’s arms and turned her head away with all the dignity of an offended noblewoman.

Rachel laughed. "She doesn’t like us."

"She likes me," Davina argued.

The moment she reached out, Ginger narrowed her eyes and tucked her paws closer to herself. That only made everyone laugh harder.

Even Amara struggled to keep a straight face. "You see?" she said. "She’s always like this."

After several failed attempts and a great deal of persuasion, Ginger finally decided the humans around her were worthy of acknowledgement.

The cat reluctantly allowed herself to be carried.

Hazel looked victorious while Rachel looked jealous. Davina immediately demanded her turn.

Amara simply watched the chaos with amusement.

Eventually, Rachel scratched Ginger gently beneath the chin before looking toward Amara. "Where did you even find her?"

The others immediately looked interested.

"It never occurred to me before," Hazel admitted. "I didn’t think people kept pets here."

Amara immediately shook her head. "That’s because they don’t."

The answer surprised them. "They don’t?"

"No." Amara smiled. "The first time I took Ginger shopping with me, people stared at me the entire time."

That immediately caught their attention.

"The entire time?" Rachel asked.

"Yes." Amara nodded. "They couldn’t stop looking."

A grin slowly spread across Davina’s face, then she burst out laughing. Hazel followed immediately afterward. Even Rachel struggled to contain herself.

Amara frowned. "What?"

Hazel wiped at her eyes. "Amara."

"What?"

"You were literally carrying their food around."

The room erupted into another round of laughter.

Amara stared at them. "That’s not funny."

"It is a little funny."

"Very funny."

Amara rolled her eyes. "You all are impossible."

Davina was still laughing. "Imagine being a werewolf and seeing a human carrying a cat around like a treasured child."

Rachel grinned. "They probably thought you were strange."

"They definitely thought I was strange," Amara finally admitted.

That only made everyone laugh harder. Once the laughter finally settled, Hazel glanced toward Amara.

"So why keep her?"

The question caused Amara to pause briefly, then she looked down at Ginger. The cat was currently resting comfortably in Davina’s arms.

"I was lonely." A small smile appeared on Amara’s face. "When I first arrived here, I didn’t know anyone."

Her friends listened carefully.

"So His Highness gave her to me."

Immediately, three pairs of eyes locked onto her. Amara instantly regretted speaking.

"The Alpha Prince?" Hazel leaned forward.

Amara already knew where this was going. "Yes."

Rachel grinned. "He gave you a cat."

Amara sighed. "Because I was lonely," she immediately corrected.

Davina’s smile widened. "That sounds thoughtful."

"It was."

The three girls exchanged looks. Amara recognized those looks. She had seen them before, usually in their letters. And usually right before they started teasing her.

"No."

Her warning came immediately, but nobody listened.

Hazel smiled. "He notices when you’re lonely."

"No."

Rachel joined in. "And buys gifts for you."

"No."

Davina looked delighted. "And lets you keep them."

Amara pinched the bridge of her nose. "That’s not—"

"Oh, it absolutely is."

"It isn’t."

The three girls completely ignored her. The conversation quickly deteriorated from there.

Every explanation Amara offered only seemed to encourage them further.

By the time she realized she was losing the battle, her friends were already enjoying themselves far too much to stop.

Meanwhile, far away in the Queen’s palace, the atmosphere was considerably less cheerful.

Lysandra sat quietly while receiving the latest reports.

The moment she learned that Alexander had regained consciousness and that the King had even visited him that morning, her mood worsened considerably.

A small part of her had hoped the poison would accomplish what years of plotting had failed to achieve. Instead, Alexander was awake and recovering. And apparently strong enough to leave his bed.

The news irritated her. Unfortunately, there was little she could do about it, so she concealed her displeasure and turned her attention elsewhere.

"What of the investigation?"

The attendant lowered her head. "No culprit has been identified yet, Your Majesty."

Lysandra nodded slowly. That answer was not particularly surprising. The scheme involving the incense had been carefully planned.

Whoever orchestrated it clearly knew what they were doing.

For a brief moment, her thoughts drifted toward Zarek. Her primary concern remained unchanged.

She did not want the drug hidden in Alexander’s wine traced back to her son. At the same time, she was increasingly curious about the individual responsible for the poisoned incense.

Whoever they were, they had nearly implicated Zarek in the process. And that alone made them very dangerous.

"Continue monitoring the investigation."

"Yes, Your Majesty," the attendant replied, then withdrew from her side.

Left alone, Lysandra slowly tapped her fingers against the armrest of her chair. Sooner or later, someone would make a mistake.

And when they did, she intended to know about it first.

---

Elsewhere, Alexander was also receiving reports.

He listened quietly as one of the servants informed him that Amara was currently visiting Princess Elowen’s residence.

More specifically, she was meeting with her friends from the Human Kingdom.

Alexander merely nodded. The information did not surprise him, nor did he comment on it.

After the servant departed, Barron spoke up. "There is another matter."

Alexander looked toward him. Barron’s smile appeared unusually satisfied. "Lila Caldwell."

Immediately, Alexander understood. "What about her?"

Barron’s expression brightened further. This was the perfect invitation for him. "She was caught loitering around Elowen’s residence."

Alexander raised an eyebrow. It was the audacity in that odd movement that caught his attention.

"The guards arrested her." Barron continued.

A brief silence followed, then Alexander asked, waiting for the remaining information, "And?"

"They didn’t recognize her." Then his smile widened. "So she was thrown into a holding cell."

Alexander looked entirely unsurprised.

Barron folded his arms. "I was thinking of leaving her there for the night," he said out loud. His expression suggested he had already made up his mind.

"This seems like an excellent opportunity to teach her a lesson I didn’t get to teach her during the banquet."

Alexander considered the matter for all of two seconds, then he returned his attention to his tea.

"Do as you wish."

That was all the approval Barron needed. The grin on his face became impossible to hide.

---

By the time evening arrived, Amara finally parted ways with her friends.

The reunion had lasted much longer than she expected. Not that she minded.

For the first time in months, she had been able to laugh freely with people who knew her long before she became the Alpha Prince’s political bride.

As she left Elowen’s residence with Ginger nestled comfortably in her arms, she felt lighter and happier.

The worries of the previous night seemed a little more distant now.

The palace grounds glowed beneath the evening light as she made her way back toward the Alpha Prince’s residence.

Ginger yawned.

Amara smiled and scratched behind the cat’s ears. The day had started with fear and uncertainty, yet somehow, as she returned home that evening, she found herself feeling content.

At least for now.

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Night had already fallen over the royal palace by the time Barron decided to pay Lila a visit.

Dinner had long since concluded. Most of the palace had settled into a quieter rhythm, but the holding cells near the palace guard barracks remained active as guards changed shifts and prisoners were checked on for the night.

Barron arrived wearing a mask.

The dark mask concealed the upper half of his face, leaving only his mouth visible. Combined with the dim lighting inside the detention area, there was little chance of Lila recognizing him.

The guards stationed there immediately straightened when they saw him. "My Lord."

Barron nodded. "Has she been troublesome?"

The guards exchanged glances, then one of them coughed. "Extremely."

Barron smiled. "Excellent."

The guards wisely said nothing. A few moments later, Barron was standing outside a particular cell.

Inside, Lila sat on a narrow wooden bench. Her hair was slightly dishevelled. Her dress was no longer pristine.

But most importantly, she looked furious.

The moment she noticed someone approaching, she immediately stood. Finally. Someone with authority. Someone sensible. Someone who would realize a terrible mistake had been made.

Unfortunately for her, the man standing outside her cell seemed to be enjoying himself far too much.

"Who are you?" Lila frowned.

Barron ignored the question and leisurely examined the cell. "Hm."

The sound immediately annoyed her. "What is that supposed to mean?"

Barron tilted his head slightly. "The accommodations are a little lacking."

Lila’s eyes widened. "You think?"

The sarcasm went completely ignored.

Barron folded his arms and said calmly, "Although I suppose they are appropriate." The smile in his voice was unmistakable.

Lila stared, then realization dawned. He was mocking her immediately, without even introducing himself.

Her temper flared.