The Lost Princess Book 3
Auteur·e
Holly Prange
Lectures
77,1K
Chapitres
31
In a world where the supernatural and human realms collide, Zinnia and Aaron navigate love, trauma, and danger. As they struggle to find normalcy, they are drawn into a battle against dark forces threatening their pack and the Fae Realm. With elemental magic, fierce loyalty, and a bond that transcends realms, they must confront their pasts and fight for their future. Will their love be enough to overcome the darkness?
Chapter 102
Book Three
Everly is carrying the Alphaâs baby, and itâs brought them closer than theyâve ever been. But a war is on the horizon between the Northern and Southern packs, and magical forces are threatening to complicate the pregnancy. Everly and Logan will have to trust in their bond and find strength in each other if theyâre going to face whatâs comingâŠ
EVERLY
Life sure is strangeâŠ
After everything Iâve been through, Iâm starting to get the hang of it.
It seems like every time you find a moment of peace, everything changes all over again.
This is one of those stories.
Up until now, Iâd won my freedom, defeated my masters, faced my demonsâŠ
Iâd spent most of my life dealing with my past.
âBut that was about to change, even though I didnât know it yet.
When this story started, I was content knowing that having faced my past, I finally had a future to look forward to.
âWE had a future.
Logan and I could do anything, as long as we were together.
Little did I know that soon, everything would changeâEVERYTHING was about to changeâŠ
Like any good story, it started with something simple:
A knock on the door.
NINE MONTHS EARLIER
âHello?â
Someoneâs hereâitâs not Logan.
As she clears her throat behind the door, I know exactly who it isâŠ
âEverly,â she says, âitâs me.â
My face heats up. I stand, filled with anticipation.
âOne second,â I manage to say.
Could this be it?
The thought makes my head spin and I quickly throw a robe over my shoulders, my fingers trembling. I hurry to the door, unable to contain my excitement.
When I open it, Sophie, the Pack Doctor, is standing there with a clipboard in her hand.
Sophie is usually neat and tidy, but right now she looks like sheâs been running. Sheâs sweaty and her usually perfect hair is a mess.
My stomach sinks.
âTell me itâs good news!â I say, out of breath.
Then, the biggest smile Iâve ever seen spreads across her face.
Oh. My. Goddess.
âThe results are back,â she says. âItâs good news.â
LOGAN
âThereâs trouble brewing in the North!â Harrison continues.
I tap my fingers on the large red table in front of me. As always, the council meeting has dragged on all morning, and as usual, all I can think about is Everly.
In the council chambers, the room is split in two: to my left, my mother and father sit, their postures perfect and their attention fully on the meeting.
My grandmother is next to them, tending to the fireplace. She catches my eye. I can still see the familiar twinkle in her eye as she notices me daydreaming. She smiles and gestures to the other side of the room.
Listen, she tells me through the mind-link.
I groan.
To my right sits the rest of the council. They are a group of old, grumpy wolves who have caused me nothing but trouble over the years.
Elder Harrison, the head of the council, is still droning on. Whenever he talks, his thin beard bounces below his mouth.
It would have put me to sleep if I didnât hate every word coming out of it.
ââDonât you agree, Alpha Logan? Thereâs trouble in the North?â His monotonous speech finally ends.
Everly, please, save me!
Iâm trying to reach her through our mind-link, but sheâs not responding.
I stand up.
âYou know,â I say, âI canât remember the last time there wasnât trouble in the North. Those packs are always growling at us Southernersâitâs funny how quickly the news reaches usâŠâ
Some of the council members turn slightly red, not Harrison. He keeps his gaze on me.
âYou invaded their territory,â he snaps. âLast year, it didnât go unnoticed that our Alphaââ
I wonât stand for this.
âThatâs what I am, right?â I snap back. âYour alpha?â
Heâs speechless.
âBecause I clearly remember,â I continue, âthat you and the other councilors tried your best to replace me!â
Elder Harrison stands. Iâm about to lose it if he says another word.
âWe didnât have much of a choiceââ
Just as my wolf is about to take over, I feel something hit the back of my leg.
âEnough.â
My grandmotherâs face is stern. She picks up her walking stick.
I calm my wolf. If it had been anyone else, I wouldnât have backed down, but I take a deep breath and sit back down.
My father catches my eye.
âLogan, try to be diplomatic.â
âThe councilâs job is to inform you of all Northern movements,â my mother adds.
I take a deep breath.
Iâm sick of all this. I just want to be with Everly.
Ever since she became my mate, itâs been nothing but chaos.
Now that weâre finally at peace, the last thing I want to do is spend my afternoons listening to these old wolves grumble. I have other things on my mind, and none of it has to do with the North.
âAs I was saying,â Harrison continues, âitâs not too late. A diplomatic solution between North and South is still possibleââ
No way
Everly is back on the mind-link and sheâs buzzing with excitement.
I feel a jolt of energy, like Iâve been plugged back in.
My mate. Her voice. Itâs like a balm, soothing every inch of my body.
Everly! Whatâs happening? Iâve been trying toâ
She cuts me off.
Come to me, Logan. Come find me. Now.
I sit up straight.
I think I understand what this means. Suddenly, I feel as light as a feather. As soon as I hear these words, Iâm alive again. This could really be it this timeâŠ
I rise from my leather chair again.
âGot something else to add, Alpha Logan?â Harrison taunts.
As I turn, I make sure my alpha strength is on full display and with just a glance, all the council members squirm in their seats.
âYou all wanted me gone. You say you had no choice.â I say. âWell, when I did come back from the underworldâI remember your neck pressed between my teeth, Elder Harrison. Donât make me regret letting you live.â
His face turns beet red. My grandmother shakes her head.
âI am the alpha of this pack,â I continue. âIâm not letting you manipulate me any longer. I wonât stand by while the North tortures their human subjects. Nothing is worth that, not even peace.â
I stand by my last words, but I feel strange as they leave my mouth. I fix my gaze on the door, and as Iâm about to leave, all I can hear is low chatter.
With one last look around them, my eyes land on Harrison.
âBesides, the Northern packs are our enemiesâor did you forget that?â
As I stride into the hallway, Iâve never felt more free. Everly is nearby. I can hear her footsteps. My heart pounds in my ears as she rounds the corner.
Goddess. She looks so beautiful. Her long black hair that is usually in a ponytail flows freely down her shoulders, and she is draped in a silk dressing gown. Sheâs not even wearing shoes!
âEverly,â I say, losing my words.
Without wasting a moment, her eyes glowing at the sight of me, she wraps her arms around me and pulls me close.
All I can see are her eyes, and I feel the warmth of her breath.
âI love you so much,â she says.
âI love you too.â
My heart is racing so fast itâs about to burst.
âWhat did you want to tell me?â
She pulls back, and I can see tears welling in her eyes.
âLogan,â she says, âIâm pregnant.â
âWhat!? I canât believe it!â I exclaim, my hands shaking as I pull her deep into my chest and hold her close.
My head is spinning. Finally!!!
âYouâre going to be a father, Logan!â Everly says.
The tears stream down her face. At this moment, Iâve never been so happy. With all my strength, taken by some unseen energy, I pick her up in my arms.
âAlpha Logan!â she purrs.
Without a word, I carry her through the hallway and toward our room. Around me, I can hear an excited buzz rising.
I know full well that the pack can feel what is going on through the pack mind-link, but I donât have time for them right now. Now, itâs just me and my mate.
When we get into the bedroom, all I want to do is throw my mate onto the bed. Instead, I pause, lowering her down gently, our eyes meeting and I lean forward and kiss her sweet plump lips.
âThis is the happiest day of my life,â I tell her.
Through her tears, I can hear her agree.
I place my hand on her belly and I tremble with excitement.
âWhatever happens,â I say, âeverything is about our child now, Everly. Everything.â
She raises a hand to my cheek and nods.
âOur daughter, Logan,â Everly says. âSheâs a girl!â
âThat's amazing news,â I whisper. âItâs just what we wanted.â
Totally in a trance, I lay back and Everly clambers onto my chest.
Everything I need in the world is right in my arms.
Peace. Weâre finally at peaceâŠ
I think back to my words in the council. Suddenly, conflict with the North scares me a little more.
âEverything okay?â Everly asks.
Sheâs looking up at me with her beautiful, wide eyes.
âThe most important thing,â I whisper, âis that you and our daughter are safe, my love. No harm will ever come to either of youâno matter what it costs.â
