The Lost Princess Book 3
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Holly Prange
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Hoofdstukken
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Chapter 102
Book Three
Everly is carrying the Alpha’s baby, and it’s brought them closer than they’ve 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 they’re going to face what’s coming…
EVERLY
Life sure is strange…
After everything I’ve been through, I’m 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, I’d won my freedom, defeated my masters, faced my demons…
I’d spent most of my life dealing with my past.
—But that was about to change, even though I didn’t 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.
—WE had a future.
Logan and I could do anything, as long as we were together.
Little did I know that soon, everything would change—EVERYTHING was about to change…
Like any good story, it started with something simple:
A knock on the door.
NINE MONTHS EARLIER
“Hello?”
Someone’s here—it’s not Logan.
As she clears her throat behind the door, I know exactly who it is…
“Everly,” she says, “it’s me.”
My face heats up. I stand, filled with anticipation.
“One second,” 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 she’s been running. She’s sweaty and her usually perfect hair is a mess.
My stomach sinks.
“Tell me it’s good news!” I say, out of breath.
Then, the biggest smile I’ve ever seen spreads across her face.
Oh. My. Goddess.
“The results are back,” she says. “It’s good news.”
LOGAN
“There’s trouble brewing in the North!” 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 didn’t hate every word coming out of it.
“—Don’t you agree, Alpha Logan? There’s trouble in the North?” His monotonous speech finally ends.
Everly, please, save me!
I’m trying to reach her through our mind-link, but she’s not responding.
I stand up.
“You know,” I say, “I can’t remember the last time there wasn’t trouble in the North. Those packs are always growling at us Southerners—it’s funny how quickly the news reaches us…”
Some of the council members turn slightly red, not Harrison. He keeps his gaze on me.
“You invaded their territory,” he snaps. “Last year, it didn’t go unnoticed that our Alpha—”
I won’t stand for this.
“That’s what I am, right?” I snap back. “Your alpha?”
He’s speechless.
“Because I clearly remember,” I continue, “that you and the other councilors tried your best to replace me!”
Elder Harrison stands. I’m about to lose it if he says another word.
“We didn’t have much of a choice—”
Just as my wolf is about to take over, I feel something hit the back of my leg.
“Enough.”
My grandmother’s face is stern. She picks up her walking stick.
I calm my wolf. If it had been anyone else, I wouldn’t have backed down, but I take a deep breath and sit back down.
My father catches my eye.
“Logan, try to be diplomatic.”
“The council’s job is to inform you of all Northern movements,” my mother adds.
I take a deep breath.
I’m sick of all this. I just want to be with Everly.
Ever since she became my mate, it’s been nothing but chaos.
Now that we’re 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.
“As I was saying,” Harrison continues, “it’s not too late. A diplomatic solution between North and South is still possible—”
No way
Everly is back on the mind-link and she’s buzzing with excitement.
I feel a jolt of energy, like I’ve been plugged back in.
My mate. Her voice. It’s like a balm, soothing every inch of my body.
Everly! What’s happening? I’ve been trying to—
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, I’m alive again. This could really be it this time…
I rise from my leather chair again.
“Got something else to add, Alpha Logan?” 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.
“You all wanted me gone. You say you had no choice.” I say. “Well, when I did come back from the underworld—I remember your neck pressed between my teeth, Elder Harrison. Don’t make me regret letting you live.”
His face turns beet red. My grandmother shakes her head.
“I am the alpha of this pack,” I continue. “I’m not letting you manipulate me any longer. I won’t stand by while the North tortures their human subjects. Nothing is worth that, not even peace.”
I stand by my last words, but I feel strange as they leave my mouth. I fix my gaze on the door, and as I’m about to leave, all I can hear is low chatter.
With one last look around them, my eyes land on Harrison.
“Besides, the Northern packs are our enemies—or did you forget that?”
As I stride into the hallway, I’ve 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. She’s not even wearing shoes!
“Everly,” 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.
“I love you so much,” she says.
“I love you too.”
My heart is racing so fast it’s about to burst.
“What did you want to tell me?”
She pulls back, and I can see tears welling in her eyes.
“Logan,” she says, “I’m pregnant.”
“What!? I can’t believe it!” I exclaim, my hands shaking as I pull her deep into my chest and hold her close.
My head is spinning. Finally!!!
“You’re going to be a father, Logan!” Everly says.
The tears stream down her face. At this moment, I’ve never been so happy. With all my strength, taken by some unseen energy, I pick her up in my arms.
“Alpha Logan!” 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 don’t have time for them right now. Now, it’s 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.
“This is the happiest day of my life,” I tell her.
Through her tears, I can hear her agree.
I place my hand on her belly and I tremble with excitement.
“Whatever happens,” I say, “everything is about our child now, Everly. Everything.”
She raises a hand to my cheek and nods.
“Our daughter, Logan,” Everly says. “She’s a girl!”
“That's amazing news,” I whisper. “It’s just what we wanted.”
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. We’re finally at peace…
I think back to my words in the council. Suddenly, conflict with the North scares me a little more.
“Everything okay?” Everly asks.
She’s looking up at me with her beautiful, wide eyes.
“The most important thing,” I whisper, “is that you and our daughter are safe, my love. No harm will ever come to either of you—no matter what it costs.”
