All Chapters of Captured by the Cruel Alpha: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

54 Chapters

Failed Negotiations

*Varek*“What are you offering?” I narrow my eyes at her. “Better yet, what are you willing to pay for me to play along?”“You don’t have anything to bargain with.”“How many people do you know for certain you can’t compel?” Her eyes glint. “And how many people who are now in your castle would leave the moment they know their prize is more trouble than she’s worth?”My jaw tightens.“You think that’s enough to keep you safe?” I ask. "Some men would just purchase you to ruin you."She tilts her head. "Would you send me to a man like that?"I set my jaw. The answer is obvious, but I can't admit that she's seen more of my character, or guessed more of it, than is comfortable for me. It wouldn't be the first time someone used my moral compass against me.“Didn't think so,” she replies smoothly. “Though that begs the question of what price you're looking for.”Heat crawls up the back of my neck. I want to tear her out of that chair, and I clench my fists, pulling back from where that thoug

Threatened

*Varek*My stomach lurches as I realize exactly where they’re headed.I start forward to intercept them. Her eyes are on Cara, her husband, and Dante. I know in my gut that she's trying to give Liora a chance to talk to her sister, and she might succeed, but my heart is racing for a wholly different reason as I note that her gaze isn't focused on Cara. She is looking at Dante. Dante's back is to her, but that doesn't make her slow or call out to him. She gets a gleeful look on her face and releases Liora's hand a few paces away from being in striking distance. Without pausing, she rears back and throws a punch.I stop watching her. I can see the moment Dante feels the blow coming toward him. A twitch surfaces in his shoulder before her fist is even halfway between them. In a whirl of movement, Dante spins around, catching her wrist easily, as if he’s done it a hundred times before. His eyes burn that unnatural blue, full of animosity for a moment. His teeth pull back into a snarl befo

Little Things

*Fiona*The way Liora lowers her eyes and obeys with the stiffness of a soldier who no longer wants to serve, hurts, but I'm going to fix it. He is not going to ruin her first night in a pretty dress because he's petty and jealous. I almost growl at him. I want to smack him off his stupid high horse and shove his face in the damage he's causing by dying on this hill.Whatever happened between Cara and her past lover was years ago. She is married and pregnant with the man he chose. Why is he still so pissed off about it? Why punish Liora for his grudge against her sister? Maybe I'm wrong and it's not about Cara, but about me that he's pulled Liora away. That makes me feel worse, honestly. He was definitely jealous seeing me with Dante. I knew it before he even spoke, just based on how he came over. I might have enjoyed it, too. Watching Varek's control crack is the best entertainment I've had since coming to Caldara. I turn back to find that Cara’s eyes are on me. For a moment, I see

Impromptu Mating Ball

*Fiona*Once upon a time, this sort of gathering would have been more of a mating ball, but with all the turmoil that had plagued the entire continent over the years, no one trusted anyone enough to invite them behind their defenses or to go somewhere they would be outnumbered, but they had all come here. I don’t remember all the rules about mating balls, but I know that at least it’s essentially a guarantee for peace.Whatever Lucian is doing, it doesn't seem to be in that vein, but I can hope that the connections I’m making and the conversations being started across the hall are enough to make it difficult to carry out. So long as food is provided, someone’s marriage ends up being planned, and enough people get drunk, this night should pull on everyone’s mutual cultural understanding of a mating ball and, hopefully, inspire peace. Across the room, Cara hasn’t moved. She watches me like a hawk, but I can see understanding starting to dawn in her eyes. Surprisingly, her husband is mi

Father vs. Daughter

*Fiona*My father sets his jaw, looking me over and faltering before thrusting his chin up. I'm sure the urge to scold me is burning him, but he doesn't say a word because he knows he can't. He knows he’s in the wrong. He has to know that after all of this—the contract, the siege, the time that has passed since I was taken from Solara—that he has no excuse. The same irritation from what feels like a lifetime ago boils in my veins again. The sight of my sister standing in the middle of Caldara’s great hall, dressed like some prize lamb ready to be led to slaughter, makes my stomach twist until I want to retch. Elara looks too young in the gown. She might be nineteen, but she's still soft and delicate. She looks like a child in an adult's gown, with how her nerves and discomfort are written so plainly across her face. It’s too revealing. She looks like a prostitute, not a princess—a very young, inexperienced, terrified prostitute.My father stands beside her, chin high, eyes cold and p

She's a Matchmaker

*Fiona*Elara bursts into laughter."I didn't think you could make female friends; you must be a warrior like her."My face heats, and Liora laughs."It's a pleasure to meet you, Elara," Liora says, tilting her head. “I hope you're better company than your sister."Elara curtsies, and I scoff. "By all means, make jokes at my expense."I squeeze Elara's hand and lower my voice to whisper."Stay with her,” I whisper. “Don’t stray from her side, do you understand? Not for a moment. And don’t you dare go anywhere near Father or the Hyath delegation.”Her brows knit. “Fiona—”“Promise me,” I say, staring into her eyes.She swallows and nods slowly. “I promise.”I nod and look at Liora. “Keep her safe. Please.”Liora’s gaze softens almost imperceptibly. She gives one short nod. “I will.”The promise eases a bit of my concern, leaving me with nothing but anger and purpose. I need to talk to Varek. I know he hasn't seen it, but he can't turn a blind eye to the facts. Will he even listen to me

He's Jealous

*Varek*Fiona smiles at him with the softest gaze. It's not the warmth she has for Dante, but watching her walk on his arm makes me grind my teeth together. I can't focus on what Lucian's sister and this man are talking about. I don't even remember who he is or if he's worth dangling her in front of. The simpering courtesans irritate me, and my attention keeps drifting back over to where Fiona, the man, and a king and queen talk. I suppose they're his parents. He leads her away from his parents towards the dance floor, and I nearly lose it. Every turn they take, the way his hand rests on her waist and her hand in his scrapes against my nerves until the wolf in me paces, snarling.I tear my gaze away and notice the little clusters of people together, talking. Ronan is among a group of alpha kings talking, his cousin at his side, looking every bit the noble lady of Caldara, as is Lucian. Liora is with a much younger girl, draped in a cloak bearing the Solaran crest, speaking with an un

The Truth About Caldara

*Fiona*None of us moves. Lucian’s sister sneers at me and goes pale. The suggestion of his being killed seems to unnerve her, and it should, especially if her brother fails at his little coup and drags half the continent into Varek’s bloody path. I watch Varek's expression, the way it hardens and sharpens as he looks at me. His jaw flexes, his wolf pressing close to the surface, and for a moment I think he’ll bare his teeth at me. Instead, he snaps his head toward Lucian’s sister.“Back to the hall.”Lucian’s sister blinks. “But—”“Now,” he says, his voice heavy and sharp with a compulsion.His power coils through the air. Her resistance snaps. She bows her head and turns stiffly on her heel, retreating back to the hall. She casts a hot glare at me as she passes, but she's smart enough to avoid bumping into me.Varek doesn’t even watch her go. He crosses the space between us in a few, quick strides. His hand clamps around my arm, and he drags me farther down the corridor. I don’t res

Leaps and Bounds

*Fiona*His eyes flash. His jaw clenches, the muscles ticking, and he can’t meet my gaze. He suddenly looked so much younger, unsure, caught off guard. I’d almost say cute. His mouth opens, closes again.“I—” He swallows the rest with an uncomfortable look on his face. He is fumbling. I should enjoy it, but I don’t have the time right now. “This isn’t—”“Stop.” I don’t let him gather himself. I step into the heat of his body, lifting my chin so he can’t avoid looking at me. “None of that matters right now. Not your pride, not mine, or us. None of that matters. You’ve packed this fortress with wolves and kings and men who would gladly gut you in your own hall. You think you can posture your way out of that? You can’t.”His nostrils flare. His hand twitches like he means to grab me, to hold me still, but he doesn’t. He just stares, every line of his body rigid, as though if he moves even an inch, he’ll do something he might regret. “I’m telling you, Varek,” I press, softer now, but fie

The Gates

*Fiona*He sounds furious, and when I look up at the mechanisms above us, I understand why. Thick chains wound around heavy-looking wheels and gears. Some of them seem to be missing, but not all of them. There were huge pieces of wood jammed between them. Lucian had done this in a hurry, but it was clear he meant for the gates to remain closed. Varek approaches, ripping the wood from between the gears and the chains off the wheels.“Get the other side.”I set my sword nearby and follow suit, striking the chains and pulling the wood out. I clear the gears at the same time he does, but he looks no less irritated, staring up. His eyes are burning red in the dark night."Bastard."I look up to where he's looking and wince. The main crank that would open the gates is no longer connected. The chain has been cut."How else do we open it?""Manually."He lifts something and breaks something else before disappearing into a small opening in the stonework. I hear him cursing and hissing. He grun

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