The Alpha Prince's Abused Mate Chapter 37

Alana

“Alana?” Francine woke me up from my deep thoughts a few hours into our journey.

“Yes?”

“We have to stop by at a hotel for the night to rest. The bridge is under construction so we have to find another route. We cannot afford you to travel without proper rest. Is it okay with you?”

I nodded and looked out the bright moon outside. There is a nagging heavy feeling that is settling inside me and I know better the reason for it. I am far away from my mate now. I crave for his presence but I cannot just go back again.

My heart aches and there is no second in this trip where my tears did not fill my eyes.

“Alright, Francine. You guys need to sleep too. Let’s stop at the nearest one.”

We stopped by at a five-star hotel to rest for the night but the guards are still outside guarding us. The second the hotel staff learned that we are the official representatives from the castle, they did not charge anything to us at all and upgraded our room into a presidential suite.

I just took the common room but they insisted that I take the VIP suite so I just let them be because they told me they are trying to get to the good side of the alpha prince who is supervising the hotel industry.

Anything that would have anything to do with William, I am willing to do it.

“Francine, do you think I should have accepted the offer of the alpha king to take us into my village by a private plane?” I asked her while she’s busy preparing something for my bath. “If I could have said yes, then I would not be bothering all of you now. We could have reached my village in a matter of hours.”

She touched the water in the bathtub and smiled when she’s satisfied with the temperature. “Do not think of any of that, please Alana. Whatever you want, Ms. Alana. We are only here to support you, ambassadress.”

I smiled awkwardly at her. I don’t think I would ever get used to being called that way. “Thank you.”

I took a bath and drank all the supplements I needed to but I still cannot sleep so I went over to the balcony and stared at the moon above. I wonder what William is doing now. Is he looking at the moon now? Is he still thinking of me too just like me to him?

“Can’t sleep?” Francine took a seat on the floor beside me.

I nodded and sighed. “I miss William so much. I want to see him.”

“Do you want to go back?”

I shook my head. Doubt is eating me up but I need to pursue this. I have to do this. “I want to but I should not. This is a big responsibility that the alpha king put on my shoulder. I should prove to him that I can do it.”

“Is that all there is?” she asked, prying with an understanding nudge on my arm.

In silence, I felt a little too vulnerable but it’s alright. Francine is someone I could freely let my thoughts and feelings out. William trusted her so I should trust her too.

“I also want to have my justice. The alpha king told me this is his way of giving me the justice that I deserved. I want to have that, Francine. I want to be whole for the first time in my life.”

“Are you ready to face them again? Remember what they did to you. Each one of them treated and abused you and they will likely do it again despite your title now. How will you show them the new Alana?”

Another silence filled the air.

Yes, she’s right. My father, stepmother, and stepsister will likely do that but am I afraid? A bit. Am I confident? A bit too.

“The alpha king trusted me to be here. And I am not the same Alana they know, Francine. William changed me. His love and care for me changed me for the better.”

She chuckled as if saying she’s proud of me. “I know you can do it. Whatever happens, please know that me, the alpha prince, and the rest of the team are only here for you. We will never leave you.”

That’s when a genuine smile appeared on my lips. “Thank you so much.”

I was able to fall asleep that night while dreaming of William when I was suddenly woken up by a frantic Francine.

“Alana! Alana! Wake up!”

I sat on the bed immediately and scanned the horrors on her face. “Why? Francine, what is happening?”

“Assassins. Some assassins are here for you. You are the target!”

Cold chill ran down my spine. It’s like I am back in that black foul room again.

“What?! But why?”

“We don’t know but one thing is for sure, whoever hired them wanted you dead.” She pulled me by my hand and draped a robe over my nightgown. “Come on. We have to leave. We have to take you into safety now.”

“How about the others?”

“They know what to do. Come on. We have to hurry.”

We ran outside the room straight into the emergency exit and into the back door of the hotel across the road into the deep forests when a familiar sound of my father’s weapon shot right into us towards Francine who fell to the ground.

“Francine!” I gasped and helped her to stand up.

Her shoulder is bleeding but she does not look like someone who has been hurt.

“Francine…” I uttered as I started tearing up.

“Don’t bother about me, Alana.” She took my hand and ran again. “We have to continue.”

Because of the tears blinding my eyes, I tripped on the fallen branch of a tree but before I could fall flat on the soil, a pair of strong arms caught my waist and hoisted me up again.

“Careful.”

My eyes widened as I turned around at the owner of the voice. “Lucas?”

He nodded and removed his arms around my body. “Yes, Alana.”

“Why are you here? What are you doing here?” I asked in a bewildered voice.

He sniffed the place and his eyes became alert. “I’ll answer the questions later. For now, we have to take care of you. The assassins are just nearby.”

That’s when I remembered what happened to Francine.

“We have to treat Francine first. One of the assassins hit her on the shoulder.”

“I am okay, Alana,” she refused. “Lucas, make sure to take Alana into the safe place. We have anticipated this and have planned for this already. I have to call William to tell him about this.”

I immediately grabbed her arm and shook my head fervently. “Francine, no. You cannot tell him about what happened. I don’t want him to worry about me. Please, I am begging you.”