The Princess's Revenge Chapter 33

Valencia’s POV

"Alpha!" I breathed, my voice barely above a whisper.

His striking gray eyes found mine immediately, and I saw them widen with shock. His gaze traveled over my blood-stained chemise, the cuts on my arms, the dried blood on my face and hands.

"Valencia," he said, his voice sharp with command. "Come here. Now."

I stood frozen, suddenly aware that everyone in the room was staring at me. Dorian, Xander, the wounded warriors - all their eyes were on me. My feet felt rooted to the stone floor.

"Valencia," Alpha Logan's voice was harder now. "Come to me."

This time I forced my legs to move. I walked toward him slowly, stepping carefully around the scattered food and broken pottery. When I reached him, his arms shot out and pulled me against his chest.

The embrace was crushing. His arms wrapped around me so tightly I could barely breathe. I felt his face press into my hair, his breath hot against my ear. My brain went completely blank. He was holding me like this in front of everyone, claiming me publicly again.

When I glanced over his shoulder, Amara’s face was twisted with jealousy. The look made my stomach clench with anxiety.

"Alpha," I whispered, my voice muffled against his chest. "You're... you're holding too tight."

He loosened his grip immediately but didn't let me go. Instead, he kept his right hand firmly on my shoulder, keeping me close to his side. His eyes swept over the room, taking in the destruction and the wounded warriors.

"Why the hell does she have blood all over her?" Alpha Logan's voice was deadly quiet as he stared at Dorian.

I felt panic flutter in my chest. I didn't want Dorian to get in trouble because of me.

"Alpha, it's not his fault," I said quickly. "I asked to join the fight. I wanted to help."

Dorian nodded rapidly. "Yes, Alpha. She insisted on fighting with us."

Alpha Logan's cold gaze shifted to me, and I saw something soften slightly in his expression."This is the last time you put yourself in danger like this."

I stared at him in shock. Why was Alpha Logan being so protective of me? I was just a slave. Slaves were supposed to be expendable, weren't they? The way he looked at me, the way he held me - it was like I actually mattered to him.

"Tell me what happened," he commanded Dorian. "Everything."

Dorian straightened up, his voice becoming formal. "Two explosions hit the courtyard during Isaiah's performance. At least thirty rogues attacked simultaneously. They hit multiple targets - the courtyard, the training grounds, and both storage rooms."

"Casualties?" Alpha Logan asked.

"Heavy," Dorian replied grimly. "We lost at least fifteen pack members, maybe more. Multiple warriors are wounded. The good news is that only the storage room was wrecked - the armory is okay."

I watched Dorian's face carefully as he continued his report to Alpha Logan. His expression was serious. He was telling Alpha Logan everything except the prisoners.

Why wasn't he telling Alpha Logan about the two rogues Xander had captured alive?

My heart raced as I realized what was happening. Dorian was deliberately leaving out crucial information. The same man who had been so eager to interrogate the prisoners himself was now pretending they didn't exist.

I opened my mouth to speak, then closed it again. Should I tell Alpha Logan about the prisoners? Would that get Dorian in trouble? But keeping this secret felt wrong. Maybe I should find a moment to talk to Alpha Logan privately instead.

"What are the current security arrangements?" Alpha Logan asked, his arm still wrapped protectively around my shoulders.

"I've posted guards at all entrances," Dorian replied quickly. "Double patrols around the perimeter. The wounded are being treated, and we're working to restore order throughout the castle."

"Alpha," Xander said. "Beta Dorian forgot to mention something important."

Dorian's face went white. "What?"

"The prisoners," Xander said firmly. "We captured two rogues alive during the fight. Orion and Rowan had taken them to the dungeons."

The temperature in the room seemed to drop ten degrees. Alpha Logan's grip on my shoulder tightened, and I felt his entire body go rigid. When I looked up at his face, his gray eyes were like ice.

"Prisoners?" Alpha Logan's voice was deadly quiet.

Dorian began to sweat. "I... yes, Alpha. I forgot to mention that. It was such a chaotic night, and—"

"You forgot," Alpha Logan repeated, his tone flat.

"Yes, Alpha. I'm sorry. With everything that happened, it just slipped my mind."

"Beta Dorian has been under enormous stress tonight, Alpha. He's been coordinating the entire defense effort. It's understandable that some details—" Amara stepped forward from behind Alpha Logan.

Alpha Logan's cold stare silenced her immediately. He turned back to Dorian, and I could see the Beta trembling.

"Two live prisoners," Alpha Logan said slowly. "Rogues who could provide information about who's organizing these attacks. And you forgot to mention them."

"Alpha, I—"

"Where are they now?" Alpha Logan demanded.

"In the dungeons, Alpha. Under guard."

Alpha Logan nodded once, his jaw clenched tight. "I'm going to interrogate them. Now."

Dorian's face turned gray. I could see panic in his eyes, though he was trying to hide it. Why was he so terrified of Alpha Logan questioning the prisoners?

"Alpha," I said quietly, my voice barely above a whisper.

He looked down at me, his expression softening slightly when he saw my face.

"What is it?"

"Could I... could I go check the second floor first? I need to know if Delphine is alive. Please. It's important to me."

His eyes went cold again. "No."

The word hit me like a physical blow. "Alpha—"

"I'm not letting you out of my sight," he said firmly. "Not for one second. Not after what happened tonight."

Disappointment crashed over me. I had been so worried about Delphine, so desperate to know if she had survived the attack. But I could see from Alpha Logan's expression that there was no room for argument.

"I understand," I said quietly, though my heart was breaking.

He turned back to Dorian. "You're going to the second floor. Find all the pack members who evacuated there. Get them organized. Help with cleaning the castle and caring for the wounded. Restore normal living order."

"Yes, Alpha," Dorian said quickly.

"And Dorian," Alpha Logan added, his voice carrying a warning.

"Yes?"

"Check if Delphine is among the survivors."

My heart leaped with gratitude. I quickly looked over at Alpha Logan - his face was still blank as ever.

"Of course, Alpha," Dorian replied. "I'll report back immediately."

His arm around me was like iron, keeping me pressed against his side. "We're going to the dungeons," he announced to the room.