The Alpha’s Mate Who Cried Wolf

Chapter 124

Maia

Leah and Jewel help me out of my second bath today, and wheni’m dry, I walk into my room and sit on

my bed

“Arms up!” Jewels instruct, and I throw my hands into the air.

Leah and Jewel pull a cream corset down my arms, over my head, and down past my underarms.

“Hands on your hips, Miss Maia,” Jewel instructs as she and Leah stand behind me. They work their

way up from the top of my backside and slowly upward, pulling at every piece of string, trying to kill me.

The corset is tight, my ribs are being forced inward, and Ican’t breathe.

“Are you trying to kill me?” I ask, melodramatically, gasping for air and holding my sternum, feeling

rather winded. Jewel and Leah laugh in hysterics at my reaction to the corset.

“Beauty is pain, Miss Maia,” Jewel says, her face reddened with laughter.

They tie the strings in a double knot at the top of the corset and tuck them into the corset, hidden away.

“What’s next? The dress, right?’ I ask, knowing it has to be the dress.

‘No, Miss. Your petticoat, they say, and I roll my eyes and would rather be duelling on the training fields

with Sir Hugo than endure any more of this domestic dressing.

‘Arms up. Jewel says, and they throw a sleeveless, foot-length, white petticoat down my arms and over

my head before I wriggle my arms through the armholes and exhale as best can.

They fling the olive-green dress with gold embroidery over my head, and I wrangle my arms into the

sleeves.

Finally, my dress brushes the floor. I stand in front of the mirror and admire myself.

Jewel smiles before asking me to sit down on the stool in front of the dressing table so she can do my

hair. She spends the next forty-five minutes backcombing my hair and covering it in a strong-smelling Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

lacquer.

‘What is this?’ I ask.

‘This? This is hair lacquer, Miss, Jewel says, her fingers oily from it, as she teases my hair into an

absolute mess.

Just when I think my hairstyle is going to be ridiculous, she pats down my hair, in sections, before

sleeking them back with her lacquered hands into a very voluminous bun.

She finishes off her handiwork with an enormous diamond $wan hairpiece, which she jabs into my hair

underneath the bun on the side. She sticks two long white feathers behind the swan and pins their

stems into my hair with the same weapon-like pins she used this morning. It does look pretty

Jewel asks me to sit on the bed, and I stand and go over to her and sit on the bed. She slips olive-

green, satin ball shoes onto my feet and then standa up and wonders what I think

go over to the mirror and look at my reflection again, and I don’t recognise myself. I look amazing, and I

only wish Damon could see me dressed like this, looking so royal, I look like a queen.

ARAMA King Darnon

The next day, we leave the tavern and walk around the village, searching for a tailor Tray, Zayden and I

browse the brezhe, quals cloaks, and tunics, while the girls browse the ball gowns.

Good dwy geritlerren How can I halp you? An older man sayo. He la around 52, halding, tan skinned,

with a

big nose, and a small chin and jaw.

‘We are going to the ball at West Wallow Castle tonight’ I explain, and he nods.

‘Zayden, what sort of outfit would you like to wear?’ I ask him.

I’d like a dark blue velvet coat, with a frilly collar, like a lizard he says, grinning.

‘And plain black breeches?’ I ask him, and he nods. The tailor has listened to our exchange, and he

disappears for a few moments before returning with everything Zayden described.

‘I hear it’s a masquerade ball?’ he smiles.

‘It is indeed. Do you have masks?’ I ask him.

“Yes, I have masks,’ he says as he retrieves a bundle for us to look through. I choose a black mask that

covers all of my forehead and my nose. It covers enough of my face that no one will be able to

recognise me.

Zayden comes out of another room to show us his outfit. He looks amazing.

‘Alright. We will take those, and he will need boots,’ I say, looking at his bare feet.

‘I have just the ones to match the tailor replies and leaves us momentarily.

He returns with leather boots with three silver buckles on the side.

‘Wow – they’re awesome.’ Zayden says.

The Tailor gives Troy a few outfits to try on.

Troy returns and smiles, happy with one of the outfits:

‘Yes. I’m happy to go with this, he says, looking up and down in the mirror.

‘l’ll have the same as my friend, but maybe I’ll go with an olive-green velvet coat, I say to the tailor. He

gathers all the pieces for my outfit and brings them to me.

‘How do I look?” I ask Troy and Zayden, standing in front of the mirror in the store.

‘Like you always do when we have a ball, Troy says, laughing, and Zayden laughs too. I adjust my

clothes, turning this way and that way to inspect it from all angles. Vivian and the girls have chosen

their gowns and accessories.

Vivian has chosen a floor-length, long-sleeved, emerald-blue dress in satin. Ella and Grace both chose

long-sleeved, Noor-length pale pink satin dresses. I leave the store five hundred gold coins poorer.

We return to the tavern.

Girls. Zayden. Troy and I have something to tell you, Vivian says, her hands clasped in her lap. The

girls and Zayden look up and listen.

Troy and I have decided that we are going to be together. We are going to be your mother and father

for all three of you, Vivian says, beaming with happiness.

“Really? The girls equeal and run up to Troy and hug him.

‘This means you’re our new father? They chirtie, and

Troy chuckles

It dorug dead he say, Jucking them both

.

m both

Congratulations, I say md shokolus hund

tayonn Minn into Vraan’s armi, and they lovingly embrace each other

Thanks, Troy says, and I don’t think they could be happier.

‘Right. We’re all dressed and ready?’ Vivian says to the kids, helping Zayden with the last buckle on his

boot

‘Yep!’ Zayden says, standing up and running down the tavern stairs after the girls, who are well ahead

of him

Arriving on the castle grounds, Vivian loops her arm through Troy’s and takes in everything around us.

There are lanterns lit every metre, and there are musicians playing a symphony at the top of the stairs

Split up and mind-link each other if we see her, I say.

After familiarising ourselves with our surroundings, I still hadn’t seen Maia yet. I kept making my way

through the crowd of people and looked around for her.

Any signs of her yet, Troy? I mind-link.

Sorry Alpha, not yet. Troy replies.

The ball is only just beginning, so she may not be here yet. Plus, I haven’t seen King Fenris yet either. I

link back.

Walking across the room, I lean my back against a pillar. Many women are giving me seductive looks

and slowly approaching me. I roll my eyes and sigh. The women are giggling and fanning their faces.

They attempt to hook their arms in mine.

‘Well, hello, handsome.’ One woman says. She stares into my eyes with a flirtatious look in her eyes.

I clear my throat, ‘I’m not interested, lady. I say.

She huffs and walks away, upset. The other women chase after her and comfort her from my rejection

‘Quiet! Quiet! The King and his royal guest have arrived, the castle crier announces in his loudest

voice. Everyone looks

to the main doorway, where King Fenris and Maia appear, as King Fenris guides her into the room.

“As you all know, we have a very special guest, blessing us with her presence, at West Wallow Castle

this evening the King says, and everyone cheers and claps. Then, King Fenris motions for everyone’s

silence, and his guests go quiet again.

Many of you have yet to meet the Forest Princess. I introduce to you all, my love, Princess Maia, the

Forest Princess, the King says, holding her hand in the air.

I’m angry at his words referring to my mate as his love.

Everyone is wild, with cheer and applause. My mouth drops at the full sight of Maia, wearing a

stunning, olive-green, satin ball gown. The feathers and diamond swan in her hair make her look like

the absolute royalty that she is. She smiles and works the room in that magical way of hers, I want to

run to her and smash my lips on hers. My wolf is stirring and becoming angry at the way King Fenris is

gazing into Maia’s eyes as they walk down the grand stairs. My chest is hurting, and I can feel my

claws trying to morph through my fingers,

Struggling to control myself, I knew I had to get out of here. So I walk out of the castle and over to the

nearby lake. Troy and Vivian, and the children follow me,

I don’t uriderstand. Maia doesn’t seem to be held here againat her will. She also seems happy, I say

sadly. Troy puts his hand on my shoulder

‘I know it doesn’t look good, but there’s an explanation, I’m sure. We need to go back in there and see

if we can talk to her and hope an opportunity arisea for us to take her back to Moon Crest Valley! Troy

says

‘You’re right. There has to be an explanation, Vivian? Do you think you can lue her away from the ball

briefly? | ask.

‘I will most definitely try Dannon she says

Now composed, I take a deep breath, ‘Okay. time to go back inside, I say.

King Fenris and Maia are dancing the waltz amongst other couples dancing with their partners. King

Fenris pecks Maia on the cheek, and she looks uncomfortable.”

My wolf wants to growl and tear his face off. I can feel myself sweating as I try to control my wolf again.

Once the dance is finished, other men and women approach Maia, complimenting her eyes and

beauty. King Fenris has his hand on her waist and follows her around as if she is some kind of prize he

has won.

Other men ask Maia for a dance with the approval of King Fenris. Of course, as much as I don’t like

other men dancing with her, she was very good at it and very graceful in her movements.

I have to have her. I need to hold her, to touch her. I need my mate back. As soon as she finished the

dance with the second man, I approach her and bow and reach my hand out to take hers.

‘Shall I have this dance, Princess?’ | ask. Maia smiles and takes my hand. She flinches back from the

touch of sparks.

I quickly take her hand before she can pull away again and pull her closer to me, she lets out a small

gasp, and we Waltz. Her eyes glisten from the tears forming in her eyes. She knows it’s me.

‘Damon, she whispers.

‘Yes, it’s me, Maia. I have been so worried about you.’ I whisper back.

‘What are you doing here?’ She whispers and looks over to see King Fenris is busy talking to his

Commander and General.

I’ve come here to save you, to bring you back home where you belong. I whispered back.

Maia’s breathing is now heavy. ‘Maia, what’s wrong? I don’t understand. What has King Fenris done to

you?’ I ask desperately.

‘Do you truly love me, or do you only plan to use me to win the war?’ She asks holding back the tears.

‘Maia, that’s not true. It’s King Fenris that is going to use you. You have to believe me?’ I say to her.

I stare into her eyes, and I can see she wants to believe me. I am running out of time. The dance is

about to end.

‘Maia, Vivian is here. She knows we aren’t the enemy, and you need to talk to her, please?’ I beg.

Maia gives me a small nod as we part. King Fenris is approaching, and Maia smiles. I try to slip away

unnoticed into the crowd.

As King Fenris approaches Maia, his smile changes into confusion at Maja’s teary eyes.

‘Is everything okay, my love?’ He asks.

Maia nods and looks down away from King Fenris.

“Yes, of course, I’m fine, she says.

Good.’ He smiles.