Chapter 425
Four hundred and twenty seven
Alexander POV
I still couldn’t believe Emma was here.
Even crazier, I couldn’t believe how her presence lifted my spirits. Despite my wrists being tied behind my back, and the manacles biting into my skin, watching Emma and breathing the same air as her made every discomfort feel like a piece of cake.
She was here. In the Iron Wells, offering to help me.
She was carrying my child.
And she was keeping it.
It made every negative thought I’d had about her feel distorted.
Emma had been another privileged woman who wanted nothing more than comfort, someone who would run the moment things got ugly and leave the bond behind.
I told myself I could survive that, not because she was a brat but because I couldn’t ask her to tie herself to a life like mine just because the Moon Goddess had decided we belonged together.
The woman I’d pictured driving off in a rage the last time we met was standing in a prison beneath the ground, lying to her Alpha and risking everything to get to me.
I didn’t know what to do with that.
My hands were chained behind me. I couldn’t reach for her. Couldn’t pull her close or touch her face just to
make sure she was real.
“Can you… can you please hug me?” I rasped.
The words were out before I could take them back.
Emma wrapped her arms around my shoulders. She tucked her face into my neck, and I caught her scent.
Home.
My chest tightened.
I rested my face against her neck instead and breathed her in.
“I’m going to get you out of here, Alexander,” she whispered against my skin. Her voice shook, but the promise didn’t. “I promise you. I will get you out p>
I closed my eyes and let out a breath.
“Emma, you don’t understand how deep this goes. I can’t just walk out of here. The primary charge keeping me locked down isn’t the trade supply lines. It’s my father’s murder. Zachary is using it to bury me p>
Emma pulled back, her hands resting on my upper arms. “But you didn’t kill your father p>
1/4
+15 Bonus
“No,” I said. “I didn’t p>
“Then we prove it,” she said. “There has to be a way p>
“It’s not that simple,” I said. “I found someone down here in the lower cells. A royal guard who served under my father. He’s been locked up in the dark for fifteen years, thrown down here by my stepmother and her son right after my father died. He was there that night and knew I was drugged p>
Emma’s eyes widened. “A royal guard? Alexander, that’s direct witness testimony. That’s more than enough evidence to set you free p>
“The word of a forgotten prisoner locked in an Alpha’s private dungeon isn’t enough for the Regional Council,” I said, shaking my head. “Zachary would discredit him in a second, call him a traitor, or execute him before he ever reached a witness stand. We need physical proof. Paperwork. Official records p>
“What kind of records?” she demanded.
I hesitated. I didn’t want to drag her deeper into the mud, but seeing the determination in her gaze, I knew she wouldn’t stop pushing.
“Every ruling Alpha under the regional umbrella keeps an Alpha Dossier in the central archives,” I said. “It contains personal accounts, deeds, witness depositions, and the name of my father’s original estate counsel, the lawyer who handled his affairs before my stepmother scrubbed the public ledgers p>
Emma’s lips parted, her mind working through my words.
“I’ll find you a strong lawyer p>
She looked back at me, her hands tightening on my arms. “Don’t worry. I’ll get you out of here whether you want
me to or not p>
I couldn’t help the faint pull of my lips at the irony.
“What about your golden boy? Does he know you’re here p>
A knock echoed against the iron door.
CLANG, CLANG.
Emma yanked her hands back, smoothing her dress and stepping away from me.
The lock rattled, and the door creaked open an inch.
I shoved the negative thought down. She wasn’t ashamed. She was being smart. If the guards caught her acting intimately with a high-security prisoner, the entire pass would be revoked, and suspicion would tear through the pack administration before sunset.
“Lady,” the warden’s voice called through the gap in the door. “Your allotted time is almost up. We need to prepare the prisoner for transfer back to the block p>
“Give me two minutes,” Emma replied, her tone shifting back to that of an authoritative pack official.
“Of course, ma’am p>
2.4
+15 Bonus
The warden stepped back and pulled the door shut.
Emma turned to me, lowering her voice. “So your family framed you p>
“It was a culmination of everything,” I muttered.
“Is your stepmother still alive p>
“No.” I shook my head. “Last I heard, she died two years ago p>
“Did she have any links to Meridian p>
I frowned. “Meridian? What’s that p>
“Never mind,” she said quickly, waving a hand. “It’s just something I need to cross-check p>
“Emma. Please don’t do anything crazy. I’ve got this under control on the inside p>
“I know you think you do,” she said, meeting my eyes with a defiant smile. “But you need help from the outside. Besides p>
She placed a hand over her lower stomach, her cheeks flushing.
“…I’m going to need you out soon anyway. I have a feeling this pregnancy is going to require a lot of physical touch from my mate so I don’t go into distress p>
A grin broke across my face. I stared at her, captivated by the contrast between the spoiled brat who’d pushed me away and the woman standing before me now.
“Blaming the pup already, are we?” I murmured.
“Absolutely,” she said, her eyes shining. “I’m getting you out. Hold on p>
The iron door creaked open.
“Time’s up, ma’am p>
Emma pulled her sunglasses back over her eyes and drew the scarf around her throat. Without another word, she turned and walked out, her boots clicking against the concrete floor.
An hour later, I was back in Cell 4B.
I lay back on the thin mattress, my hands behind my head, staring up at the ceiling. I couldn’t stop the grin on my face if I tried.
She’s keeping the baby. She’s my mate. She came for me.
Footsteps echoed down the corridor and stopped outside my cell. The iron slot slid open. It was the older guard, the one who’d quietly slipped me the heating herbs the day before.
He unlocked the hatch at the bottom of the door and slid a parcel inside, along with a container of fresh water.
I sat up on the cot. “What’s this p>
The old guard grunted, wiping his mustache with the back of his hand. “Special provision package. Came in ten
3/4
+15 Bonus
minutes ago p>
He looked through the grate, studying me. “You must have some powerful friends on the outside, rogue.
He turned and walked away, his boots fading down the hall.
I got off the cot and unwrapped the thick paper.
Inside was a set of clean clothes made of cotton. Toiletries, fresh soap, bandages for my wrists, and a sealed wooden thermal box.
I opened the lid. Steam rose into the damp air, carrying the scent of roasted meat, vegetables, rice, and broth.
A meal prepared to restore a man’s strength.
I sat back against the wall, holding the warm thermal box in my hands.
Emma.
She’d made sure I felt human again before she’d even left the building.
I made a silent vow to the walls around me: I was going to survive this prison, clear my father’s name, and walk back into the sun to claim my mate and unborn child.
P
Comments
Support
Share
Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.