The Alpha Prince And His Bride
Book 3 The Alpha’s Substitute Bride – Episode 22

~MAGGIE~

“What do you mean he’s falling in love?” I demanded. Her words weren’t making any sense to me. Hunter and I were mates, we weren’t bonded mates thanks to me preventing him from ever marking me but we were mates nevertheless. He used to look at me as though I was the only woman in this entire universe. I also saw how broken he was after my fake death, I’d never seen a man look so pathetic and lost in my life and I was living just to see that look on his face.

“Yes, he’s falling in love with that woman he recently got married to.”

I froze and spun around to face her. “Married to?”

Exactly how many things happened while I was vacationing with Jake? Hunter got remarried? That’s simply impossible, the man couldn’t even stand the sight of another woman that wasn’t me, then why did he decide to get married?

“Who is she?” I asked before I could stop myself. I wanted to curse at the jealousy I instantly felt at the thought of him with another woman. Despite the fact that I hated Hunter for his past deeds, I couldn’t deny the mate pull. Even though I didn’t want to feel this jealousy, it couldn’t be helped.

“Her name is Isabella Cross. She belonged to the black council. I’m sure you heard about the Cross brothers before, they’re her brothers.” She answered without a second thought.

The Cross brothers? I did hear about them on multiple occasions but can’t remember ever seeing any of them in person. I should have expected Hunter to get a bride from that damn council. I’d done my research on them the moment he’d become their ally. Of course that only took place after he thought that I was dead.

The past Hunter wouldn’t have even looked in the way of the council if he wasn’t heartbroken from my death. I still remember smiling with joy after hearing that he’d decided to partner with them. I had hope that he would suffer a miserable faith and that someone would kill him but that never happened. He’d somehow grown even stronger and was a damn killing machine.

“I managed to get a work with Prince Austin and his family, apparently his wife is also the sister of Isabella. I was there when everything happened. Isabella came without Hunter and at first I thought that he didn’t care and that you would be happy to hear of that news but then he showed up like two hours later. Let me tell you, I have never seen that man act that hysterical before. It was like he wanted to murder all of the men in the room and take her with him. I never knew a man could be that possessive until tonight. More than that, he even kissed her in front of everyone. There was so much passion in that k**s that I’m positive that everyone in the room felt it as well.”

My chest pained me at her words. How dare him to forget about me so quickly! He was supposed to be suffering and dying in his sorrow. Instead he’s out there romancing another woman after knowing that I was dead?

I pressed my fingers tightly against the cup I was holding and bit down on my lips to prevent the scream that was building up inside of me.

I wanted Hunter to suffer; it was the reason why I’d faked my death. I knew that I was his mate and if anything ever happened to me he would completely crumble. I didn’t want him to simply die, I wanted him to feel exactly what I did after he’d killed me brother.

When I found out that Hunter and I were mates, I couldn’t live with myself after knowing that. I didn’t want to feel for a man that murdered my brother in cold b***d! I closed off all of my emotions and did what any sane woman would do, I pretended to love him. I pretended to be there for him. Everything between us was a lie, a damn good one too. So good that he fell for it and had managed to fall deeply in love with me.

Every time he touched me was torture. I couldn’t stop seeing my dead brother on the ground.

Hunter never knew this however. He never knew that it was my brother he had killed. I never let him know it. I was waiting for the day that he fell to the ground breathing his last few breaths, and then I would have revealed everything to him.

“Where is he now?” I asked her.

I had to get into action again. I couldn’t just sit back here and let Hunter fall in love with this other woman. If I waited long, it would be too late. I needed to do everything in my power to break them apart. I couldn’t let Hunter be happy, that was something that would never happen.

“He’s still with Austin and his family. They may return tomorrow or the day after that.”

“Then we don’t have that much time left.”

Her brows furrowed. “What exactly are you planning on doing?”

“I need to remind him of his dead wife. He can’t forget me that easily.”

“I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

“I’ll appear in front of Bruce. He’s Hunter’s best friend, he would notice me immediately. I wouldn’t stay long enough for him to ask me any questions however. After he sees me, he would surely announce the news to Hunter and Hunter would believe him. He has always trusted Bruce, he wouldn’t stop now.”

“With all due respect Maggie, Hunter is already far in with this other woman. I don’t think just appearing in front of Bruce would be enough to do the trick.”

I glared at her. “Well if that doesn’t work, I’ll have no choice but to show up in front of him again. I’ll remind him of what he’s missing. That Isabella woman isn’t his mate, I am. There is no way that he would feel anything for her when I’m around. He would forget about her in seconds.”

I meant every damn word. Hunter would not forget me that easily! That woman must leave his life, I wouldn’t rest until she did!