The Princess’s Broken Alpha
Chapter 7

The light streaming through the windows made her flutter her eyes open. Today is the day. The excitement from last night barely made Kiarra get any sleep. Her eyes burned but overall she was happy. She laid on the silk sheets for a while just thinking through it all. What if she was wrong? Then she would face it all if that was the case and just head back home.

She threw off the covers and groaned in pain from the soreness of the wounds her father had given her. Stripping down to nothing she stood before a large ceiling to floor length mirror in her room. Her eyes watered at the sight of the ugly bruises covering her body and the long, deep cuts.

She sighed, this time wasn't so bad. They had all closed up and most of it had healed except the deeper ones, the wounds still present. She poked a finger at the black and blue edges of the tip of the scar that stopped underneath her breast. Kiarra hissed at the returned pain and when she looked in the mirror her lips were trembling and she had to fight to swallow the lump in her throat.

It wasn't just the physical pain of it all, it was the pain in her heart that her own father would do this to her.

She quickly ran her hands through her messy brown hair and turned on the shower making sure that the water is searingly hot. She needed the water to clear her thoughts and numb the pain. Then she would need to replace information about the Cartier pack. She knew they were the largest and most efficiently run pack in America. It is spearheaded by the three brothers but what makes them truly remarkable is that their alpha is wheelchair bound. This is unheard of among werewolves and it did create a wave in the werewolf community. What she needed to know was who is mated and who isn't. Maybe she'd have an idea of who her mate could possibly be before she actually arrived.

Castor has already been there on council visits, but unfortunately, she has never been on a visit and she never cared to ask who was mated to who. Well, if she didn't know then when she arrived, she would figure it out.

Yes, that's right. Today is the day she is running away. It was time she took matters into her own hands and she had waited long enough cooped up in the palace for her prince charming. Now that she knew where her mate was there was nothing or no one stopping her. The dream seemed so real, she believed in it. She knew what she wanted and she was going to get it, she was going for it.

She was going for him.

She chose a white knit sweater that had gold threading going down in a lined pattern with deep blue jeans and brown boots. She danced her way through the morning, humming through the breakfast that was brought and she remembered to carry all her cards with her. She couldn't carry much or it would look suspicious that she was leaving so saddled. So she lightly packed the grey knapsack that she had stashed in her ward robe that she never really used with the necessities.

Three changes of clothes were neatly folded and another pair of shoes. She would go shopping when she got there. She could feel the excitement buzzing through her veins.

She wondered what he looked like, what he sounded like, and smelled like. She's never been to another country before and she couldn't be any more thrilled to visit America.

After placing her hair in a bun, she did one last look in the mirror before waltzing out the door. The palace servants probably thought she was going crazy but she couldn't help the excitement she felt or gave off.

Kiarra had no doubts that the rumours were already swirling around in quiet careful whispers about what happened between her and her father outside the grounds. Of course, no servant would dare let it past the palace walls or with anyone on the outside. She double checked everything again. Her visit would kill two birds with one stone. If anyone knew about packs it is Castor, he would be able to provide her with the information she needed and if he didn't know he would help her escape unnoticed for awhile before her father gave chase. She wouldn't be able to tell her aunt goodbye but she would call her as soon as she landed. She couldn't risk asking anyone else and making them aware or her father would replace her in a second and she at least needed some time to replace and talk to her mate.

Kiarra prayed to the moon goddess she wasn't wrong. This is all she needed before her father or his men came looking for her to drag her back to the palace. She could feel the terrible pinch in her stomach that Castor had to be dragged into this. But Kiarra had no choice plus she trusted him and he would help her without a doubt for her happiness. Even if he tried to talk her out of it, he would eventually relent. He is all she really has as a friend.

She would have to replace a way to leave without having her two daily guards noticing. She then remembered the masking spray she had stolen from last year when she had taken a look at the weapons and training room in her drawer. She had never gotten the chance to use it. Though it barely lasted half past thirty minutes on Lycans, it could come in handy.

"Good morning, Princess." Morpheus greets with a slight bow as soon as she comes bounding down the stairs, the red plush velvet carpet soaking up the sound of the heels of her boots and she greets him with a smile. Morpheus has always been the guard at the stairs.

"Good morning, Morpheus." Kiarra sings, and he looks at her strangely, raising a brow.

"I'm going to the Whitlock's." She tells him, pausing in the direction of the hallway leading to the front entrance.

He spaces out and she can tell he's talking to her father. She just doesn't have the energy to talk to him today and she doubts he is interested either. He'll probably think her visit is to accept and discuss her arrangement with Castor.

Morpheus smiles and nods and asks her to please wait for a few seconds. King Arthur is more than likely doing some official business, signing documents, waging peace or who knows what the King is doing.

Two guards quickly show up and Kiarra opens the door diving into the chilly morning air. Her breath comes out as little puffs dancing in the air. She gives the guards side glances checking them out and they are both very heavy and serious looking blonde men, but she honestly doesn't remember them.

Kiarra chews on her bottom lip trying to put a name but nothing. After a while, you don't really pay them any mind or memorize them. Father didn't let any two guards stay, he always shuffled them up.

The Whitlocks lived down the street in a sleekly designed modern white and grey house flanked by large oak trees and an impressive garden. The early morning sun is at a high, but against the chilly morning air it feels like nothing. The heat never reaches us. She is soon at the large black gates with puffs of air floating before her and she is let in briskly without any hesitation.

Castor was given his own private three bedroom studio at the side of the property which is completely accepted as he is a grown man. Her father would probably have a stroke if she suggested she had one too.

She leaves the guards at the gate and runs up the steps to knock on the grey door waiting to see blonde ruffled hair and tired blue eyes but nothing. She had texted before she headed out and now that she checked it the message hasn't been read. C'mon Castor, open the door.

Kiarra knocks two more times and when she gets no response she debates on either calling his phone or going around the back to his bedroom window. This isn't the first time he is sleeping in and due to his bedroom being soundproof he doesn't hear anything. She crunches through the dried leaves and mud heading through the hedges and going around the back. Spider webs stick to her sweater and she brushes them off quickly, facing his window and raising her hand to tap on the glass. His window is barely cracked open and before she can tap on the window that's when she hears it and her eyes go wide.

On all fours with her lips parted, her skin flushed and her eyes closed is blonde haired Cassidy whose father is on the council.

Kiarra's mouth is wide open and her breath is fogging the window glass.

Castor is pumping into her hard from behind and he is coated in sweat, his hair a mess. He pulls her hair roughly and he raises his head. He looks up at the window and his blue eyes meet hers.

Shit!

He turns pale and Kiarra forces herself to move but she can't. The lack of movement causes Cassidy to open her eyes to look up at him and then follow his eyes in the direction to see what he is looking at. She sees Kiarra and her eyes go wide with panic and suddenly Kiarra's body starts to function with her brain and she ducks under the window.

The image is now painted in her mind and she cursed herself for not calling. She squeezes her eyes shut and start to rush through the hedges to hurry and reach the front. Before she can reach the corner she hears shuffling behind her and she is about to speed up but she is gently slammed into the side of the wall.

"What the hell!" Castor tries to softly growl, his blue eyes looking terrified?

He is wearing blue basketball shorts with his abs on display. His sweaty body is pressed close to her as his chest heaves heavily and she releases a growl.

"Get off of me!"

He eases back and places both hands up, his expression softening.

"I'm so sorry, Kiarra." his voice is breathy and he points in the direction of his bedroom. His eyes are filled with regret, his blue eyes wavering as he goes on to explain. "You weren't supposed to see that. It's just to take the edge off until we get mated." She looks at him confused. What is he talking about?

"Yes, I sleep around with a few women but you don't have to worry about that. When we're mated it will only be yours." he explains his eyes looking sincere.

Something inside her bristles at this and she hate the fact that both him and her father are behaving as if she was just some property.

"Castor, you can sleep with whoever you want it doesn't matter. We aren't getting mated." she tells him firmly.

It is now his turn to look confused and his eyes are questioning. He places one hand at the side of her head cornering her in and she is surprised by his actions. Though simple there is something intimate in his gesture as he leans in and his eyes linger on her lips before travelling back up to her eyes.

Kiarra started to feel incredibly uncomfortable and fought the urge to shift away reminding her self that this was still her Castor.

"Jesus, my father brainwashed you didn't he? Castor, we've never been anything more than friends and you know it." she says to him softening her voice to appeal to her forever friend since she was a child.

"Brainwashed?" he lifts his hand to touch a strand of escaped hair. His hot breath fanned her face." Kiarra, I've loved you ever since I was little. I've loved you all my life. Your father didn't have to do anything but probably try to convince you to see what has been inevitable from the very beginning. You are mine. We've played this game for too long now and it has now come to an end."

Her eyes go wide and she can hear her heart beating. This was getting worse every second.

"Castor, I-"

She hears the door open and they both look in the direction of where the back door is. Cassidy was probably going to come through those hedges looking for him any second now. Castor growls angrily at the intrusion and she needs him to help her before Cassidy came.

"Castor, forget all of this." she said hurriedly shaking her head, her brown eyes pleading and this has gotten his attention. "I know where my mate is and I need you to help me escape my guards out front and to help me with any information you might have on him." He laughs and his blue eyes flash dangerously. They are shades she's never seen before.

"I give myself and my heart to you and this is what you come to me with again?!" his voice drips venom as he slams the other hand beside her head possessively and she slightly jumps from the unexpected behaviour.

He was keeping her in his small space and she didn't know what to do with this person before her. His words burn at her.

"You are behaving like an idiot right now" she squares up at him easing her back off the wall, her hazel eyes flashing hoping this will snap some sense into him. He points a finger at her and his face is just inches away from hers as his eyebrows pull together, Kiarra angrily fights against him, the chilling feeling creeping up her spine.

"You know when we're mated you're going to do what I say and behave. And I'm going to make sure you keep that pretty little mouth of yours closed and obedient!"

He pushes her hard into the wall and her back slams hard into it. Pain shoots across it and down her spine and the wounds that haven't fully healed from her father jerk in pain and she fights the urge to cry out biting her tongue hard.

Before he can expect it Kiarra knees him hard. He cries out and folds over and she hears Cassidy rushing through the hedges.

"Don't you dare put your hands on me!" she spits at him before she runs off leaving him there ringing out a string of curses.

She didn't know who that was but it wasn't her friend. That isn't the Castor she knew.

She ran towards the main house and comes to a stroll when she sees Cassidy's car parked out at the front. She must have gone to greet the Whitlock's and then head over to Castor to make it look less suspicious than heading straight over there. After all he is supposed to be vying for her hand. If word got back to her father then all hell would break loose, this would be crossed off as disrespect.

She checked the car doors and they were of course open. There is no reason to lock the doors. The entire population in this area is Lycan council men and their families. Plus each property is heavily guarded. She quickly slid into the backseat of the brand new shiny black BMW hiding. She applied the masking spray hoping it would work and she wouldn't take long and waited behind the leather seat...

She could hear footsteps and commotion. Castor was looking for her, she could hear him cursing and the desperation in his voice. Cassidy seems to get the brunt of his anger and he walks her to the car telling her to go home and she reluctantly jumps in the seat and starts the car.

The car drives off and the guards open the gate. The car glides through without any notice. She turns up the street blasting the heat her face in permanent and Kiarra knows that in fifteen minutes they would reach Cassidy's home. Guess she wasn't happy with having her back being blown out interrupted.

She quickly sits up from her position in the back and elongates her claws at Cassidy's jugular. Her eyes snap to the rare view mirror and grow large in fear.

"Princess?" she looks at Kiarra unbelieving paling as if seeing a ghost " I promise I won't see him anymore", her tiny voice begs and Kiarra sees that she thinks that this is about Castor.

"We aren't going home, Cassidy. Head to the airport and press on the gas. I'm in a hurry." she demanded.

The blonde follows her instructions with a nod and swallows, veering the car to the turn off.

"I'm sorry about what you saw. I know- " her lips trembled as she tried to explain, but it wasn't necessary.

"The airport, Cassidy." Kiarra growls at her and she speeds up.

She really didn't need to hear it. She was already in turmoil over what had happened. The whole time it kept playing over in head. Castor handled her so harshly and declaring his undying love. She tried to put the blame on his feelings being hurt. After an hour of driving the airport looms into view. The car pulls up to the curb and Kiarra pops out of the backseat ready for this unexpected journey.

She was ready for her mate.

The wait to get on the plane was nerve racking, it felt like at any moment she would see heavy set Lycans barging through the doors or slip quietly behind her demanding her return. She could already envision her father's wrath, feel his retribution on her skin. Kiarra shivered and tried to steel herself. This was necessary, there is no turning back and she would never relent given the options. She was too head strong and determined for that. She would give it all she's got for the fleeting chance that she could replace him and be with him.

She glanced up at the flashing monitor. In just a couple more minutes the gate would be open and she would be on her way. It felt surreal being so close and she took in a deep breath.

Could this actually be happening?

Leaning against the kiosk, she watched the time tick by in what felt like an eternity.

"C'mon." she cursed the clock. It's now or never. Her entire life was being reduced to a single clock's countdown.

She didn't have to turn around to feel his presence behind her. It was too late for her to run or do anything. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up and a sickening fear washed over her.

"Princess, you surprise me." a cool and clear voice filled her ears and she could feel his warm breath tickling her ear.

Kiarra frighteningly whirled around and came face to face with brown eyes that reminded her of autumn. The hard expressionless face wasn't new to her. It was the guard that had carried her to her room the other day!