Page 49 of Alpha's Impostor Bride

“Why would I do that when I didn’t even know what Cedric’s intentions were?” I grind out.

“How dare you take the king’s name in your whore mouth?!” she shouts. “Throw another bucket of water on her.”

There is reluctance in the guard’s eyes as he approaches me. If Bella thinks I’m going to beg her not to do it, she’s wrong. The water hits me, and I start to shake violently, feeling the cold down to my very bones.

“The elders are deciding what kind of execution you will face.” She scowls at me. “But before that, Princess Vivian has a few things to say to you.”

She steps aside, and a different woman appears at the metal bars of my cell. I recognize her instantly.

My tormentor.

Seeing her makes this all too real.

Why would Cedric want the fake when he can have the real thing? I know he values the purity of the royal bloodline. He said so once himself. And now, with me gone, he’ll have it all.

I stare at the woman before me dully, the sound of my heart breaking echoing in my ears. Life is truly unfair.

I comfort my wolf, which is whimpering. It’s okay, I whisper internally. When we die, you won’t be alone. We will be together. And if we die before Cedric comes, we can believe that he loved us to the very end. It doesn’t have to be true for us to believe it, does it?

Sometimes, delusions are necessary.

Princess Vivian clicks her tongue at me. “Shame on you, Leanna. You took my intended mate and lived in my place. Did you think I would not come back? Did you think you had gotten rid of me?”

Bella retreats to give us some privacy, and Vivian’s smile blooms, the ugliness in her eyes looming over me. “I always told you that you would die a dog’s death,” she whispers sweetly. “And I’m going to ensure that’s what happens. I’m taking everything back from you. You must’ve thought you’d finally gotten it all. But everything you have, including your face, is mine. One of the requests I want to make of the elders is to mutilate that face of yours. It doesn’t belong to you.”

I look at her, not surprised that she would want such a vicious death for me.

“Your Majesty, you don’t have to linger around here,” Bella says cheerfully. “I’ll show you to your chambers. This one’s execution will be determined this afternoon.”

Their footsteps fade away, and I shiver. At this point, they don’t even need to execute me. I’ll probably freeze to death.

The guard who threw the water over me approaches the bars. “Your Majesty?” The title he uses for me takes me aback, and I look up at him. “Here.” He hands me a blanket, and I stare at it, confused.

“Why are you giving me that?”

He looks tense. “You might not remember, but you commissioned several tapestries from my sister. She’s a widow with three children. Because of you, she was able to put food on the table for her family. Please, take this.”

I reach out and accept the blanket. “Thank you.” My voice is heavy with emotion. “Is Harriet alright?”

The guard’s expression blanches. “She’s been locked in her room.”

“I see.” I pull the blanket around my shoulders before asking him, “Are you sure you won’t get in trouble for this?”

“I’ll take it back from you whenever they’re coming,” he replies. “Please warm yourself. This is the coldest cell in the whole dungeon.”

I wrap myself tightly in the blanket. Bella won’t harm Harriet. I know how close Harriet is to Cedric. He would never put up with anything happening to her. No, Harriet will be safe.

I stare down at the wet floor. When I first came here, I wished for my death. Then, Harriet’s care and Cedric’s behavior slowly began to make me want to live. I wanted to experience life here. I was becoming happy here. And now?

I’m back to square one.

A part of me finds it hard to believe that Cedric has sentenced me to death. He doesn’t seem to be the kind of person who is unfair. He was the one who brought me here. Maybe he’ll send me somewhere far away. Or maybe I’m deluding myself once again. After all, he is the king. He has to take steps to protect his reputation. My existence is damaging to it.

I close my eyes. However they decide to kill me, I know it will be painful and drawn out. Both Bella and the princess will see to that. I’ve never really wanted anything in my life aside from my freedom.

My hands settle on the flat expanse of my stomach. Freedom and somebody to love.

A small home that is mine, where I am safe.

---