Page 29 of The Alpha's Temptation

It was obvious that he didn’t love me or care about me, outside of me being a pack member. So why should I care about him? I hated it here, and I wanted to leave. No, Iwouldleave. My fingers grazed against Mom’s pendant. I had to learn more about my powers.

I furrowed my brows and stared at my windowsill for a couple moments, noticing a letter with a black ribbon tied around it that hadn’t been there before. What the hell was that? There was a chair in front of my door, so I would’ve heard if anyone had tried to get in.

But it hadn’t been moved.

My stomach twisted at the thought of someone being in my room while I slept. I peered at the letter for a moment. It definitely wasn’t from Caelan, nor from Dad. Maybe it was from Chase? Though… he wouldn’t leave me a heartfelt note.

All he wanted was to fuck.

After sliding out of bed, I made it to the windowsill and peered out to see if I could find the messenger. But there was nothing, nobody. So I grabbed the letter and swallowed hard, my heart racing.

While the ribbon was tied on one side, a wax seal held it in place on the other.

One dark red crimson seal that smelled like blood.

But that wasn’t what made my stomach drop. No, it was the fact that the seal had the same symbol as Mom’s pendant, the same one those witches had given me. Was this from Esma and Circe?

After swallowing hard, I broke the seal and unrolled the parchment.

Princess,

You must return before the Whispering Pines Pack finds you.

They know who you truly are. They know the powers you hold. They’ve been trying to kill you and those like you–like your mother–for decades.

You’re the only one who can save us.

So, please, return when you can. Alone.

- E & C

My pulse quickened, and heat crawled up along my spine. The note smelled faintly familiar, a scent that I hadn’t smelled in years. And something deep inside me stirred. Maybe it was my wolf, or maybe it was something else entirely.

I paced around the room, rereading each line until the words were imprinted in my head.

None of this made any sense. What did it even mean?

And…Princess?

Princess.

Surely, they had gotten the wrong person. How had they made it here? Who had delivered this? Was this some sick joke that my packmates were playing on me? But having it signed by E and C? Esma and Circe?

I folded the letter and re-tied the black ribbon around it, placing it in my bedside drawer.

“What are you looking at?” Caelan asked.

I slammed the drawer closed and twirled around to see Caelan standing at my door. He leaned against the frame with his huge arms crossed over his chest, making his biceps bulgein all the right ways.Don’t ask me how he got in without me hearing, stupid alpha.

Didn’t he learn his lesson yesterday when I was in heat?!

After opening and closing my mouth a handful of times, I shook my head. “Nothing.”

He stepped into my room and shut the door. “Nothing? It doesn’t look like nothing.”

I shrugged. “Well, it was nothing. Why do you care anyway?”

“You know why I care.”

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