Surrogate for the Alpha Prince in a Coma novel Chapter 344

Chapter 344

Lillian’s POV

After our hug, my mother abandoned the tomatoes and we both moved to the porch swing outside the cottage and sat down. I was hesitant to part from her, to even look away from her. She took my hand and held it, giving us a connection that put me at ease. At least for now.

“How can you be here?” I asked, when we’d settled.

“This is my necklace,” she said.

“Are you a prisoner too? Is there a way to save you?” Hope rose in my heart. Maybe my mother wasn’t dead. If I could find a way to save her then –

“I’m sorry, Lily, but no. I am not here more than a living memory. I cannot return to the waking world with you.”

Swallowing hard, I lowered my chin, my hope dying bitterly in my chest.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

“It’s not your fault,” I said. “It’s my father’s. He’s the one who took you away from me, isn’t he? He’s so cruel. I don’t want to tell you about…”

“Your little brother. Yes. I know what was done. He is with me now, at the side of the Goddess. You do not

need to fear for him.”

I hung my head lower. “He had so much life to give.”

“Yes.”

We sat in silence for a time, the grief surrounding us. Even if he was safe now, with my mother and the moon goddess, it hurt that he hadn’t been able to live the life he deserved. He’d been taken too soon, and for no good reason. Though I knew I couldn’t have done anything, I still struggled with my responsibility in his

death.

If father hadn’t been trying to hurt me…

“Father was so vicious,” I said. “How could you have ever married such a man?”

“He wasn’t always the man he became,” Mother said. “When we’d first met, he was another man entirely. Kind. Gentle. Generous. He saw me from across a room, and told me he loved me the same night. I was like an angel to him, he said. He said so many sweet things in the beginning.

A soft blush reddened on her cheeks. “It was love at first sight, and you were conceived that night… When your father learned I was pregnant, he insisted on marrying me. He said he wanted to anyway. I worried, though we were in love, we still knew so little about each other, but he was convincing. His parents had been against it, but he was willing to go against them as well. Anything to stand with me… and with you.”

“He hated me,” I said.

“Not at first,” she replied. “When you were first born, he could not stop holding you. Looking at you and smiling.” A distant, nostalgic look crossed her face. It only lasted for a moment, before falling into despair.

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“I’m not sure when the affairs started. Maybe he’d always been having them and was just better at hiding them in the beginning. Eventually, he became bolder.

“When one of his mistresses bore your sister, he insisted on moving them both to our home. I was furious, and he became bitter. Eventually, he allowed me to move to this cottage. We remained married, and he continued cheating. But I found comfort here.””

“You must hate him,” I said. I knew I did.

“No,” she replied. “How could I ever hate him when he gave me you.”.

I went quiet at that, the longing for my mother nearly overwhelming.

“You can’t stay here,” she said, after a moment. “You have to find a way to get back to your life, your children, and your love.”

“I don’t even know where to begin,” I said, feeling hopeless. “If Teacher couldn’t escape on his own, what hope to I have to break free? He has strength beyond our understanding and still struggled. I’m not nearly as strong.”

“You may only carry some of his power,” my mother said, “but that does not mean you are weak.”

I wanted to believe that, but didn’t know how. Teacher was one of the first werewolves. I was just a lowly descendent. What hope could I really have to escape if he could not?

Grayson’s POV

With my step-mother in custody, she was dragged out of the throne room in front of everyone. She went quietly, sending threats with only her cutting gaze and sharp frown. Josephine went with her, likely making sure she wasn’t going to be mistreated.

Holding the necklace, I ran my thumb over the warm pendant. Lily was in my thoughts, and my worry for her was nearly all consuming. I needed to find a way to free her at once. Yet, before I could give the order, the head of the Elder Council stepped forward still holding the crown.

“Prince Grayson,” he said. “It is time. End this chaos, and accept your birthright.”

“Yes,” I said, and dipped my head.

Without any fanfare, the Elder raised the crown and placed it on top of my head. It fit snuggly. As I straightened, I turned to face my people. They clapped and cheered for me.

“Send word to all corners of the kingdom. The King has been crowned,” I directed my warriors. “And get to the front lines at once. Stop that battle.”

“Yes, Alpha King!” they declared, and hurried to see to my will.

As I stood in front of the broken throne, my people cheering for their new bright future, my heart was still heavy, holding a warm necklace that should have been my beloved’s hand.

This was a hollow victory. Yes, I had my crown, and the kingdom was safe, but the cost had been too high. Until Lillian could be saved from the necklace and restored to my side, nothing will have seemed worth it.

And I would remain half a man, missing his heart and soul.

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Benedict’s POV

I fought far less viciously than the men and women beside me, on both sides of the war. The others fought for what they believed in, to support the Queen or to dethrone her.

I cared little either way, and was here only for Thy own survival. If I refused to fight, the Queen would have killed me. I could turn myself over to Grayson and beg for his mercy, but he would also kill me. Or, if he wouldn’t, the Queen would kill me when she eventually captured Grayson.

The only chance I had to survive was to be on the winning side. And the Queen was that side.

At least, that was what I believed – until shouts ran out, and warriors began to lay down their arms.

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