Trapped with the Alpha King (Althea) novel Chapter 177

Not Doubting

The guards flinched at Ava’s tone. Several of them bowed their heads, uneasy and confused.

“Lady Ava,” the captain stammered, “we… we don’t know. The Princess was here last night. No one entered or left without permission. The patrols saw nothing unusual.”

Ava’s glare sharpened, “Are you telling me the Princess vanished while you were on watch? That none of you noticed anything, not even a whisper of movement? Do you even understand the level of incompetence that implies?!”

The guards stiffened. One of them opened his mouth as if to defend himself but faltered under her glare.

Wilma, standing frozen in the doorway, felt her heart twist painfully. This shouldn’t be possible. The cottage had been sealed. Guarded day and night.

“Ava…” Wilma whispered weakly. “How… how could this happen?”

Ava turned to her with a perfectly measured mix of concern and outrage.

“Your Grace, this is unacceptable,” she said firmly. “You should demand answers. Your daughter is missing under the royal guard’s protection. Someone must be held accountable.”

Wilma’s breathing quickened, panic clawing at the edges of her chest.

The captain dared to speak again, voice shaking. “Your Grace… I swear on my life, we followed every instruction. If Princess Riela is gone… someone with higher authority must have moved her without informing us.”

Ava stiffened and turned sharply, as if a thought had struck her. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

“Higher authority,” she repeated. Then looked at Wilma meaningfully.

Almost accusingly.

Wilma’s face drained of color. “You… you don’t mean my son…”

Ava slowly lowered her gaze and whispered, “I would never accuse His Majesty without proof. But someone has hidden the Princess… and clearly did not want you to know.”

The suggestion slid into Wilma’s fogged mind like a blade.

Behind her, the guards remained silent, staring straight ahead, afraid to breathe.

Ava stepped closer to Wilma, voice softening again, almost tender. “Your Grace… let’s find her. Together.”

******

Cold air brushed Althea’s face when she stepped out from Uriel’s portal. When she finally took in their surroundings, her breath caught.

They stood at the peak of a mountain. The sky stretched endlessly above them, clear and bright. In front of them, tucked against a cluster of ancient stone walls, was a large cottage. It wasn’t elegant like a palace chamber, nor intimidating like the royal fortress. It was warm, solid and hidden.

Likewise, it was obviously a safe place…

Uriel stepped out behind them and closed the portal with a simple flick of his fingers. “We’re here,” he said quietly.

Gavriel moved past Althea and Melva… “This way.”

Althea followed, still confused about where exactly here was. Melva hugged her cloak tighter and whispered, “My lady… are we on a mountain?”

Althea nodded. “It looks like it.”

“Of course I trust you,” he murmured. “But I’m not taking any chances. I want to make sure that this damn Covenant of Binding won’t affect you.”

Althea frowned deeper. “Still…”

He gave her side a gentle squeeze. “Althea. I said I trust you.”

She looked at him, still pouting, but a faint warmth rose in her chest. Gavriel leaned just a little closer, lowering his voice as if the words were only meant for her.

“I’m protecting you,” he added. “Not doubting you.”

From beside them, Candice rolled her eyes, while Melva quietly nudged Althea’s arm as if to say he has a point. Even Osman looked away, pretending not to overhear the Alpha being unusually soft.

Althea sighed, her pout loosening at last… though not entirely. And Gavriel, smug as ever, gave her waist another reassuring squeeze.

Althea looked around, finally unable to hold back. “Why are we here? Shouldn’t we be heading to the palace to meet the Princess so I can start treating her?”

Gavriel’s expression stayed calm, but there was a firmness in his voice. “Uriel will bring Riela here shortly. For now, go inside and make sure everything you need is ready. Osman and Candice have prepared everything you requested.”

He stepped aside, letting her enter the cottage. Althea had barely begun examining the room when Uriel burst in, his face pale and eyes wide with alarm.

“Gavriel… Riela… she’s missing,” he gasped.

Gavriel’s face darkened, his eyes narrowing into sharp slits. “Missing?! What do you mean, missing?!”