The Alpha Prince and His Bride

Book 2 Chapter 2

James's POV :

I jumped into the lake and closed my eyes as I felt the water engulfing me . Images of my sweet mate filled my vision , her beauty was like no other … a rose among thorns . Images of her beautiful face swarmed through my mind, removing thoughts of anything else . Gorgeous blond hair and the f*****g sweetest lips I'd ever seen in my life , so f*****g sweet that I was dying to taste them . And her eyes , God those eyes were haunting me now , the prettiest shade of green I'd ever seen on anyone in my lifetime . The last time I had seen them they were wide with fear and panic ... fear for my own life . Flashbacks of that day still made my body boil with anger and the water around me was doing nothing to help . I should have been strong enough , those chains should have never been able to keep me from her , but the f*****g damn things did . The only reason I didn't retaliate was for both the sake of my family and hers , no good would have come out of a fight that day . I wasn't prepared to attack the council , I still wasn't .But that didn't mean I wasn't prepared to fight for Eden with everything in me , now that I'd seen her , now that I'd felt what it meant to have a mate ... I didn't plan on letting her go .

As I stood perfectly still beneath the waters , I came to the sudden conclusion that I would kill for that woman , kill for her ... not only kill , would even f*****g die for her .

But she wasn't mine ... how the f**k was that even possible ? The one woman that was made just for me , wasn't mine to claim ? All because of the f*****g Black Council .

I pushed myself out of the waters and inhaled deeply . When I finally opened my eyes Clara , one of my pack members was waiting for me at the edge of the lake .

"What are you doing here ?" I asked her , stepping out of the water .

"I was worried about you Alpha ."She whispered , her face turning red as she openly stared at my naked chest .

"I told everyone that I didn't want to be disturbed ." I explained , unhappy about her direct disobedience.

"I just thought that some company would do you good ." She replied . "I'm sorry ."

I sighed . "It's okay , did Austin bring any news for me ?" I asked , hoping that they had gotten some new information about Eden . The last I'd heard was that her marriage had been finalized to Hunter . My knuckles tightened and I felt like murdering someone at that reminder . The moment I'd heard the news I wanted to go to her , wanted more than anything to rip apart the council and bring her back with me ... but my brothers wouldn't let me , said it was a suicidal mission and that it would only put the entire family in danger . I hadn't said anything then for we had only just escaped the ambush that Alpha Eric had planned to destroy us with . But my patience was on borderline , if I couldn't have her yet , I at least wanted to be near her .

Clara suddenly looked down at my question, the expression on her face hard to read . "Yes he's actually looking for you , that's the last thing I heard from Lucas before coming here ."

I didn't wait to hear what more she had to say , I rushed out the forest and within minutes was already making my way into the castle .

I spotted my brother along with the rest of the family in the living room , this wasn't good . Something was surely up , I could tell by the worried looks on each of their faces , they had no doubt gotten bad news .

Everyone stiffened upon seeing me which only increased my suspicions that the news was about my mate .

"What's wrong ?" I demanded .

"I need you to stay calm when I break this news to you ."Austin told me , his eyes guarded .

"Tell me ."I growled impatiently .

"We've just gotten word that Eden's engagement is set to take place tomorrow ." My father said when everyone else remained quiet .

A muscle ticked in my jaw ,my wolf clawing at me to be let out and slaughter all responsible for this . The entire room was dead quiet as everyone prepared themselves for my outburst .

"OVER MY f*****g DEAD BODY ." I roared .

Austin placed a hand on my shoulder . " I understand how you must be feeling brother , Lucy is insisting we go show support to Eden in this rough time . We will go and make sure we can help her get through this ... you don't have to worry , we will take care of her ."

My entire body stiffened at his words , why was he speaking like I wasn't going to be there ?

"I appreciate that but I'll see to it myself that my mate is okay ." I growled , unable to hide my anger . She was my mate , it was my job to protect her , not anyone else's .

The tension in the air suddenly increased at my words .

"I don't think it's a good idea that you go ."Austin intervened .

"Why not ?" I demanded even though I already knew what he was going to say.

"Look at what happened the last time you were at the council James , you were in bloody chains ... I'm positive the council would see it as a threat if they see you there again ."

I turned to look my brother directly in his eye as I gave him an angry glare .

"If it were Lucy there right now , would you have stayed at home knowing what was happening at the council ? Would you just sit back at home while your mate was being engaged to another man ?"

Austin remained quiet , his eyes swarmed with emotion .

"I never said that we wouldn't intervene and just let the council give Eden away like that , I just think that this is definitely not the right time , we don't even have a proper solution to this problem yet ." He explained .

"No one is going to stop me this time Austin , I'm going to the council to see her and no one can stop me ." I told him and I meant every single word .

...............…………...

Eden's POV:

I was lost in my own thoughts when I'd heard my sister's loud shriek .

"They're back !" Isabella shouted .

I followed her gaze outside the bedroom window and spotted my brothers along with my father . If they were back then it meant that everything must have went well with Lucy and her new family ... with James . My brothers had left a few days now , after Lucy had come asking for their help to save her mate and his family . We hadn't gotten word from them since , needless to say we were all happy that they were finally back .

I didn't wait a second longer as I rushed out the door and raised through the castle with my sister by my side . Within seconds we were outside the castle and into the open where my brothers stood talking to each other .

"How did everything go , is Lucy safe ?"Isabella asked as we both waited impatiently for their response .

Our brothers suddenly grew quiet as they turned to face us , Thane eventually nodded . " She's safe , everything went well ."

"You know everything had to go well with me being there and all ." Marcus boasted puffing his chest out as Isabella rolled her eyes at him .

I turned just in time to see that Ermanno was studying me closely , without warning he shuffled my hair and offered me a small smile . "He's okay as well ."

My eyes widened , "I didn't say anything ."

He shook his head at me . "You didn't have too , I know you well Eden . Do not worry , your mate is safe ."

A slow smile formed on my face as I stared at my brother in awe , he always could read me well . "Thank you ."I whispered .

"So what new has happened around here since we've been gone ?"

I was about to respond when the gates suddenly opened , I peeped around my brothers to get a better look .

A couple vehicles pulled up and I watched as several big built men exited them , all of whom were most definitely werewolves . The way each of my brothers stiffened I already knew that this wasn't an ally or someone that they liked . I held my breath as the men moved to surround one of the vehicles , I continued to watch as the door slowly opened and a man that seemed even bigger than any of my brothers stepped out . The men eventually scattered upon something he said , leaving me with a clear view of the strange man . After a few seconds he finally turned and I was faced with the coldest pair of grey eyes I'd ever seen . A quiet gasp escaped my mouth , from all of the stories and the descriptions I'd heard , this man was most definitely Hunter …. the heartless monster … the Alpha I was being forced to marry .