The Alpha Prince and His Bride

Book 2 Chapter 7

~JAMES~

I could feel the rage inside of me intensify as I slammed my room door shut and spun around to face my brother.

He pinched the bridge of his nose and leaned against the wall. There were scrapes on both of our bodies after the fight in the woods. Lucy's brothers as well as Austin and Lucas had to hold me down to prevent me from going to the council and ripping each of their necks out from their bodies. Those f*****g assholes placed a dragon tattoo on my mate's neck, directly above the heavenly mating spot.

They all deserved to die, those monsters didn't need a chance to live. They'd went on ahead with their nonsense for far too long, someone needed to teach them a lesson.

I struggled to keep control of my anger that only increased by each ticking second like a bomb a few seconds away from exploding. I couldn't get that sick dragon tattoo out of my mind, I wanted it gone, replaced by my own marking.

"Why did you bring me back here?" I demanded from Austin, directing my anger on him. I didn't appreciate my family trying to get in the way of saving my mate. "That one time you were separated from Lucy, I never once stopped you from getting her. Instead, I was on your side every step of the way. Then why would you stop me from uniting with my own mate?"

My brother looked hurt by my words. He took a step closer to me, his eyes sad. "My intention was never to stop you from uniting with Eden. My intention was to stop you from getting yourself killed brother. You're not thinking, you're doing everything without considering the consequences of your actions." He pointed out. "I told you that I would help you get your mate but we need to have a proper plan in order to do so."

My knuckles tightened at my sides. "I don't know how long I can wait Austin. I can't see her with someone else, it kills me inside."

His eyes softened further as I felt his hand on my shoulder. "There is something you must know, it's part of our plan to give you and Eden a chance together. However, you can't mess it up. You'll have to keep your distance from her when she comes here. She's only staying to give us a chance in order to create a plan to help her escape, a plan to get the council to let Eden go." He informed me. "A plan that doesn't involve either one of you getting killed."

My forehead creased at his words. "What exactly are you trying to say brother?"

"Eden will visit us for a week." He announced suddenly.

My eyes widened. There was no possible way that it could be that easy. The council knew that I was her mate, then why would they send her out here knowing that I wanted to take her away?

"That's bullshit." I spat. "You expect me to believe that the council will willingly let her come here knowing that I'm her mate?"

Austin sighed. "We've already gotten word from Lucy's brothers. The prosecutor agreed. . . But only because Hunter permitted it."

That didn't make any sense. Everyone knew the cold heartless beast, he would never give Eden whatever she wanted. There had to be something else that we were missing.

"I know what you're thinking," Austin said. "There is no way Hunter did this without an ulterior motive. My guess is that he already knows that she's found her mate. He will want to get rid of you but the problem is that he wouldn't know who you are. He must have sent Eden here in hopes of finding you. Which is precisely why I said that you have to stay away from Eden when she gets here, act as though she means nothing to you. I'm sure Hunter's men will be somewhere around."

I didn't know how that was even possible. Eden was simply irresistible, there was no way I'd be able to stay away from her unless someone drugged the hell out of me.

I needed to discuss things with my pack. They needed to know the trouble that was up ahead. There was going to be a fight, I didn't know when but it was definitely coming.

"When will she arrive?" I asked as I held my breath while waiting for a response.

Austin looked hesitant to tell me and I understood why. I wasn't happy about it however.

"Tonight."

My body snapped at his words.

Tonight?

"Where are you going?" Austin demanded as he rushed to the doors.

"I need to have a meeting with my pack." I called over my shoulder.

……………………………………...

As soon as I walked in the pack house, all eyes turned to me.

"Alpha," Clara greeted me with shy eyes. "We're so happy that you're finally back."

I nodded. "Where is everyone?" I asked her, noticing that the house was completely empty.

"We hadn't expected you to reach back so soon," she noted. "Is everything okay?" She asked as she took a step closer to me and placed her hand on my shoulder.

I flinched at the contact, it felt weird having someone else's hand on me other than Eden.

I gently pulled away from her. "I have an announcement to make."

Without waiting for her to respond, I mind linked the rest of pack members.

"I need everyone gathered here in five minutes."

One by one they all entered, everyone here before the five minutes were up.

Lucas looked concerned as he stepped closer to me. As my Beta and brother, he understood what this was about.

The pack remained quiet as everyone sensed the tension in the air, they would be able to feel my anger and frustration through the link.

"I think it's time that all of you know that Eden Cross, a member of the black council, is my mate and your future Luna."

There were gasps all throughout the room. Some looked worried while others looked extremely unhappy by the news. I knew this wasn't going to be easy, a lot of my pack members may refuse to accept Eden. They would see her as a threat to our pack.

"Do you really think it's a good idea to make her Luna?" Jake asked. As our trusted advisor, it was expected that he would be the first to question Eden becoming the Luna.

However, his question still angered me. Eden was my mate no matter where she came from, I accepted her for who she was and everyone here must do the same.

"I think it's best that you let her go, reject her." He continued.

"I'm not letting her go." I growled, angry that he would even suggest such a thing.

"Then how do you plan on getting her out of the council?" he asked. "We all know how dangerous they are. Even our pack combined with Austin's wouldn't be enough. There would be a lot of deaths on both sides."

"Eden Cross will join our pack, if anyone has a problem with that they are free to leave." I hissed, this wasn't up for negotiation. The sooner they realized this, the faster we could move on from this discussion.

The room grew quiet at my words. However, thankfully no one made an effort to leave. I didn't want to lose anyone from my pack, they were family. We'd work our asses off to reach where we were, respected throughout the world.

"We will stand by you alpha." Valerio said suddenly. He was the hybrid that had joined my pack recently. He was a big help when Lucy had went missing, he was also able to confirm that Austin had been under a powerful spell.

The boy was grateful to finally belong somewhere and I still believed that I'd done a great deed by bringing him into our family. For now, I had someone that would stand by my side when I wanted Eden to stay with me and rule next to me.

To my relief, everyone else soon agreed with him as well, even Jake who still didn't seem pleased nodded his head to help.

I smiled. "Thank you," I said. "I don't know the details of our plan as yet but there will be one soon. Everyone must prepare for a great fight, one bigger than our fight with Ariana's father."

I stayed back a little more to discuss everything. Lucas had made sure to show his support throughout the entire thing and I was thankful that he was here.

Later that night I got home and dropped onto my bed with a loud thump.

I closed my eyes and thought of the beautiful green eyes that had already made a place in my memory and my heart. I remembered the way Eden's lips parted when I had touched her, remembered the rush to my shaft by just the scent of her sweet arousal. The scent had filled my nostrils and it had taken all of my self control not to take her against the tree, deep in the forest.

I was suddenly hit with an irresistible, strong aroma that awakened all of my senses all at once.

I froze.

My mate's scent.

I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply. I couldn't get enough of the intoxicating scent.

She was definitely here.

Fuck.

I wanted her so f*****g much that it hurt.

It was already starting. . .