Three Alpha Princes for an Unwanted Omega

AYLA

”What do you mean, Astrid?”

I dropped to my knees beside her, my fingers finding her chin, tilting her face up.

”Astrid.” I said her name again, softer this time. ”What do you mean save your sister?”

She looked at me then, and the tears broke free.

”Willow has her.” Astrid’s voice cracked. ”She has had her for weeks. She threatened to send her to the border camps as a service girl if I did not do what she asked.”

”Weeks?” I echoed. ”You have been carrying this for weeks?”

Astrid nodded, a sob tearing from her throat. ”I did not know what to do. She said if I told anyone, she would ship my sister away before dawn. She said they would use her until there was nothing left. I could not... I could not let that happen.”

I pulled her into my arms, feeling her body shake against mine. Her fingers clutched at the back of my dress, and she buried her face in my shoulder, her sobs muffled against the fabric.

”The night you told me you had not mated with the princes yet. I told her. I told her everything because she had my sister. I am so sorry, Ayla. I am so sorry.”

I pulled back, my hands still on her shoulders. ”Look at me.”

She did.

”You did what you had to do to protect your sister. I do not blame you for that.”

”Y-you do not?”

”No.” I squeezed her shoulders. ”But I need you to tell me everything now. Everything you know. And I need you to trust us to fix this.”

She nodded, her breath hitching.

I rose to my feet and turned.

Damon was already walking toward Willow, his hands curled into fists at his sides. He stopped a few feet from her and tilted his head.

”Is this true?”

Willow said nothing.

”I asked you a question.” Damon’s voice was low ”Is it true?”

”I would never...”

”You better think about lying to me.”

Willow’s mouth snapped shut. She stared at him, her chest rising and falling in quick, shallow breaths. She folded her arms across her chest and looked away.

The silence was answer enough.

”Where is your sister now?” Cassian asked.

Astrid turned to him, her face streaked with tears. ”I do not know,” she whispered. ”Willow said she has her in her father’s household.”

Willow rolled her eyes. ”She is lying. There is no sister. She is making this up to get out of punishment.”

”You are lying,” I said.

Willow’s eyes flashed. ”You cannot speak to me that way.”

”Where is Astrid’s sister?” Cassian’s voice cut through the exchange. He took a step toward Willow, his blue eyes hard. ”Tell me the truth, Willow. Now.”

”I told you, she is lying. There is nothing...”

”Willow.” Cassian’s voice dropped. ”Tell me the truth, or I swear on the Moon, I will have you thrown in the cells and we will find out the truth another way. And I promise you, you will not like that way nearly as much.”

Willow’s face went pale.

”I do not have to stand here and be threatened by you,” she said, her voice wavering. ”I am the Beta’s daughter. You cannot touch me.”

”The Beta’s daughter,” Cassian repeated, chuckling mildly. ”Your father will not be able to help you if I decide to deal with you, Willow.”

It would be the first time I realized that he was a prince and had authority and could use it. He had always been so kind that him being like this surprised me and it made me love him for it.

Willow’s face drained of the last of its color.

”You would not.”

”Try me.”

Willow’s lips parted. ”Damon, you cannot possibly believe the word of a lying servant over mine. She is clearly trying to save herself from punishment by making up stories.”

”What is going on here?” A new voice cut through the tension.

We all turned to see Beta Soren, his eyes moving over the scene.

”What is the meaning of this?” Soren asked, stepping forward.

Cassian turned to face him fully.

”You will give us her sister.”

Soren’s brow furrowed. ”Excuse me?”

”Astrid’s sister.” Cassian did not back down. ”Willow has been holding her hostage to force Astrid to spy on Ayla. She threatened to send the girl to the border camps if Astrid did not cooperate. You will tell us where she is, or I will have every room in your compound searched until I find her.”

Soren’s eyes snapped to Willow.

”Is this true?”

Willow’s face crumpled. ”Father, I...”

”Do not lie to me.”

She crumpled. The defiance drained from her shoulders, and she looked suddenly small, standing there with her arms wrapped around herself.

”I was not going to actually send her away.”

”Where is she?” Soren demanded.

”In the old storehouse. Behind the kitchens. I gave her food and water. She is fine.”

Soren stared at his daughter for a long moment. Then he turned to one of the guards.

”Go to the old storehouse. Find the girl. Bring her here.”

The guard nodded and hurried off.

Soren turned back to Cassian.

”This will be dealt with,” he said. ”Privately. Within my household.”

”Like hell it will.” Damon stepped forward. ”Your daughter held a girl hostage. She beat Ayla’s lady in waiting. She drugged Ayla’s drink and almost caused my brother to die from the heat potion. This is not a household matter, Soren. This is treason.”

Soren’s eyes widened. ”The heat potion? Willow, what is he talking about?”

Willow said nothing. She stared at the floor, her shoulders trembling.

”Willow! What did you do?”

Willow raised her head, her eyes brimming with tears and anger.

”You yell at me now but I blame you for everything. You killed my mother... you are the reason she is dead” she screamed. ”If you had never betrayed my mother, she would still be alive.”

”Enough.” Soren muttered.

What? I thought. What the hell is she talking about?