Alpha King’s Wolfless Mate by Scarlett Higgins

Chapter 125

**Blake POV

I couldn’t sleep at all last night. My anxiety about what was going to happen in Lanecreek today made it impossible for me to relax. I had kept Nora safely in my arms while she slept soundly. I didn’t want to let go of her. I was irrationally convinced that this was the last time I would be able to hold her in my arms.

We got up early this morning and had breakfast with Maisi e and Christian. They were going to be coming with us to Lanecreek, so they needed to be at the castle first thing to get ready. It was a formal event, and neither of them were used to dressing for anything of this caliber.

I was hesitant about Christian coming with us, but Maisi e insisted. She trusted Christian and believed that his sharp eyes would be a benefit to us. I didn’t have a strong

argument against it.

Christian seemed nervous, but he was adamant that he wanted to attend. He said that he wanted to help. I remembered his words when we had spoken during training. He said would do anything for his pack. I wasn’t going to deny him the chance to fight for his family.

We’d spent breakfast going over the defense plan.

Small groups of warriors were stationed in strategic locations between us and Lanecreek. Most of the force was here in the city, arranged along the border. We didn’t know when or where Lanecreek’s forces might strike.

We hoped that one of our small groups would catch sight of their movements and be able to send up a warning about the coming attack. If we could just stay sharp and meet them head on, we might have a fighting chance.

We couldn’t allow them to get the jump on us.

We still hadn’t heard from Margot, so we had to assume that she was caught and that they were on to us. That meant that the element of surprise wasn’t exactly on our side. It also meant that we could be walking into a trap.

It felt ridiculous to all of us to walk into battle in formalwear, but we didn’t have much choice. We had to keep up appearances. I hoped that there would be some way for me to keep this from happening, but I knew that it was unlikely.

We made our way out into the garden to lo ad into the car for the long drive. The mood was heavy as we stood in contemplative silence.

Maisi e was dressed in a simple, but elegant maroon gown that complimented her curves. She would look beautiful, if not for how clearly uncomfortable she was in the outfit.

Christian’s suit was plain, but seeing him in it made him look incredibly young. He wore it like a child being forced to attend a party. The guilt I felt for putting him in danger only got stronger when I looked at him.

The only person who seemed to enjoy their clothes was Nora. She had become accustomed to formal events, so the process of being decked out in the silk gown and jewels didn’t phase her as much anymore. Besides, I knew that she was just as distracted as I was.

She looked stunning and I found it hard to keep my eyes off of her. She looked fantastic in purple. I made a note to ask the seamstress if Nora was requesting the color herself. I chose it for the first gown she had made here at the castle, and she’d worn it ever since. It complimented her complexion well.

Nora succeeded in drawing my attention away from the sick feeling in my stomach for at least a few minutes.

The moment we were loaded into the car and it began to move, my anxiety level skyrocketed.

None of us spoke as we made our way out of the town. It wasn’t until the smooth pavement gave way to gravel, miles away from the castle, that anyone spoke a word.

“It doesn’t feel right,” Maisi e began.She leaned forward and propped her elbows on her knees.“There are so many moving pieces and we haven’t been able to track most of them. I feel like we’re being led to the slaughter.”

“That’s very likely true,”I said.“Orat least, that’s what they’re planning. That’s why we can’t let our guard down.”

“We need to make sure that wedon’t get separated,” Nora asserted. “We can’t let them pick us off.We’re better able to protect ourselves if we’re together.”

“That’ll be tricky at a party likethis,” Christian pointed out.“People

are going to be lining up to talk to the two of you.”

Nora nodded in agreement.“I know, but we at least need to stay in pairs.”

“We will,”Maisi e assured her.

Nora’s brow remained furrowed and her eyes were cast down at her feet. She had only gotten more worried as the day went on. I knew that she was concerned about someone getting hurt.

I took her hand and she looked up at me with an unfocused expression, like she was coming out of a dream.

“We’re going to be okay,”Ipromised.“This will get messy, and it may seem like we’re going to lose, but I promise you, we will be okay. As long as we stay together and we remember that this is all for the good of the pack and the kingdom, we will find a way through it.”

Nora’s expression remained hazy

and she looked away from me. I could see that she was conflicted as she considered my words.

Then, a wry smile spread over her face and she looked at me.“It is going to get ugly,” she repeated softly.“But I know that you’re right. We’re both too damn stubborn to ever give up.”

I laughed and wrapped my arm around her waist.“That’s right,”I agreed.“We’re too stubborn to lose.”

Maisi e laughed and slapped her knee.“That’s the most accurate description of you I have ever heard,”she teased.

Christian didn’t say anything, but it was clear he was trying to hide a smile.

The heavy mood that had been hanging over us felt like it had lifted just a little bit. Nora leaned her head on my shoulder and sighed.

“This inauguration is going to belong and overly formal, isn’t it?”she asked with annoyance clear in her voice.

“Oh, absolutely,”I confirmed.“Especially with Kelly involved inthe planning. They’re going to take every opportunity to affirm their power and show off their wealth.”

“It’s their chance to show off to theother Alphas of the kingdom before they try to usurp power,”Maisie said.“They’ll pull out all of the stops.”

“Could we use that to ouradvantage?”Christian asked.

Maisi e looked at him thoughtfully. “How do you mean?”

“Well, King Blake and Nora won’tbe able to leave because people will be paying attention to them. It’s probably the same for you, too, since you’re the Beta to the king, but no one is going to be looking at me. I might be able to sl*p away and try to snoop around a little.”

“That’s risky,”Maisi e noted. Shechewed at the inside of her cheek then cussed under her breath.“But it’s a good idea. What do you think?”she asked as she turned to me.

“I don’t like it, but it’s the best ideaanyone has had,”I said.

We had no idea what was going on in Lanecreek. Since Margot went silent, our intel had completely dried up. If Christian could find any information, no matter how minor it seemed, it might give us a chance to stop things before they even got going.

“I trust you, Christian,”I said.“Butdo not take any unnecessary risks, is that understood? If you think for even a second that you’re in danger, you retreat. Got it?”

“Yes, Your Majesty,”he saidemphatically.

The nervous look was still present on his face, but it had faded significantly. I was beginning to see

what Maisi e saw in Christian. He was a focused, dedicated young man. When he had a mission to focus on, nothing else mattered.

The four of us were the best chance the kingdom had of averting disaster. We couldn’t aford to mess this up.