Chapter 220

Aiden’s POV

“Did she just say Raelyn?” Candance asked, stepping beside me, her eyes never leaving Carol who was now fast asleep.

“Yes,” I answered, equally confused. “Who is that?”

“It can’t be…” Candance said, shaking her head. “It’s not possible. If it’s the Raelyn I’m thinking of… she should be dead…”

“What are you talking about?” I asked, turning my full attention to Candance. “Who is Raelyn…”

She bit her lower lip and looked a bit squeamish. She looked around to make sure nobody was in earshot. She quickly rushed to the door and pulled it open, peeking her head into the hallway before shutting the door again and returning to me. She grabbed my arm and pulled me through the infirmary until we reached a door that I knew led to her office. She opened the door and walked inside. I looked around, frowning, but then I stepped inside and shut the door behind me.

“What’s going on, Candance? Why the secrecy?” I asked, folding my arms across my chest.

She turned to look at me, leaning against her desk and I could see the worried look in her eyes.

“Because nobody can hear this…” she whispered, low enough that I almost missed what she had said.

“Hear what? Tell me what you know,” I ordered, feeling my patience running thin.

She wrapped her arms around her body like she was trying to hold herself together.

“I think Raelyn might be her sister…” she said, meeting my eyes.

I felt the blood rushing out of my face from her words.

“What did you just say?” I asked, my eyes narrowed in her direction. “What do you mean that Raelyn is her sister?”

She took a deep breath before speaking.

“A long time ago, there was a little girl…” she said softly. “Morgan had chased her through the manor, saying she needed to stop before she was found out. She ran straight into me…”

My brows pinched together.

“Okay?”

“She had a face that I recognized, and I realized that it was King’s daughter’s face. I was confused because the King’s daughter was supposed to be dead… killed by rogues. But this little girl had her eyes and her little face. She had to have been around 4 or 5 at the time, so I couldn’t be sure completely. The only difference is… this baby had a dark aura…”

“A dark aura?” I asked, intrigued.

She nodded.

“I could tell darkness was surrounding her and it was only getting stronger. But when I looked into her eyes, I saw a scared little girl. She wasn’t completely filled with darkness, there was loneliness and fear. She was a little girl who just wanted to be held and cared for… but I could tell she lacked that affection.”

“So, what did you do?”

She bit her lower lip and glanced at the ground sheepishly.

“There wasn’t much I could do. The queen snatched her before I could say anything, and she told me if I spoke a word about this to anyone… she’d make sure I’d never speak again. I was still young, and I was scared. I felt out of place in this pack, especially without my sister and without Queen Emalyn. I felt like my days are numbered… I wasn’t allowed back in my coven, I had nowhere else to go. So, I made them promise to take care of the little girl and treat her better.”

“And then what?” I asked, my lips pressing in a thin line.

“Nothing,” she murmured. “A month later I ran into Morgan and asked her how the little girl was. I knew I shouldn’t have said anything about it out loud, but I couldn’t help it. Morgan chose not to tell the queen about me, but she did give me some information that kept me awake for months after that…” she paused to gather her thoughts. “She told me the little girl was killed that same night for escaping her holding cell.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat and shook my head.

“The holding cell in the dungeon?” I asked.

She shrugged.

“That’s my assumption too,” she replied. “Carol was there, right?”

I nodded.

“So, you think she met her?”

“And if my suspicions were correct, Raelyn was her sister. I think they must have spoken.”

“Are you saying that little girl you saw running around the hallways has been in that dungeon since she was born?” I asked, bile rising in my throat at the thought of it.

“She would be around Carol’s age now…” Candance said softly. “But yes…”

I shook my head at the very thought.

“Do you think the King knows about her?”

“No,” Candance said. “I got the impression that nobody besides Morgan and the Queen knew.”

“And Morgan is dead,” I whispered. “Which means only the Queen is aware of her.”

“And whoever she appointed to keep an eye on her. She has the guards around the palace wrapped around her finger. It’s disgusting honestly.” She folded her arms across her chest.

“And the King allows that?”

“The king is oblivious, Alpha Aiden,” she said, shaking her head. “He has no idea any of this is happening right under his nose. He’s not the one who controls the empire… the queen is.”

“I’m not going to let her get away with this,” I said, my tone angry as fury rose throughout me.

“I Don’t think you are strong enough to stop her, no offense. Your wife on the other hand… might be the only one who can stop her. I think that’s why the Queen wants her gone so badly.”

“Hello? Is anyone else here?” I heard a voice from outside the office door, making me freeze.

Candance didn’t seem as worried though. She smiled and walked around me to open the door. A man in a white doctor's coat and briefcase stood before us; he smiled when he saw Candance.

“Thanks for coming on short notice Dr. Lewis,” she said, motioning for him to follow her. “Carol is in bed sleeping.”

“You called the doctor?” I asked, raising my brows.

She smirked at me from over her shoulder.

“Of course, I did. She’s pregnant. I wanted to make sure her baby is okay,” she explained.

“And who’s this?” Dr. Lewis asked, eyeing me suspiciously.

“Carol’s husband, and mate,” Candance introduced.

“Awe, I see,” he said, offering me his hand to shake.

“Aiden,” I introduced.

He eyes me for a beat longer before recognition flashes in his eyes.

“Alpha Aiden Cruz?” He asked. “I knew you looked familiar. I followed all your games. It’s a shame what happened to your father but I’m glad he’s still alive.”

I nodded.

“Thank you,” I replied. “Now can you tell me if my baby is okay?”

He smiled.

“I can.”

He set up the ultrasound machine near Carol’s bed and when I heard the whooshing of the heartbeat, my heart swelled.

“Your baby is very healthy,” he said proudly. “Do you want to know the gender?”

I shook my head.

“Not while Carol is asleep. I want us to find out together,” I told him.

He nodded thoughtfully.

“Let me just check her vitals and put a liquid IV in her and I’ll be on my way,” he said, getting to work.

Moments later, the King entered the infirmary just as the doctor was finishing setting everything up for Carol’s nourishment.

“How is she?” He asked, staring down at Carol with a timid frown.

“She’ll be okay,” Dr. Lewis said. “As will the baby.”

King Bennet nodded.

“What about Jenna?” I asked, turning to face him. I had to show him the footage of Jenna hurting Carol and then hurting herself for him to release Carol from the dungeon. Needless to say, he was shocked and not pleased with what I had to show him. He made the guards grab Jenna from her room and present herself.

Of course, she came up with excuses, but eventually cried and begged for forgiveness, saying she never meant to cause her any harm and that she was just scared that Carol would take her throne. The King put her on house arrest with a bunch of guards keeping an eye on her.

“I’ll deal with her. I just wanted to make sure that Carol is okay,” he said, sighing. “I’m sorry, Alpha. I honestly didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”

I nodded, knowing he was speaking the truth.

“I know…” I told him. “It’s okay.”

“I want her to remain here so she can practice her abilities some more. She’s already so good that I don’t think she’ll need to stay here for much longer. But I’d like to know for sure that she can protect herself when it’s needed.”

“I’m staying with her until she returns,” I said without hesitation. “I’m having some of my guards come here as well. I hope you understand.”

He was hesitant, but then he nodded, not having any room to speak against me.

“I understand,” he said. “Anything to ensure her safety.”

“I’d also like to make a request,” I told him.

He raised his brows.

“Okay? What would you like?”

“I want us to go to the dungeon together,” I told him, making Candance gasp in shock. “I want to know who you are keeping prisoner.”