The Mad Alpha's Substitute Bride-Chapter 76: We Will Be Ready

(CORRINE)

It’s been two months since we returned to the North.

I can feel my wolf now, but the shock of the temporary disconnect really shook me up. I never knew such a thing was even possible. It just goes to show how dangerous the enemy truly is.

I may have recovered, but there is a lingering weakness within me. Ravenna’s claws had been laced with some kind of poison, which is probably what affected my wolf. The lingering traces of the poison on her claws were mixed with her blood when Locke killed her, but without Maya and her research, there is no way of knowing what it was.

According to Healer Pat, it will take time to regain my full strength. But once I have, I don’t have any intention to just leave this matter be, even though Locke has decided to limit how much information he shares with me about the Silver Ring Organization.

I understand his reasoning, and I can’t blame him, but I’m still going to see what I can find out. My anger at Maya’s death is fueling me to do so, and I don’t have to be in the human world to start my investigation. The Eastern Kingdom was involved with that group, and that’s where I’ll start hunting. I’m trusting Erik, however, to keep looking into Maya’s disappearance.

It warms my heart that Finn has begun to enjoy his life here in the North. He grieved for Maya because he understood that she was gone and he would no longer see her. But his new life here was too exciting. As children normally do, he moved on. He still mentions her, though. Everyone has their own way of grieving. And when I see him run around so happily, I know that Maya would want me to step back and focus on Finn. But my heart aches, and her name is etched on a broken piece of it.

From the moment we returned, Locke has been working nonstop to reduce the power of the nobles. They protested, but the fall of the Asher household has shaken the families enough to make them remember their place. Derrick and Edgar have been given titles.

I know Locke is busy making sure our home is safe for us, but I miss seeing him all the time. These past two months, I’ve stayed in the castle, barely venturing out, although I have called in artisans and reestablished relationships with the villagers. The castle was stripped bare in my absence, and I have to redecorate it. This time, I want it to be colorful and majestic.

I made arrangements with the witches who worked on Erik’s palace to keep the temperature consistent. They’ve been willing to help us if we pay them handsomely, and I haven’t kept their powers limited to the castle. The witches are also in charge of casting their magic on the farmers’ lands so that they can grow more crops.

I am resting, but I’m also working. It helps me forget the sharp grief that often lodges itself in my throat.

But as the two-month mark passes, I feel content. The castle’s staff and the commoners who live in the villages have all been thrilled to have me back. It makes me realize that I didn’t see how much they cared about me before. Having a child playing in the castle has given a new life to the place, and the staff are having the time of their lives spoiling Finn.

I lean on the balcony railing, looking out. Finn is running around with two children from the village. I have stressed to Locke that I want my son to have playmates. Two of the artisans who are working on the tapestries have children Finn’s age, and they bring them to the castle. My son has been getting along with them tremendously. The three kids have been wreaking havoc.

A pair of arms wraps around my waist, and Locke presses against me from behind. "You look happy."

"I am happy." I tilt my head back and smile at him. "This feels like home. Our son is playing outside. I’m busy looking after our kingdom. I get to see my family every day. That’s a blessing."

Locke kisses my forehead and looks out at the distance, holding me. "Healer Pat told me that you are recovering quite well. Do you want to go for a run in a few days? Just you and me?"

I laugh. "Finn’s going to chew your head off."

"I’m sure he’ll be too busy with his friends." He kisses the side of my neck. "Come to bed."

My lips curve. "Is it just me, or have you been saying that a lot more often lately?"

My mate picks me up in his arms and carries me inside to our large bed. Lowering me to it, he grins. "The full moon will be in a few days. I intend to give our son plenty of siblings so that he stays out of our hair."

Laughter bubbles out of me. "How many are you talking?"

"Five, ten." Locke grabs me by my nape and pulls me toward him, his kiss fierce and hungry. "Is a number that important?"

I moan at the contact, and I feel him make quick work of my clothing. His hands toy with my nipples, his mouth marking my skin as he goes lower and lower till my legs are open for him to feast upon me. I cry out as he licks and slurps, fucking me with his tongue, drinking my juices like a starving man. His cock soon lines with my entrance, and when he pierces me, I groan his name. He moves slowly today, a punishing pace, leaving me a writhing mess on the bed. His hands drive me wild as he fucks me with long and hard strokes.

When I shatter, he finally loses control.

The evening blends into night as we explore each other’s bodies like two newlyweds. When my stomach rumbles, he reluctantly lets me go.

I take a bath while he orders food to be sent to our room. When I come out of the bathroom, rubbing my hair with a towel, he has also washed up and is waiting for me.

"That’s a lot of food." I sit down beside him, looking at the covered dishes.

"Get used to it." He looks amused. "Once the full moon hits, we will be eating a lot because we’ll be burning a lot of energy."

"I’m not having ten children, Locke," I tell him, my eyes narrowed. "At the most, I’ll do five."

"I’ll take however many you want to give me." He leans over to kiss me. "Seeing you back home makes me feel like everything that happened before was just a nightmare."

I study him, my eyes soft. "That’s what it feels like to me as well. I’m glad you came to the human world and found me."

Locke piles up my plate with food and sets it before me. "I heard you’re planning to start making some changes."

I smile at him. "I want to start at our castle. Let the staff see the changes. Once they understand them, word will spread. Slowly but steadily, I’ll expand to the villages and the towns. I want to open a few schools and teach different things. I know it’s going to take time, but I have a lot of that."

Locke is quiet as he listens to me. Then he says, "The Silver Ring Organization isn’t going to stay quiet for long. They’re going to strike again."

I nod grimly. "I know. We’ll be prepared this time."

"Ravenna’s father sold my mother and father to them. My parents weren’t kidnapped on the road; their food was spiked, and they were taken from the palace. I managed to get a little bit of information from Ravenna’s uncle before he killed himself. I think we have enough to start hunting the organization down. We now have open access to the Eastern Kingdom. Rothan is going to act as the delegate there."

I give him a serious look. "I have to avenge Maya’s death. She did not deserve to die. If you and Cassian ever cross paths, I want you to take his head."

Locke smiles viciously. "You have my word."

We eat in silence, and then I lean against my mate on the couch. "I know we’re going to have our ups and downs, Locke, and we’re probably going to disagree about some things, but I’m glad we’re together."

When he looks down at me, I see the love in his eyes. "I am yours, remember? You told me so."

I grip his cheeks and climb into his lap. "Yes, I did."

As I push him back into the cushions, the sounds of our bodies moving together fill the room, and my heart is overflowing with a happiness I never dreamed I would experience.