Chapter 57

~Grace~

One room?!

My heart sank to the floor.

Of course. I should have expected something like this.

I didn’t even think when Christopher offered to take our luggage away that he’d only booked just one room.

I sighed, annoyed.

Of course I didn’t think. I hadn’t been.

This whole trip was about not thinking too much, and look where that led me.

Wait, wait. Maybe I was being too hard on him.

Maybe one room was all that was left, or all he could afford. Maybe there were two beds, or even a divider, and I was being far too judgemental of him.

I sighed again. Whatever. I didn’t want to have to think about this, I was actually having a good time for once.

Christopher seemed to notice my shift in mood. He tilted his head, studying me.

“Is everything alright, Grace?” He asked, and so politely, too. If he hadn’t been such an ass in the past, this wouldn’t be as big of a deal.

I shrugged, pulling my dress down to get all of the wrinkles out of it. I looked back toward the mini golf field. Other people were grabbing onto each other, recovering from the rocky boat as well.

“Yeah, I’m fine. I think it’s a good idea you get some rest,” I told him, flatly, looking around at the different playing holes.

Christopher hesitated a moment before responding. He seemed unsure of himself. I’m sure he knew something was off, but it seemed like he was questioning himself if he should prod further.

I hoped he wouldn’t.

“Yeah, I’ll head there. Here’s your key in case you want to go there yourself,” he said, handing me a card, like a hotel key. I slipped it in my purse with a short nod.

“Right. Get some rest,” I told him, picking up the golf supplies. I didn’t feel like finishing the course on my own, and Christopher certainly wasn’t coming back to play.

He nodded, and I didn’t watch as he left, instead turning around to the equipment table to drop off the gear.

I took a deep breath, leaning on the counter. Finally, I was alone again.

It would be good to spend some time to myself, his presence was starting to get on my nerves after I found out he only booked one room for us.

Honestly, who did he think he was?

Annoyance turned to a bright flash of anger, and I gripped the countertop fiercely.

I was feeling much better than the day before, my headache and nausea gone. The fogginess of my grief had lifted once I got out here in cool, ocean air, and got to take my mind off things for a bit, and now…

I was starting to think clearly again.

It was such a bad idea to get on this boat with Christopher. Christopher. My god, I never realized I could be that delusional.

Ugh, and now I have to share a room with him?!

Maybe I can talk to some staff and get things changed around–surely they’re not fully booked.

I took a deep breath to calm myself, finding comfort in that thought.

Yes, I’m sure everything would work out just fine. It would be okay.

Turning toward the edge of the deck, I made my way to the railing, and looked out into the sea. The waters were now a deep grey, and I couldn’t see into the depths. Grey clouds dotted the sky, and a strong breeze whipped my skirt around my legs.

I wrapped my arms around myself, shivering. It sure was cold out here.

Looking up, I watched the seagulls that flew overhead. I’m sure they loved it, flying along with the ship. Endless free food from customers leaving their trash on the deck and in the trash cans.

Had to be easier than scavenging for food along the beach.

Honestly, Christopher was a bit like the seagulls.

He was a scavenger. Too weak and outcast to be a predator like the rest of the Alphas, always searching everywhere for a scrap of power to gain respect and recognition.

But he saw something in me. Something that he knew would bring him that respect. It was like I was the missing puzzle piece he had been searching for his whole life, and that’s why he couldn’t just let me go.

I was too good of an opportunity.

No more scavenging along the beach when he could fly by the boat where all the action was anyway.

I had been in the news so often lately, it was practically guaranteed he’d gain recognition if he even did anything involving me.

He already had.

Kidnapping me, ruining my wedding, now whisking me away on some remote cruise to… Where were we even going?

I ran my hands through my hair, which had now gotten knotty from the wind.

I had been a fool. I let him use me as his personal headline maker. He was already getting what he wanted–attention.

And I’m sure he was just buttering me up, getting ready to prime me for something even bigger.

But what did he want? For me to marry him?

There’s no way in hell.

~Alexander~

“Where is she?!” I roared, grasping the Rogue around his throat. He squirmed in my grasp, gasping for air.

Pulling at my hands, he stared at me with wide, terrified eyes.

“He knows, he’s just playing the goon,” Thor, my wolf, spoke up.

I growled, tightening my grip.

The Rogue couldn’t even choke, now. His face was turning red.

Right before his eyelids began to droop, I dropped him to the ground with a hard thud.

He lay on the ground, gasping and coughing, rubbing his throat.

“He’s even more pathetic than that Rogue King of his,” Thor growled, pacing around the Rogue.

“That’s not hard to do,” I spoke, folding my arms over my chest.

I had tracked Grace’s scent to here. Of course that’s where she was. I would be a fool to think Christopher would waste even a second trying to get to Grace.

That’s what his whole plot was, anyway. To crush Grace’s heart so she’d lose her trust in me, that way she’d be vulnerable enough for him to swoop in as the good guy. Despicable.

Once I arrived in the Rogue encampment, I searched every building, level, and walkway, but Grace’s scent was faint. I knew she was gone.

The people here must be detrimentally loyal to their King, as no one so far would answer my questions.

They were obviously all afraid of me, but I guess that wasn’t enough to make them answer me.

But this one… I found him near Christopher’s room, cleaning. I could smell it in his fear. It was stronger than the others. He knew something, and he was wasting both of our time by not just coming out to tell me.

“P-please, leave me alone-” He choked out, backing away from me.

Oh, so he had the energy to talk, and that’s what he chose to waste it on?

I put my foot on him, rolling him onto his back. He trembled under my touch, and I put pressure on his chest.

“I will only ask one more time. Where is Grace Windsong?” I growled, my voice low and gravelly.

The Rogue began to cry. Tears wet his cheeks, but I wasn’t moved.

“Th-they went on a boat… I saw the information on his desk! I-I don’t remember the details, you’ll have to check there!”

Finally.

Without a second glance, I took my foot off of him, and went into Christopher’s office.