Owned By The Alpha Brothers

Liam.

After breakfast was over, I went looking for Ciara, and I had almost thought she had once again disappeared because she didn't want to be found, when I spotted her at the well having a conversation with Blake. I had remained and heard everything, silently hoping that they didn't reconcile and as fate would have it, Blake wasn't even willing to listen to her apology.

She had started going after him when I held her hand and pulled her into an embrace, patting her back and just letting her wet my shirt with her tears.

Ciara tried to get a hold of herself and tried pulling out of the hug so she could continue to go after Blake, but I only hugged her tighter because I could see that Blake had now turned to see both of us.

It was only when he stormed off angrily and was no longer within the vicinity that I let her out of my embrace.

She turned around almost immediately and searched with her eyes, but there was no trace of Blake. "Did... did you see where he went?" she inquired, looking confused.

"No, and I really think you should just let him be," I said.

"Why? So that you can act like the better option? I'm not stupid, Prince Liam. You were the only one who was unnecessarily mean to me and all of a sudden, you're acting like a sort of Prince Charming who will be there for me when the guy I truly want to be with is angry at me," she said, nearly at the top of her voice.

"I admit that I was really mean to you at first and I'm sorry about that, but I'm different now. The moment I saw you being dragged away by Alpha Seaman's men, I became aware of how I felt for you and I now regret ever hurting your feelings in the first place," I apologized.

She rolled her eyes, crossing her arms like she didn't believe me. "I see. So, why are you preventing me from going after your brother?" she asked.

From her countenance, I knew she was ready to leave. I needed to say something, anything, as long as it would make her stay.

"That's because he gets violent when he's being bothered. Just let him be, he'll come to see you when he's ready," I lied.

She heaved a sigh. "Are you sure? He doesn't seem like the type to get violent."

"He also doesn't seem like the type to have sex with a maid just to spite his mate," I told her.

Tears began to roll down her cheeks again. "I suppose he's all shades of a red flag then," she said.

I lowered my frame so that we stood at the same height, and with a half-sincere smile, I began to wipe her tears. "You shouldn't cry over a jerk like him. You deserve way better," I told her.

Surprisingly, she chuckled. "Let me guess. You are way better?"

I shrugged with a wink. "Not to sound cocky, but I actually am."

"You're the biggest jerk I've ever met in my entire life," she blurted out, suppressing her laughter.

I gave her a smirk. "And how would you know how many jerks you've met when you supposedly have amnesia?"

That seemed to strike a nerve, and a frown appeared on her face. "There you go again, doubting me."

"Hey, I'm not. I'm just saying you can't tell because you don't know if someone was worse than I am to you, probably the one that made you leave your Pack running in the dead of the night, but that's not even what I'm driving at. Listen, why don't I redeem myself to you?" I asked.

She seemed interested, but eyed me suspiciously. "And how exactly are you going to do that?"

"Come with me," I said, grabbing her hand and whisking her away.

"Where are we going? Let me go!" she screamed, but still didn't let go of my hand and followed me all the way to the Royal Stable.

"Wow. These horses are so pretty," she said, with a big smile, walking around to admire each of the lovely horses in the stable. "I'm glad you love horses,"I told her.

"Don't tell me this is your way of proving that you're not that bad of a person. I mean, the horses are really adorable, but this whole place smells like dung. I think I'd pass out if I were to remain here any longer," she said, stopping in front of a particularly beautiful black stallion with a golden mane.

"Hey there," she said, stroking its mane as the horse looked up at her and after examining her for a few seconds, he nuzzled her palm affectionately.

"He likes you," I said proudly, walking over to her.

"He does?" her eyes were filled with happiness.

"Apparently. He's been mine for over a decade and he doesn't like strangers, so I'm surprised," I said.

"Wow. I must be the chosen one then," she joked.

"The chosen one for his master," I said seriously, but she laughed, probably believing it to be a joke.

"Would you like to go on a ride with me and Garfield?" I asked.

"Garfield?"

"That's his name."

"Wow. He has such a pretty name. Of course, I'd love to, thanks for offering," she seemed excited as she grinned from ear to ear.

"Great!" I said, leading the way out of the stable with an instruction to the stable boy to prepare Garfield for a ride.

I took Ciara to a stall where she got changed into something more befitting for a horse ride- a pair of trousers and a brown shirt with boots.

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"How is it that you look good in anything you wear?" I complimented her, admiring her outfit.

"Funny how Prince Alden also said something similar this morning. Hey, Garfield is all ready," she said, pointing towards the stable as he was being led out by the stable boy, now properly saddled and bridled.

I helped Ciara mount the horse, before heaving myself up behind her. My chest pressed tightly against her back and I could hear her heart beating loudly as our bodies collided.

She nervously took hold of the reins and I gripped them tighter, steadying us both with one arm as she turned to look at me, her breath warm on my skin.

"Look ahead," I whispered in her ears and she hiccuped nervously, doing as I had said.

"Hiya!" I called to Garfield, as we started off at a fast trot down the palace grounds.

The palace gates were opened and we rode out through the cobblestone street, after which I made a turn through the woods.

"Wow," Ciara said, admiring the scenery.

The sun shone brightly in the sky, creating a perfect blue sky, even as the wind blew softly and a cool breeze flowed through the air, caressing our faces and blowing particularly loose strands of her hair in my face. I didn't mind. Her hair smelled nice. She smelled nice as well, and I wanted to drown in her scent all day long.

Coming across the lake which I had intended to take her to, a smile spread across my face.

The lake was my hideout, the place where I regained my sanity after enduring all the madness in the palace. It was my favorite place, and I knew already that it was the perfect spot to mark her; to claim her as mine. I would be killing two birds with one stone- being with the girl I had fallen in love with in just a few days and securing the position as the next Alpha of the Silver Crest Pack.