Page 28 of Loved By The King

As I hang up, I focus on my father, hoping for a sign of life, a sign that he’ll pull through.

• • •

I’m sitting on the edge of the couch, the flickering light of the television casting shadows in the dim room. The living room is filled with familiar yet distant memories, the worn-out floral wallpaper and creaky wooden floors like stepping back in time.

Being back here after so long feels surreal, like stepping into a forgotten chapter of my life, where everything seems untouched yet strangely unfamiliar. I feel like a stranger in their own childhood home, a place that once held warmth and comfort now feels foreign and distant, as if it belongs to someone else’s past, not my own. For so long, I craved coming home, and now it’s like it was never my home, to begin with. I don’t belong here; this is no longer home; home wasn’t with Rhett either.

My mother sets down a plate on my lap. “Thank you,” I tell her as she falls onto the couch beside me and flicks on the news.

“The Doctor should call soon with news of your father,” she tells me, and I nod, picking up my fork. I eat the dinner she made me. It used to be one of my favorite dishes, but now it tastes bland. Isn’t it strange how something can lose its taste when the memory of it changes or becomes tainted? In the background, the news anchor’s voice drones on, a constant hum in the background, until suddenly, my heart drops when I hear King Soren’s name mentioned.

“Did they just say Aubrey of Blackwood Pack?” I whisper, turning to my mother, my fork frozen mid-air. She frowns, glancing at the television.

“It can’t be,” she mutters, as the news anchor continues, “King Soren is not only engaged to Aubrey Jefferson but she is believed to be the fated mate of Rhett Miles.” My pulse quickens. “This can’t be happening,” I breathe, feeling a wave of dizziness wash over me. My mother places a reassuring hand on my arm, her expression mirroring my shock.

My face appears on the screen, framed by bold letters that scream my real name.

“—suspected in the robbery of Alpha Rhett Miles pack, authorities are searching for this woman, who is also believed to be involved in a violent altercation—”

Footage rolls, showing chaotic scenes from the day I left Rhett. I see myself, wild-eyed and desperate, caught in a moment that feels like a lifetime ago. They’ve painted me as a madwoman, a criminal who attacked and robbed the very people who had once been my family. My stomach twists, and I feel bile rise in my throat.

The camera zooms in on the news anchor, her expression grave and serious. The screen behind her is filled with dramatic images of the altercation in the elevator.

My heart races as I watch, dread pooling in my stomach. The anchorwoman continues, her voice steady but filled with urgency.

“Sources confirm that Aubrey has been living under the false identity of her deceased sister, Brielle. This deception raises serious questions about her intentions and her true background.”

“We are left to assume that she has not only betrayed her own mate but has also been a catalyst for the conflict between Alpha Rhett and Alpha Joseph, two packs on the brink of war. This unfolding situation has left many wondering how this woman could be a potential future queen.”

Images of my father in a hospital bed flash across the screen, tubes connected to him as the anchor’s voice grows somber. “Wait, how did they get those photos!” my mother exclaims angrily.

“Adding to the urgency of the situation is the health of Aubrey’s father, who is currently in critical condition following a heart attack attributed to the stress surrounding his daughter’s actions. It has been suggested that the family has been torn apart by these events.”

The report continues, showcasing footage of me saving Max from being hit by a car. “Now we are left wondering if everything was a lie. While some may see her as a protector, others question her motives and if this was her plan all along. Is she truly innocent in this, or is she merely playing a role to gain favor within the royal family?”

I glance at my mother who stares at the screen horrified.

“Many are now questioning if King Soren is aware and how he can consider her a suitable fiancée when she has deceived him and her own family?”

As the report fades and the anchor’s serious expression lingers, I feel the weight of the world crash down on me. My life is now a public spectacle, painted as a criminal hiding behind a royal title. They even made out that saving Max was a setup to get closer to the King via his son; my nanny title certainly didn’t help that rumor. I sit in stunned silence, realizing the truth of my identity is no longer mine to control. I’ve been unmasked; with it, every fear and doubt rushes to the forefront.

I can only imagine what Soren must think—his fiancée exposed as a liar and a criminal. I feel my heart sink deeper, panic creeping in as I try to process what this means for my future, for the life I thought I could have with him.

“Aubrey?” my mother whispers, and I turn my head to look at the woman who birthed me. “I heard the rumors of you being engaged to the King but thought they were rumors, especially when they kept referring to you as Brielle,” she murmurs, her eyes turning glassy.

“I’m sorry, I... panicked.” My mother shakes her head, “I think we are all sorry. This isn’t just your fault; you should have just come home,” she adds. She rises to her feet and clutches her hair. She paces the living room, her dinner long forgotten. “Aubrey, you lied to a king,” she murmurs like that alone is enough to order my death sentence. I hang my head in shame, knowing I have done wrong. She steps closer to me and places her hand on my shoulder.

“He loves you right?” she asks and I blink up at her. “The King?”

“Momma, I don’t think that will be enough, not after this.”

“It will be enough. It has to be. He’ll understand, you just need to explain your side. This can be turned around.”

“It’s not that simple,” I say, my voice trembling. “This is a matter of public scandal now, and the council will pressure him to make an example out of me. They won’t let this go unpunished.” My mother sighs heavily, her optimism fading as she realizes the gravity of the situation. She falls back into her chair, her face etched with worry, understanding that I’ve dug a hole too deep to climb out of on my own.

“If that is the case, then you can’t stay here. They’ll come for you. He will come for you. You need to…”

“I’m not running, not from Soren. I’m done running.” My mother nods slowly, and I can see her fear for me on her face as tears brim in her eyes.