The Cursed Alpha Prince's Replacement Bride-Chapter 26: Ginger

{Third Person}

Werewolf Clan.

The next evening...

Amara had just been dismissed from her lessons.

The past few days had been filled with nothing but instruction—etiquette, customs, traditions—each more oppressive than the last. By the time she returned to the sitting room, her mind felt heavy, her patience worn thin.

She had barely taken a seat when footsteps sounded at the entrance. Jasper walked in calmly with something cradled in his arms.

"Ms. Caldwell," he greeted.

Amara responded automatically, but her attention had already shifted to the small creature in his hold.

Her eyes widened slightly. ’Is that a cat? Here?’

Before she even realized it, a smile broke across her face. It came naturally, without restraint, softening her features in a way that hadn’t been seen in days.

Almost immediately, she stepped forward and reached out. Jasper didn’t hesitate. He placed the cat gently into her arms, a quiet sense of relief settling in him at her reaction.

Amara immediately adjusted her hold, careful and instinctive. Her fingers brushed through its ginger fur, her eyes lighting up as she took in its appearance.

"It’s beautiful..." she murmured.

The cat let out a soft meow.

Amara tilted its head slightly, examining it with quiet focus before nodding. "It’s a female."

"It is a gift from His Highness," Jasper revealed.

The effect was immediate. The smile on Amara’s face vanished. She looked up at him. "...The Alpha Prince gifted me this cat?"

"Yes," Jasper confirmed, but internally, he frowned. ’Why did she look... unhappy?’

Amara’s gaze slowly dropped back to the cat in her arms. This time, her expression was suspicious. She studied it more carefully, as if trying to understand something beyond what was visible.

Jasper caught on quickly and cleared his throat lightly. "His Highness thought you might be homesick," he explained. "He found the stray a few days ago and decided to gift it to you."

Amara didn’t look at him. Instead, she continued running her fingers through the cat’s fur, her voice low as she muttered under her breath,

"I’m surprised he didn’t kill it."

The cat meowed again.

Jasper stiffened slightly. He had, in fact, heard her. And worse, she wasn’t wrong.

He coughed lightly, choosing not to comment.

Amara exhaled softly, her expression easing just a fraction. Then she said, more properly this time, "Please extend my thanks to His Highness for the gift."

Her gratitude was polite, appropriate, but empty. She didn’t say she liked his gift. Didn’t say she was happy. Jasper noticed, and it confused him.

Amara, on the other hand, lowered her gaze to the cat again. Her fingers slowed as she stroked its head, her thoughts elsewhere. It was difficult, almost impossible, for her to associate Alexander with something as simple as kindness.

And yet, he had done this for her. Or so it seemed. In the end, she wasn’t sure what to make of it.

After a moment, she glanced back at Jasper. "Does it have a name?"

He shook his head. "No. It belongs to you now. You may name it as you wish."

Amara nodded faintly.

Jasper bowed slightly. "If there is nothing else, I will take my leave."

She nodded and watched him turn and leave quietly. Then, as the room fell silent again, she looked down at the cat in her arms. It blinked up at her.

"What name should I give to you?" she asked as a full smile returned to her lips.

Meanwhile, Jasper returned to Alexander to give him a report.

Alexander sat in the living area, a chessboard laid out before him. One side had already been played halfway through, the black and white pieces arranged in a quiet battle of strategy.

He was playing both sides. And he didn’t look up when Jasper entered.

"Your Highness." Jasper bowed.

Alexander shifted a piece across the board before speaking. "You delivered it?"

"Yes."

Only then did Alexander lift his gaze briefly. "How did she receive it?"

Jasper didn’t hesitate. "She seemed to appreciate it. She asked me to extend her thanks."

Alexander gave a small nod and returned his attention to the board. "Good." Then, he moved another piece. "I hope she won’t have any reason to cry again from missing her family."

Jasper said nothing. But in his heart, he knew that wasn’t possible. No matter how satisfied Amara would be with the pet, it still can’t replace her longing for her family.

Alexander studied the board for a moment longer before leaning back slightly. "Sit and play with me." He said, gesturing to the opposite seat without looking at him.

Jasper stepped forward and sat down, his posture upright as his eyes fixed on the board. And the game resumed.

---

The evening passed differently for Amara. For the first time since she arrived in the Werewolf Kingdom, there was something in her room that didn’t feel suffocating.

The cat.

She sat on the edge of her bed, watching it as it wandered around her room like it already owned the place—sniffing corners, hopping onto low surfaces, completely uninterested in her presence unless it chose otherwise.

Amara smiled faintly. "So you’re this type, huh?" She reached out, gently pulling it back into her arms. "At least let me name you first."

The cat meowed, clearly unbothered.

Amara studied it for a moment, her fingers brushing through its soft ginger fur. "...Ginger," she decided softly. "It suits you."

The cat blinked at her. Then, just as quickly as she had picked it up, it wriggled free from her hold and jumped down to the floor.

Amara paused, then laughed under her breath. "You don’t even want to pretend to like me?"

Ginger didn’t reply. It just wandered off, it’s tail flicking lazily behind.

Amara watched it move around the room for a while, amused. But not long after, the cat returned, this time circling closer to her.

Her brows lifted slightly. "Back already?"

Then she noticed the leftover snacks on her plate. She stared at the cat, then at the snacks... then back at the cat. A slow smile spread across her face.

"You only come to me for food, don’t you?"

Ginger meowed without shame and without denial.

Amara shook her head, laughing softly. "Unbelievable." Still, she tore off a small piece and placed it down for it.

The cat ate it without hesitation.

Moments later, there was a knock, and then Mrs Woods entered. "Lady Amara."

Amara looked up, and almost immediately, she inquired, "Mrs. Woods, are there any pet food stores around here?"

The housekeeper blinked. "For... the cat?"

"Yes."

Mrs. Woods hesitated for a second before shaking her head. "This is the Werewolf Kingdom, my lady. We do not have such establishments."

Amara frowned. "Then I will just go out and check out the stores myself."

"That will not be possible."

"Huh?" Amara looked at her.

Mrs. Woods’ tone remained respectful, but firm. "You are not permitted to leave the palace grounds until after your welcome banquet."

Amara’s frown deepened. "Why?"

"Because you are a political bride," Mrs. Woods explained. "That is part of the rules."

The words hung heavily in the air. Amara fell silent. There was nothing she could say in response to that.

Mrs. Woods seemed to take her silence as understanding. After a moment, she spoke again, her tone returning to its usual calm.

"I came to inform you that clothes and accessories for the two-day banquet have been prepared for you," she said. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Amara looked up slowly.

"You should come and make your selections."

Amara glanced at the cat still eating on the floor, then back at Mrs. Woods. "...Alright."

She stood and followed. And seeing her leaving, the cat quickly tailed her.