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29: When Power Breeds Contempt and Allies Wear Unexpected Faces
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2025-04-17 19:50:35
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Surrogate Bride To The Alpha Stand-in 30: Blood, Bonds, and the Forgotten Rituals of the Old Ways"
What Lena encountered as they stepped into the northern wing of the Shadow Fang Pack was far beyond what she had expected. She had underestimated him — greatly.The place was vibrant, almost bustling with life. It mirrored the lively markets of the human world, where merchants called out their wares, eager voices mingled in conversation, and stalls lined the streets, brimming with goods — from richly woven fabrics to fragrant herbs and rare trinkets. The scent of freshly baked bread wafted through the air, blending with the faint aroma of burning incense.Children darted between vendors, their laughter ringing out like a melody, while traders haggled with customers over prices. There was warmth here — a sense of community and normalcy that felt foreign compared to the cold tension that clung to the Shadow Fang Pack’s main grounds.This wasn’t the grim, oppressive environment she had braced herself for. It was thriving, welcoming — a corner of the pack’s territory that felt almost un
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-04-18Surrogate Bride To The Alpha Stand-in 31: Bloodbound and Broken: The Cost of Betrayal and the Burden of Love
"In the ways of the old," the elder began, his voice firm yet distant, "a werewolf wedding was more than just a union of hearts. It was a binding of souls. The ceremony wasn’t merely about vows; it was a pact sealed by blood and magic."He paused, giving the room a moment to grasp the weight of his words."The couple would stand beneath the Blood Moon, surrounded by their pack. The Alpha or an elder would draw a ceremonial blade, cutting both bride and groom's palms. Their blood would mix as they clasped hands, creating a bond stronger than words alone."His gaze darkened."But with such power comes risk. If the bond is forced, if one heart wavers or doubts, the magic can turn unstable. A failed bond weakens the mind and spirit. Some say it drives the pair to madness."Murmurs rippled through the room, but Lena wasn’t done."And what about... the effects?" she pressed.The elder nodded gravely."A true bond, one forged in love and trust, strengthens both wolves. They become attuned to
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-04-19Surrogate Bride To The Alpha Stand-in 32: "When Mercy Becomes a Blade"
"My lords," a man greeted, bowing his head before turning to the Alpha. "Alpha, may your reign be long.""What is the matter?" Darius asked.The man gestured to a young human boy, bruised and dressed in torn clothes."For some time now, I've noticed food disappearing from my kitchen," the man explained. "My family and I decided to set a trap. We stayed up through the night and caught him red-handed.""And he's still breathing?" Lord Ronan drawled, sounding bored."My lord, according to our laws, such matters must be brought before the Alpha for judgment.""I know the traditions well," Ronan said, his voice sharp. "But those laws were made for werewolves — not humans. This shouldn't even be a matter for the court."Some of the elders murmured in agreement, shaking their heads."Boy," Alpha Darius called.The boy lifted his battered face, swollen and streaked with dirt."How old are you?" Darius asked."Thirteen years, Your Grace," the boy answered, his voice weak yet steady.Some of th
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-04-20Surrogate Bride To The Alpha Stand-in 33: Torn Between Duty and Desire
Lena broke through the crowd just as the guards forced the boy’s trembling arm onto the blood-stained wooden block.The boy’s face was pale, his breathing rapid, and his wide eyes stayed fixed on the sharp blade hovering above him.“Wait!” Lena’s voice rang out.The crowd stirred, murmurs spreading as people turned to face her. The guards hesitated, lowering the blade slightly.“Who dares interrupt the Alpha’s judgment?” one of the guards barked.“I do,” Lena declared, stepping forward. “Release the boy.”“She’s the Luna,” someone whispered.The guards exchanged uneasy glances.“My lady,” one of them said, lowering his head slightly in respect. “The Alpha’s orders were clear.”“I know the Alpha’s orders,” Lena replied. “But I question the wisdom of punishing a starving child like this.”“Theft is theft,” the guard argued. “The boy knew the risk.”“And what did he steal?” Lena challenged. “Gold? Weapons?”“Food,” a voice answered from the crowd. An elderly woman stepped forward. “He to
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-04-21Surrogate Bride To The Alpha Stand-in 34: A Reckoning of Hearts
Beta Cedric crept silently through the forest, his steps muffled by the damp earth. His sharp gaze never left the witch as she moved between the trees, plucking herbs with practiced fingers. He’d tracked her since she’d left Lydia’s home, careful to keep his presence hidden.Then, just as his amber wolf eyes flared and his claws extended, a whisper of wind brushed past his ear — the telltale hum of an arrow slicing through the air.The arrow struck the witch’s back with a sickening thud. She crumpled to the ground, her eyes wide with shock as blood bubbled from her mouth.Cedric spun around, instincts roaring to life.A figure — crooked and cloaked — vanished into the trees, black shadows curling in its wake like living smoke.A mage.Cedric turned back to the witch, but his breath caught.She was gone. Not a trace of her body remained — only a faint smear of blood and crushed herbs scattered across the dirt.---Darius didn’t say a word as he gripped Lena’s arm and marched her throug
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-04-22Surrogate Bride To The Alpha Stand-in 35: Beneath the Alpha's Gaze
Everyone heard it. The entire castle.Lena couldn’t believe Darius had done that to her — in front of his pack of wolves. As she limped through the halls, trying to conceal her pain, heads turned. Some whispered, some snickered, and some kept their eyes down, pretending not to see her shame.Disgust twisted inside her.From his balcony, Alpha Darius stood watching her. His sharp gaze followed her every step."My Alpha," Beta Cedric greeted with a respectful bow.Darius didn’t turn around. "Returned?" he asked coolly."Yes... but with news."That caught Darius's attention. He turned sharply, eyes narrowing."Come, stand with me," he ordered.Cedric moved beside him, following his Alpha’s gaze. But while Darius’s eyes remained on Lena, Cedric's attention drifted elsewhere — to Milicent.The nervous handmaiden flitted about like a thief in daylight, glancing over her shoulder as she tried to usher Lena inside.Unaware, Darius’s gaze shifted to follow Cedric’s."It’s been a long time sinc
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-04-23Surrogate Bride To The Alpha Stand-in 36: Roots of an Unlikely Friendship
Twenty-four hours.That was how long Scarlet had been trapped in this godforsaken cell. The cold stone walls seemed to close in on her, and the silver chains that lined the floor had seared her skin every time she moved too close.She had screamed until her throat was raw, banged on the iron door until her fists ached, and cried until her tears ran dry. None of it mattered. No one came. No one cared. Not even a drop of water had been offered."Please..." she rasped, her voice weak and broken. "Get my uncle... I'm dying."Her legs gave out beneath her, and she slumped against the wall, her breath shallow."Don't worry, you'll be out soon," a voice drawled.Her head jerked up. She knew that voice — even in her nightmares."Uthred," she croaked, her voice barely stronger than a breath. "You damned soul.""You look dreadful," he sneered. "Give me what I asked for, and you'll be free."Scarlet let out a bitter laugh. "I’ll tell the Alpha your plans."Silence. A cold, unsettling silence."I
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-04-24Surrogate Bride To The Alpha Stand-in 37: The Alpha's Hidden Bloodline
A cloaked figure stopped at the brothel nestled near the park's edge, its dim lanterns flickering in the evening gloom. She watched as a servant hurried toward her."Is my husband inside?" she demanded."Yes, Luna. But—"Before the servant could finish, Kara was already striding past him, her heels striking hard against the cobblestone path.The air inside was thick with sweat, wine, and sin. Women draped themselves over men in shadowed corners, their garments slipping indecently low. Soft moans and drunken laughter filled the room. Kara’s stomach churned, but she pressed on.At the end of the hall, she reached a curtained chamber where Alpha Ethan's guard stood, his face blanching when he saw her."My lady," the guard stammered, stepping aside.Kara ignored him, seized the curtain, and yanked it aside.The sight hit her like a slap.Her husband lay sprawled on the bed, tangled between three half-naked women. One lay draped across his chest, her lips trailing down his neck. Another kn
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-04-25
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Surrogate Bride To The Alpha Stand-in 45: The Gathering Storm
"How long has she been thus?" Lena inquired the moment they stepped beyond the chamber."Two nights past," came the reply."And how long shall she remain so?"Dylia pondered for a moment before speaking. "That, I cannot say. You see, Milicent was not merely wronged in body—she was stripped of her dignity, her very spirit wounded. Such a loss cannot be mended with time alone.""Then what must be done to aid her?"Silence fell between them.At length, Dylia spoke again. "Has she kin? A beloved, perchance?""I know not," Lena admitted."In such a case, we must seek one who holds her dear. If she knows there is one who awaits her, one who has not abandoned her, it may give her reason to return to us. Yet, I cannot promise she shall ever be as she was."Lena exhaled softly, nodding. "So be it." Then, after a brief pause, she lowered her voice. "There is another matter I must speak of."Dylia regarded her in silence."Come with me," Lena urged, stepping away, beyond the hearing of Cedric wi
Surrogate Bride To The Alpha Stand-in 44: "The Battle Within"
The battle raged within Darius’s mind.Two dark beasts stood locked in confrontation.Their growls reverberated through his consciousness, a constant clash of power.A massive black wolf appeared, sleek and controlled.It positioned itself between the Lycan beast and its adversary.Draven, the embodiment of Darius’s wolf form, stood firm.His gaze was steady, his posture unwavering.He was the image of restraint, the side of Darius that kept chaos at bay.Before him, Craven, the enormous black Lycan beast, snarled.His fury crackled in the air like wildfire, an untamed force of nature.The Lycan’s massive form shook with frustration.His beastly eyes were wild with rage, teeth bared."As expected, you all acted like fools," Craven growled.His voice rumbled deep within Darius’s mind."If I hadn't been restrained, my mate wouldn’t have been wounded, beaten, and nearly violated.""But you two planned this and locked me away for half a century."Tension thickened the air, the weight of C
Surrogate Bride To The Alpha Stand-in 43: When Thrones Crumble and Vows Shatter
A night past.Within the castle of the witches' clan, Kara paced the chamber, her fingers trembling with barely restrained fury.That treacherous wretch—her own friend—had taken up with her husband, and she, the rightful wife, was left to seethe in silence.What was her mother planning? Why was it taking so long?"Why have you not touched your meal?" her aunt inquired as she entered, the maid trailing behind—the same girl Kara had dismissed upon arriving."I've no appetite," she snapped."Foolish girl. We do not waste away over a husband's whore. Nay, we welcome them if it serves our purpose. Stop this sulking and come eat.""I should sit at table while my hands itch to tear that harlot apart?"Her aunt sighed, stepping forward to rest a firm hand upon her shoulder."Your mother is handling it, that much I am certain. You know the woman she is."Kara wet her lips, bitterness sharp on her tongue. "My mother tells me nothing. Explain to me how my own husband took my handmaiden to his be
Surrogate Bride To The Alpha Stand-in 42: Brief Awakening of the Marked One"
"Beloved..."The voice was gentle yet firm, slicing through the haze of pain and fear. Her eyelids fluttered open, vision blurred, but she recognized the familiar mask, the piercing eyes that haunted both her dreams and waking hours. But this time, instead of mismatched eyes, they were gold."Are you hurt?" His voice was calm, steady, a chilling contrast to the storm raging within her.A sob tore from her throat. Words failed her.His expression darkened. "Did they touch you?"She trembled, breath shallow, suffocating under the weight of horror pressing against her chest like an immovable stone.He exhaled sharply. Then, quieter, softer, yet deadlier, he spoke again."Close your eyes. Do not open them until I am done."She obeyed, squeezing them shut, waiting.Then, a voice rang out."Who dares stand in our way?" one of the men sneered.He did not answer. The very air trembled, thick with an unearthly force, monstrous and beyond mortal comprehension. His body shifted, bones cracking,
Surrogate Bride To The Alpha Stand-in 41: "When Screams Fade into Silence: A Cry for Help That Never Came"
Warning: This chapter contains R-rated content and potentially triggering material. Reader discretion is advised. If you find such themes distressing, feel free to skip this section.“Come in,” Selena instructed, her voice calm yet firm. “See that he is given something to drink.”The maid curtsied and left the room.Selena turned her gaze back to Cedric. “I am inclined to believe you—not because of the Alpha’s name, but because you have shown some measure of truth. Yet I remain doubtful because of your claim to hail from the Shadow Fang Pack. My Alpha considers your kind an enemy, and I see no reason to trust that he would send you here. Speak plainly—how did you truly come to possess this seal?”Cedric gave a low chuckle just as the maid returned with a cup of wine.“Leave us,” Selena ordered.The maid obeyed without question, bowing deeply before departing.Alone now, Selena folded her hands in her lap, her eyes never leaving Cedric’s face.“You live up to your reputation,” Cedric s
Surrogate Bride To The Alpha Stand-in 40: The Luna They Sought, The Sacrifice She Made
Restlessness gnawed at him, his heart pounding fiercely. His wolf stirred in his slumber, then jolted awake, pacing anxiously."Our mate," his wolf growled. "Something’s happening to her."Vargr shot to his feet. "Keep enjoying yourselves," he told Jaime. "I must find the Luna."As if the gods themselves willed it, a child stumbled toward the gathering, her dress stained with blood."Some wolves..." she sobbed, her voice trembling.The crowd hushed, encircling her in alarm."Whose blood is that?""Are you hurt?"Questions flooded from the villagers."Do not frighten the child with your clamor," the old storyteller commanded. "Let her speak."Silence fell like a stone.Vargr knelt beside the girl, his voice calm yet firm. "What happened?""Three men came to the gate," she stammered. "They asked for Lena... they wanted to know which of us was her. None of us knew what to say... so they grabbed us, and..." Her breath hitched."And?" Vargr urged."They... they killed one of us," she whisp
Surrogate Bride To The Alpha Stand-in 39: "The Prophecy of Blood and Doom"
Later that evening. The village gathered around a roaring bonfire. Sparks danced into the night sky, carried by the crisp breeze. Children giggled as they chased each other, their faces glowing in the firelight. Lena sat close to the fire, her gaze fixed on the old man at its center. He stood with a wooden staff in hand, his voice carrying over the crowd."Love," the old man began, "is not born from words or promises alone. It thrives in patience, in sacrifice... in choosing to stay when walking away feels easier."The crowd murmured in agreement. Some couples linked hands, others exchanged quiet smiles."Respect," the man continued, "isn’t just listening when it’s easy. It’s understanding when words won’t come, and choosing kindness when anger tempts you otherwise."Lena shifted closer to the fire. Memories stirred—her mother’s laugh, her gentle hand resting on her shoulder. She remembered her village before the raids, before slavery, before her life had been stolen from her. The
Surrogate Bride To The Alpha Stand-in 38: Bonds Tested, Trust Betrayed
Vargr followed Lena down the narrow forest path.After a short trek, they reached a clearing where a grand carriage stood waiting. Two powerful black horses stood hitched to it, their breath misting the cool night air.A cloaked figure leaned against the carriage, hand on the hilt of a sheathed sword. At the sight of Lena, he straightened.“You’re late,” the man said, his voice sharp yet familiar.Vargr’s eyes narrowed. The man’s face was hidden beneath his hood, but the smug stance — and the hint of a smirk — put Vargr on edge.“Who’s this?” Vargr asked, stepping protectively beside Lena.She ignored him, pulling open the carriage door. “We need to leave. The guards will notice I'm gone soon.”“You didn’t answer my question,” Vargr pressed.The cloaked man chuckled. “Relax.” He pushed back his hood, revealing sharp features and dark hair. “Name’s Jaime.”“Friend of mine,” Lena said. “He’s helping us.”“Helping us do what?” Vargr shot back.“Get away,” Jaime answered. “Unless you’d ra
Surrogate Bride To The Alpha Stand-in 37: The Alpha's Hidden Bloodline
A cloaked figure stopped at the brothel nestled near the park's edge, its dim lanterns flickering in the evening gloom. She watched as a servant hurried toward her."Is my husband inside?" she demanded."Yes, Luna. But—"Before the servant could finish, Kara was already striding past him, her heels striking hard against the cobblestone path.The air inside was thick with sweat, wine, and sin. Women draped themselves over men in shadowed corners, their garments slipping indecently low. Soft moans and drunken laughter filled the room. Kara’s stomach churned, but she pressed on.At the end of the hall, she reached a curtained chamber where Alpha Ethan's guard stood, his face blanching when he saw her."My lady," the guard stammered, stepping aside.Kara ignored him, seized the curtain, and yanked it aside.The sight hit her like a slap.Her husband lay sprawled on the bed, tangled between three half-naked women. One lay draped across his chest, her lips trailing down his neck. Another kn
