บททั้งหมดของ The Cursed Alpha’s Fake Bride: บทที่ 31 - บทที่ 40

***Ariana’s POV“Fuck…”The alarm on my phone blared, jolting me awake, and I blinked groggily, momentarily disoriented. Where was I? As the hazy moonlight filtered through the windows, I took in my surroundings—my new office, lit just enough by the soft glow outside to make out the leather armchair and mahogany desk. My back was pressed up against the arm of the couch, a surprisingly comfortable makeshift bed for the night.“Oh, right,” I murmured, stretching. I’d moved to the couch last night to do some reading and apparently passed out. Guess training really had wiped me out yesterday if I’d slept straight through without so much as a crick in my neck.Rubbing the last traces of sleep from

*** Draven’s POVHer scent reached me before I heard the knock. That sweet, sharp aroma always tugged at the edges of my focus, like a whisper that refused to go unheard. “Come in,” I called, already bracing myself.The door opened, and Miria stepped inside. My breath caught—she was dressed in a knee-length tweed dress, modest yet polished, exuding a quiet confidence. It wasn’t the kind of outfit meant to draw attention, but it did. It demanded respect.“You look nice today, Miria. Very polished,” I said, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. My tone was softer than intended, betraying the control I prided myself on.She hesitated a moment, then stepped closer, sitting in the chair opposite me. “My usual joggers seemed inappropriate for my new office space,” she replied lightly, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Thank you for that, by the way. It’s a very comfortable space. I hope taking over the library won’t put out any of the other pack members who might want access to

*** Ariana’s POVI came out of the shower, towel wrapped tightly around me, ready to collapse into bed. The tension from my conversation with Draven still sat heavy on my shoulders, and all I wanted was to escape into sleep. But my plans screeched to a halt when I saw it—a dress. Not just any dress, but a stunning piece of craftsmanship laid out neatly on my bed, complete with a pair of matching black sandals and a small card.Dinner at 6.My heart sank. Socializing wasn’t in my plans, but the dress… I picked it up, and my breath caught at the sight of the “Tracy Reese” label.“Shit,” I muttered, running my fingers over the smooth fabric. “Things just got all presidential.”A nervous laugh bubbled up. “I guess one little dinner won’t hurt.”After a short nap to recharge, I got dressed in the full-sleeve crème peony dress. Its black satin base clung perfectly to my form, with the delicate floral pattern wrapping around the chest and back adding just the right touch of elegance. Pulling

*** Ariana’s POVThe morning air was sharp, with a chill that nipped at my skin as I stretched on the edge of the packhouse steps. My guards, Michael and Mika, waited a few paces away, as stoic as ever but clearly eager for the run.“Alright, let’s get moving,” I said, shaking out my limbs.“We’ll keep pace,” Mika said, smirking. “But don’t think we’ll let you slack off.”“I’m beginning to think you all enjoy this way too much,” I replied, rolling my eyes as we set off toward the trail.Michael chuckled. “Running clears the head and warms up the muscles. It’s the best way to start the day.”We had barely made it to the trailhead when I caught the unmista

 *** Ariana’s POV Sweat clung to me like a second skin as I wrapped up the last drill with Jax, Jake, and Jorge. Four hours of training had flown by, thanks to the endless series of drills and tactical discussions. Cover and Concealment, Safe Room Tactics, Kill Zone Avoidance—they’d thrown everything at me today. It wasn’t until Jax broke down the logic behind the drills that I realized how much I’d been learning. “It’s about responses, not reactions,” he had said. “A calculated response buys you time, and time is leverage.” I had nodded, absorbing the lesson, but inwardly wondered why this wasn’t standard training for all Alpha and Beta families. Attacks weren’t exactly rare in ou