All Chapters of THE WOLF BRIDE’S ESCAPE : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

"Cassia, move!"Lucien's voice was a harsh command, but I barely had time to react. A monstrous creature lunged at me, its blackened claws slashing through the air. I ducked, rolling across the blood-streaked marble floor just as its talons scraped against the stone.I had seen monsters before—beasts of war, cursed rogues—but nothing like these. Their eyes glowed a sickly green, their skin twisted and unnatural, moving like shadows given flesh.The castle was chaos. Pack warriors fought desperately, outnumbered by the dark creatures that poured in through shattered windows and broken doors. Screams echoed through the halls, a mix of agony and battle cries.Lucien was beside me, sword flashing in the dim light as he cut down another creature. Blood splattered across his face, but he didn’t flinch. His movements were precise and efficient. A true warrior.I lifted my hand, feeling the burn of power thrumming beneath my skin. I still didn’t fully understand what I had become, but I didn’

"You were never supposed to see that."Lucien’s voice was a low rasp, thick with something between anger and regret. My breath came in sharp gasps, my body trembling as the vision faded, but its ghostly imprint lingered behind my eyelids.I couldn’t move. I couldn’t think.All I could see was my mother—alive, standing before a younger Lucien. They weren’t fighting. They weren’t enemies. They were allies.Lucien had lied."You knew her," I whispered, my voice barely audible over the roaring in my ears. "You knew my mother."Lucien didn't answer.I sat up, my body drenched in cold sweat. My hands curled into the sheets beneath me as I turned to face him. "Tell me the truth."Lucien’s jaw tightened. The muscles in his neck tensed as if he were fighting an internal war. "Cassia—""Don’t you dare lie to me again." My voice shook, but there was steel beneath it. "You knew my mother. You knew who I was all along."Lucien exhaled sharply, running a hand through his dark hair. "It’s complicate

The moment my fingers brushed against the brittle parchment, my breath caught in my throat. The rogue had placed it in my hands like it was the key to a secret that could change everything. And maybe it was. My mother’s handwriting, delicate yet firm, stretched across the page in dark ink."My dearest Cassia,If you are reading this, it means the prophecy has begun to unravel. It means you have awakened."The words blurred as my hands trembled. My heart pounded against my ribs, the weight of her message pressing down on me like a storm cloud ready to burst. My mother had known about my powers—about the curse. She had known about Lucien."He was never meant to be your captor, Cassia. He was meant to be your protector. But fate is cruel, and so are the ones who seek to control it. The prophecy binds you both in ways neither of you can yet understand. Be careful, my love. Trust your instincts. And if you must choose—"A shadow loomed over me. The letter was yanked from my grip before I c

"You can’t be serious, Cassia."Lucien’s voice was rough, barely controlled. He stood in front of me, blocking my path, his broad shoulders tense. His golden eyes burned with something I refused to acknowledge—something that almost looked like pain.I clenched my fists. "I’m leaving."His jaw tightened. "With her? Do you have any idea what she’ll do to you?"I did. My stepmother had spent years ensuring I remained weak and powerless, a mere shadow in her kingdom of cruelty. But she had the answers I needed. If I wanted to break free, if I wanted to uncover the full truth of my magic, I had to face her."It’s my choice," I said.Lucien growled, stepping closer. "You belong here. With me."I laughed bitterly. "With you? As your possession? Your prisoner?"His expression darkened, but I saw the flicker of something else—hesitation. Doubt. The ruthless Alpha was struggling with his own feelings, but I couldn’t afford to care.Behind him, my stepmother stood with a smug smirk, draped in he

The dagger trembled in my grip, its tip barely an inch from Lucien’s heart. His fingers curled over mine, pressing the blade against his chest. His golden eyes—always cold, always unreadable—held something different now.Acceptance.“Do it,” he whispered.The words sliced through me more than the blade ever could.I clenched my jaw. My body screamed for me to drive the dagger forward, to end him the way my stepmother had foretold. But my heart—traitorous and reckless—refused to obey.Lucien’s lips curled in something almost like amusement, but there was no humor in his gaze. “You don’t hate me, Cassia. You hate the part of you that wants me.”A sharp breath left my lungs, my fingers twitching against the hilt. “You don’t know anything about what I want.”He laughed, low and dark. “Don’t I?” His hand slid to my wrist, guiding my trembling grip. “I’ve hurt you. I’ve been cruel. And yet, you hesitate.”I hated that he was right. I hated that my chest ached more from his words than from t