Semua Bab Surrogate Bride To The Alpha Stand-in: Bab 111 - Bab 120

Four Hundred Years Ago"Steady now," came the calm voice of the Ancient One as she positioned the young boy before a tall oak."Focus your mind. Let it reach inward, and you shall feel the fire awaken within."The forest was still. Only the rustling of leaves answered her words.The boy stood in silence, brow furrowed, lips tight in concentration. A shimmer of cold air surrounded him, and pale webs of frost began to form around the bark of the tree, glimmering in the sunlight.He let out a sigh, shoulders falling."I cannot do it, Mother."The Ancient One, her eyes soft and ancient as the stars themselves, placed a gentle hand on his head."You will succeed another time, my son. Come, let us return."They turned, but halted at once.A man stood at the edge of the clearing, half-shadowed beneath the trees."That man is here again, Mother," the boy said, voice low.The woman bent beside him and whispered, "Vargr, remain here and continue your practice. I shall speak with him."Vargr nod

"Prince Darius’s brother, Vargr, has relinquished the throne, granting the right of kingship to his elder brother, as is proper," the royal healer proclaimed.A wave of murmurs swept through the gathering."We have all seen it with our own eyes," said Alpha Ethan, rising to his feet. "Vargr bears the mark of the Wolf-Man. That alone is a sign of his worthiness to rule. Are you now proposing we change the sacred tradition?"Others joined in, voices growing louder with questions and distrust."My lords," the healer said with composure, "Vargr has surrendered his claim. He desires not the crown. That decision was made of his own will."The hall fell still."How are we to believe such a claim?" asked Solen, eyes narrowing as he stood. He pointed towards Darius, who remained silent at the center of the dais. "He does not speak. Nor does Vargr stand here to affirm it himself."All eyes turned to Darius.He stood as a statue, unmoving. Though his body stood among them, his thoughts were lost

The day before the coronation dawned with quiet foreboding. Ravena sat in the drawing room, lost in troubled thought. Her mind wandered restlessly, weighed down by the gravity of her past misdeeds toward the future queen. She knew well how deeply she had wronged her. What if, in a bid to shield herself from the queen’s cold and inevitable vengeance, she secured a title so high that none would dare touch her? What if she were to rise to the station of Varkoness? After all, she was Uthred’s chosen mate. Should such a union be formalized, it would grant her untouchable status—making it difficult, if not impossible, for the queen to bring retribution upon her.Silence held her company. Her fingers trembled faintly."My lady," a servant spoke softly, "Lady Elara and Lady Valaria await you."Without reply, Ravena rose and departed the chamber.During their gathering, amid light conversation on riches and idle diversions, Ravena remained withdrawn. Her silence weighed heavily on the room."

On the morning of the coronation, before the guests had begun to arrive, the palace stirred with quiet urgency. Banners were raised, garlands strung, and every surface polished to a brilliant gleam. Madame Celeste moved through the corridors like a specter of order, ensuring every detail shone with perfection.Varkoness Milicent had long since departed her quarters, eager to assist her cherished friend, the soon-to-be Luna Queen, in her final preparations.In a distant wing of the palace, the Varkon stirred from slumber, his eyes peeling open at the sound of an insistent knock. With a heavy sigh, he crossed the chamber and drew open the door.There stood Luna Ravena."Oh, my lion," she purred, her eyes roaming appreciatively over his bare chest, his muscles taut with the remnants of sleep. He was unarguably striking, and she did not attempt to hide her admiration.She wet her lips slowly, deliberately.He stiffened at once, his jaw clenched. "Why are you here, Ravena?""May I not visi

They reached the queen’s chamber, and the king threw open the door with such force that it groaned upon its hinges.Within, upon the queen’s bed, lay Lady Ravena, unclothed, entangled with Lord Grantham. They were locked in a shameless embrace, their lips meeting in a manner most indecent for the sacred space they defiled.Startled by the sudden intrusion, they broke apart at once, the air thick with the weight of their disgrace. Ravena clutched the blanket to her chest in haste, her eyes darting to the figure holding her on the bed. It was not Cedric.“You vile swine,” she cried, shoving Lord Grantham aside. “How dare you touch me!”Lady Valaria stepped forward, her voice sharp with righteous contempt. “Lady Ravena, I had not thought you would stoop so low as to sully the queen’s bed with your base desires.”The color drained from Ravena’s face.“What?” she whispered, her mind reeling. This was not how it was meant to be. It should have been the queen in that bed, not her.And what i