All Chapters of Surrogate Bride To The Alpha Stand-in: Chapter 151 - Chapter 160

"Can you hear it?" asked the priestess, her voice calm but firm, like a ripple over still water.There was no answer.King Vargr stood motionless, his brow furrowed in confusion."Listen closely," she repeated, stepping nearer to him. "Do not let her appearance cloud your senses. You are a Lycan, are you not?"Within him, the voices stirred."I cannot concentrate," growled Craven, the beast within, pacing furiously in the shadows of his mind."Our mate is suffering," murmured Draven, the wolf, sorrow woven into every word. "It wounds me deeper than any blade. We should have been at her side. We should have known."Their anguish mirrored his own. They were grieved and furious, helpless in a moment where they had always believed themselves powerful. If she had remained with them, this sorrow might have been averted. His fists clenched as he shut his eyes, and a single tear escaped, tracing a slow path down his cheek.Before him, upon the healer’s bed, lay his beloved. Her once regal fig

“Queen Catherine is hereby demoted to the rank of noble lady,” the herald proclaimed, his voice echoing through the high-vaulted chamber. “Her royal title is to be revoked for the charge of inciting the people against the Crown. She shall be cast from the palace and dwell among the common folk, until such time as Her Majesty sees fit to recall her.”Queen Magdalena stood beside the great throne, her presence still and sovereign. Upon that throne none had yet sat, for by ancient custom, it remained vacant until the Queen's coronation was complete. Atop it rested a golden crown, gleaming beneath the light of the stained-glass windows like the sun upon fresh-forged steel.A rustle stirred through the gathered court—murmurs of assent, soft gasps, and nods exchanged among nobles. The judgment was bold, yet no one dared question it aloud.“As for Lord Devan,” the herald continued, “who did conspire and conceal the cause of the Queen’s affliction—he shall be stripped of all titles and privil

"In the name of the old gods and the sacred blood of the moon-born, I crown thee the sovereign queen of the Lycan Kingdom."With great reverence, Akila raised the crown to the gathered assembly in the throne room. She slowly placed it upon the head of Queen Magdalena.A great cheer erupted from the crowd, their voices rising in joy as they showered the queen with flowers, their praises filling the air.The queen turned to face the people, lifting the golden specter that had been bestowed upon her. The crowd’s roar intensified as they shouted in unison, "Long live the queen! Long live the queen!"In the stillness of her mind, her beast, ever present, spoke: "For ever bringing peace to our people, Magdalena Aimee Greaves, I hereby promise never to depart from your lineage. I will reside in the purest of mind through your generations to come for making me so proud. The queenship shall never depart from your house, my queen."A soft breath escaped from Magdalena’s lips as she turned to he

Six Months LaterThe sun bore down upon the royal garden with merciless heat, casting its golden glare even upon the shaded pavilions where the noblewomen sought relief. It was a rare day when the court gathered outdoors, because the walls of the palace had grown stifling, and so they ventured into the open air in hopes of respite. Servants moved quietly about, fanning their mistresses and ensuring their comfort.Queen Magdalena reclined upon a cushioned seat, her stomach round and heavy with child. Two maids flanked her, waving large fans of palm and silk in rhythmic motion. Not far from her sat the Varkoness, Lady Milicent, herself in the final weeks of her own pregnancy. Her face was flushed with the strain of heat and expectancy, though she bore it with noble restraint.Lady Scarlet, serene despite her fatigue, nursed her newborn son with quiet grace. A slave held a fan to her left, another stood to her right with a silver basin of cool water."I cannot believe the coldest realm o

A cry pierced the chamber—a high, fierce sound, shrill and new.“It is a pup,” the midwife declared, her voice trembling with joy. “A boy, my lord.”With reverence, she placed the wailing child in Cedric’s waiting arms.Cedric laughed aloud, eyes shining. He cradled the babe, his lips brushing the boy’s soft crown. “My son,” he whispered. “My son…”But a sharp cry from the bed stole all attention.Milicent writhed once more, her voice a pained howl. The queen’s own labors continued beside her, but the midwife near Magdalena shouted, “Push, Your Grace! The babe crowns. I see the head!”Milicent let out another ragged cry. Her body trembled.Cedric turned sharply, only to freeze.Milicent’s eyes had turned gold. Her nails had lengthened into claws, her mouth parting to reveal elongated fangs.“Do not be alarmed,” King Vargr said with quiet authority, his hand upon Cedric’s arm. “She is shifting. The full moon commands it.”Before their very eyes, Milicent’s body arched violently. Her sk