All Chapters of THE ALPHA’S RELUCTANT BRIDE: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

I couldn't count how many times I screamed and begged. My throat was raw, my voice cracking with desperation, but they didn’t put me down. Darius had given the command, and like loyal dogs, they obeyed. The man who carried me—tall, broad, definitely a warrior, maybe his Beta—had slung me over his shoulder like a sack of grain. I kicked, clawed, and cursed. I’m pretty sure I left a dozen claw marks down his back and shoulders. I didn’t care. Let him bleed. Let them all bleed. I wouldn't go with them.But he wouldn't bulge. He just kept on walking.Eventually, I gave up. Not because I was tired—though I was—but because something inside me broke.My father had given me up. He’d stood there, stone-faced, as if I were a lamb he was happy to sacrifice. No fight. No hesitation. No apology. Just cold compliance. He’d handed me over like I meant nothing. Like I wasn’t his daughter. Like I wasn’t even a person. I could still hear Carla’s screams ringing in my ears.“LET HER GO! LET HER GO

The training outfit was fitted—a little too fitted if you asked me. The top was a sleek blacklong-sleeved spandex that clung to my frame like a second skin, exposing every curve. Mybreasts were practically gift-wrapped, and the leggings didn’t help either. They were just as tight,high-waisted, and black.I glanced at the mirror and nearly scowled. Great. I looked like a fitness influencer prepping forbattle. At least I wasn’t flat in the front or the back, or this would’ve been a whole new level ofhumiliation.Something told me Darius intentionally picked this dress. The bastard!I slipped on the white sneakers left at the edge of the bed and tied my hair into a high ponytail.Taking a deep breath, I opened the door.Kellan stood leaning against the wall directly opposite, arms crossed and picking at his nails likehe had all the time in the world.His eyes flicked up as he registered me—and then traveled down slowly, appraising every inchof the ensemble. A grin twitched at the

Darius moved like the wind.One moment, the rogues were circling me, victorious smiles plastered on their faces and hunger filling their eyes at their newest prey. The next, they were flying—their bodies slammed into trees like rag dolls.A gasp escaped my lips as a blur of flesh struck the first rogue right before he landed on the ground with great force, sending him crashing into a tree trunk with a sickening crack. I barely blinked before another went down with a guttural yelp.All my life, I've lived in isolation; the only form of battle witnessed was the pack warriors' training. Although fights broke out once in a while, it was not this violent. This right here, crazy to admit was terrifying and beautiful. I know I was crazy to think wolves being beaten to a pulp was beautiful but they tried to r*pe a few minutes ago. But nothing looked more powerful and imposing than Darius. He didn't even shift into his wolf form, the only proof of his wolf being present were his glowing eyes

It was hard sleeping that night.I kept twisting and turning, my body restless underneath the duvet.I had kissed Darius.And I liked it.No—loved it.My lips still tingled, warm and tender, as if he were still pressed against them. The taste of himlingered faintly.I could feel tingling sensations between my legs the more my thoughts drifted to him. If his kisscould do this to me, what could his hands do?A soft breath escaped me as my thoughts drifted lower—down, down to the growing achebetween my thighs.My hand moved of its own accord, trailing down the curve of my stomach, slipping beneath thethin silk of my nightdress. A quiet gasp slipped through my lips as my fingers grazed thesensitive, slick heat between my legs. My body arched, desperate for more.I'd touched myself a few times, and being locked in the pack most of the time didn't, too.When no one was around to please me, I did a good job myself. Before I know it, my nightdress, a short silk gown, is

I had to admit, the breakfast was beautiful.Being constricted to a place made me find beauty in the library. What I had experienced thismorning was the kind of morning that belonged in a storybook.Too bad every morning couldn't be like this.Darius sat across from me, trying hard to seem casual. Or maybe I was just imagining it. He wasAlpha, after all, and he had alpha duties he was ditching just to be here with me.He must really want this to work. Well, me too.“How did you sleep?” he asked as he poured me a cup of tea made in another jug with afocused expression.I blinked, my cheeks turning rosy red as I remembered last night, caught off guard. “Why do youcare?”He stiffened slightly. “I’m… just asking. Being civil, remember?”I bit into a slice of toast to buy myself a second. His efforts were clumsy, sure, but they wereefforts. That was more than I’d expected from him. Still, I couldn’t make it easy. Not when myfreedom was still a question mark, and my hear