All Chapters of THE ALPHA’S SILENT BRIDE: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Isla's POVLucien’s voice cut through the haze. “Isla, what’s wrong?”His hand reached for me—warm, steady, familiar—but I recoiled, the movement sharp and reflexive. Every nerve in my body screamed for distance. My chest tightened, vision blurred, and all I could feel was the thundering panic swelling beneath my skin. I didn’t want him near me. I couldn’t let him near me. So I retreated from the warmth of him. Because right now, even that warmth felt dangerous. It felt like the kind of comfort that slipped through your fingers the moment you leaned on it.Tarlyn was already gone. And she hadn’t looked back once. She didn’t need to. She had succeeded with what she'd set out to do, which was putting me in my place.The weight of her presence lingered like perfume that clung to the air. The implication was loud and clear—she was still a part of Lucien's life. Not just a name from the past. Not just a passing shadow. She had walked into his space like she had every right to be there. Lik

Isla's POV Lucien was quiet for a long moment after I asked the question.*Who exactly is Tarlyn to you?*I expected him to brush it off, to soften the truth like others might—to give a vague answer that would leave me questioning everything.But he didn’t.He inhaled deeply, his jaw tightening as though he were bracing for a blow. Then, slowly, he reached for me, took my hand and guided us toward the edge of the bed, pulling me down beside him, close enough that I could feel the heat radiating from him.“She was someone I loved a long time ago.” he said, voice low. “Mine… or at least, I thought she was.”I didn’t move. I watched him, every breath, every blink, every pause.“I was with Tarlyn before I became Alpha. Before the politics, the expectations. We were… in love. It wasn’t some arranged match or duty—she chose me, and I chose her. We were young, stubborn, untouchable—or so I thought. She made me believe we could survive anything.”A faint shadow passed over his face, somethi

Isla's POVThe field stretched wide in the morning mist, dewdrops clinging to the grass. My boots crunched softly against it as I made my way down the path, shoulders tense beneath the weight of unspoken thoughts.Lucien wasn’t training me today.I’d heard it from one of the guards at breakfast—he’d left early, for a meeting that would apparently run through the afternoon. No explanation. No note. No trace of the quiet gentleness I’d come to find comfort in during our sessions.I hated how much I’d wanted to see him this morning. Hated how quickly that want had turned into disappointment. I told myself it was just routine. Just a change in schedule.*He’s busy,* I told myself for the hundredth time. *He has responsibilities.*But I hadn't seen him since that night.The night he came to my room, pulled his heart open in front of me, and kissed me like I was everything he never thought he could have. And I—I hadn’t said anything. Couldn’t say anything. Couldn’t tell him the one thing th

Lucien’s POVI should’ve known Tarlyn would pull something like this.I should’ve known the moment she showed up, all dolled up and smiling like she was a welcomed presence. Like she still had a place beside me.Elara had wanted to go out for pizza. Real pizza, she said—"not the one from the kitchen that always tastes too healthy." She’d been so excited about it, so how could I say no? My schedule was full, but I cleared it. For her, I always would.I hadn’t expected Tarlyn to show up as we were about to get into the waiting car, I shouldn't have given in to her talk about how she needed to have a relationship with her daughter and I shouldn't be the one to come between it.I should’ve said no.But Elara was looking at her own mother like she was a total stranger, like someone to be wary of and it had swayed me. I”d agreed, albeit reluctantly but I'd let her tag along. To get to know Elara even if she didn't deserve it.And it was the longest two and a half hours of my life.For two a

Isla’s POV.When I found Freya, she was with a younger warrior, guiding his grip around a long spear. Her stance was solid and patient, one foot planted, her hand curled beneath the shaft like she was born wielding it. I watched for a moment, unsure of whether I wanted to join the session anymore.I didn’t.The moment I reached them, the heat in my chest from flipping off Lucien and Tarlyn had simmered into something dull and heavy. Whatever fire I had for training was gone. Snuffed out under the weight of everything still crashing in my chest. I signed to Freya quickly, asking her to follow me out.She must’ve seen the tremble in my hands. The tightness in my shoulders. Because she didn’t ask a single question—just nodded. She handed the young warrior off to another instructor before motioning for me to follow.I was so locked inside my own head, I didn’t bother explaining. Caged by memories and feelings I didn’t want to keep picking at. I didn’t tell Freya anything. Not even when sh