All Chapters of THE ALPHA’S SILENT BRIDE: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Isla’s POVI couldn’t breathe.Tarlyn’s voice rang in my ears, cruel and high and heavy with venom.“She’s a fake! A complete fraud! How did *none* of you see it? Or question it?” she spat, hands propped on her hips. “Why would her people send her—a mute girl of all things—to marry the Alpha of this pack? It doesn't even make sense!”I swallowed, ashamed. Harsh as her words were, she was right. What I couldn't figure out was how she found the letters. I know I'd left the letter I was writing Serene on my dresser—stupid I know—but how had she found Lucien's letter? I remembered leaving it in the pocket of the dress I had on yesterday. Had she ransacked my bedroom?Her eyes were wide with triumph, her hand waving the letters like proof of a crime scene. She turned sharply toward Lucien, her tone suddenly demanding. “You should punish them, Lucien. Her people lied to you. They disrespected your position. They mocked you—” She turned to me, eyes blazing with venom, “by sending *this.*”My

Isla’s POVI didn’t sleep.I *couldn’t.*The entire night had been a blur of spiralling thoughts, and now I sat on the edge of my bed, knees bouncing restlessly, my heart pounding a cruel rhythm in my chest. My leg wouldn’t stop shaking. My hands were clenched tightly in my lap, clammy and cold. I hadn’t cried—not yet. My body had moved far past sadness. Now it was all terror, sharp and breathless, wrapping around my ribs like a vice.The truth was outLucien knew.And yet, after everything unravelled… after I’d finally stood in front of him and signed out the barest fragments of the truth… he’d dismissed me.Not with anger. Not with understanding either.Just a quiet, unreadable, “We’ll continue this tomorrow.”And he walked away.That, more than anything else, scared me.If he had yelled, I would’ve known what to expect. If he’d looked at me with disappointment or disgust, at least I’d have had clarity. But instead, he was calm. Too calm. Like a storm about to split the sky open.Ma

Chapter 25 LUCIEN'S POVI slowly stepped out of her room and headed to my office. Was it such a bad thing that she was my mate? Did she not feel even a skip in her heartbeat? A coil in her stomach when I was around her? I got into my office and slammed the door shut. I wanted to pull at my hair and scream but I was Lucien. I was Alpha and I couldn't throw a tantrum. I chewed hard on my molars and crossed my arms across my chest. She wasn't telling me something and I knew it but how do I get her to tell me? A knock on my door interrupted my train of thought. “Who’s there?” The door opened slowly and Callen’s head appeared. “I didn't call for you.” He walked into the office slowly. “Got your favourite wine,” He raised the bottle. “Real strong stuff.”I shot him a deadly glare. “You can't lock yourself in here and sulk all night.”“I’m not sulking,” I had intended to say that with more energy but it came out quietly like I wasn’t sure. Callen raised his brows and nodded slowly.

Chapter 27 ISLA'S POV The lights that greeted my eyes were rude and blinding. I shut my eyes again and opened them slowly. I turned around to look for Yvonne but she wasn't here anymore. She had been on the chair when I woke up earlier. I turned to the window and saw the moon hanging high. My hand flew to my head. How long had I been out? My mouth felt like a desert and my tongue like sandpaper. I groaned as I pulled myself into a sitting position. My head suddenly felt too big for my neck to carry and I needed to support it. I inhaled and dropped one leg from the bed. The infirmary was quiet, too quiet that it grated on my nerves. Made me uncomfortable. Suddenly a scream followed by laughter pierced through the quiet and I curled up on the bed pulling my knees to my chest. Maybe the silence wasn't that bad after all. My eyes wandered to the off-white wall across me and settled there. The door creaked open gently but I didn't look up. “You’re awake,” Yvonne said gently as she a

TARLYN'S POVFor a split second, Lucien's lips welcomed mine. He didn't push me away immediately. The air between us suddenly became charged like I was in a electric field. My chest rose and fell eagerly. This was the moment I had been waiting for. I edged closer and deepened the kiss, sliding my tongue in his mouth. He grew still. “No,” He pushed me away gently. “Get out, Tarlyn,” His voice begged. Guilt? I watched as his eyes roamed around the room, taking everything in but me. My heart ached. Why didn't he want me? Why couldn't he see how much I ached for him? How much I wanted him to look at me like I was the only girl in the world? The way he looked at her. The way he had once looked at me. I leaned forward and he held my shoulders, moving out of the way. My heart paused and a bitter taste lodged behind my tongue. Rejection. “Tarlyn,” He looked at me. “You have to leave.” “Why are you doing this, Lucien?”“Why are you doing this?” He took a step back. There was something in