All Chapters of SHE RISES FROM RUINS: A COLLECTION OF WOMEN POWER STORIES : Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

CHAPTER 002THE FORCED UNIONThe vase shattered against the wall, exploding into a thousand glittering shards that rained down onto the floor. Cecilia barely registered the sound. Her chest heaved with each breath, her hands trembling as she reached for the next object, a silver candlestick that had belonged to her grandmother."Cecilia, please—" Darcy's voice came from somewhere behind her. The candlestick followed the vase, leaving a dent in the stone wall. The satisfying crash did nothing to ease the fury burning through her veins."How could he?" The words tore from her throat, raw and jagged. "How could he do this to me?"She grabbed a crystal decanter from her desk and hurled it across the room. It struck her mirror, and both shattered in a symphony of destruction. "I am the Alpha Queen of the Greensville Pack!" Her voice rose to a shout. "I am feared across every territory! I have built this pack into something unstoppable, and he dares—he dares to sell me off like some bree

CHAPTER 004THE CONSUMMATION CLAUSEThe second demand came in front of the entire pack.Bonn waited until the final toast of the reception. He raised his glass smiling and spoke loud enough for every wolf in the hall to hear.“To the alliance—and to the heir that will be born within the year. The council has ruled: if no child is conceived by the next full moon cycle, the marriage will be declared void and the Greensville crown will pass to a new bloodline.”A collective gasp. Glasses froze halfway to lips. Cecilia felt five hundred pairs of eyes turn to her—like she was a broodmare on auction.Bonn’s gaze locked on hers. “Tonight begins the count.”The message was clear: fuck your new husband in the next thirty days or lose everything publicly.Cecilia’s wine glass shattered in her hand. Red liquid ran down her wrist like blood.She was across the hall in three strides, claws half-shifted, ready to rip her father’s throat out in front of the entire kingdom.Two guards intercepted

CHAPTER 006 THE MORNING AFTERDawn broke over the Greensville Pack like a reluctant thief, stealing away the shadows of the night but leaving behind what had transpired. Cecilia lay in the massive four-poster bed, staring at the intricate carvings on the canopy above her.The sheets were tangled around her legs, still damp with sweat and scented with blood — his blood, her arousal, the undeniable proof of their forced union.Her body ached in places she hadn't known could ache, a deep, throbbing reminder of how thoroughly she had been undone.But it wasn't just physical; something inside her felt cracked, exposed, like a fortress wall breached in the dead of night.She turned her head slightly, glancing at the couch across the room where Cassian had retreated after... after everything.He was already gone, the blanket folded neatly as if the night had been nothing more than a dream. Or a nightmare. The drumming probably had stopped hours ago, replaced by the distant sounds of the pac

CHAPTER 008SHIFTING DYNAMICS AND THE COUSINThe morning sun came in through the curtains like it was sneaking around, making soft shadows on the bed where Cecilia was lying and staring at the ceiling. She felt like there was a hole inside her. The sofa was empty and she wondered where Cassian could be.The door made a small creak as it opened, and that pulled her out of her head. Cecilia turned her head fast as Cassian came in holding a wooden tray with food on it. Steam was coming up from a cup of tea, and the smell of fresh bread and eggs started filling the room. He was moving quietly and carefully, like he didn't want to wake her if she was still asleep.He put the tray down on the bed and sat on the other side, a bit closer to where she was lying. When he looked at her, his face went from calm to confused. "Why are you looking at me like that?"Cecilia realized her face was all twisted up in disgust, and she didn't try to hide it at all. "Good morning," Cassian said, his vo

CHAPTER 10THE WAR COUNCILThe throne room erupted into chaos.Voices rose in panic as the elders leaned towards each other, speaking in rushed, frightened whispers. Hands gestured wildly as their faces paled further. The news of three packs potentially forming an alliance against them had thrown them into complete disorder."We need to send envoys immediately—""No, we need to fortify the borders first—""What about our own alliances? Can we call on—""This is a disaster. An absolute disaster—"Cecilia remained perfectly still amidst the frenzy, her arms crossed, her expression calm. She watched the elders panic with something close to contempt in her eyes.Bonn's voice cut through the noise. "Cecilia. Why do you look so calm? Aren't you going to do something about this?"She turned her gaze to him, then let it sweep across the room, landing on each elder in turn. When she spoke, her voice was cold enough to freeze blood."You're pathetic."The room fell silent. Every elder stared at