All Chapters of The Bride of Alpha Targarion: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

"I often wonder if the Moon Goddess truly loves you that much?” His eyes gleamed in the lamplight. “That she would do anything to keep you alive, even if it meant tying you to me through a mate bond and making me your shield?""Maybe so.” I couldn't help but chuckle, though there was a twinge of pain behind it. “There must be a reason I was the sole survivor of the deadly plague that attacked my entire pack. Well, maybe fate wanted me to see you in that basement to stop you from performing the ritual."The atmosphere suddenly became very serious. Courage, born of frustration, drove me to step closer to his desk. I placed my hands on top of his stack of expensive documents."What ritual did you perform that night, Leon?" I asked, my eyes locked on his. "I will be your wife tomorrow. I will be part of your soul according to clan law. Tell me, was the ritual so forbidden? So dark that you were terrified if I revealed it to the elder council or the other clans?"Leon didn't move. He simp

A sharp wave of peonies, roses, then lilies hit me at once. Inside, the ballroom had become a glittering maze of glass-like trees. Light bounced wildly from the huge hanging lamps across the floor, their surfaces so smooth they mirrored every move.Inside, I went. My dress trailed behind, its smooth fabric whispering along the tiles with each move. Right away, everyone looked. So many faces filled the room, coworkers frozen mid-thought, partners sizing me up quietly, relatives watching closely, their nods polite but eyes sharp underneath.Yet there, after the stretch of soft red floor, my eyes stayed fixed ahead.There he was, Leon, standing still atop the raised platform, surrounded by sweeping curves of pale blossoms. Not a trace of black today. Ivory cloth hugged his shape like it had been made just for him. This version of him felt new, yet completely unchanged. What caught his eye was how he stood there, calm, sharp, glowing under that golden light. Not like a man, more like some

Rhea's POVThat kiss from Leon, short and tasteless, clung to my mouth like dust. Down went my chest, heavy without warning. Before I could catch it, noise cracked through the room.Cheers exploded just as Edwin nodded once, eyes meeting those figures half-hidden near the stage edge, cameras ready."A photo session with family and close relatives!" Edwin exclaimed, his voice cheerful again.A burst of white petals framed us as we paused there together. His fingers stayed locked around mine, firm like an anchor, steady even when my thoughts wandered. That grip, warm, unshaking, pulled me back every time I drifted too far.The lead photographer, a portly man with a bushy, friendly mustache, immediately shouted instructions. "Okay, Alpha Leon, Luna Rhea! First, a formal pose. Stand straight! Smile! Eyes for the camera!"Frozen in place, Leon gave a small nod, face slipping back into that serious leader mask. A fake grin stretched my lips, playing the joyful bride while Rora grumbled nons

A hush hung heavy when I woke, no golden light creeping through. Coldness sat in the dining space, sharp like the edges of old stone. Yesterday’s vows still fresh, yet silence pressed between us. The house seemed to listen, its walls holding breath. Not a scent of brewing filled the air, only distance. Two souls bound by law, now sitting under shadowed ceilings.Downstairs I went, feet dragging like before. Out of those shiny pajamas - last night’s outfit - and into a plain dress that somehow looked nice, one Helen left on my mattress, no note, just there. The big table made of deep brown wood held Leon already, sunk into his wide seat. A black top covered him, arms bare past the elbow, gaze locked onto a screen he gripped tight, coffee rising heat next to it.Over by the far side of the table, I stayed put, yet Leon tilted his head, motioning me nearer. Take that seat, he said, pointing beside him - Rhea, it saves steps when they deliver your bread.A quiet snort escaped me, though I

What pushed me away wasn’t just Leon’s icy presence or the false admiration swirling around him. A break, however short, began to feel necessary. Real sound called, anything louder than hushed talks behind office doors.Far from circling back to that big house, Oliver, I twisted the wheel of my white car off its regular path.Next to me, Oliver lifted one brow. "Home right after work, that’s what Alpha told you, Luna.""Your Alpha isn't here right now," I said sharply, stepping on the gas pedal harder. "And I need to breathe. I want to go somewhere where no Targarion knows who I am. A place where I'm not 'Luna,' but just a woman looking for a drink."Far from where the Targarions held power, my car moved through quiet streets. Neutral ground lay ahead, maybe land claimed by some minor group unconnected to Leon. The sign of Vareth appeared without its usual spike. In this place, nobody knew who I was.Thumping beats hit first, then flashes of red-violet light as I crossed into a place