All Chapters of Accidental: Alpha's Surrogate Bride: Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

Reed's povThe night we have waited for finally came. Every eye fixed on Elder Morris as he stood at the podium, the final tally sheet in his hands. Pack members crowded the gallery, pressed shoulder to shoulder, barely breathing. I stood at the front with Ilaria beside me, her fingers intertwined with mine.This was it. Months of campaigning, weeks of crisis, days of uncertainty all leading to this single moment.Morris cleared his throat. "The votes have been verified by three independent councils."I held my breath."For the position of Supreme Alpha of the Mountain Territory..." He paused, and I swore the silence would crush us all. "Alpha Reed with sixty-one percent and Alpha George with thirty-nine percent."The hall erupted.They all rushed forward, reaching out to touch and congratulate me. My wolf howled with triumph.I turned to Ilaria who had tears streaming down her face, but she was smiling."We did it," I said, pulling her close. "We survived."She pressed her face aga

Ilaria's povI needed air.Seraphine had finally dismissed me for the afternoon. My head throbbed with protocols and greetings and the endless rules of high wolf society. If I had to practice one more formal bow, I might actually scream.The pack house was quiet at this hour. Most wolves were attending to their duties, and the corridors stretched empty before me. I wandered without purpose, letting my feet carry me wherever they wanted to go.Away from the sitting room where Seraphine's expectations burdened me. I found myself in a wing of the house I rarely visited. A door stood slightly ajar. I pushed it open and stepped inside.The sitting room was small and clearly unused. White sheets covered most of the furniture but someone had been maintaining it.I moved deeper inside.The mantle above the fireplace held a collection of photographs in silver frames. Most showed people I didn't recognize, older wolves in formal attire, family gatherings from years ago, children with gap-tooth

Third Person povThe banquet was hours away, and George had work to do.He sat in his private study with a list of names spread before him. Each name represented a piece of his plan and by the time Reed raised his glass for the victory toast, every element would be in place.His phone buzzed from his contact inside the Grand Hall's catering company."It's done," he said. "Three servers are on board. They know to stay away from the east gallery during the toast.""And the security rotation?""Done too."George smiled. Everyone had a pressure point, you just had to find it."Make sure they understand the timeline. 8:45, the gaps open. By 9:00, everything should be over.""Understood."The call ended, and George checked the first items off his list.Bribes and blind spots were only half the battle. Derek might succeed tonight, or he might fail. George needed insurance or even evidence that would destroy Ilaria even if the assassination went wrong.He turned his attention to the next name

Ilaria's povThe gown was the color of midnight sky.Deep purple silk cascaded from my shoulders to the floor, the fabric catching the light with every movement. Seraphina had chosen it herself, insisting that the shade complemented my coloring while signaling authority and elegance. The Alpha's Heart pendant rested at my throat, warm against my skin, a visible symbol of my bond with Reed.I barely recognized the woman in the mirror."You look beautiful," Reed said from behind me.I turned to find him dressed in formal black, his dark hair swept back, his golden eyes warm with admiration. He looked every inch the Supreme Alpha."I'm terrified," I admitted."I know." He crossed the room and took my hands. "But you're ready."When we arrived, the sight of the venue stole my breath.This was it, the night that would define my place in Reed's world.Reed helped me from the carriage, his hand steady on mine."Ready?" he asked.No. Not even close."Yes," I said.The ballroom was magnificent

Ilaria's povReed took the stage, and the ballroom fell silent.Three hundred wolves turned their attention to the man who would lead them. Pride swelled in my chest, momentarily pushing aside my fear.This is my mate."Thank you all for being here tonight," Reed began confidently, "This victory belongs not to me alone, but to every wolf who believed in a better future for our territory."Applause rippled through the crowd. I stood near the front, close enough to see the warmth in his eyes when his gaze found mine."The challenges we faced during this campaign tested us in ways. We had threats from outside our borders, divisions within our own ranks. Forces that sought to tear us apart rather than see us united."He paused, letting the words settle."But we survived and emerged stronger and now, together, we will build something that will last for generations."I clapped along with the others, trying to ignore my wolf's continued restlessness. The speech was going well and the crowd