All Chapters of Bride Of The Beast: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

55 Chapters

Chapter Thirty One: Control

EILIS “See?” I said. “You aren't a brick.” I had expected a sharp comeback. Instead, he looked up and smiled. Not a practiced, "Lady Raven" tilt of the lips, but a real, messy smile that reached his eyes. The air left my lungs as if I’d been kicked. Gods, he looked so beautiful. The thought hit me like a physical blow. It was dangerous. It was wrong. I almost tripped over my own feet. “Sorry,” I choked out, the word feeling like ash. I looked away immediately, staring at a random candle on the wall until my eyes burned. My hands went cold. I locked my jaw so hard it ached, forcing the distance back between us. I couldn't let him see that. I couldn't let myself feel that. The second the music died, I let go. The warmth of his hand felt like a brand on my skin. "Stay with Denis," I said, my voice coming out broken. I didn't wait for a response. I turned and walked away, my heart hammering a rhythm that was far too frantic for a prince who was supposed to be in control. I pus

Chapter Thirty Two: You Have It Easy

RAVEN The music shifted again, but I didn't hear it. All I could see was the way they moved together. They didn't stumble, they didn't even struggle. They fit together like two pieces of a puzzle, moving with a predatory elegance that made everyone else on the floor look like an amateur. I could see it in the eyes of the nobles—the silent approval. They looked right. They looked like they belonged to each other.I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly feeling tight, like the corset was finally cutting off my air.Denis took my hand and squeezed. I turned to look at him, my jaw tightening when I saw the pity in his eyes.“I don't mean to pry, but I need you to be completely honest with me,” he said, his voice dropping below the noise of the crowd.My heart thudded against the binder. He was staring at me too intently, his usual boyish grin gone. “Did you and Eilís mate? I mean... Did he actually mark you?”“Of course,” I snapped, forcing a frown. “I bear his mark, don't I?”“Right.” De

Chapter Thirty Three: Becoming A Viper

The silence after the door slammed was heavy.I stayed on the floor, my fingers tracing the rug where Eilís had been standing. My skin still felt hot. That rush of his emotions had left me hollow, like a fire had blown through me and left only ash.He was blocking it.Every time I thought he was being cold or distant, he was actually straining to give me space. He was fighting his own nature just so I wouldn't be scared.And I had called him ashamed.I dragged myself up and looked in the mirror. Lady Raven looked back—red lips, pale skin, a delicate thing in a gold dress. I looked at the silk padding hiding my chest and felt sick. I reached back and started ripping at the tiny buttons. Each one I popped felt like a stitch being pulled from a wound. The dress fell to my feet in a gold heap. I stripped off the padding and the corset until I was just me. I grabbed a plain linen shirt from my trunk. The rough fabric felt better than the silk.I walked to the balcony and pushed the doors

Chapter Thirty Four: Letting Go

Moments after Denis left my room, I started doubting myself. Was I doing the right thing? Helping Eilís wouldn't backfire, right? I’d never know if I didn't try. I jumped on the bed and sighed, staring at the door. I finally accepted that Eilís wasn't sleeping here tonight. I laid my head on the pillow. I couldn't just start approaching people for information; I needed to be smart about it. Then, I remembered the book Mirabel had left about our ancestors. I crawled to the edge of the bed and reached for my bag, pulling out the heavy, leather-bound book. I sat back on the mattress, resting the spine against my thighs. I flipped it open and began reading the list of names. I recognized none—I didn't even think these family lines existed anymore. I flipped the page again and my eyes snagged on a name I knew. Marilyn Octavia. It couldn't be Lady Marilyn, right? We couldn't be family; she was as much a wolf as Eilís. I shrugged. People can share the same name, but it wouldn't hurt

Chapter Thirty Five: A surprise kiss

RavenI woke up alone on the bed, my chest spiked for a moment before I heard the sound of water being poured and breathed out. He hadn't left me alone. Just as I was standing up from the bed Eilis appeared from the washroom door, already fully dressed in his riding leathers. “You're going out of the castle today?” I asked, trying to break the awkwardness.“Yes.” He answered, adjusting his jacket. “I need to see some people.”I nodded, not bothering to ask him more about it, he didn't seem to want to share.“So I'll see you at breakfast or something.” He hesitated, looking at me expectantly before he sighed and went out.I had a feeling he wanted to do something but didn't know how.I went into the washroom and took my bath, coming out I saw Calani already seated.She held a blue silk dress, the fabric shimmering under the morning light. I sat down and let her get to work, her fingers moving quickly through my hair."When do you have time to meet my beau?" she asked, her eyes meeting

Chapter Thirty Six: Supremacy

“The truth,” I said, my voice steadier than I felt. Marilyn didn’t turn around. She kept her gaze on the white landscape outside. “And what truth is that?” “Who was she and why was your name in the record?” “My sister,” she answered quietly. “She left for the South a long time ago. Most here chose to forget her. It was easier than admitting a High Wolf could prefer a human life.” “So she married a human?” “Mated with one, actually,” Marilyn answered with a sigh. “Our father took it as a betrayal and banished her from court with the previous king's approval.” I frowned. “If she was banished, why is her portrait being displayed in the palace?” “King Nicholas did it to honor her; she was a great help in the war.” She let out a slow, sad smile. “She was one of the greatest witches to ever exist.” I gasped. “A witch? They exist?” “Most think they are just legends or bedtime stories told to children,” Marilyn said, finally turning to face me. The sadness in her smile lingered, m

Chapter Thirty Seven: The Feral Prince

I sighed. “What about him now?” Lord Arden was becoming a permanent thorn in my side.“He has started openly rallying against the King.”“What? He wouldn't go that far. That’s treason.”“Not if the Council supports him,” Camden countered. “They’re still angry your father went behind their backs to marry you to Raven.”“But Raven has proven he’s capable of being my mate,” I argued. “Isn't that what matters?” Apparently not. I shouldn't have been so naive to think the opposition would just fade away. “Has my father been briefed?”Camden shook his head. “No, I wanted you to be aware first.”“Well, we can't keep it from him. He’ll find out eventually.” I fisted my hand. “Walk with me. I was headed to see him anyway.”“Eilis,” Camden murmured as we approached the guards. “If the Council is already siding with Arden, your father might not be as surprised as we think. He’s been too quiet lately.”The guards stepped aside without a word. My father was standing by the fireplace, a glass of dar

Chapter Thirty Eight: A Hybrid

RAVEN My heart beat faster as Eilis walked further into the room. Had something happened? Were we in trouble?The emotions rolling off him were muddy—I couldn’t catch the details, only a sharp edge of anger and a cold undercurrent of fear.“I don't want you to overthink,” he started.The wrong words. Now I was spiraling.“You remember the first time you were summoned before the Council?”I nodded slowly.“You're being summoned again. But this time, I'm going to be there... and I'm going to give up control.”He waited for me to process that. It took a second, but when the realization hit, it felt like the floor dropped away. “You're going to let the wolf take over?” I gasped, standing up in shock.“Listen—”“You can't do that! What if he does something again? What if he—” My hands started to tremble. The memories I’d tried so hard to bury rushed back with a vengeance. Eilis reached out to touch me, and I flinched away.I saw the hurt flash in his eyes, but he didn’t try again. He stay

Chapter Thirty Nine: Jealousy

The dining hall was filled with various pack members, ranging from children to the oldest elders. Everyone was apparently here to witness the outcome of the Council meeting. Every time my eyes moved, I had to avoid the King’s watchful, calculating gaze. I wondered what he was thinking—“You really should do something about that rat.” I jumped at the sound of Denis's voice at my shoulder. He nudged me gently until my gaze met Eilis and Kiya conversing with a noble. Kiya was holding onto his arm rather intimately.My eyes narrowed as an emotion I couldn't name erupted out of me. How dare she! I frowned, where did that thought come from? Like he could feel what I was feeling, Eilis looked directly at me, his eyes widening a little. I saw him try to remove Kiya’s hand subtly, but she wasn't having it. Instead she looked at him and kissed his cheek.Okay that does it. I didn't know when I stood up and approached them, doing well to keep away from the nobles who tried to approach me as I

Chapter Forty: High Feral Wolf Prince

The sun hadn’t even broken the horizon when the guards came for us.Eilis hadn’t spoken a word since we climbed out of bed, and I was too shy to bring up anything.He looked like a real prince today. He wore heavy black furs and leather, his hair pulled back tightly, exposing the sharp, jagged lines of his jaw. He didn't look at me, but his hand stayed clamped on my waist as we walked toward the Great Hall, his grip so firm it was almost painful."Remember," he whispered as we reached the massive stone archway of the Council Chamber. "Whatever you see, whatever he does... do not run. If you run, if it goes wrong anything can happen."I nodded, my throat too dry to swallow.The doors swung open.The chamber was huge and round. Tiers of seats rose up toward a vaulted ceiling, packed with the Alphas of the North. Hundreds of eyes—most of them glowing with that faint, predatory amber—fixed on us the moment we stepped into the pit.At the center of the room stood a single iron platform.

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