บททั้งหมดของ His Regret, The Crown's Claim : บทที่ 51 - บทที่ 60

The heavy doors had barely hissed shut behind Kael before the vacuum he left was filled with a frantic energy from the alphas still seated. It was as if the oxygen which was drained out moments ago had suddenly rushed back into the room, and every Alpha in the chamber was choking on it.Silas was the first to act as he slammed his fist onto the table, the sound echoing like a gunshot. "One security signal? A unified network? He’s not asking for cooperation, that monster is blatantly asking for our throats!" He hissed with disdain and the veins on his head looked like they were about to pop out. His Luna was on the side trying to tell him to calm down but he shrugged her off. "It’s worse than a takeover," Miller of the West added, his voice thin and shrill. He was pacing the length of the glass window, his reflection ghostly against the drop of the valley. "If he controls the encryption, he controls all our movements, our trade, and our very lives. We might as well hand him our title

The heavy doors of our villa slammed shut behind me and my blood was roaring, as I remembered the Lunas' mocking laughter and the weight of Cades betrayal. I marched straight into the study, the scent of expensive wine and paper hitting my senses. Cade was there already and he was leaning over his tablet, his face illuminated by the blue glow of the screen, he looked like he was concentrating on something probably important. He didn't even look up as I entered, though the sheer force of my presence must have vibrated through the floorboards."You’re late for the briefing," he said, his voice flat and clinical. "I have already coordinated with the Western Alphas for the trade routes. We need to make sure we are…""How much did you sell them for?" My voice was rough as I stared at him. The silence that followed was thick enough to choke on. Slowly, Cade looked up, his expression didn't flicker with guilt, instead, it settled into a defensive sneer. "I don't know what you’re talking ab

The Grand Ballroom of the citadel was a large hall of light and lethal intent. Thousands of floating candles flickered against the black glass walls, reflecting the shimmering gowns and stiff military tunics of the realm's elite. The air was thick with the scent of lilies and the sharp smell of high-level tension coming from everyone in the room.They were all dressed beautifully, but the tension was clear as everyone murmured and gossiped about what the king might do this time, but as for me, my gaze was sharp as I couldn't wait for him to get me out of the forsaken marriage. Cade stood beside me, his hand clamped firmly around my waist possessively and I didn't push him away. To any onlooker, it was a romantic gesture of a couple. But to me, it felt like a shackle. He had spent the entire evening acting as if the explosion in our suite had never happened, his face a polished mask of arrogance as he tried to push my feelings as unimportant."Smile, Risa," he hissed under his breath a

The cool glass of the vanity pressed into my lower back as Cade’s grip tightened on my wrist, his fingers like iron bands cutting off my circulation. His eyes were bloodshot, rimmed with a manic desperation I had never seen in the five years of our marriage."You aren't going anywhere, Risa," he rasped, his breath smelling like whiskey and the bitter tang of adrenaline. "I’d rather burn the North to the ground and die in the ashes than watch you walk toward him. You think a royal decree changes what’s mine?""You're insane, Cade! Get your hands off me!" I shouted, my voice echoing off the marble walls. I swung my free hand, the palm of my hand connecting with his cheek in a sharp, stinging slap. His head snapped to the side, but he didn't let go. If anything, the blow seemed to snap the last thread of his restraint.He lunged again, pinning me against the mirror. I felt the cold glass against my scalp as he caged me in with his body, his weight crushing the breath from my lungs. I str

The morning light didn’t bring the warmth I had expected. Instead, it filtered through the high, arched windows in a cold beam, illuminating every speck of dust and every crack in the relationship that had defined my last five years.The peace conference was officially over. Outside, the distant roar of transport engines signaled the departure of the other Alphas, the strong men returning to their territories with bruised egos and new, restrictive laws. But for me, this was Day One of a life I hadn't yet learned how to breathe in.I sat at the long conference table, my hands folded tightly in my lap to hide their trembling. Across from me sat Cade.My heart constricted, not with love, but with a jarring pity. He looked completely destroyed. His designer suit was wrinkled and stained with the scent of the ballroom’s spilled wine, his hair, usually slicked back with precision, was a matted, wild mess. There were dark, yellowing bruises blooming along his jawline and a split in his lip t