All Chapters of The 200-Year Bride Swap: Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

(Alicia)It feels like a moment of stolen bliss, a snippet of peace and normality in a never-ending storm of hostility waging around us.I stare out at the beautiful view, undulating hills stretching as far as the eye can see, covered in thick forest. The sun was setting towards the west, casting the green landscape in a warm, orange and red glow, with pinks and purples swirling into the darkening sky. I pop another strawberry into my mouth, content to just sit on this picnic blanket and lean back against Rocco’s broad chest, his solid presence more comforting than I ever thought I’ll need.It’s been two weeks since the last attack. Two weeks since we’ve sealed this marriage. Two weeks since he admitted to me that I’m his fated mate and everything that implies. Two weeks that I’ve carried this new blessing from the Moon Goddess herself.I’d like to think that the lull in tension could be attributed to me becoming more and more successful in expanding Aphrodite’s gift to philia rather

(Alicia)I pace the length of my room, the anxiety bubbling just beneath the surface. It’s been weeks since Rocco marked me, and while the connection between us feels like a soothing balm, the tension outside these walls continues to mount.The bubble of peace we experienced out on that ridge during our sunset picnic feels like eons ago. Despite my efforts with ‘spreading the love’ the pack remains on edge, whispers spreading like wildfire, and the faction that opposes my presence as Luna grows bolder with each passing day. I try to stay strong, to show them that I am worthy of this role, but every time I step outside, I feel the weight of their skepticism bearing down on me.My phone buzzes on the bedside table, pulling me from my spiraling thoughts. I reach for it, relieved when I see Darren’s name flashing on the screen. Darren has always been my anchor, the one person I can rely on to tell me the truth, even when it’s hard to hear. His messages have been a lifeline amidst the chao

(Rocco)The room is quiet, save for the rhythmic ticking of the old clock hanging above my desk, each second a reminder of the time slipping away. I’m standing by the large window, staring out at the vast expanse of forest that stretches beyond the pack grounds, the dense canopy casting long shadows in the late afternoon sun. My reflection stares back at me in the glass, but I’m not really seeing it. My thoughts are consumed by the prophecy and the way it’s keeping me up at night.Alicia knows. Of course she does. There’s no hiding something like that from your true mate. She feels my turmoil as if it were her own, and I feel hers, even if she’s not a wolf. It’s a weird consequence of the Moon Goddess’ blessing to her. It’s also a strange comfort and a heavy weight, knowing we’re tied together not just by fate, but by an ancient, forgotten promise. But with that blessing, there’s a different kind of power in her. A power that might just be the key to everything.Still, the fear clings

(Rocco)I head to the large oak table in the corner of my office, cluttered with maps, reports, and a thick, leather-bound book detailing the pack’s lineage and lore. Pulling out a chair, I sit down, leaning back as I mentally sort through the list of elders I’ll need to consult. There’s a delicate balance in approaching them. Too much urgency, and they might sense weakness; too casual, and they might dismiss the gravity of the prophecy altogether. I need them to see this as I do, as something sacred, something that could redefine our future for the better.But trust is a fragile thing, especially with those who’ve lived long enough to see too many leaders make too many mistakes. I think of Elder Harrick first. He's staunch, proud, and a traditionalist to his core. He’s spent years preaching the importance of keeping our pack strong and self-reliant, skeptical of alliances, especially with those he deems outsiders. Convincing him will be the hardest part, but if I can get him on my si

(Alicia)I turn around, pulling my shirt over my head so that I’m standing in front of them in only a sports bra. It partially covers my blessing from Athena on my back, but my blessing from Selene, my mate mark from Rocco, is on full display across my shoulder and down my upper arm. The room falls silent, the only sound the faint crackling of the fire in the hearth. The mark glows faintly, its intricate patterns shifting with a light that feels almost alive, like a pulse of moonlight captured on my skin.The elders lean in, their eyes wide with a mix of awe and disbelief. Even Harrick, stoic and unyielding, looks taken aback, his lips parting slightly as he takes in the sight. Liora’s eyes sparkles slightly as she takes in the sight. “That’s… undeniable,” she says softly, her voice tinged with awe.To add gravity to the mark, Rocco touches it lightly with his fingers and the lines seem to come even more alive wherever his touch lingers – like it recognizes and acknowledges the owner