Surrogate Bride To The Alpha Stand-in のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 71 - チャプター 80

He did not answer at once.The silence that ensued bore no trace of hesitation—it was dense, resonant, thrumming with truths too long unspoken.Her body lay beneath his, still quivering in the aftermath of their union, yet her mind had roused sharply from its reverie.She sensed the shift in his breath—the way it slowed, deepened, as though he were mustering the strength to confess.“Wait,” she murmured, rising swiftly. “Remain as you are.”He obeyed without protest.Her hand reached for him, fingers grazing the nape of his neck with care, searching… until they found it.Then came a pause. A tremor of disbelief.“No…” Her voice cracked as she recoiled, pressing her spine to the headboard. “The mark of restraint… The Alpha bears it. That cannot be.”Before Vargr could grasp the meaning of her words, she had already cast the covers aside and swung her legs from the bed, retreating from him as though he were flame and she the kindling.In her haste, her foot struck the iron candlestick.

“Place it there. The pack lords are many, and such men deserve a table worthy of their pride,” Lena instructed, her voice poised with quiet command.“Yes, Luna,” came the swift reply.Dorcas slipped to her side, her voice low, careful not to let the other slaves hear. “I asked again about the man you seek. No one’s seen him. My lady, are you certain you’re not sleeping with a ghost in flesh?”Milicent had her ways, but Dorcas—Dorcas carried chaos like a second skin.“Hush,” Lena whispered, casting a furtive glance around them. “The wolves have ears. We’ll speak of this when we are alone.”Her attention snapped to a young servant fumbling with the goblet’s placement. Lena moved toward him with urgency.“No, no. That is not the way. The goblet must be placed to the right of the charger, never before. The blade’s edge must face the plate, and the napkin, folded in the crest pattern, ought to rest atop the bread dish. And for the love of the moon, align the goblets to catch the candleligh

Time was slipping through her fingers.Lady Miriam had likely grown suspicious. Her eyes had followed Lena too many times today, sharp and assessing. She lingered near the front of the hall, ensuring all was in order, yet her glances were never idle.The great hall was filled with noble guests, the air thick with quiet murmurs. The Alpha had yet to appear, and impatience brewed like storm clouds. Voices rose in low tones, questioning, doubting, pressing for answers no one had.The Elders voiced their discontent openly. They sat in their carved seats, grumbling about tradition, duty, and the growing insult of delay. One Elder spoke louder than the rest, leaning toward another."This is beneath the dignity of the Rite," he said, his tone hard with age and expectation.Lady Miriam approached them with calm precision. Her gown was formal but unburdened by decoration, and her face held the careful control of one well-used to managing unrest."My lords," she said, addressing the row of Elde

Three moons and a fortnight had passed since Cedric had last set foot in these lands, and now, as he stood holding the letter in his hand, the weight of its contents was heavier than any burden he had carried before.He read aloud, his voice thick with concern:"For the past few moons, we have been living in hell. Alpha Darius has returned, and Vargr is nowhere to be found. The Luna has been locked in the dungeon, with barely enough food or water. She carries the Alpha's heir, and with such a grievous labor, we fear she may not survive. I cannot near her, for only Alpha Darius himself dares approach her. Please, this is the third letter I have managed to send to you, the others intercepted. Uthred, who has taken your title, has aligned himself with a powerful mage. For one such as he to defeat the Alpha, he must hold great power. Find the Alpha and return him to us."A sharp breath escaped his lips. So many tragedies had unfolded in his absence—more than he could have fathomed.As he

Clink... clink... clink...Shackled by the weight of the chains that rattled with every step, Lena moved through the halls, each sound of metal against stone louder than the fear gnawing at her heart. The demon had returned—Darius. What cruel task did he summon her for this time?She reached the study and, with a hesitant breath, entered.The air within was thick with the scent of parchment and aged wood, but as she crossed the threshold, Darius’s gaze fell upon her, and his nose wrinkled in disdain."You could not even be bothered to bathe, you wretched swine?" His voice oozed disdain, each syllable laced with scorn. He spat upon the floor, his contempt ringing louder than the silence that followed.Lena swallowed hard, his cruel words searing deeper than any iron shackle ever had."Step forward, then," he said, his tone like winter frost—sharp and unyielding. "I shall show you something you will not soon forget."Slowly, she crossed the room, the weight of the chains dragging behind