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A Too Perfect Confession
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2024-12-28 01:20:23
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Crown of Deception: Alpha's Contracted Bride   Unearthing Deception
I paced back and forth in my office, the sound of my boots echoing off the walls. The confession didnât sit right. Maxwellâs words replayed in my mind, but no matter how I twisted them, they felt wrong. Too easy. Too pat. Who admits to a crime like that so suddenly? It stank of manipulation.Heâs lying, Titan growled in my head, his voice a low rumble. Or someone forced him into it. You know this isnât the end of it.âI know,â I muttered under my breath, running a hand through my hair. The tension coiled in my chest like a spring, tight and unyielding. I wanted to smash something, but that wouldnât help. What I needed was clarity, a way to untangle this mess and expose the real threat.The sharp buzz of my phone snapped me out of my thoughts. I grabbed it, Derekâs name flashing on the screen. Relief and apprehension hit me at once. If anyone could make sense of this, it was him.âDerek,â I answered.âIâve got news,â he said, his tone serious. âThe poison Maxwell usedâitâs not somethin
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-30Crown of Deception: Alpha's Contracted Bride   Unexpected Defenses
Ameliaâs POV The moment Maxwell was dragged back into his cell, I stayed rooted in place, staring down the now-empty corridor where Kurt had disappeared just moments before. My fingers curled into the fabric of my dress as I tried to process everything that had just happened. Lucasâs commanding tone echoed in my head, his unwavering authority cutting through Kurtâs arrogance. Heâd defended me. Lucas Tuller, the same man who had been cold and distant for days, had stepped up for meânot as my husband bound by duty, but as someone who seemed genuinely determined to stand by my side. I let out a shaky breath, unsure of what to feel. Part of me wanted to scoff and chalk it up to nothing more than his sense of responsibility. Another partâĶ another part whispered that there might be more to it. Snow stirred at the back of my mind, her voice soft but insistent. âHe cares, Amelia. More than you want to admit.â I shook my head, my lips tightening into a thin line. âItâs duty, Snow. Thatâs
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-02Crown of Deception: Alpha's Contracted Bride   Shifting the Game
Kurt's POVI paced the length of my study, the tension coiled in my chest growing tighter with every step. My boots struck the polished wooden floor in a steady rhythm, but it did little to calm the storm in my head. Lucasâs words from earlier rang out in my mind, sharp and insufferable.âYou are to show her respect.âI scoffed, shaking my head in disbelief. Respect? For Amelia? That insolent bratâbarely old enough to know the weight of his titleâexpected me to bow to her. My lip curled as I thought about it. That woman had no right to sit beside him, let alone hold a title as esteemed as Crown Princess.Stopping by the window, I gazed out at the moonlit garden, the cool light only sharpening my thoughts. It was infuriating. Lucasâs loyalty to her ran deeper than I had anticipated. Iâd hoped the bond between them was shallow, a fleeting connection formed out of duty rather than genuine trust. Yet today, heâd stood by her like a true partner, daring to question me in the process.My ja
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-05Crown of Deception: Alpha's Contracted Bride   The Trial
Ameliaâs POVThe grand hall hummed with tension as I stepped inside, Lena close beside me. The air felt heavy, each whispered murmur from the council members sinking into my skin like pinpricks. Sunlight filtered in through the high, arched windows, illuminating the ornate carvings on the walls, but the light felt cold, distant.The weight of what was about to unfold pressed on my chest. This wasnât just about Maxwellâs crimesâthis was about me, my position, and my life hanging in the balance.Lenaâs voice broke through my thoughts, soft but firm. âYou alright?âI nodded stiffly, my gaze fixed on the council table at the far end of the room. King Luther and Queen Narissa sat side by side, their regal presence commanding the space. Lucas stood slightly behind his father, his posture tense but controlled. His expression was unreadable, as always, but I caught the slight clench of his jaw.I tore my gaze away, forcing my feet to move. I couldnât afford to let my emotions showânot here.â
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-07Crown of Deception: Alpha's Contracted Bride   Whispers and Warmth
Ameliaâs POVI couldnât stop replaying the trial in my head, even as the heavy doors slammed shut behind me. The sound echoed down the stone corridor like a final judgment, leaving me with this strange mix of satisfaction and unease. Maxwellâs sentencing was swiftâdeath for his crimes. It should have been enough.But it wasnât.Lucas had pulled me aside after the trial, his expression serious. I followed him into one of the quieter hallways, away from the lingering crowd. His steps were measured, his jaw tight. He didnât speak until we were completely alone.âAre you all right?â he asked, his voice low.The question caught me off guard. Lucas rarely asked about my well-being unless it was strictly necessary. But today, there was something different in his toneâsomething softer.I hesitated, my fingers brushing against the fabric of my gown. âIâm fine,â I said, though my voice didnât quite convince me.He nodded, but his eyes remained fixed on me, as if he didnât believe me either. âTh
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-09Crown of Deception: Alpha's Contracted Bride   The Crownâs Grace
Ameliaâs POVI never thought etiquette class would be where my thoughts kept wandering back to Maxwellâs trial. Yet here I was, my quill idly tapping against the desk, my mind replaying every moment. Maxwellâs furtive glances toward KurtâĶ his rehearsed answersâĶ Lucasâs firm resolve to investigate further. All of it swirled in my head like an unsolved puzzle.âAmelia,â Ms. Gentleâs clipped tone pulled me back to the present.I straightened in my seat, startled.âAs I was saying,â she continued, her sharp gaze sweeping the room, âthe annual Alphasâ Ball is approaching. This will be the perfect opportunity to put your etiquette training to the test. I hope none of you will disappointâespecially the crown princess.âHer gaze lingered on me a moment too long, and I felt a twinge of embarrassment mixed with irritation.The Alphasâ Ball. Iâd completely forgotten about it.Iâd heard about the ball for yearsâan extravagant spectacle where Alphas and their packs gathered to build alliances, for
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-12Crown of Deception: Alpha's Contracted Bride   Seeds of Malice
Sabrinaâs POVThe audacity.Sabrina stormed down the corridor, her fists clenched at her sides. The nerve of that pathetic peasant to stand there, smug and self-assured, calling herself the crown princess as if the title truly belonged to her. Sabrinaâs face burned with fury, the memory of Ameliaâs condescending smile replaying in her mind like a festering wound.âHow dare she?â Sabrina hissed under her breath, her nails digging into her palms.Her long, dark hair swayed behind her as she moved, her sharp heels echoing through the halls. Every step fueled her anger, every thought stoked the fire in her chest. Amelia shouldnât even be here. That titleâher titleâhad been stolen, handed to some nobody who had stumbled her way into Lucasâs life.The memory of Lucas once looking at her with admiration filled her mind, a bitter pang twisting her gut. He had been hers, or so she thought. Sabrina shook her head violently. No. He still could be. Amelia was the obstacle, and obstacles could be
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-15Crown of Deception: Alpha's Contracted Bride   A Tangled Web
Ameliaâs POV The Alpha Ball was approaching quickly, but my mind was still occupied with far more pressing concerns. Kurt. His name lingered in my thoughts like a persistent shadow, creeping into every moment of peace I tried to snatch. I couldnât shake the memory of Maxwell glancing at him during the trial, as if he held the answers to unspoken questions. I hadnât brought it up with Lucas again, but I wondered how his investigation was progressing. Would he find anything? Or was it all just my paranoia playing tricks on me?And then there was my mysterious ally. Their sudden silence gnawed at my nerves. I had sent a message after the trial, wanting answersâneeding answersâbut there had been no response. Who were they? Why had they chosen to help me? And why did they vanish now, when I had so many questions to ask? The absence of clarity was maddening.Pushing those thoughts aside, I joined Lena for our morning training session after breakfast. The familiar routine helped settle my r
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-18
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Crown of Deception: Alpha's Contracted Bride   A Dance with Distraction
Lucas POVThe night felt endless.I twirled Sabrina in time with the music, barely paying attention to the dance itself. My movements were precise, effortlessâthe product of years of formal trainingâbut my mind was elsewhere.Sabrina, however, was fully engaged. She smiled up at me, her grip on my shoulder lingering longer than necessary as we moved together.âThis reminds me of the first time we danced together,â she mused, her voice laced with nostalgia. âDo you remember? It was at the Crescent Moon gala, just after weââShe let the words hang, waiting for me to acknowledge them.I didnât.I barely spared her a glance, my focus drifting back to the one person I actually cared about tonight.Amelia. Iâd rather be dancing with her again. The way our body move together. Her soft hand on mine. The bliss that creeped onto her cheeks. She was stunning. Even across the room, she stood out in that midnight blue gown, its fabric catching the light like the night sky. But it wasnât just how
Crown of Deception: Alpha's Contracted Bride   Into His Arms
Ameliaâs POVMy mind felt like it was swimming through thick fog, the heat overwhelming my senses. Mind-link. I needed to reach someoneâLucas, Lena, anyone. But no matter how hard I tried, the haze clouded my thoughts, making it impossible to focus.Snow, help meâĶ I pleaded.IâIâm tryingâĶ she panted weakly. The heat was affecting her just as much as it was affecting me.I stumbled, gripping the edge of the table for support just as the door creaked open.Panic surged through me as I turned, my breath catching when I saw who stood there.Alpha Dorian.I recognized him instantlyâone of the young Alphas Iâd spoken to earlier. I had disliked him on sight. The way his eyes had lingered on me too long, the way he had smirked when I spoke, as if he was undressing me with his gaze. And now, that same gaze was locked onto me, but this time, there was something darker in it.He took a slow step inside, inhaling deeply.My stomach dropped as I watched his pupils dilate, his eyes darkening as his
Crown of Deception: Alpha's Contracted Bride   A Dangerous Heat
Ameliaâs POVThe sound of applause still echoed through the grand ballroom as I stood there, my heart racing from the dance with Lucas. My body still tingled from his touch, the warmth of his hands on my waist lingering far longer than I wanted to admit. For a fleeting moment, it had felt like a dreamâlike we were something more than a contract, something real.But the moment shattered when she appeared.Sabrina.Draped in an emerald-green gown that hugged her curves, she approached with all the confidence of someone who believed she belonged by Lucasâs side. A false, sugary-sweet smile painted her lips as she placed a delicate hand on his forearm.âLucas,â she purred, tilting her head just slightly. âDance with me?âI stiffened. She didnât even acknowledge my presence, as if I were nothing but a shadow in Lucasâs world.Lucas hesitated, his gaze flickering to mine. My chest tightened, but I forced my face to remain neutral. I refused to let Sabrina see me falter.Not wanting to cause
Crown of Deception: Alpha's Contracted Bride   A Dance in the Spotlight
Ameliaâs The warmth of Lenaâs laughter eased some of the tension in my chest. Being around my friends always grounded me, reminding me that I wasnât alone in all of this.âEthan really had the nerve to approach you?â Lena scoffed, shaking her head. âThe audacity of that man.âCassidy smirked. âShouldâve thrown your wine on him.âAmy, ever the calm one, placed a hand on my arm. âYou okay?âI exhaled, swirling the wine in my glass before nodding. âYeah. I handled it.âLena snorted. âGood. If he comes near you again, Iâll handle it.âTheir presence was comforting, but I couldnât ignore the way eyes followed me around the ballroom. Whispers trailed behind me, some admiring, others filled with skepticism. It was expectedâLucas and I were still under scrutiny. Some didnât believe our union was real, while others simply didnât think I belonged at his side.I straightened my shoulders, refusing to let their doubt shake me. I wasnât just standing here as Lucasâs wifeâI was here as the Luna of
Crown of Deception: Alpha's Contracted Bride   An Unexpected Ally
Ameliaâs POVThe shock of seeing Luna Lara standing before me made my breath hitch. Of all the people I expected to be my mysterious ally, she was not one of them.âLuna Lara?â I whispered, disbelief coloring my tone.She smiled, her expression calm and composed. âYouâve got questions,â she said softly. âAnd I have answers.âThereâs a long pause and she stare at me a knowing glint in her eyes. âYou look surprised, Amelia.âI was. But as the initial shock faded, I realized maybe I shouldnât be. Luna Lara had helped me beforeâat the boutique, when she exposed Sabrinaâs schemes. She had stepped in when she had nothing to gain from it. And yet, that was exactly what unsettled me now.She wasnât from this kingdom. She had no real reason to be invested in my affairs. So why was she helping me?âWhy?â The question slipped out before I could stop it.Luna Lara tilted her head slightly, as if she had expected me to ask. Then, she sighed, a soft, almost wistful sound. âBecause I see a glimpse o
Crown of Deception: Alpha's Contracted Bride   The Alpha Ball
Ameliaâs POVI stood in front of the mirror, my fingers lightly tracing the delicate embroidery along the bodice of my gown. The emerald-green fabric shimmered like the leaves of the palace gardens after a rainstorm, and it fit me perfectlyâa stark contrast to the chaos swirling inside me. The stylist had insisted this color would bring out my eyes. I stared at my reflection and had to admit, she was right.Not that it mattered. The gown, the jewels, even the flawless braids in my hairâthey were all just a mask. Tonight wasnât about beauty or elegance. It was about survival.The Alpha Ball. Just the thought of it sent my pulse racing. Everyone who mattered in our world would be here tonightâthe alphas, the lunas, the councils, the powerful families. Every handshake and glance would carry hidden meanings. And then there was me: Amelia, Lucasâs wife in name only. A contract. A secret.I smoothed the gown over my hips, trying to steady my nerves. Tonight, I had to be perfect. Polished.
Crown of Deception: Alpha's Contracted Bride   Ethanâs Ambition
Ethanâs POVThe conference room was stuffy, the hum of voices blending into a dull roar around Ethan as his pack discussed the logistics of their upcoming strategies. Ethan sat at the head of the table, his gaze locked on Mark, his beta, who was going over final preparations for the Alpha Ball and pack affairs during his absence.But Ethan wasnât paying attention. His mind had drifted far from the table and the mundane discussions about patrol schedules or supply runs. He couldnât stop thinking about the Alpha Ball, couldnât stop imagining the scene that awaited him when he arrived.Amelia.Her name burned in his mind like a brand. No matter how hard he tried, he couldnât suppress the image of her standing beside Lucas, her head held high, the picture of grace and strength. It made his blood boil, the muscles in his jaw tightening until it ached.âYouâve no one to blame but yourself,â Magnus growled in his mind, his wolfâs voice a sharp jab against his already frayed composure.âSheâs
Crown of Deception: Alpha's Contracted Bride   The Weight of Anticipation
Ameliaâs POVThe palace garden stretched before me, a quiet oasis where I could breathe, though my thoughts were anything but tranquil. The sun was soft this morning, filtering through the leaves and casting shifting patterns on the cobblestone path. It shouldâve been peaceful, but my mind felt like a restless storm.I walked without direction, brushing my fingers against the cool leaves and blossoms that lined the garden paths. Despite the beauty surrounding me, my thoughts kept pulling me back to yesterdayâto the boutique and the moment Luna Lara revealed Sabrinaâs schemes.I could still hear her calm, confident voice as she exposed the truth. My chest tightened at the memory. The gratitude Iâd felt in that moment had been overwhelming. Sabrinaâs plan to humiliate me could have succeeded if not for Luna Lara stepping in.Iâd thanked her before leaving the boutique, my words barely scratching the surface of how much her intervention had meant to me. But the aftermath of it all still
Crown of Deception: Alpha's Contracted Bride   The Weight of Suspicion
Lucas POV The trial had been over for days, but I couldnât shake the uneasy feeling it left behind. Something was offâboth Kurt and Maxwell were too calm, too assured of their positions. Amelia had noticed it too, pointing out the glances they exchanged during the proceedings. She was right; Iâd seen it myself. They werenât just accusedâthey were calculated, like men with a hidden plan.I sat at my desk, leaning back in my chair as I tapped my fingers on the armrest. My gut churned with suspicion, my mind replaying every moment from the trial. Every word. Every look. Every lie. Maxwell and Kurt werenât just covering for each other; they were playing a larger game, and I needed to figure out what that game was before it cost us more than we could afford.Ameliaâs voice echoed in my mind, her concerns still fresh. She had seen it in themâsomething cold, something dangerous. The fact that she noticed it before I did gnawed at me. She wasnât just observant; she had a sharpness to her tha
