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Poise and Preparation
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Crown of Deception: Alpha's Contracted Bride Strength in Silence
The next several days were a relentless cycle of training and preparation. My mornings started early with etiquette lessons, each one challenging my patience and testing my resolve. Ms. Krystal Gentle was as intense as her name was misleading, her sharp corrections cutting through my mistakes with merciless precision. If I slouched even a fraction, she’d snap her fingers, reminding me that I was meant to stand taller, shoulders back, as though every gaze in the room was mine to command.Cassidy and Lena had become my unofficial tutors outside of class. They stayed by my side, guiding me through practice sessions and running mock introductions of Alpha couples I’d soon meet. Each name came with a whispered background—who was friendly, who harbored rivalries, who might see through my insecurities if I faltered. Their presence was a lifeline, keeping me grounded as I prepared to step into the role of Lucas’s Luna.One afternoon, after another demanding etiquette session, I found myself sl
Crown of Deception: Alpha's Contracted Bride A Royal Outing
Amelia’s POVAs I stepped out of my etiquette class, my mind drifted to the previous night. Lucas’s words had lingered, giving me a comfort I hadn’t realized I needed. His quiet assurance had somehow softened the anxiety I felt about Ethan’s presence at the upcoming meeting. I’d expected indifference or perhaps some level of detachment between us as time passed. Instead, his presence last night was grounding, supportive, and left me feeling steadier, more capable of facing what lay ahead. But I couldn’t let myself dwell too much on that—on him.Just then, Cassidy’s excited voice pulled me back to the present. “Amelia!” she called, hurrying over with Lena by her side, both grinning like children let loose in a candy store. “Guess what?”“What?” I asked, intrigued by the gleam in her eyes.Lena crossed her arms, a small smile playing on her lips. “We’re taking you shopping,” she said with a sense of finality. “And not just any shopping—this is going to be our day out in the city. We’re
Crown of Deception: Alpha's Contracted Bride Weight of Duty
Lucas’s POVThe sun was high in the sky, casting a golden light through the tall windows of my office. Papers lay spread across my desk—border patrol reports, supply chain summaries, plans for expanding guard rotations along the kingdom’s northern edge. Each document felt heavier than the last, the weight of responsibility settling like an anchor in my chest. Strengthening our borders had been the main point of discussion in the last council meeting, and with the Alpha summit fast approaching, the pressure to finalize these plans was relentless.Across from me, Derek was buried in a stack of papers, his brows furrowed in concentration as he skimmed through a particularly dense report. Loyal to a fault and as sharp as they come, he’d been my right hand since we were boys. Soon, he’d be my Beta, and there was no one I trusted more with that role.“Derek,” I said, breaking the silence, “what do you think about adding a few more patrols around the eastern border? The neighboring pack ther
Crown of Deception: Alpha's Contracted Bride Heartfelt Conversation
The echo of Ms. Gentle’s lecture on royal etiquette still rang in my ears as I returned to my chambers, grateful for the silence. I shut the door behind me, slipping off my shoes and settling onto the edge of my bed. The day had been exhausting, a swirl of rules and expectations to remember, all leading up to the Alpha meeting in just under two weeks. But in this quiet moment, I allowed myself a sigh of relief, knowing I’d handled today without incident.My eyes drifted around the room, half expecting Lucas to be there, but of course, he wasn’t. He’d been increasingly busy lately, the weight of his responsibilities pulling him away, and I was…well, thankful for it, in a way. Time apart gave me a chance to gather my thoughts, to remind myself of what I wanted from this arrangement. Though the brief encounters we did have kept replaying in my mind.A buzz from my phone pulled me from my thoughts. I picked it up and blinked at the name on the screen, a smile tugging at my lips. Ivy. My b
Crown of Deception: Alpha's Contracted Bride Preparation and Unexpected Moments
Amelia’s POVThe days before the Alpha meeting blurred together in a whirlwind of training and meticulous instruction. Lena and Cassidy had taken their roles as my guides with relentless energy, filling every spare moment with lessons. Lena, with her fierce determination, drilled me on the histories and alliances between packs, her tone often blunt as she warned me which Alphas might test me. Cassidy, on the other hand, brought a lightheartedness to our sessions, her laughter and encouragement softening the tension that sometimes felt overwhelming.“Remember, stand tall, shoulders back,” Lena instructed as I practiced my formal bow. “The moment you show doubt, they’ll seize on it. Confidence is everything.”Cassidy shot Lena an amused look. “We’re not sending her into battle, Lena.”Lena’s lips quirked up. “Aren’t we?” she replied, her tone deadpan, and we all laughed, breaking the seriousness of the moment.As intense as their lessons were, I could feel my confidence growing. Each da
Crown of Deception: Alpha's Contracted Bride Shadows of Last Night
Amelia’s POVThe first rays of dawn slipped through the curtains, and I opened my eyes to the faint light. My body felt like it hadn’t rested at all—maybe because it hadn’t. I’d tossed and turned through the night, flashes of Lucas leaning in, his warmth so close, replaying in my mind on a loop. It was ridiculous. One nearly-shared kiss, and here I was, wide awake, haunted by the memory of it.I groaned and threw an arm over my face, trying to shake off the sleepiness. The Alpha meeting was today, and this was my chance to prove I belonged at Lucas’s side. I’d spent days preparing with Lena, Cassidy, and Ms. Gentle, filling my mind with every rule and protocol I might need. Yet, here I was, on barely a few hours of sleep and with nothing on my mind but Lucas. He hadn’t returned last night, and a part of me—against my better judgment—wondered why. Did Queen Larissa keep him that long? Or was he as thrown off as I was by our almost-kiss?You’re thinking about it again, Snow’s voice chim
Crown of Deception: Alpha's Contracted Bride Among Queens
The grand chamber was already filling with Alphas and Lunas, their voices mingling into a low hum of conversation. My eyes darted across the room, catching sight of Lucas near the throne, standing tall among his council. But as our eyes met, he looked away almost immediately, his expression unreadable. A strange pang of disappointment hit me, sharp and unexpected, and I found myself longing to understand what he was thinking. Last night had left so many questions unanswered, and now…he was avoiding me?Determined to break the distance, I took a step toward him. But before I could get far, someone stepped into my path.I looked up to find a woman standing before me, her gaze both assessing and serene. She had a quiet strength about her, the kind of presence that filled the room without demanding attention. Her dark hair was pulled back into an intricate braid that framed her face elegantly, and she wore a gown of deep emerald green, fitted yet flowing, with delicate silver accents glin
Crown of Deception: Alpha's Contracted Bride Can we talk?
Amelia’s POVThe hall buzzed with low voices, each Alpha and Luna seated around the grand table. I tried to stay calm, even as my thoughts kept drifting back to last night. The almost-kiss with Lucas haunted me, making it nearly impossible to focus. I hadn’t slept much; the memory kept replaying in my mind, clouding my thoughts even now. I caught myself glancing across the room, but Lucas wouldn’t meet my eyes. His focus was everywhere but on me, his face a stoic mask that only deepened my confusion.I shook off the distraction, reminding myself of the importance of today. This wasn’t just any gathering—it was the annual meeting where regional matters were debated by the most powerful Alphas and Lunas. My mind raced through the names and packs I’d memorized with Cassidy and Lena. I was here to represent Lucas’s pack, and I needed to keep my composure. Yet, my heart wouldn’t stop its restless beating.I was pulled from my thoughts as the council doors swung open. In walked Ethan, the o
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