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56. A Mother's Portrait
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2024-06-24 03:31:47
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Forced to Marry the Wicked Werewolf Prince 57. The Poison Vial
[ELARA]“Elara?” Magnus says my name again, his voice a mix of worry and something else I can't quite place. He crosses the room with purposeful strides, stopping just a few steps away from my bed. My eyes flicker nervously to the pillow concealing the poison vial before meeting his golden gaze. My heart hammers against my chest, and I know he can hear it. His expression shifts from concern to confusion.‘Talk to him,’ Lila’s voice echoes in my mind, but I can’t find the words or the will to speak. Does he know I've been threatened to poison him? Did he see me hide the vial? Does he think I’m going to betray him?“Elara,” he repeats softly, his tone pleading.As he takes an uncertain step closer, I finally find my voice. I stand up abruptly, holding my breath. “Magnus,” I whisper, my voice trembling.He steps back, his eyes widening in alarm. For a moment, he looks afraid, as if he’s broken something fragile between us. He swallows hard before speaking, his voice hoarse. “You didn’t c
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-06-25Forced to Marry the Wicked Werewolf Prince 58. The Folding Screen
[ELARA]“And what if I do?" Magnus challenges, his voice dropping to a whisper, but the intensity of his words slices through the air.His eyes widen as he realizes what he has just said, words he can’t take back. I fold my hands around my arms, holding my breath as I tear my gaze away from him. I feel vulnerable, almost naked, standing here in front of him. The distance between us feels unbearable, a chasm I cannot cross. “I suppose you can care,” I answer meekly. My voice comes out all strange, and I feel foolish. I turn away and walk to the open window that looks over the Cursed Gulf. The waves crash violently against the shore, and for a moment, I wish they could swallow me whole. “What harm will that do?”“It can kill you,” he answers without missing a beat. His gaze burns into the back of my head.Please don’t look at me, I think to myself. Not right now. Not when I should be thinking about how to poison you.‘You don’t want to poison him,’ Lila’s voice interrupts my mind.I ha
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-06-25Forced to Marry the Wicked Werewolf Prince 59. A Vampire Among Wolves
[MAGNUS]I toss and turn the whole night over the diwan, finding no sleep. The cool night air does nothing to quell the heat in my mind. Shadows dance on the walls, cast by the flickering candlelight. My eyes repeatedly flicker to Elara’s sleeping figure on the bed, and every time, I relive the moment we shared.Slipping away that I care for her. Slowly unlacing her gown as I hear her heart race. The shiver that ran through me when I accidentally brushed her skin. The undeniable urge to deliberately graze her bare back with my fingers. Our breaths mingling with each other. The look of longing in her green eyes as she eyed my lips. And the almost kiss.My body betrays me. Every time I look down at myself, I'm still aroused. I'm a fool. The most foolish fool to ever exist. And Creed agrees every time I whisper it to myself through the night.How can I so easily lose control of myself? This is not something that has troubled me before.Chopping Lord Brook’s fingers was a reckless move—I s
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-06-28Forced to Marry the Wicked Werewolf Prince 60. The Tokens
[MAGNUS]I keep my eyes glued to the new sand clock, focusing on the purple swirls that begin at its neck and diffuse to either side as Lord Roland is made to read out the new roles. His voice is hesitant at best as he reads, “The role of Alpha Regent has not been changed. It still belongs to Lord Wieser. So is the role of War Chief—”“Fool,” Eldric mutters lazily, leaning back and placing his hand on the new table. His expression remains unreadable, but his tone carries a hint of disdain. “Don’t read it all. Just the new ones.”Lord Roland wipes the sweat from his brows before he proceeds, “Forgive me, Your Grace. Lord Hylas, you no longer serve as the Moon Priest. You’ve been replaced by Lord Steele.”Lord Hylas’ face twists in pain and he leans forward, his knuckles white against the polished wood of the table. Before he can protest, Eldric interjects. “You’re a shame. No man who speaks the word of the Goddess curses as often as you do.”There goes a man who sided with my father wh
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-06-30Forced to Marry the Wicked Werewolf Prince 61. The Stubborn Sister
[MAGNUS]‘Tread carefully,’ Creed echoes in my mind, and I halt, taken by surprise. I will never get used to being advised by him ever again. Not since the prolonged silences and mockery I suffered after the death of Nyra.With Alistair by my side, I march to Ruelle’s chambers, our footsteps echoing through the stone corridors. I’m not surprised to find my stepmother, Lady Celia, there. However, the sight of Princess Daphne lounging gracefully on one of the lilac chaises catches me off guard. They are all seated on the set of lilac chaises that Ruelle had insisted on bringing back from Qaiven a few weeks ago, engaged in what appears to be a deeply intriguing discussion. A hush falls over the room as I clear my throat, the sound slicing through their conversation like a blade. Daphne is the first to notice me, her brown eyes turning sharply in my direction, assessing and calculating.“Prince Magnus,” she mumbles in a honeyed voice, dipping her head slightly in a gesture of respect that
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-07-02Forced to Marry the Wicked Werewolf Prince 62. The Soulkeeper
[ELARA]From the shore, I watch the Cursed Gulf bubble. Steam billows from its surface, boiling despite the cold wind that prickles my bare arms, forming tiny cuts through which blood oozes. But it isn't red; it's a mixture of black and gold, shimmering as it trickles down my arms. Dark clouds gather in the sky, shrouding the shore.My eyes are fixed on the lone cog approaching, paddled by a mysterious figure, its mast bearing a singular sail adorned with a skull. The air is filled with the sound of water splashing and gurgling. As it edges closer, I hold my breath. When the cog grinds to a halt on the sand, the sky clears, revealing the figure.The man wears a dark robe, his face hidden by a long hood. His hands gripping the paddle are plain bones, devoid of skin. My body casts a long shadow on the sand, but he has no shadow.It’s the Soulkeeper.This isn’t real, I realize with a gasp. ‘Wake up,’ Lila’s distorted voice echoes in my mind. ‘Wake up!’But I can’t will myself awake. I can
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-07-03Forced to Marry the Wicked Werewolf Prince 63. Bloodied Knuckles
[ELARA]We’re both frozen, caught by each other unexpectedly. Momentarily, the corridors and every other thought fade away, leaving only Magnus and the inexplicable pull he has over me.He tears his golden gaze away... in shame? But not quickly enough. His eyes have already captured me, making me lose a bit of myself. They seem to stare straight into my soul, unraveling all my fears and desires. I wonder, is he also reminded of the last time we were this close to each other?His broad shoulders seem like they could bear the weight of the world, and I think of how it’ll feel to have them wrapped around me.‘Get a hold of yourself!’ Lila exclaims, and I just close my eyes in defeat.When I open my eyes, promising myself to not act stupid, I find Magnus struggling to choose his words. He could simply walk away, avoiding the conversation altogether, but he remains rooted to the spot. His mouth opens and closes, and his lips catch my eyes. Instinctively, I lick mine. And that gesture moves
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-07-05Forced to Marry the Wicked Werewolf Prince 64. The Replacement
[ELARA]“Go away,” I mumble weakly before I remember what my husband did to hers, failing to stop tears from coming out of my eyes. “Please.”Although Lady Brook flinches at the hoarseness of my tone, she doesn’t leave. Her eyes dart between my knuckles and the patches of blood on the polished floor. “You’re hurt,” she observes softly. “Your wounds must be tended to.”“There’s no need,” I tell her, rising abruptly to my feet and hastily wiping my cheeks. “I have wolf blood. They’ll heal.”Lady Brook frowns. “The floor? And your gown?” “Talisa will take care of the floor. This gown I shall burn,” I tell her in a cold voice. She lets out a gasp, her eyes flickering to the hearth. “Oh, heavens! Did you do that?” she asks, hurrying to watch the burning clothes in the hearth. “You couldn’t. Who did that?”“Why does it matter?” I ask her, forcing myself to take another glance at the burnt painting. “They’re ruined.”She protests, “You can’t let this be seen by anyone, Princess Elara. Not e
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-07-07
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Forced to Marry the Wicked Werewolf Prince 123. The Winter Bard
[ELARA]The bard is not the same man today.Had no one told me it was him—and had I not watched him so closely the night before—I might’ve sworn it was someone else entirely.I suppose madness does that. Warps a person from the inside out. Just last night, he was dressed in fine silks, the very picture of elegance and confidence—charming enough to rival Magnus at his most dazzling. Now? He’s tied to a pillar in Thornhall’s courtyard like a spectacle.He thrashes wildly, laughter cracking through the air in bursts, each followed by guttural cries that scrape the throat raw. But it’s not the noise that sends a chill down my spine.It’s the pearls.A strand of them, strung neatly around his neck—eerily similar to the one I shattered. The one Valen claimed belonged to Raelynn.I take an instinctive step back.“Who painted his lips?” Lady Brook’s voice comes from beside me, thin and sharp. Her hand clutches her throat as if she’s afraid the color might stain her own skin. Her hair, usually
Forced to Marry the Wicked Werewolf Prince 122. Tainted
[ELARA]“Magnus,” I call out. He doesn’t stop. Doesn’t turn. Doesn’t even pause. The door slams shut behind him, and something inside me breaks. My knees buckle, and I collapse onto the edge of the bed, fingers twisting into the fabric of my robe like it can change reality. My lungs can’t find air. It’s like they’re stitched shut.‘You’re panicking,’ Lila says. ‘You must breathe.’But I can’t. I can’t.My hands fly to my throat, clawing at the skin like I can scrub the shame away. My nails scrape across Valen’s bite marks, and the moment my fingers graze them, guilt sinks in like a slow-moving poison.What have I done?He wasn’t lying.I saw it in his golden eyes—saw it when the shield fell between us, when truth flooded that brief second of silence. Magnus hadn’t been with anyone. Not in these long, aching months.Not once.But I had believed wrongly.And it led me to—Lila speaks again, ‘It wasn’t just that. You know it wasn’t.’I squeeze my eyes shut, shaking my head, biting down
Forced to Marry the Wicked Werewolf Prince 121. The Mate I Cannot Claim
[MAGNUS]Setting her free—as she says it—is not going to end my misery. If anything, it’ll make me even more miserable. I don’t hate Elara. I could never hate her. The day I start hating her is the day I lose all control over myself. And the day I lose all control of myself is the day I lose her. So I can’t accept her as my mate. I can't get through the ritual and let the bond strengthen. I can’t mark her, can’t make her mine, not until I have eradicated all of my enemies. Until Eldric lies cold in his grave. One more loss… and there will be no going back. Creed’s agony will consume me, break my mind until I’m left as nothing but a hollow shell. Elara stands there looking utterly broken, crying as if there’s no strength left in her. And it is all my fault. Whatever anger I feel, the urge to burn the world to the ground, the desire to see Valen crushed to a pulp—I push it all aside. Lock it inside a part of my mind where I stash all of my irrational thoughts. Valen fed on her, I
Forced to Marry the Wicked Werewolf Prince 120. His Wife
[ELARA]Magnus barges in, cutting through the space with quick strides and startling Edith. “Leave,” he tells Edith, not even sparing her a glance. That single word is enough to tell me that he has come here with boiling blood. I don’t even need to consider the fury in his golden eyes. Edith swallows hard, and scurries off but not before tossing me a fleeting look. There’s prayer in her eyes. She is unaware that nothing can save me from Magnus’ wrath. For a moment, silence lingers—a kind where you can hear the sounds of our hearts racing. Stupidly, I stare at Magnus’ face too long, and my chest tightens with an odd feeling. Something that feels a lot like longing. ‘Tread carefully,’ Lila warns. “So you’ve finally come,” I say, nonchalantly running my fingers through my hair as I turn my back on him and walk to the mirror. “You deceived me into thinking you had no idea where my chamber was.”How much does he know? I wonder as I sit down on the bench, staring at my reflection. He’s
Forced to Marry the Wicked Werewolf Prince 119. The Vampire's Offer
[ELARA]I stare at the ceiling, breathing a little too loud. I’m aware of the sweat covering my naked body, of the puncture wounds on my neck that are still blazing, eliciting waves of pleasure although Valen is no longer feeding on me. The desire to curl up and close my eyes and shut myself from the world feels too overwhelming. What have I done?A slow breath drifts against my shoulder.I go still.He’s awake.Heat creeps up my neck, shame curling in my stomach. I don’t dare look at him. If I do, I’ll see it—the smug amusement in his expression, the satisfaction, the knowing.I close my eyes, as if I can will myself back into ignorance. As if I can pretend I didn’t just let Valen—the last person I should have touched—consume me whole.“You're thinking too much,” his voice breaks the silence. It’s unbothered. I flinch.He chuckles. “I can hear it, you know. That frantic little heartbeat of yours.”My fingers curl into the sheets, my breath catching. “Go away,” I murmur.Valen shif
Forced to Marry the Wicked Werewolf Prince 118. Blood and Desire
[ELARA]Something tells me Valen knows I’m here, and that I’m watching him, but doesn’t stop. “What do you think you are doing?” I hiss at him when I finally find my voice again, daring myself to walk closer. He glances at me leisurely, licking his bloodied lips as he lifts his head from her neck. “I was hungry,” he says with a shrug, and casts Tara aside like a doll. She leans against the wall, the euphoric smile on her face still lingering. “You look… displeased.”I hesitate. I did not think I would Tara here. I really believed she was with Magnus. “She’s our guest,” I whisper, my fingers twitching to reach her, to check if she’s okay—but I don’t. Somehow, I can’t bring myself to touch her. Not when she looks like she’s floating in some distant bliss. “You can’t harm her.”Valen cocks his head slightly, amused. “Harm?” He gestures lazily at Tara’s boneless form. “Does she look harmed to you?”I scoff. “You—” I swallow, forcing air into my lungs. “You drank her blood.”He smirks,
Forced to Marry the Wicked Werewolf Prince 117. The Stable boy
[ELARA]I notice, somewhere between the refilled goblets and the swelling melody of the Bard’s latest song, that Magnus is gone. And Alistair with him. Not that I was informed about it. The feast carries on without them. The Bard, ever the showman, soaks in the attention, strumming his lute with a smirk that suggests he’s well aware of the effect he has on the court. Thornhall has something new to play with tonight. The dancers sit sulking in a corner, forgotten. The musicians find themselves disagreeing with the songs. “I will bed this man tonight,” Lady Brook announces, her words thick with drink as she leans forward, nearly spilling from her seat.I arch a brow. “The Bard?”“Who else?” she breathes, eyes heavy-lidded. “Look at him. That mouth was made for more than singing.”“That’s ambitious.” I huff a quiet laugh, lifting my goblet to my lips. “Don’t let Edith know.”“If I had a mother like that—” she begins with a lazy grin, then downs the rest of her wine. “What do you think
Forced to Marry the Wicked Werewolf Prince 116. Burning for the Enemy
[ELARA]“Did you enjoy the ballad, Your Highness?” Valen’s teasing voice curls around me, his amusement barely concealed. He rises from his seat with effortless grace, extending his hand as if he knew—knew—I would come to him. “I worked with the man himself to craft it.”Every movement in the hall slows. A royal woman should not do this. A wife should not do this. The weight of a hundred eyes presses upon me, mouths whispering, hands tightening around goblets—a scandal. But let them watch. Let them see what their beloved prince has wrought. Let them murmur about the disgrace of Magnus’ mate, the woman who was meant to stand at his side.I take Valen’s hand. His skin is cooler than Magnus’, his grip lighter, but no less commanding.“Do not speak,” I say, my voice a blade, and he only grins.“Remember when I told you last night that when you command me, you’re even—”I cut him off. “Will you dance with me or not?” My words are steel-wrapped velvet, laced with something desperate and rec
Forced to Marry the Wicked Werewolf Prince 115. A Fool for the Last Time
[ELARA]I want to leave. No—storm off. Let every guest see, let them know I do not stand by their beloved Prince, their cold and callous Magnus. Let them whisper about the insult, the blatant disrespect. I would not care. I want them to see. I want him to see.How dare he? How dare he shatter my heart so effortlessly, as if it were made of glass? If this is his response—if this is how he welcomes another into his arms so easily, so publicly—then what has he done in the quiet of the past five months? How many nights has he spent like this, without hesitation, without guilt?I knew Talisa—Morgana… kept him company, but I thought… no more. Not since he learned what we are to each other. Not since he learned I am his mate. But now my heart burns, set upon a spit, roasting in the heat of my own foolishness.I told myself he wouldn’t. That he couldn’t. But I see now—I was wrong. I was so wrong.And I kept Valen away because it was him I thought of. Even when Valen’s hands traced my skin, I
