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14: A Game of Words, A Dance with Fire---
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด:
2025-04-04 19:07:16
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Surrogate Bride To The Alpha Stand-in 15: A Dress Stained in History
Three Weeks Back“Lena, whatever we had… it ends here.”Lena froze.His words sliced through the night air like a blade.The forest around them was silent, save for the rustling of leaves and the distant howls of wolves.She stood there, staring at him—on the worn wooden porch of their secret place. The place where he once held her, whispered promises, vowed to be hers.“What?” Her voice came out hoarse, barely above a whisper.Ethan exhaled, his jaw tight.“We can’t keep this up anymore.”Lena took a step forward.“You’re lying.”He said nothing.“You promised me, Ethan,” she pressed, her voice unsteady. “You swore you’d protect me. You told me to wait for you.”A bitter chuckle left his lips.“That was before I realized my duty.”Lena’s stomach twisted.“Duty?” she echoed.“Yes.” He finally met her gaze. “I’m marrying Kara.”The world tilted.The air left Lena’s lungs.Her knees nearly buckled, but she forced herself to stand tall.“You’re marrying her?” The words felt foreign, like
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-04-04Surrogate Bride To The Alpha Stand-in 16: The Blood Moon’s Awakening: A Call Beyond the Veil
The ritual ground stretched wide, a sacred space carved into the heart of the forest. Thousands of pack members filled it, their presence a living, breathing force that pulsed under the crimson glow of the Blood Moon. The towering trees that encircled the grounds swayed as if moved by an unseen power, their ancient roots thrumming with the energy of generations past.At the center stood the sacred fire, its flames licking the air, casting flickering shadows across the four towering stone pillars that surrounded it. Each pillar bore ancient carvings of wolves mid-transformation, their snarling faces and clawed hands reaching toward the heavens. The stones vibrated with magic, their runes pulsing in rhythm with the pounding hearts of those gathered.The alphas and lunas stood closest to the fire, their gazes locked on the ritualists. Behind them, the betas, elders, and warriors formed a perfect circle, each rank positioned according to their standing within the pack. The rest of the wol
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-04-05Surrogate Bride To The Alpha Stand-in 17: The Moon’s Curse and the Alpha’s Weakness
A flicker of fire danced at Alpha Darius’s fingertips. Its golden glow cast shifting shadows against the darkened forest.He watched the flame, entranced. Yet his thoughts spiraled elsewhere—dragged into the depths of memory, into the haunting tales of his mother’s death.Above, the Blood Moon loomed, a cruel reminder of his greatest curse. His strength. His instincts. Everything that made him an apex predator—dulled on this night. The beast within him, the force that made him invincible, was shackled by an ancient power he could not fight.His wolf was asleep.The fire at his fingertips flickered. Then, it died.And with it, his consciousness slipped.---When he came to, the warmth of his flame was gone—replaced by the chilling sensation of blood soaking through his hands.Darius’s breath caught. His vision sharpened.He was cradling a head in his hands.Kara Voss.Her body lay limp against the forest floor. Her breath—shallow. Her pulse—faint.The scent of iron clung to her skin, t
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-04-07Surrogate Bride To The Alpha Stand-in 18: The Alpha's Unseen Vow: Protecting His Luna in Denial
"And?" Lord Rhovan asked, pausing mid-pour as the tea streamed into his cup."Then he ran," Varian answered.Silence settled between them.The only sound was the faint trickle of liquid until Lord Rhovan finished pouring and set the jar down with a deliberate thud."You didn’t follow him?" he asked, tracing the rim of his cup with a thoughtful finger.Varian lowered his head. "I did. But he vanished without a trace. No scent. Too fast."Lord Rhovan exhaled slowly. "He knew he was being watched. That’s why he didn’t shift." His fingers tapped against the porcelain. "I think we were wrong about Darius. He’s not a man-wolf. If he was, the Blood Moon would have forced him into ancestral sleep by then."A weighted silence stretched between them as he took a slow sip of his tea.Then, with a smirk, he set the cup down lightly."What about the substitute? Any word on her wound?""Nothing. The castle is silent about it."Lord Rhovan’s smirk deepened. "Then he intends to handle it in secret."
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-04-08Surrogate Bride To The Alpha Stand-in 19: A Bond He Refuses to Accept
His Alpha voice thundered, shaking the very walls.Ethan’s wolf hesitated. His instincts screamed at him to bow—to submit.Lydia was stunned, her eyes widening as she watched Darius storm toward Ethan.Even without turning, his presence alone sent a shudder through her wolf, forcing it to cower in fear.Darius could kill Ethan in an instant. She couldn’t allow that to happen."Bare your neck!" Lydia shouted, rushing toward the massive wolf before them.I am an Alpha.Lydia stiffened. Ethan’s voice echoed in her mind—his mindlink reaching her even in his wolf form."He will kill you—look at him!" she screamed, panic rising in her voice.Darius’s claws were out, his entire form coiled with lethal intent. He hadn’t shifted, but his wolf was fully present, its murderous gaze locked onto Ethan.With his fangs bared and claws raised, he moved in for the kill—until a voice cut through the tension like a blade."Darius!"He froze mid-stride.Slowly, he turned.Lena stood at the doorway.In an
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-04-08Surrogate Bride To The Alpha Stand-in 20: A Wolf in Another’s Skin
"Did you find out what I asked for?" Uthred asked, his gaze shifting to the raven perched inside its cage."Yes. I followed him closely, but then—he vanished. I think this Alpha Darius is one of us."Uthred smiled, turning fully toward the voice. "I knew it. He is not my Alpha. Where is my Alpha?" His words were more to himself than anyone else as he sank onto his seat.He looked up at the mage in a black cloak. "Does this mean this Alpha is a hybrid?"A heavy silence filled the room."I can't say for cert—""Before you finish that thought, I’ve seen him shift into a wolf."The mage swallowed. "Then it’s rare, brother. There is no record of a hybrid being born. Even among mixed bloodlines, one either takes the father’s side or the mother’s. That is the way of things.""Well," Uthred murmured, a slow grin spreading across his face. "We have our first hybrid."The mage’s eyes gleamed. "I know a way to find out for certain."Uthred leaned forward, intrigued. "Tell me.""Get a lock of his
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-04-09Surrogate Bride To The Alpha Stand-in 21: A Luna in Chains, an Alpha in Judgment
"I—"Lena barely got a word out before Lydia seized her arm.She stepped in front of her protectively, shielding her from the accusing eyes of the crowd.Her sharp gaze locked onto the maid, burning with righteous fury."What did you do to her?" Lydia demanded, her voice laced with outrage."I knew you’d be disrespectful as always!"Kara Voss let out a bitter laugh.Her hands clenched at her sides, trembling with barely restrained fury."Disrespectful?" she echoed, her voice shaking."I have endured her cruelty for years!"Emotion thickened her tone as her breathing grew uneven."I have been insulted, humiliated, and treated like dirt beneath her feet."Her voice cracked with raw emotion.She glared at Lydia with red-rimmed eyes."But today..." The words caught in her throat before she forced them out."I refuse to be silent any longer!"Gasps rippled through the gathered crowd.A good tragedienne indeed.She was clever. Every word she spoke was her truth, yet now, twisted against Len
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-04-10Surrogate Bride To The Alpha Stand-in Intro/Prologue
"Pack your bags. You must leave at once."Giselle’s breath caught in her chest, her heart racing. "Why? What’s happening?""They have discovered your secret."Her pulse quickened. "That cannot be. It’s impossible!""There is no time for explanations," Alaric said, his voice sharp with urgency. He swiftly snatched a heavy shawl from the bed and began gathering her scant belongings, throwing them into the fabric with practiced haste."No!" Giselle moved toward him, grasping his arm with trembling hands. "I will not leave without you. We can flee together—"Alaric paused, his hands faltering as he met her gaze. His eyes, filled with conflict, softened for an instant, but then his features hardened, a mask of resolve settling in place."You must go," he said, his voice unyielding."Not without you!" Giselle’s plea was raw, desperate. "If we flee together, we—""Giselle."His tone was a command, firm and final. The power of his Alpha status settled between them, an invisible weight that gro
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-03-26
บทล่าสุด
Surrogate Bride To The Alpha Stand-in 21: A Luna in Chains, an Alpha in Judgment
"I—"Lena barely got a word out before Lydia seized her arm.She stepped in front of her protectively, shielding her from the accusing eyes of the crowd.Her sharp gaze locked onto the maid, burning with righteous fury."What did you do to her?" Lydia demanded, her voice laced with outrage."I knew you’d be disrespectful as always!"Kara Voss let out a bitter laugh.Her hands clenched at her sides, trembling with barely restrained fury."Disrespectful?" she echoed, her voice shaking."I have endured her cruelty for years!"Emotion thickened her tone as her breathing grew uneven."I have been insulted, humiliated, and treated like dirt beneath her feet."Her voice cracked with raw emotion.She glared at Lydia with red-rimmed eyes."But today..." The words caught in her throat before she forced them out."I refuse to be silent any longer!"Gasps rippled through the gathered crowd.A good tragedienne indeed.She was clever. Every word she spoke was her truth, yet now, twisted against Len
Surrogate Bride To The Alpha Stand-in 20: A Wolf in Another’s Skin
"Did you find out what I asked for?" Uthred asked, his gaze shifting to the raven perched inside its cage."Yes. I followed him closely, but then—he vanished. I think this Alpha Darius is one of us."Uthred smiled, turning fully toward the voice. "I knew it. He is not my Alpha. Where is my Alpha?" His words were more to himself than anyone else as he sank onto his seat.He looked up at the mage in a black cloak. "Does this mean this Alpha is a hybrid?"A heavy silence filled the room."I can't say for cert—""Before you finish that thought, I’ve seen him shift into a wolf."The mage swallowed. "Then it’s rare, brother. There is no record of a hybrid being born. Even among mixed bloodlines, one either takes the father’s side or the mother’s. That is the way of things.""Well," Uthred murmured, a slow grin spreading across his face. "We have our first hybrid."The mage’s eyes gleamed. "I know a way to find out for certain."Uthred leaned forward, intrigued. "Tell me.""Get a lock of his
Surrogate Bride To The Alpha Stand-in 19: A Bond He Refuses to Accept
His Alpha voice thundered, shaking the very walls.Ethan’s wolf hesitated. His instincts screamed at him to bow—to submit.Lydia was stunned, her eyes widening as she watched Darius storm toward Ethan.Even without turning, his presence alone sent a shudder through her wolf, forcing it to cower in fear.Darius could kill Ethan in an instant. She couldn’t allow that to happen."Bare your neck!" Lydia shouted, rushing toward the massive wolf before them.I am an Alpha.Lydia stiffened. Ethan’s voice echoed in her mind—his mindlink reaching her even in his wolf form."He will kill you—look at him!" she screamed, panic rising in her voice.Darius’s claws were out, his entire form coiled with lethal intent. He hadn’t shifted, but his wolf was fully present, its murderous gaze locked onto Ethan.With his fangs bared and claws raised, he moved in for the kill—until a voice cut through the tension like a blade."Darius!"He froze mid-stride.Slowly, he turned.Lena stood at the doorway.In an
Surrogate Bride To The Alpha Stand-in 18: The Alpha's Unseen Vow: Protecting His Luna in Denial
"And?" Lord Rhovan asked, pausing mid-pour as the tea streamed into his cup."Then he ran," Varian answered.Silence settled between them.The only sound was the faint trickle of liquid until Lord Rhovan finished pouring and set the jar down with a deliberate thud."You didn’t follow him?" he asked, tracing the rim of his cup with a thoughtful finger.Varian lowered his head. "I did. But he vanished without a trace. No scent. Too fast."Lord Rhovan exhaled slowly. "He knew he was being watched. That’s why he didn’t shift." His fingers tapped against the porcelain. "I think we were wrong about Darius. He’s not a man-wolf. If he was, the Blood Moon would have forced him into ancestral sleep by then."A weighted silence stretched between them as he took a slow sip of his tea.Then, with a smirk, he set the cup down lightly."What about the substitute? Any word on her wound?""Nothing. The castle is silent about it."Lord Rhovan’s smirk deepened. "Then he intends to handle it in secret."
Surrogate Bride To The Alpha Stand-in 17: The Moon’s Curse and the Alpha’s Weakness
A flicker of fire danced at Alpha Darius’s fingertips. Its golden glow cast shifting shadows against the darkened forest.He watched the flame, entranced. Yet his thoughts spiraled elsewhere—dragged into the depths of memory, into the haunting tales of his mother’s death.Above, the Blood Moon loomed, a cruel reminder of his greatest curse. His strength. His instincts. Everything that made him an apex predator—dulled on this night. The beast within him, the force that made him invincible, was shackled by an ancient power he could not fight.His wolf was asleep.The fire at his fingertips flickered. Then, it died.And with it, his consciousness slipped.---When he came to, the warmth of his flame was gone—replaced by the chilling sensation of blood soaking through his hands.Darius’s breath caught. His vision sharpened.He was cradling a head in his hands.Kara Voss.Her body lay limp against the forest floor. Her breath—shallow. Her pulse—faint.The scent of iron clung to her skin, t
Surrogate Bride To The Alpha Stand-in 16: The Blood Moon’s Awakening: A Call Beyond the Veil
The ritual ground stretched wide, a sacred space carved into the heart of the forest. Thousands of pack members filled it, their presence a living, breathing force that pulsed under the crimson glow of the Blood Moon. The towering trees that encircled the grounds swayed as if moved by an unseen power, their ancient roots thrumming with the energy of generations past.At the center stood the sacred fire, its flames licking the air, casting flickering shadows across the four towering stone pillars that surrounded it. Each pillar bore ancient carvings of wolves mid-transformation, their snarling faces and clawed hands reaching toward the heavens. The stones vibrated with magic, their runes pulsing in rhythm with the pounding hearts of those gathered.The alphas and lunas stood closest to the fire, their gazes locked on the ritualists. Behind them, the betas, elders, and warriors formed a perfect circle, each rank positioned according to their standing within the pack. The rest of the wol
Surrogate Bride To The Alpha Stand-in 15: A Dress Stained in History
Three Weeks Back“Lena, whatever we had… it ends here.”Lena froze.His words sliced through the night air like a blade.The forest around them was silent, save for the rustling of leaves and the distant howls of wolves.She stood there, staring at him—on the worn wooden porch of their secret place. The place where he once held her, whispered promises, vowed to be hers.“What?” Her voice came out hoarse, barely above a whisper.Ethan exhaled, his jaw tight.“We can’t keep this up anymore.”Lena took a step forward.“You’re lying.”He said nothing.“You promised me, Ethan,” she pressed, her voice unsteady. “You swore you’d protect me. You told me to wait for you.”A bitter chuckle left his lips.“That was before I realized my duty.”Lena’s stomach twisted.“Duty?” she echoed.“Yes.” He finally met her gaze. “I’m marrying Kara.”The world tilted.The air left Lena’s lungs.Her knees nearly buckled, but she forced herself to stand tall.“You’re marrying her?” The words felt foreign, like
Surrogate Bride To The Alpha Stand-in 14: A Game of Words, A Dance with Fire---
High Lord Rhovan finally spoke.His voice, smooth as silk yet edged with hidden thorns, carried over the gathered leaders.“I have heard,” he said, his eyes glinting with unspoken intent, “that you have taken a Luna from the Crimson Moon Pack. From the household of Beta Lydia, no less.”The words were a dagger wrapped in velvet.Alpha Darius, lifting his goblet, paused mid-drink. The firelight caught the sharp angles of his face, casting shifting shadows over his unreadable expression. He lowered the cup slowly, not a flicker of emotion betraying his thoughts.“Well,” he said at last, voice steady. “It was a truce between us.”A hush settled over the festival grounds.“Our pack,” Darius continued, “was simply doing them a favor by eliminating the rogues that plagued their lands.” He let the weight of his words settle before delivering the final blow. “Nothing comes for free.”Murmurs rippled through the gathered Alphas, some nodding in grim understanding, others exchanging wary glance
Surrogate Bride To The Alpha Stand-in 13: When Silence Breaks—A Reckoning at the Blood Moon Festival
In the festival grounds, the air buzzed with murmurs and hushed conversations as elegantly dressed women from noble houses and distant packs filled the space.The flickering torchlight cast golden hues over the gathering, illuminating the lavish decorations and the dancers twirling in mesmerizing rhythm at the center of the festivities.Applause and whispers rippled through the crowd, but among the seated pack leaders, impatience stirred.At a long table beside the Alpha’s vacant throne, the high lords and betas exchanged glances, their expressions darkening. Lydia Voss sat with poise, while her daughter stood nearby, dressed in the simple garb of a maid.“How much longer will the Alpha keep us waiting?” High Lord Alister grumbled, his fingers drumming against the table.His irritation was shared by the others, their displeasure evident in the stiff set of their shoulders.“Does he mean to disgrace the pack leaders by refusing to host us properly? How dare he insult those who have uph
