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THE ALPHA KING'S FAKE BRIDE 039
LADY BIANCA The cries echoed faintly through the cold stone halls of the palace.I stood at the top of the stairs, my hand resting on the railing, eyes cast downward. Servants rushed about like panicked mice, some weeping, others whispering. I did not move. I had learned long ago that grief should never be displayed publicly, not when there were eyes watching, and certainly not when there was an empire on the line.Alpha Theo was dead.A man I had once admired, then feared, then loathed. He was gone. Just like that.I turned from the scene below and walked back into my private quarters, the doors closing softly behind me. I poured myself a glass of wine, letting the silence settle, wrapping it around me like armor.Carl would need to act quickly.I sipped slowly, thoughtfully. Tristan would naturally be seen as the heir. The chosen one. The beloved grandson of the late Alpha. But I hadn’t raised my son to stand in another man’s shadow. Carl had the charm, the intelligence, and more
Last Updated : 2025-04-17THE ALPHA KING'S FAKE BRIDE 040
ALPHA TRISTAN The halls felt different now.Colder. Quieter. As though the very air had shifted the moment the news came. Alpha Theo was gone. The man who raised me after my parents died… was no more.I stood at the head of the long corridor outside the council room, the same corridor I used to run down as a child, barefoot and wild, with Alpha Theo chasing after me, laughing with that deep, rumbling voice of his. Now, the silence mocked that memory.My hands were clenched at my sides, my jaw tight. I had told myself for years that I was ready for this, prepared to take on the full weight of the Blackwood legacy. I had trained for it, bled for it, fought wars for it. But no amount of strength could prepare me for the emptiness that followed losing him.He wasn’t just my grandfather. He was my compass.And now… I was Alpha. The true Alpha of Blackwood. Alone.“You’re not alone.”I didn’t realize I’d said that out loud until I heard the soft voice behind me. I turned, and there she was
Last Updated : 2025-04-17THE ALPHA KING'S FAKE BRIDE 041
VALARIE The Blackwood palace had never been so quiet.Grief had a way of putting everything in stillness. It wasn’t just the absence of music or laughter or the usual stir of morning activity, it was in the way people moved, slow and respectful, as if even their footsteps mourned.Alpha Theo’s death changed the rhythm of everything.I stood by the window of the room I now shared with Tristan, watching the sky stretching endlessly above the palace . It had been days since the news broke, but the heaviness hadn’t lifted. Everyone walked like shadows, servants, council members, even Carl, who had surprisingly grown more silent than usual.Tristan hadn’t said much since that night. He’d thrown himself into duties, into preparations, into planning the burial with the elders and warriors. He moved with purpose, but his eyes were hollow. He hadn’t truly grieved, not in front of anyone, not even me.But I could feel it, burning under his skin.The morning of the burial, I woke up before him.
Last Updated : 2025-04-17THE ALPHA KING'S FAKE BRIDE 042
CARLThe black suit clung to my skin like it was stitched with sorrow. It wasn’t just the oppressive heat of the midday sun or the weight of grief pressing down on my chest, it was the sight in front of me.Vanessa , dressed in an elegant, simple black dress, stood beside Tristan like she was born for that role. Poised. Graceful. Steady.And worst of all, close to him.Her hand rested gently in the crook of his elbow, and he leaned into her just slightly, like her presence alone could keep him from breaking apart and they stared at each other affectionately.That used to be me.Or at least, I wanted it to be.The wind carried the sound of the priest’s voice over the gathered mourners as Alpha Theo’s coffin was lowered into the ground. I didn’t hear a single word. All I could focus on was Tristan’s hand, clenched tightly around hers, as if he was anchoring himself with her.The image would be forever etched in my mind.I stepped back, further into the crowd, not wanting anyone to see m
Last Updated : 2025-04-17THE ALPHA KING'S FAKE BRIDE 043
CARLThey say mourning draws people together but watching them only drew out the darkness in me and made me want to do something I would regret.Tristan and Valarie, side by side like they belonged together. Her hand in his, her eyes glued to him like the entire world faded when he was near. I should have looked away during the burial, I should’ve focused on honoring my grandfather but all I could see was her.And him.The way she helped him dress, the way she whispered something in his ear before they walked down the staircase… I clenched my jaw so hard I could feel it locking. Everyone bowed to them. Everyone saw them as a unit. A power couple. The future of the Blackwood name.But I saw something else.I saw what I had lost. Or perhaps what I never really had, but wanted now more than ever.She was supposed to be temporary. A way to get under Tristan’s skin. A game. A beautiful, unexpected pawn I could use to remind him he wasn’t invincible.But now?Now, she was all I could think
Last Updated : 2025-04-17THE ALPHA KING'S FAKE BRIDE 044
VALARIE There was something different about Carl lately.He no longer threw sly remarks at Tristan every time we were in the same room. He didn’t roll his eyes or feign boredom during family meetings. And more strangely, he didn’t flirt with me just to get a reaction from his brother anymore. No his presence had shifted. Softer. Calmer. But it made me more uneasy than his sarcasm ever had.I noticed it again tonight.After the burial, the palace remained quiet and subdued. The servants moved slower, the candles burned longer, and the cold halls of the Blackwood Palace felt even more suffocating. Tristan barely spoke since his grandfather was laid to rest. He was retreating again, into silence, into duty. And though I stayed close, offering what comfort I could, I also found myself needing a moment to breathe.So I took a walk, something simple, away from the noise and shadows of mourning.I didn’t expect to find Carl waiting by the main hallway.He stood by the staircase, hands behin
Last Updated : 2025-04-17THE ALPHA KING'S FAKE BRIDE 045
LADY BIANCA The corridors of the Blackwood Palace were quieter now. Draped in black silks and mourning flowers , the grand halls bore the grief of Alpha Theo’s death, but beneath the surface, a storm brewed, one she had every intention of controlling.I stood by my window, my reflection barely visible against the glass as the rain tapped gently against it. The world outside looked appropriately somber, perfect for what she had just set in motion.“Is the message delivered?” I asked without turning.My loyal maid, Elise, bowed slightly. “Yes, my lady. The council received your request this morning. They’ve agreed to delay the meeting.”I smiled faintly, fingertips brushing the silver pendant resting on her collarbone, an old heirloom from my family. A symbol of power. One Tristan would never understand the weight of.“Good,” I murmured. “Let them believe I’m too heartbroken to stand before them. Let them grieve while I plot.”The truth was far from grief.I hadn’t shed a single te
Last Updated : 2025-04-17THE ALPHA KING'S FAKE BRIDE 046
TRISTAN The council meeting was supposed to take place tomorrow, my official crowning as Alpha. I’d rehearsed the words in my head, the posture I would take, the strength I had to radiate. But this morning, a letter from the council arrived.Lady Bianca has requested a postponement of the meeting due to illness and emotional distress. The council has granted her request.Illness. Emotional distress.I scoffed under my breath, gripping the edge of my desk hard enough for my knuckles to go white. Lady Bianca never did anything that wasn’t calculated. I knew her better than that. Her grief wasn’t the reason she stalled this, power was. She wanted more time… but for what?I stood by the window of my study, watching the light rain settle into the gardens. My eyes tracked the gentle sway of the trees. I didn’t hear the door open, but I caught the scent of lavender and honey……..Vanessa .“You didn’t come down for breakfast,” she said softly behind me.I didn’t turn to face her. “Didn’t feel
Last Updated : 2025-04-17
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THE ALPHA KING'S FAKE BRIDE 095
CARLI stood in the doorway of my mother’s chamber, my fists clenched at my sides, jaw tight with anger. The atmosphere in the room was thick with tension, and Lady Bianca sat at her bed, her back to me. She hadn’t even bothered to turn around as I entered, typical. She never took me seriously, but today, things were different.“Mother,” I started, my voice low but sharp. She didn’t respond. I stepped further into the room, my boots heavy against the stone floor. “We need to talk.”Still, no reaction. Her fingers continued to move through her hair, as if nothing in the world could bother her. But I wasn’t going to let her ignore me this time. Not after what she’d done.“I said we need to talk,” I repeated, louder this time, my voice growing more strained with every word.Finally, she turned her chair slowly, and her cold gaze met mine. Her lips curved into a small, almost amused smile, but I saw the faint flicker of something else behind her eyes. Guilt? Regret? No, not from her. Neve
THE ALPHA KING'S FAKE BRIDE 094
FRANK I stood there in front of the entire room, my heart racing in my chest, every breath sharp, shallow. The weight of my confession felt like it was suffocating me, but I knew I had no choice but to speak the truth. The lies had been eating away at me for far too long, and the time to come clean had finally arrived.“I……I need to confess something,” I began, the words trembling in my throat. I could barely keep my hands from shaking. The truth was coming out, and there was no turning back now. My whole life had been built on deception, and now I was about to tear it all down.“I’ve been a part of something terrible,” I continued, my voice a little stronger as I forced the words out. “I….” I hesitated for a split second, knowing how impossible it would sound, how deeply it would hurt everyone in this room. But I had to say it. There was no other way.“I was having an affair with Vanessa before her accident,” I confessed, and I watched the shocked expressions on everyone’s faces. My
THE ALPHA KING'S FAKE BRIDE 093
TRISTAN The heavy doors slammed shut behind Valarie as she left , taking the last shred of light from my world with her.I turned back to the council, my chest hollow, my mind reeling as their verdict was delivered with cruel finality.“It’s treason,” Councilman Eldric declared grimly, his voice a decree that echoed through the chamber. “Deception of this magnitude cannot go unpunished. By law, the penalty is death by hanging at dawn.”I felt my blood turn to ice.“No,” I said, voice low, dangerous. “You’re not touching her.”“She deceived the crown. She usurped the place of your rightful bride….”“She saved this kingdom!” I cut in, fury sharpening my words. “She held this house together when no one else would! And she did it while carrying the weight of secrets she never asked for!”The council murmured, some visibly unsettled, others remaining cold and unmoved. Bianca leaned against her chair, smug satisfaction curling her lips.Carl said nothing, but his expression was unreadabl
THE ALPHA KING'S FAKE BRIDE 092
TRISTAN The council chamber was unusually tense today but for once, it wasn’t working against me.I’d spent the last week tightening every loose end, making backdoor alliances with the few council members smart enough to see where true power should lie. I could feel the shift in the air, the subtle glances passed between them, the nervous fidgeting when I spoke.They were beginning to break.I wasn’t about to let Carl and his scheming mother destroy what was mine , what my bloodline had built for centuries. And as I laid out my case, the room was quiet, listening. Even Carl’s smug grin had faded.I allowed myself the smallest hint of satisfaction.Good. Let them squirm.“I don’t care what rumors you’ve planted in the streets,” I told them, my voice low and commanding. “The laws of Blackwood remain unchanged. The crown does not go to the one who whispers loudest but to the one who’s born to it. I am Alpha Theo’s heir. And no amount of manipulation will rewrite that.”Some heads nodd
THE ALPHA KING'S FAKE BRIDE 091
VANESSA The palace gates loomed ahead, tall and cold and impossibly imposing. I’d grown up seeing pictures of this place in magazines and news articles , the Blackwood Palace, the heart of power in our territory. It had always seemed like a myth, an untouchable world for people born with bloodlines thicker than gold. And yet, here I was, being ushered through those iron gates by a guard who barely made eye contact with me.I clutched my shawl tighter around my shoulders, the chill in the air sinking past my skin and into my bones. I wasn’t sure why I was here, not really. The invitation had arrived this morning, delivered by a pale woman with a stiff smile. She’d called it a personal request from Lady Bianca herself. And though my parents had urged me to refuse, to stay home, to rest , curiosity gnawed at me like an old, familiar ache.Because no one had told me a goddamn thing.Not about my accident.Not about what had happened while I was gone.Not about Valarie.Not about Tristan.
THE ALPHA KING'S FAKE BRIDE 090
LADY BIANCA I watched it all unfold from my window , like a perfectly staged tragedy. The garden below had once been a place for the royals to parade their lives, a stage for whispered confessions and stolen glances. But today, it hosted something far better, chaos.There they were. The two sisters.The last time I saw Vanessa, she was just a girl , all wide, innocent eyes and too much fire in her spirit for a daughter from a lower rank household. But now… now, she was a woman. And one look at her, standing face to face with Valarie, and it was no wonder the entire court had been fooled.They looked so alike it was almost laughable.So this is how fate chose to deal its hand.I leaned against the window frame, a slow, satisfied smirk curling at the edges of my lips. “Well, well,” I murmured to myself. “Looks like there’s a little misunderstanding between our precious sisters.”I saw the moment Valarie’s expression crumbled and the heartbreak flash across Vanessa’s face. And I reve
THE ALPHA KING'S FAKE BRIDE 089
VANESSA I didn’t sleep a wink.After finding that picture buried at the bottom of my mother’s jewelry box, my world stopped making sense. There it was, clear as day , a wedding photo. Not just any wedding. Mine.Except I didn’t remember it.And the woman in the dress beside Tristan… wasn’t me.Her face. Her smile. Her eyes. She looked too much like me for it to be a coincidence. My heart pounded as the weight of it settled into my bones.Why hadn’t anyone told me? Why was my name never mentioned? Why did my parents look like they were mourning at what should have been a joyful day?Why was my own sister nowhere to be found?I was done waiting for answers.The next morning, I rose early, the ache in my head still lingering but not enough to stop me. I dressed quickly, pulling on a long, pale blue gown one of the nurses had left for me and slipping out of the house before anyone could stop me.The guards at the gate recognized me, but I must’ve looked determined enough because no one t
THE ALPHA KING'S FAKE BRIDE 088
VALARIE I stared at the untouched cup of tea on my bedside table.The scent of lavender and honey drifted softly into the room, gentle and inviting, like every other night since I’d arrived. It was supposed to calm me, soothe me to sleep. But tonight… something felt off.I didn’t know why I hesitated. Maybe it was instinct. Or maybe it was the way the maid avoided my eyes as she placed it on the tray.I’d thanked her softly, and the moment she left, I sat on the edge of my bed, watching the steam curl upward from the porcelain cup. Something inside me recoiled.It had been a long week . Carl had kissed me and I’d kissed him back. Then ran like a coward. I hadn’t even seen Tristan, and guilt weighed on my shoulders like a stone. Everything felt like it was tightening around me , the secrets, the betrayals, the past I thought I’d buried clawing its way back into the present.And now… this tea.I wrapped my arms around myself and stood, walking slowly to the window, pushing it open so
THE ALPHA KING'S FAKE BRIDE 087
FRANK The palace kitchens were always a damn maze. Too many corridors, too many exits, too many eyes. But tonight, the gods were on my side. The storm outside had driven half the staff indoors, and the ones still working were too busy fussing over the Alpha’s meals to notice a lowly servant like me slip in through the back entrance.I kept my head down, carrying a tray like any other staff member, heart pounding so hard it felt like it would crack my ribs. Lady Bianca’s voice still rang in my head.“You either get Valarie alone, or you leave this palace in a box.”I wasn’t ready to die for her games. And Valarie , damn her wouldn’t give me a chance to talk, let alone to seduce her like that lunatic woman wanted.So I came up with something else.I palmed the small vial in my pocket, my fingers slick with sweat. It wasn’t poison , I wasn’t that stupid. No, it was a sedative. A potent one. Enough to fog her head, dull her senses. Make her compliant. Just for long enough to stage the s
