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THE WOLF BRIDE’S ESCAPE
THE WOLF BRIDE’S ESCAPE
Penulis: Steve Mathew

Chapter 1: The Wedding Night

Penulis: Steve Mathew
last update Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-02-06 22:32:12

“You’re mine now, Cassia.” His voice is like ice sliding across bare skin, cold and unforgiving.

I’m standing there, my hands trembling, my heart hammering in my chest. The weight of the wedding gown feels like a thousand stones pressing against me, every part of me begging for escape. But there is no way out.

I turn to face him, and my stomach churns. Lucien. Alpha Lucien. The man I’m supposed to call my husband. But there’s nothing in his eyes that says husband—only conqueror. He’s tall and imposing, and his eyes? Black as midnight, with a glint of something I can't place. Power? Cruelty? Something darker than that, maybe. His hand reaches out, a long finger tracing the curve of my jaw, and my skin burns at his touch.

“You look so beautiful,” he says, his voice a mockery of kindness. But there’s no warmth in it. Only cold amusement.

I swallow hard, biting my lip to stop the tremor in my voice. “I didn’t choose this.”

He smiles that predatory smile that makes my breath catch. “It doesn’t matter whether you chose it or not, Cassia. You’re mine now. And tonight, I’m going to remind you of that.”

I want to scream. I want to claw at him and tear his face off with my bare hands, but I don’t. I can’t. Not yet.

Instead, I step back, and my pulse spikes as I catch a glimpse of the door behind him. Maybe I could escape. Maybe there's still a chance.

“Where are you going, little bride?” His voice is low, dangerously quiet. “Think you can run from me?”

I don't answer. I can’t. My legs feel like lead, but I force myself to move, pushing past him, my breath coming faster now. I make it halfway to the door before his hand shoots out like a snake, gripping my wrist with an iron-clad hold.

“You can’t escape me, Cassia. Not now, not ever.”

I try to pull away, to jerk free, but his grip tightens, and it’s like I’m caught in a vice, unable to move, unable to breathe. His other hand comes to rest on my waist, pressing me against him with a force that steals the air from my lungs.

I struggle, twisting, kicking, anything to get free. “Let me go!” I shout, my voice cracking with desperation.

But Lucien just chuckles, the sound sending a shiver down my spine. “You think I’ll let you run? Think again.”

I twist harder, fighting against his strength, but it’s futile. He’s too strong, too powerful. I can’t fight him like this.

Then I do the only thing I can think of: I knee him in the groin.

His breath hisses out through clenched teeth, and for a moment, he loosens his grip, just enough for me to break free. But before I can take another step, his hand shoots out again, catching me by the arm and spinning me around so that I crash into his chest.

Damn it.

I brace myself, my heart thundering, and I try to push him off, but he’s relentless. His grip is like iron, his body like stone.

He smirks down at me, his lips curling in amusement. “I warned you.”

My breath comes in sharp gasps as I stare up at him, defiance burning in my chest. “I’ll never give in to you. I’d rather die than be with you.”

His expression hardens, and something dark flickers in his eyes. For a moment, I think I’ve pushed him too far. But then, he leans in, his lips brushing my ear as he whispers, “I’m not asking for your love, Cassia. I’m asking for your obedience. And that... will come in time.”

I shudder at his words, repulsed, but there’s something else, too. A strange knot in my stomach. A flutter of something I can’t explain. The way he’s looking at me, like a puzzle he’s trying to solve, makes my insides twist.

I can’t let him see it. I can’t let him see any weakness. Not now. Not ever.

I yank my arm free from his grasp, and this time, I don’t hesitate. I run.

Run, Cassia, run.

I reach the door, the cold air rushing in as I fling it open, but just as my foot crosses the threshold, his voice stops me.

“You think you can run away from me, little bride? You really think I’ll let you leave without paying the price?”

I freeze.

And then I feel it—his presence behind me, looming, suffocating. I spin around, my eyes wide with fear, and before I can even react, he’s there, his hand on my throat, lifting me off the ground with terrifying ease.

“You belong to me,” he growls, his grip tightening around my neck, cutting off my air. “And if you think you can get away... think again.”

I gasp, clawing at his hand, trying to break free, but it’s no use. I’m trapped. His dark eyes pierce through me like he can see everything I’m hiding. The truth. The fear. The desperation.

“You’re not strong enough to escape,” he sneers. “You never were.”

The world spins around me, and my vision starts to blur. But I won’t give up. Not yet. I kick out again, hitting him in the chest with all the force I can muster.

For a moment, he stumbles back, his grip loosening just enough for me to take in a desperate breath. I suck in air, desperate to stay conscious, desperate to hold on to some shred of hope.

But then he’s on me again, shoving me into the wall with such force that my head spins.

“Stop fighting, Cassia,” he mutters, his voice rough, almost irritated. “You can’t win. You never will.”

I open my mouth to protest, to scream at him that I won’t let him break me, but no sound comes out. My throat is too tight, my chest too constricted.

He leans in, his breath warm against my skin as his lips brush against my ear once again. “Your spirit will break, my bride. But for now, I’ll enjoy watching it crack.”

Crack. The word rings in my ears, and my heart lurches with fear. But even as I tremble in his grasp, something else stirs deep inside me—something fierce, something born of my mother’s blood.

I push back against him with everything I have, my hands trembling as I try to break free. “I won’t be your prisoner,” I hiss through clenched teeth. “I’ll never be your prisoner.”

But Lucien only laughs a dark, cruel sound. “You already are.”

His grip tightens again, and I feel my strength waning, my mind beginning to unravel.

This is it. This is how it ends.

The door slams open.

“Lucien!” a voice calls from the doorway, sharp and commanding.

And for a moment, just a moment, Lucien hesitates, his grip loosening, his eyes flicking toward the new arrival.

“Let her go, Alpha,” the voice commands again, and I feel a surge of hope—until I see the figure standing there.

It's another Alpha. Younger. Stronger. And more than that, there’s something else in his eyes. Something familiar.

Before I can even comprehend what’s happening, Lucien growls low in his throat and steps back, releasing me just as my legs buckle beneath me. I collapse to the floor, gasping for air, my body trembling with a mixture of fear and relief.

The new Alpha steps closer, his eyes never leaving mine.

“What is this?” Lucien demands, his voice cold and dangerous. “Who are you to interfere?”

But the man doesn’t answer right away. He only watches me, his gaze intense, unreadable.

I try to push myself to my feet, my body shaking, my heart racing, but all I can do is stare at him—this new Alpha who’s come to save me. And for some reason, I can’t bring myself to trust him.

Not yet.

"Who are you?" I whisper, my voice barely audible.

His lips curl into a small, enigmatic smile.

And then, before I can process anything else, Lucien growls again, stepping forward with fury in his eyes.

"Leave now, before I make you regret it."

But the stranger stands his ground, unwavering.

"You’re not the only Alpha in this room, Lucien," he says coldly. "And I’m not leaving without her."

I don’t know whether to feel relieved or terrified, but as the tension between the two men rises, the weight of the moment crashes down on me.

This is just the beginning.

And as my body trembles from the chaos of it all, I wonder… what’s going to happen next?

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  • THE WOLF BRIDE’S ESCAPE    Chapter 2: The Hidden Ally

    I stumbled through the forest, my breath ragged as I tried to push back the tears burning in my eyes. The weight of the last few days, the suffocating pressure of Lucien’s hold, was too much. I needed space, even if just for a moment. Every step I took felt like I was wading through mud, but at least in the woods, I could pretend to be free. The trees whispered as the wind rustled through their branches, and I walked deeper, farther away from the mansion. “Cassia, wait.”I froze. The voice was soft but urgent, and it came from the shadows. My body tensed. Was it him? Lucien? “Who’s there?” I demanded, trying to sound more confident than I felt. A figure stepped out from behind a tree. Tall, cloaked, with his face shadowed by the hood, his presence felt different from Lucien’s. There was no dominance, no crushing weight of power. Just a quiet, watchful aura. My pulse quickened.“I didn’t mean to startle you.” His voice was rough, but there was something comforting about it. “I’ve b

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-06
  • THE WOLF BRIDE’S ESCAPE    Chapter 3: The Awakening

    “Focus,” the rogue’s voice was calm but firm, cutting through the storm of thoughts in my mind. "You have to learn to control it."Control. Control over the power that surged through me like fire in my veins. Every breath felt like an inferno, and every thought was consumed by the overwhelming force that was awakening. My mother’s power—no, my power—was too much for me to grasp, too much for my fragile mind to handle. I closed my eyes and concentrated. The rogue’s instructions echoed in my ears: channel your anger, but don’t let it control you.But it was impossible. The anger, the grief, the fear—it all came crashing down on me. The images of my mother, murdered in cold blood by my stepmother, the countless nights spent in silence, the hours of punishment from Lucien—they were all part of the storm inside me.A crackling sound filled the air. My hands began to tremble as dark tendrils of magic spiraled from my fingertips, swirling around my body in a chaotic dance."Focus, Cassia!"

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-06
  • THE WOLF BRIDE’S ESCAPE    Chapter 4: Lucien’s Truth

    “Why are you looking at me like that?” I demanded, my voice shaky but firm. Lucien stood in the doorway, his figure a shadow against the fading light. I could feel the tension in the room—the air thick with something I couldn’t name, but it wasn’t hatred. It was something else, something raw and unexpected.“I’m waiting,” I said, forcing myself to meet his gaze. “You always keep me in the dark. Well, no more. I want to know why.”He didn’t answer right away. His eyes, cold and calculating, scanned me as if measuring whether or not I could handle the truth. I barely noticed the sweat trickling down my temples from the backlash of magic I’d just unleashed. My head throbbed, my energy drained, but I wasn’t backing down. “I want to know why you’re so cruel.” The words spilled out before I could stop them, rough and desperate. “Why do you hurt me? Why do you enjoy it?”Lucien’s eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening. But then, something flickered in his gaze. A flicker of something human. Reg

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-06
  • THE WOLF BRIDE’S ESCAPE    Chapter 5: The Curse Revealed

    “What do you mean, you’re working with the enemy?” I demanded, my voice trembling with a mix of fury and disbelief. The rogue didn’t even flinch. He just stood there, his dark eyes heavy with something I couldn’t quite place. Guilt? Regret? Or was it something far more sinister?“I didn’t want it to come to this,” he said, his voice soft, almost apologetic. “But I don’t have a choice. No one does.”I took a step back, a cold shiver running through me. The air felt thick, the tension unbearable. My stomach twisted, but I couldn’t stop myself. I needed to hear this, needed to understand.“Tell me what you’re talking about.” My voice came out sharp, demanding. “And don’t lie to me. I’m not some helpless pawn anymore.”He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling like he was preparing for something painful. “Cassia... what you don’t understand is that your family has been cursed. A curse that ties your life to your father’s. Your mother knew this—she tried to protect you from it. But she coul

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-06
  • THE WOLF BRIDE’S ESCAPE    Chapter 6: A Father’s Fate

    "You're too late, Cassia," my stepmother sneers, her voice dripping with triumph. "Your father’s fate was sealed the moment you married Lucien."My breath catches in my throat. The words hit me like a dagger, but I refuse to let them sink in. No. It can’t be true. I push forward, my heart pounding, my fists clenched at my sides.Lucien stands beside me, his body rigid, his gaze locked on my stepmother. He says nothing, but the tension in his posture tells me everything—he knows. He knew something and didn’t tell me. My blood runs cold."Where is he?" My voice trembles, but I force strength into it. "What have you done to my father?"My stepmother tilts her head, her lips curling into a slow, taunting smile. "Oh, Cassia. Always so full of questions. But you should be asking yourself—what will you do now that he’s gone?"Gone?The word crashes into me. A chill seeps into my bones. My stepmother loves her mind games, but this time, I see it in her eyes. This isn’t a game."You’re lying,"

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-16
  • THE WOLF BRIDE’S ESCAPE    Chapter 7: The Hidden Prophecy

    "You knew, didn't you?" My voice trembles, but not with fear. With fury.Lucien stands across from me, arms crossed over his broad chest, his expression unreadable. The flickering firelight casts shadows over his face, making him seem even more distant, more untouchable."Some fates can’t be changed, Cassia." His voice is calm, too calm.I take a step forward, my hands clenched into fists. "That’s not an answer."He exhales, a muscle in his jaw tightening. "And what do you want me to say? That I knew? That I kept it from you?""Yes!" I snap. "Because that’s exactly what you did."For a moment, I expect him to deny it, to lie. But he doesn’t. Instead, he turns slightly, his gaze drifting toward the darkened window."Your father was doomed the moment you married me, Cassia. There was nothing either of us could do to stop it."The words hit me like a slap. My stomach twists, nausea rising. "You could have warned me."Lucien meets my eyes then, and for a fleeting second, I see something t

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-16
  • THE WOLF BRIDE’S ESCAPE    Chapter 8: An Offer of Freedom

    "You want freedom?" Lucien’s voice was low, a dark promise wrapped in silk. He stood too close, the scent of cedar and frost surrounding me. "I’ll give it to you—if you agree to my terms."I stiffened, forcing myself to hold his gaze. I wanted to hate him, to recoil at his presence, but the weight of his words coiled around my mind like a snake."What terms?" I forced the words out, my throat tight.Lucien’s lips curled into something that wasn’t quite a smile. He reached out, brushing his fingers against my wrist. A spark jolted through me, something I didn’t understand. His touch was light, teasing, and yet it carried an unspoken command."You will stand beside me, as my queen." His voice was steady, unwavering. "Not just in name, but in power."I sucked in a breath. "You expect me to rule beside you?" My voice was sharp, disbelief cracking through it."I expect you to act as my mate," he corrected, watching me too closely. "To strengthen this pack. To be more than a prisoner."I la

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-16
  • THE WOLF BRIDE’S ESCAPE    Chapter 9: Blood Oath

    "Get away from him!" the rogue snarled, his blade glinting in the dim light.Lucien stood rigid, his breathing heavy, blood dripping from a shallow cut on his forearm. His eyes flickered with something dangerous, something primal, but I stepped between them, my heart pounding."Cassia, move," the rogue hissed. "You don’t know what he’s capable of."I knew exactly what Lucien was capable of. He had spent weeks breaking me, controlling me, twisting me into something he could own. But right now, I wasn’t sure if he was the worst threat in the room."I won’t let you kill him," I said, my voice firm.The rogue’s jaw clenched. His name was Eryk. He had been the one feeding me information, sneaking me supplies, whispering promises of freedom when I thought I had none. But he didn’t understand what I had just realized. Killing Lucien wouldn’t free me. Not yet."He’s our enemy, Cassia," Eryk said again, his grip tightening on the hilt of his dagger.Lucien chuckled darkly, wiping the blood fro

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-16

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  • THE WOLF BRIDE’S ESCAPE    Chapter 100: The Keeper’s Bargain

    My breath comes out in shaky gasps, my heart racing in my chest. The Keeper looms before us, towering, its presence suffocating in the air. His form is an enigma—shrouded in shadows, like a living void. His eyes, black as the abyss, penetrate me.Lucien stands beside me, his presence is as solid as ever, yet his usual steely composure is replaced with something I haven’t seen before: fear. His jaw tightens, fists clenching at his sides. He doesn’t speak, doesn’t move, as if the air around him is too thick to break.I feel the weight of his hand on my shoulder, a small comfort, but my mind is consumed by the Keeper. This ancient being before us holds the power to alter everything. To change our fate.The Keeper’s voice echoes through the space, as cold as the grave, “I’ve waited for this moment, little wolf. To test the limits of your strength. You think you can save him?”I open my mouth, but the words catch in my throat. My gaze shifts to Lucien, his face a mask of determination, but

  • THE WOLF BRIDE’S ESCAPE    Chapter 99: The Prison of Lost Souls

    “Do you hear that?” My voice was barely a whisper, and I strained my senses to catch the faint sound that echoed from the depths of the shadowed realm. We had entered this place not by choice but out of desperation. A world between worlds, a limbo where the lost and forsaken souls were bound, trapped in endless torment. This was the prison where Lucien was trapped, where the essence of those who had fallen from grace lingered, unable to move on.“What is it?” Arawyn, my closest ally, and protector, asked, her voice tight with apprehension. I could feel her unease radiating from her, her normally composed demeanor shaken by the weight of this place. She was a seasoned warrior, but even she had her limits.“I don’t know,” I said, my eyes scanning the landscape ahead. The sky above us flickered with unnatural colors, the swirling hues of violet and crimson casting an eerie glow over the endless expanse. The ground beneath our feet was cracked and jagged as if it had been torn apart by so

  • THE WOLF BRIDE’S ESCAPE    Chapter 98: A World Between Worlds

    I stepped forward, feeling the pull of something beyond the veil of reality. The air around me shimmered as if it were made of liquid light. My heart pounded, the rhythm syncing with the pulsing glow that surrounded us. This place, this strange world we had entered, was unlike anything I had ever encountered. It wasn’t just the colors—shifting in shades I couldn’t name—but the very sensation of being here. It felt unreal and yet, at the same time, undeniable. There was weight to it, a heaviness in the atmosphere that weighed down on my soul.I could feel the presence of my companions behind me, their breathing shallow, and uncertain. We had crossed into a realm between realms, a world suspended between life and death, where the laws of nature and time seemed to bend and twist. The ground beneath us was soft, like the deepest sand, yet it didn’t give way beneath our feet. It was as though we were walking on air, hovering just above a surface that shifted with each step.“Is this…real?”

  • THE WOLF BRIDE’S ESCAPE    Chapter 97: The Guardian of the Gate

    "Do you believe in fate, Cassia?" His voice echoed in the stillness, sharp and disembodied, yet so real I could feel his breath on my neck. My heart skipped a beat, and I felt a sudden cold sweat trickle down my spine."No," I replied, my voice firm despite the tightening in my chest. "Fate is a lie told to keep us in place."The mist swirling around us seemed to thicken, the shadows elongating into strange, shifting shapes. The portal in front of us flickered, its edges glowing faintly, like the last remnants of a dying star. But just as I thought we might be able to cross into the realm beyond, something changed.A figure stepped forward, so suddenly that I couldn’t even react in time. It was cloaked in shadow, its features hidden beneath the hood. Yet, I knew who it was before it even spoke."You are not welcome," the figure growled its voice a low, gravelly whisper that resonated through my bones.I froze, my blood turning to ice. The Guardian of the Gate had appeared.Lucien had

  • THE WOLF BRIDE’S ESCAPE    Chapter 96: The Realm Beyond

    The air was thick with an unnatural chill as we ventured deeper into the forbidden lands. The trees towered over us, their twisted branches like skeletal fingers reaching toward the sky, blocking out what little light remained from the setting sun. The ground beneath our feet was soft, as though the earth itself had grown tired of bearing the weight of time. Every step felt like a warning, a reminder that we were walking on the ground not meant for mortals.I had never been this far from the pack’s territory. The stories of the forbidden lands were whispered in fear, told in hushed voices by the elders to keep us from venturing too far. They spoke of ancient magic, of rifts between worlds, and of dangers beyond our comprehension. But I had no choice. Lucien, my Alpha, my husband—or the man who was once my husband—was lost to me, pulled into a realm beyond the mortal world. And I would stop at nothing to bring him back.The others were close behind me, their eyes scanning the surroundi

  • THE WOLF BRIDE’S ESCAPE    Chapter 95: The Beginning of a New Quest

    The air around me buzzed with an energy I couldn’t quite explain. My body hummed, both with the power that I had finally learned to control and the anticipation of what was to come. Every fiber of my being was ready for the next step, but there was a gnawing ache in my chest—a fear that no amount of magic could erase."Are you sure about this?" Caden’s voice was soft, yet firm, as if he too was carrying the weight of this decision. I turned toward him, meeting his brown eyes with a steady gaze.“Lucien is out there. Somewhere. I can’t just walk away from him,” I replied, my voice filled with an emotion I hadn’t let myself feel in so long—hope.Caden gave a small nod, his lips pulling into a tight line. I could tell that he understood the depth of my words, that he knew just how much I had suffered, yet still—somehow—how much I loved the man who had once tormented me. “I’ll go with you,” he said, his tone resolute. "You don’t have to do this alone."“I know. I’ve never been alone. You’

  • THE WOLF BRIDE’S ESCAPE    Chapter 94: The Echo of a Hero

    I hadn’t expected this.A hooded figure stood before the palace gates, the fabric of his cloak flowing like shadows in the dim light of dusk. I had been pacing within the palace, the weight of my responsibilities heavy on my shoulders. I had almost convinced myself that Lucien was lost forever—that his absence, his death, had been the final, inevitable end to our tangled story. But then the guards came rushing in, breathless, their eyes wide with shock."The man at the gates," one of them said, his voice trembling. "He claims he has a message. For you, Your Majesty."A message. My heart skipped a beat, but I buried the tremor beneath the surface. "Let him in," I ordered, my voice steady, though my thoughts were anything but. I had not known peace since Lucien’s disappearance. His memory haunted every waking moment of my life. Could this man bring me answers? Or was it just another cruel twist of fate?The hooded figure was escorted into the throne room. I studied him with careful eyes

  • THE WOLF BRIDE’S ESCAPE    Chapter 93: A Kingdom Mourns

    I stood at the balcony of the palace, gazing out over the land that Lucien had fought to protect. The sky was a dull gray as if the heavens themselves wept for all we had lost. My fingers traced the edge of the stone railing, cold and firm, much like the reality I had come to accept. He was gone.The war had ended, and the battle was won, but at what cost? I had gained everything, yet the price was unbearable. Lucien, the man I had come to love despite all the darkness that had surrounded him, was lost to me forever.I could still feel his presence in the corners of my mind, in the spaces between my breaths. He had been my tormentor, my savior, and in the end, he had been my love. The contradictions were maddening. But it was those contradictions that had made him who he was. A man who had loved with all the ferocity of his broken past and, in doing so, had given me the strength to rise above my own chains.I didn’t know how to rule without him. We had been a team, his fierce leadersh

  • THE WOLF BRIDE’S ESCAPE    Chapter 92: Love and Loss

    "Lucien," I whispered, barely able to make the words escape my lips, my heart heavy with the weight of everything I knew was about to happen.He stood before me, the air around us crackling with energy. His golden eyes locked with mine, and in that moment, everything I had ever feared and wanted collided. There was a fire in his gaze, a fire that burned for me, for us, for the world we were trying to save—yet it was tinged with sorrow, an almost unbearable sadness."Cassia," he replied, his voice low, almost a growl. "This is the only way. You know that, don't you?"I nodded, my throat tight with the grief I could no longer suppress. My body was trembling—not from fear, but from the deep sorrow of knowing that everything we had fought for, every moment we had shared, was leading up to this. Lucien was about to make the ultimate sacrifice, and there was nothing I could do to stop it."I love you," he whispered fiercely as if trying to etch those words into the very fabric of my soul. "

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