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Chapter 112: The Crown’s Burden

Author: Steve Mathew
last update Last Updated: 2025-03-21 19:22:14

“I never wanted this,” Lucien’s voice was low, the words heavy with something I couldn’t quite place. He stood on the balcony, the golden rays of the setting sun casting a warm glow on his face. But even that light couldn’t fully erase the shadows that had settled around him.

The crown—the very thing that had been forced onto him after his victory—rested heavily on his head, a symbol of his power and his curse. To the world, he was Alpha Lucien, the ruler of the pack. But to me, he was so much more—yet so much less.

“Lucien,” I stepped toward him, my bare feet silent against the cold stone floor. “You are the king. You have to lead.”

“I know,” he muttered, his voice thick with something that sounded like regret. His hand brushed the edge of his crown as if the weight was too much, but he didn’t take it off. Instead, his fingers lingered there, tapping against the metal. He looked at me, his eyes sharp but distant, like the man I had once known was slipping away, leaving only the mask
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  • THE WOLF BRIDE’S ESCAPE    Chapter 122: A Throne Unchallenged

    I never imagined that standing beside Lucien would feel so... heavy. The weight of his silence, the pressure of his thoughts, it all pressed against me like an invisible storm. But this time, it wasn't just the looming danger of his past decisions or his oppressive presence that worried me. It was his own struggle—Lucien, the once-immortal Alpha, now feeling the pull of his humanity."How do you feel?" I asked, the words slipping out before I could think them through. The question felt small compared to everything we had been through, but I couldn't help it. I wanted to know. His face remained stoic as ever, but there was a subtle tightness around his eyes, something that spoke volumes without a single word.He exhaled slowly, rubbing his temple. "I feel... weak," he admitted, his voice low and strained. "The power I once had is gone. And without it, I'm just a man. A man who has spent his life commanding others, and now..." He paused, glancing up at the throne that once felt so fitti

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