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*~~Chapter One Hundred and Seventy~~*
Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56
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The Cruel Alpha's Unwanted Bride *~~Chapter One Hundred and Seventy-One~~*
{~~Avery Sterling~~}Going to the hospital the next day felt different for Logan and me. There was a weight in the air, but it wasn't the kind of heaviness that pressed down with worry or fear; it was something more intimate, a subtle shift between us that had begun the moment I agreed to remove my ring. He’d asked me to take it off, not because he didn’t want the world to see it, but because he wanted the moment when he would propose again to be truly unforgettable. He told me he wanted to catch me off guard, to surprise me when I least expected it, and although that was his intention, a part of me still felt the lingering symbolism of slipping the ring off my finger. It was bittersweet. But it was also nice to think about — that moment, in the future, when he would propose again, with all the weight of the past behind us, and we could start fresh. It gave me something to hold onto, a promise of new beginnings, and I carried that hope with me as I walked through the hospital doors.H
The Cruel Alpha's Unwanted Bride *~~Chapter One Hundred and Seventy-Two~~*
{~~Avery Sterling~~}Six hours... damn. I stretched my arms, trying to shake off the stiffness that had settled into my muscles. Glancing at the pile of work I’d gotten through, I sighed. Emails had been sent to the hospital suppliers, pushing them to expedite the delivery of the medical equipment we desperately needed. It wasn’t just a polite nudge either; it was the kind of demand that would cut into our funding—money that we couldn’t afford to lose. We were already walking a financial tightrope.And then there was Darren. He wasn’t rich, not by any stretch of the imagination. So where the hell was the money coming from to pull all of this off? It had to be from Logan’s accounts. They must’ve siphoned money from him. My head throbbed at the thought. I rubbed my forehead, pushing the frustration away for the moment. There was no time to dwell on that right now.I stood up, stretching my legs and back before heading to the desk. I quickly transferred all the data I had gathered onto a
The Cruel Alpha's Unwanted Bride *~~Chapter One Hundred and Seventy-Three~~*
{~~Avery Sterling~~}After speaking with Reina, I slipped out of her room, feeling the weight of the conversation still pressing on my chest. I couldn’t shake the sight of her hollow eyes, the quiet desperation behind her questions. But there was no time to dwell on that now. I had others to tend to, and one of them was waiting in the infant room.I headed to the elevator, going up to the floor where the infant room was situated.As I walked down the hall, I pulled out my phone and texted Logan, asking if he could meet me for lunch. We hadn’t had a moment together in what felt like days, and I needed a break—if only for a few minutes. Logan was always good at grounding me, pulling me out of my head when the chaos of work threatened to consume me. I shoved my phone back into my pocket and headed straight for the nursery, where Hope was being cared for.The door to the infant room slid open with a quiet hiss, and I immediately spotted the nurse. She was moving gently from crib to crib,
The Cruel Alpha's Unwanted Bride *~~Chapter One Hundred and Seventy-Four~~*
{~~Logan Grey~~}Every day is exhausting.By the time Avery and I finally headed home, exhaustion weighed down every step. It had been a grueling day, and the strain of it was starting to catch up to both of us. We pulled into the driveway as the sky began to dim, a soft glow of twilight falling over the house. When we stepped inside, the quiet was almost jarring after the chaos of the day.Hope, our little bundle of energy, was wide awake. Of course, she had slept most of the day, blissfully unaware of the storms we'd been weathering. Her bright eyes tracked me as we came in. Avery was distracted, holding on to her with one hand while holding her bag in the other. I smiled despite the fatigue pulling at me, scooping her out of Avery’s arms as her small giggles filled the room. "Hey there, little one," I murmured, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead.Avery dropped the bags by the door and gave me a tired but warm smile, the kind of smile that made the weight of the day a little lig
The Cruel Alpha's Unwanted Bride *~~Chapter One Hundred and Seventy-Five~~*
{~~Avery Sterling~~}I hadn’t had a nightmare in a long time, but I knew as soon as I stepped into the eerie, fog-draped forest that I was there for a reason. This wasn’t the first time I found myself wandering through this dark and twisted place. There was something hauntingly familiar about the trees, their gnarled branches reaching out like skeletal fingers, the heavy silence broken only by the faint sound of leaves rustling, almost as if whispering secrets. It felt like a memory I could never quite shake—a deep-rooted feeling that something terrible lurked in these woods, something I couldn’t escape.The last time I was here, my sister’s shadow had been stalking me relentlessly, tormenting me with every step I took. It was as if she had become part of the forest itself, her presence suffocating and dark, haunting the life out of me. But this time… this time, it was something different. Something worse. Something that made my skin crawl and the hairs on the back of my neck stand on
The Cruel Alpha's Unwanted Bride *~~Chapter One Hundred and Seventy-Six~~*
{~~Avery Sterling~~}When I didn’t wake up, I figured the nightmare wasn’t over.I bolted toward the car, my heart pounding in my chest as if it were trying to tear its way out. The rain was pouring down in sheets, soaking me to the bone, but I didn’t care. My shoes slipped in the mud as I skidded to a stop beside the crumpled vehicle, my hands shaking as I yanked the door open. I half-expected Logan to be sitting there, maybe bruised, maybe hurt, but alive. Please, God, let him be alive.But the seat was empty.The inside of the car was eerily quiet, save for the sound of the rain beating against the metal roof. My breath hitched in my throat as I glanced around, eyes darting over the blood smeared across the dashboard, the seat, the steering wheel—too much blood. It's too much for him to be okay. A strangled noise escaped my throat as the realization began to creep in, a cold, numbing fear curling around my chest. My vision blurred with the rising panic, my heart thundering in my ea
The Cruel Alpha's Unwanted Bride *~~Chapter One Hundred and Seventy-Seven~~*
{~~Logan Grey~~}I awoke to the gentle pressure of tiny fingers poking at my arm and the soft giggles of an infant filling the air. I smiled before I even opened my eyes, savoring the sweet sound of Hope’s laughter-- or what could be considered laughter. It was like sunshine on a cloudy day, her joy infectious. I sat up slowly, my muscles still heavy with sleep, and blinked in the dim light of the room.There on the blanket, Avery was sitting with Hope, gently bouncing her on her knee. She glanced at me over her shoulder, her expression unreadable but with a hint of something that made my smile fade just a little. There was a worry in her eyes that I couldn’t ignore. I stretched my arms out, shaking off the last vestiges of sleep, but my mind was already focusing on her. Something was off, and I could feel it in the way she kept glancing at me as if debating whether or not to say something.The rain was pounding outside, hammering against the windows in a constant rhythm. It sounded h
The Cruel Alpha's Unwanted Bride *~~Chapter One Hundred and Seventy-Eight~~*
{~~Avery Sterling~~}Sometimes, bad news doesn’t knock on the door. It crashes through, uninvited, like a nightmare seeping into reality, leaving you gasping for air. I had that gut feeling two days ago when the rain wouldn’t stop, pounding on the roof like a warning, like it was trying to tell me something I wasn’t ready to hear. For two days, I waited, the storm outside matching the one inside my chest. I waited, hoping against hope that maybe—just maybe—there wouldn’t be anything waiting for me on the other side. But that’s the thing about bad news: it finds its way to you no matter how hard you try to avoid it.When the storm finally broke, the rain easing to a drizzle, I made a rushed drive to the prison. My hands gripped the wheel too tight, my heart racing faster with every mile. There was only one person I needed to talk to—one person who might hold the answers, or at least offer some clarity amidst the chaos. My twin. Ava.Ava was sitting in her cell when I arrived, a smug lo
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The Cruel Alpha's Unwanted Bride Epilogue 3: Rustic Honeymoon pt 2
{~~Avery Sterling~~}The waterfall is majestic and stunning. Logan suggested we go in naked since we’re the only ones here. I’ll admit, trusting a radically vegan hippie to plan my honeymoon was a bold and disturbing choice. Third year in college she lugged me off to the rain forest where we camped for six weeks so we could connect with the gods who brought us here.It was my worst summer vacation. Six long weeks. But I got so much work done that I felt like I came back even smarter. I love Agatha, but my goodness, her ideas of fun are always nature-like. The lack of wifi is going to kill me, but thank god I got another honeymoon present from Logan’s parents as an apology for the way they acted at the start of my marriage to their son.And that one is for two months on a cruise. We’ll be leaving for that after a week of getting eaten alive by mosquitoes.The water is cold, and the view is even better. I talk alot of crap about Agatha but the woman is far more connected to this world t
The Cruel Alpha's Unwanted Bride Epilogue 2: Rustic Honeymoon pt 1
{~~Logan Grey~~}My honeymoon is not at all what I expected. It’s one of those situations where you step back and think, How did I not see this coming? But I guess that’s what happens when you go with the flow and don’t plan out every last detail, just trusting that things will fall into place. We decided not to bring Hope with us, even though part of me wanted her to be here. She’s spending the week with my parents—her grandparents—which feels like a huge milestone, not just for her, but for me too. Avery and I wanted this time to ourselves, to really celebrate our marriage without any distractions, to focus on us for a change.We’re an odd pair to most people, and I know some didn’t expect us to last, but we’ve made it work in ways that surprise even me sometimes. Over the last year, we’ve settled into this rhythm that’s become second nature. It’s a good rhythm, one that’s brought us closer, and made us stronger. It’s funny—when you think about it, but it feels like so much longer.
The Cruel Alpha's Unwanted Bride Epilogue 1: The Wedding
\One Year Later/{~~Avery Sterling~~}So, you know how little girls always dream about their wedding day? It’s supposed to be this big, magical event, where everything falls perfectly into place, and for some, it’s the pinnacle of their dreams, right? But not me. I never had those kinds of dreams. You know how my life was, how crappy my sister and parents treated me. There was never much room in my head for fantasies like that. Growing up, I couldn’t even imagine what marriage would feel like because I was too busy surviving and getting through the mess of my family. But, okay, maybe deep down, I had some dreams. Everyone does, right? I just never thought they’d come true.And marrying Logan Grey—that’s a whole different thing altogether. I mean, when we started planning the wedding, I was so overwhelmed. There were just so many details, and so many decisions, and with everything I’ve been through, I just didn’t have the energy to care about floral arrangements or seating charts. So, I
The Cruel Alpha's Unwanted Bride *~~One Hundred and Ninety-Three~~*
{~~Avery Sterling~~}The almost-car accident shakes me up more than I expected, but Logan is fine, and I’m fine. It all happened so fast, and yet I can still feel the pulse of my heartbeat in my throat when I think about it. That truck had come out of nowhere. The driver didn’t even slow down. Had I not tripped over that stone while I was looking for a signal on my phone and he’d come to check on me... logan would have died a painful death before my eyes.So of course I was a fucking mess. That driver is crazy. Did he not see the car? Why did the car even stop? What was wrong with the engine? I have like six million questions!He called Ryan to come get us. I was in his arms on the side of the road, watching as other cars drove around the wreckage. They don’t stop but look on surprised at the mess. Whoever that driver was I hope to god his truck breaks down and he’s fired. Because what the hell?He should have at least stopped. Panic fills me but so does anger. The panic wins though.
The Cruel Alpha's Unwanted Bride *~~Chapter One Hundred and Ninety-Two~~*
{~~Avery Sterling~~}Logan and I had left Hope in the hospital. The tiny bundle of life—so fragile, yet resilient—was resting safely in the nursery, surrounded by the quiet hum of machines and the gentle presence of nurses. We’d return tomorrow, once we were sure they’d had time to scan her brain and ensure she was truly safe for release. My heart ached to leave her, but it was necessary. Thank goodness she was a baby, still too young to understand fear in the way that we did. She wouldn’t know the anxiety, the sleepless nights, the never-ending worry. All she knew was warmth and the safety of sleep, cocooned in blankets too big for her tiny form.The snow had started falling again, soft and silent, covering the world in a layer of purity that felt both soothing and unsettling. Logan drove carefully through the winding streets, the heater on low, warming our chilled fingers. We didn’t speak much, but the silence wasn’t uncomfortable. It was the kind of silence that sat between two peo
The Cruel Alpha's Unwanted Bride *~~Chapter One Hundred and Ninety-one~~*
{~~Avery Sterling~~}I’m back in this beautiful pack, surrounded by familiar faces, and yet it feels so foreign after everything we’ve been through. the rain stopped while I was away and now we have a new season. The landscape is stunning, especially now, with the first snowfall of the season transforming the dense forest and the lake into a quiet, white wonderland. The snow blankets the ground in thick, untouched layers, making the whole world seem calm and serene, but cold—bitingly cold. It's as if the snow carries the weight of my worries. The weather has shifted dramatically over the past few days, moving from endless, gloomy rain to this sudden onset of winter. So, congratulations on freezing my butt off, even with all the layers I'm bundled in.Logan and I had spent last night at the lake house, a place of solace for us, trying to reconnect after everything that’s been thrown at us. It was bittersweet, those quiet moments by the fire, the crackling logs filling the air with warm
The Cruel Alpha's Unwanted Bride *~~Chapter One Hundred and Ninety~~*
{~~Logan Grey~~}Avery is coming home today. Avery is coming home today. I’ve been repeating that sentence in my head for the past 48 hours, counting down the seconds like a kid waiting for Christmas morning. The excitement, the anticipation—it’s all bubbling up inside me, and I can barely sit still. I glance at the clock on my phone for what feels like the hundredth time, knowing it hasn't moved much since the last time I looked but somehow hoping the hands of time have sped up. It's been far too long since I’ve seen her.The air in the terminal is thick with the usual airport chaos—people rushing by, announcements echoing through the speakers, kids whining in the background—but it all fades into the background noise. I’m laser-focused, my heart pounding in sync with the roaring engines of planes outside. She’s been gone for weeks, and though it wasn’t that long, it feels like an eternity. We’ve been working tirelessly on the cure—sleepless nights, constant research, trial and error.
The Cruel Alpha's Unwanted Bride *~~Chapter One Hundred and Eighty-Nine~~*
{~~Avery Sterling~~}Agatha and I had been at it for hours, possibly days, though the passage of time had become something of a blur in the dim, candlelit room. The air was thick with the scent of dried herbs and burning incense, their heady aromas mixing in a way that both calmed and invigorated me. I had never spent so much time in the presence of a witch doctor before—not like this, not in such an intimate setting where every movement, every word, every breath was part of a delicate and complex dance of life and death.I’d seen witchcraft before. In university, we had a professor who dabbled in the ancient arts, using it to enhance her knowledge of medicinal plants and natural remedies. It’s why i wished I’d been chosen to be a doctor, it would be so nice to be able to do so much than what a nurse can. But even she had never worked with the sheer precision and raw power that Agatha wielded. It was... mesmerizing. I couldn’t help but be drawn in, watching her every move, the way her
The Cruel Alpha's Unwanted Bride *~~Chapter One Hundred and Eighty-Eight~~*
{~~Logan Grey~~}Two days without Avery isn't an eternity, but it sure feels like a long time. I’m surviving, or at least I think I am. Tonight, I’m having dinner at my parents' place, and the whole family is here to celebrate the newborns. Felix’s child, Marley, and my daughter, Hope. It feels good to be around everyone, even if my mind keeps drifting to Avery. The house is buzzing with laughter and chatter. The babies are in their playpen, tapping at toys, oblivious to the joyful chaos around them. My parents are practically glowing as they fawn over their grandkids, doting on every little coo and babbling like they’re treasures.I sit back in a rocking chair, watching the scene play out before me. My brothers are in the kitchen, joking around while they cook, and their wives are on the couch, chatting and laughing. And Ronan’s children are lying on the floor coloring something. It’s one of those moments that feels picture-perfect, like a scene out of some old family movie. Even Rya
