All Chapters of Crown of Deception: Alpha's Contracted Bride: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Amelia POVThe morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow on the room. I blinked awake, the events of the previous day replaying in my mind—the wedding, the reception, the awkward tension between Lucas and me. It all felt so surreal, like I’d stepped into a dream I couldn’t wake from.I sat up, pulling the blanket around my shoulders, the room eerily quiet without him here. It was strange.I remembered standing in our chambers last night, nerves gnawing at me. I’d asked Lucas, what now? expecting some formal agreement or boundary to be set. To my surprise, he’d been kind, offering me the bed while he slept on the couch that I hadn’t notice in the room before.The tension between us had been thick, unspoken. Yet, when I suggested we share the bed, Lucas didn’t argue. We both laid there, side by side, the silence heavy, but nothing happened. He didn’t try anything, and despite my internal conflict, the exhaustion of the day eventually pulled me into sleep.Now, the

Amelia’s POVI had been laughing with Cassidy and Lena, still talking about the fight and how Snow had been in perfect sync. Tempoary forgetting the whole Sabrina scene. When one of the palace servants appeared at the door. The atmosphere shifted instantly. The girl looked as if she was barely containing her nerves as she approached me with a low bow.“Princess Amelia,” she said softly. Looking at me nervously, “You’re required to attend a meeting with the council this morning. The Crown Prince requested your presence.”I blinked, feeling my stomach twist. Council meeting? My mind raced as I tried to recall if Lucas had mentioned anything about this. I hadn’t been prepared, not even slightly, but I couldn’t show that, not in front of Lena and Cassidy. I took a deep breath, forcing a calmness I didn’t feel.“Of course. Thank you for informing me,” I replied as evenly as I could manage.The servant nodded, bowing again before quickly slipping out of the room. The moment the door closed,

Queen Larissa's POVThe doors to my private chambers closed with a soft thud, and I allowed myself a moment to breathe, the air thick with the weight of my plans. Lucas still didn’t fully understand the necessity of my actions, but he would, in time. He had no choice.I glanced at the documents spread across my desk, the foundation of everything I had worked for. The alliance between the council, the royal family, and the packs was fragile, and I would not allow a girl like Amelia, someone with no true standing, to jeopardize it. She was a temporary obstacle, nothing more.A soft knock interrupted my thoughts. “Enter,” I called, knowing it would be Lucas.He stepped inside, his expression guarded, the tension in his posture evident. He was always like this around me—watchful, cautious. He understood the stakes better than most, even if he was reluctant to accept them.“Mother,” he greeted, his tone formal, but the cold distance was unmistakable.I motioned for him to sit, but he remai

Sabrina's POVI sat at the back of the classroom, barely listening as Ms. Gentle’s voice droned on about etiquette. My gaze, sharp and cold, was fixed on her. Amelia. She sat near the front, her posture all proper and perfect, like she actually belonged. Like she was the true Crown Princess.The thought alone made me sick. Every time I looked at her, it felt like a slap in the face. How could Lucas, of all people, choose her? She’s a rejected mate—cast aside by her true mate. Someone that weak, that unwanted, had no place in the royal pack, let alone beside Lucas, the Crown Prince. It was beneath him. It was beneath me.I couldn’t believe my plan had failed. I’d suggested to Ms. Gentle that Amelia read a paragraph in French, fully expecting her to stumble, to make a fool of herself in front of everyone. I wanted to see the look on her face when she realized she wasn’t fit for this life, when everyone saw how unworthy she was. But no. Amelia had read it flawlessly. Effortlessly, even.

Lucas’s POV I hadn’t meant to leave Amelia alone again, but the council meetings were relentless. Every day, another strategy to discuss, another alliance to consider. Time was slipping away, and the more I got pulled into the realm of politics, the less time I had for her. A nagging sense of regret followed me through the halls, and Titan wasn’t shy about letting me feel it.“You’re wasting time,” Titan growled in my head, pacing. “This is when we could be with her, showing her who we are. Instead, you’re stuck here, letting her slip further away”.I winced at the truth in his words. I knew Titan was right. I could feel the distance forming between us, even though we’d recently bonded through blood. That connection should’ve made things easier, but it seemed all I’d done was complicate things.“She’s starting to notice,” Titan added, his voice harsh. “She deserves more than being neglected while you play prince.”“I know,” I muttered aloud as I walked the corridor to the council roo