All Chapters of The Cursed Alpha’s Fake Bride: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

*** Ariana’s POVI hated that I might not hate him as much as I thought I did—or should. It was a startling realization, one I wasn’t ready to explore. Feeling something, anything, for anyone—let alone Draven—wasn’t part of my plan. Until last night, I’d been able to dismiss my fluttering thoughts as fleeting, chalking them up to loneliness or primal biology. Every she-wolf is drawn to an Alpha male, right? It’s just… science.But damn him for having layers. Layers that cracked through my resolve.And last night? Last night made everything harder to ignore.I sighed deeply, the guilt of my situation swirling like an unshakable storm cloud. Miria… she should still be alive, thriving, po

*** Ariana’s POV“Shit!” The expletive left my lips before I could stop it, my balance teetering as a solid force barreled into me from the side. Bracing for the inevitable meeting with the floor, I barely processed the warm hands—plural—that steadied me mid-fall.“Easy there,” a smooth voice murmured from behind me.Green eyes filled my vision, Jasper’s unnaturally vivid gaze holding mine with an intensity that made me forget my name for a moment. I was acutely aware of another body pressed behind me, strong hands gripping my shoulders and waist.“Careful,” Jason said softly, his breath brushing against my ear. “We’ve got you.”The moment felt like something ripped straight from a romance novel—the dark hallway, the storm still pattering faintly against the windows, and the twins effortlessly supporting me. Jasper’s eyes remained locked on mine, his expression a mix of amusement and something heavier, more deliberate.Then a low growl rumbled down the hall, shattering the moment.“Wha

*** Ariana’s POVThe morning sun peeked out from behind the clouds, casting a golden glow over the training grounds. I adjusted my jacket nervously as Beta Simon led me toward the open area where my new trainer, Master Oren, waited. My guards flanked me, Mika on one side, Michael and Martin trailing slightly behind, their quiet strength reassuring.“Master Oren is one of the best combat trainers in the region,” Simon explained, glancing back at me. “And, apparently, he was eager to take on the challenge of working with you.”I snorted playfully. “Challenge? Thanks for the confidence, Simon.”Simon grinned but didn’t answer, stopping abruptly as we reached the center of the grounds.Master Oren was not what I expected. I’d imagined someone grizzled, maybe in his forties or fifties, with scars and a permanent scowl. Instead, a man who couldn’t be older than his mid-twenties stood waiting for us, his sandy blond hair tousled in a way that looked too effortless to be accidental. He was lea

*** Draven’s POVThe meeting with Jasper and Jason had been mercifully brief. I’d laid out the details with the precision of a man eager to be elsewhere. Their Luna candidate, Eleanor McTavish, was arriving tonight from Scotland. She was the daughter of a rare twin-alpha bond herself, familiar with the nuances of such a dynamic. They were to pick her up from the airport and ensure she felt welcome, and dinner would serve as an introduction for everyone involved.The twins had listened attentively, but Kronos, my wolf, snarled his displeasure every time they shifted their weight or adjusted their posture. I knew why. The tension in the air was palpable—an unspoken warning from the wolf in me to stay away from what was mine.“Mine!” Kronos growled, his voice echoing in my mind.I forced him back, reminding myself for the hundredth time that Miria couldn’t feel the mate bond. She had no wolf to sense it, and that truth simultaneously relieved and enraged me. It gave me time to protect her

 *** Ariana’s POV The faint morning light filtered through my curtains, tugging me reluctantly from the edge of sleep. My eyes felt heavy, gritty even, like I hadn’t slept much at all—which was true, considering I’d stumbled into bed just a few hours ago. Or had I? My body ached as I stretched, memories of last night flashing back in pieces. Draven. His hand on my cheek. The unbearable tension as he leaned in. My heart hammering in my chest, expecting—what exactly? A kiss? An argument? My own idiocy exposed? I groaned, dragging a hand down my face. “Why am I like this?” I muttered into the quiet room.  I’d spent half the night curled up in front of my office&rsq