All Chapters of THE ALPHA’S HATED CONTRACT MATE: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

LILITHWhen I was finally released, the first thing I did was clean myself up. I scrubbed every trace of the dungeon off me, washing away the filth and humiliation. I needed to look perfect, flawless, for Atticus.I wronged him. I shouldn’t have pushed him, shouldn’t have gotten him so pissed. It was my fault. I was a stupid girl. But now, I will make it right. I would apologize, grovel if necessary, and show him that I was still the one he could rely on. I wasn’t like Hera. I didn’t defy him. I love him. I have always loved him.I brushed my hair until it gleamed, the silky strands falling perfectly around my shoulders. I chose a dress that hugged my figure, something that would catch his eye. He had to see that I was still here, still ready to be his. He can’t keep pushing me aside, can’t keep pretending I didn’t matter. Not after everything we have been through together. Not after everything we have shared. It was only a matter of time before he claimed me as his. I made

Lilith’s smug smile made my stomach turn as she sauntered closer, her voice dripping with glee. “Poor Hera,” she mocked, circling me like a predator toying with its prey. “Didn’t see that coming, did you?” She smirked.I tried to keep my composure, holding her gaze, my jaw clenched. “Oh, please, Lilith. Gloating is a bad look for you.” I responded snarkily. She stopped her pacing and laughed lightly, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. “You really don’t understand, do you?” She shook her head, giving me a once-over. “Agatha here had no choice. When I promised her a promotion, the temptation was just too much for her to resist. You can’t really blame her, can you?” Lilith chortled. I glanced at Agatha, who stood a few feet away, her head hanging in shame. Her betrayal stung, but what hit harder was the fact that I didn’t even see it coming.I was always alert for this kind of shit. I should’ve known Lilith would pull something like this, but I let my guard down. Agatha and I were

ATTICUS“She’s been poisoned,” the healer said gravely.For a moment, I couldn’t comprehend what I’d just heard. Poisoned? In my palace? The words made no sense, echoing in my head as I looked down at Hera’s still, fragile form. My grip tightened around her hand, the rage in my chest building up like a storm about to break.“Poisoned,” I repeated, my voice almost a growl. “By who?”“I don’t know, Alpha,” The healer’s eyes dropped, avoiding my gaze. “But what I do know is that it’s been in her system for weeks. It’s already spread through her body… deep into her brain.”Weeks? My stomach twisted, disbelief flooding my thoughts. How could this have happened right under my nose?How the fuck did I not know till now?“You’re saying no one noticed this?” My tone came out harsher than I intended, but I didn’t care. I needed answers.The healer shook her head, her lips pressed into a grim line. “It’s a slow-working poison, designed to remain undetectable until it’s too late,” she explai

HERAI could barely open my eyes, my body heavy and weak. Everything was a blur. I blinked, trying to make sense of the shapes around me. There was someone standing beside my bed—two figures. I recognized one of them immediately: Atticus. Even in my pseudo conscious state, I could still recognize him. What an irony. But the other… I squinted, but my vision was hazy. He was younger, around our age, maybe a bit younger. I couldn’t see his face clearly, but something about his voice struck me.I have heard that voice before, but I just can’t remember where. “So, you finally freed me a few days before the blood moon? How generous of you, brother,” the voice teased, laced with amusement and sardonicism. “Let me guess—it’s because of this your new mate?”My head was spinning, but the word "brother" echoed in my mind. Brother? I have never heard Atticus mention a brother. “Shut up,” Atticus’ voice cut in, sharp and cold “Just do what you need to do. She’s dying.” He demanded. “I see

ATTICUSLeaving Hera with her powers felt like a mistake the moment I walked out of the room. I was the Alpha. I should’ve had more control, more foresight. Giving her back her abilities could backfire in the worst possible way. She could turn on me, use that power against me. And she’s unstoppable with her powers. But... deep down, something kept creeping up in my mind. What if she was right? What if she didn’t kill Rachel? The idea planted itself in my brain, refusing to leave. If she wasn’t the one behind Rachel’s death, then someone else was. And that same person was coming after her now.To stop me from getting on the throne. The pieces were all there, scattered but visible. Rachel’s death, just when I was about to ascend as Alpha. And now Hera, my new mate, barely survived an assassination attempt. It was too much of a coincidence.If it’s true, then I need to trigger the person into action, force their hand. Whoever they were, they were patient, calculating. They wouldn’