All Chapters of THE ALPHA’S HATED CONTRACT MATE: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

HERABen strolled in, his presence filling the room effortlessly. His gaze settled on me, a charming grin spreading across his face as if he only walked in just to brighten my day."Lady Hera," he greeted, his voice warm, almost mischievous. He hardly spared a glance in Anisha’s direction, his attention fixed entirely on me. Anisha took the cue and slipped quietly out of the room, offering a polite curtsy before she closed the door behind her. Ben stepped in further, his eyes holding that familiar spark as they settled on me.“Lady Hera?” I repeated, my eyebrow raised slightly in surprise. “You’ve never called me that before.” I smirked. He shrugged, an easy grin forming. “Well, you’ll soon be the First Lady and Luna, won’t you?” He folded his hand across his chest, leaning against the wall beside my vanity. “Figured it’s time I start calling you properly.” I let out a small scoff, sensing the light tease behind his words. “Properly?” I fought the urge to roll my eyes. “I’m not su

HERAThe palace was buzzing with energy as I made my way down the corridors, Anisha trailing just a step behind, taking note of every correction I had to make concerning the wedding and coronation preparations. Everything had to be perfect, and it was my duty to make sure it was—even if my mind was somewhere else entirely.We stopped in the main hall, where a small group of caterers waited with plates of cake slices lined up on the table for tasting. They straightened as soon as they saw me walk in. I walked up to the table, looking at all the cakes. “Which flavour would you like, my lady?” one of the servers asked, gesturing to the neat line of miniature cakes on the tray.I glanced over the selection, catching sight of chocolate. The rich, dark swirls called to me and I leaned closer, picking up a piece of the chocolate cake. The taste was rich and decadent, melting on my tongue, and for a fleeting second, I felt a flicker of happiness. “Chocolate,” I murmured, savouring it.My

HERAThe grand hall where the reception for the coronation and wedding will be held was buzzing with activity as decorators hung drapes of deep crimson and gold. I watched them closely, nodding here and there, making slight adjustments to placements. The scent of fresh flowers lingered in the air, adding a softness to the atmosphere that did little to calm my nerves after the last few days.I was acting like the perfect trophy Luna even though I was anything but. It was beginning to get exhausting to play this part. I just can’t wait for the wedding and coronation to come and go, so that I can go back to my life.That’s if I even survive it. Just as I was about to oversee the floral arrangements, a commotion near the doorway caught my attention. Lilith had arrived, her presence commanding as always, chin held high and eyes flashing with annoyance. The guards moved immediately to block her path, crossing their arms and positioning themselves like an unmovable wall.“Out of my way,”

HERA“Can you believe him?” I threw my hands up in the air. “He tells me to stay away from you like I’m some child he can control. One minute, he’s distant and cold, and the next, he wants to pull me in like nothing’s changed. It’s… it’s infuriating.”Ben and I were in my chamber, sitting by the fireplace, Ben simply watching me as I vented, that smile of his plastered on his face.“What?” I frowned at him, crossing my arms. “Why are you smiling?”He didn’t look fazed at all, his grin only growing. “Because it’s kind of endearing, how passionate you get about things. Even when you’re pissed off, you look…” He hesitated, as if searching for the right word. “…beautiful.”I blinked at him, caught off guard. Then a small, nervous laugh bubbled up from deep within my chest, surprising even me. “You’re ridiculous,” I muttered, shaking my head, though I couldn’t suppress the smile tugging at the corner of my lips. Ben chuckled, his eyes twinkling. “I’m glad I could make you laugh, especia

ATTICUSLilith smirked, taking her time to run her gaze between Hera and me, clearly savouring every second of the tension she just caused.This might not have been why she came here, but she was definitely thrilled by the fact that Hera walked in on us too close for comfort. “I’ll let you two… talk,” she said, her voice smooth as silk. With a knowing look in her eyes, she backed out of the room, her heels clicking out of the room and her smirk lingering in the air like the trail of cheap perfume. The door shut, leaving Hera and me in a silence so thick I could choke on it.Hera’s eyes bored into mine, fury flashing in every line of her face. She stood tall, arms crossed, lips pressed in a tight line as we locked in a silent battle of wills. I was the first to speak, voice sharp."How’d you get out of the room?” I demanded, trying to keep my tone steady.A harsh, humourless laugh escaped her, and she shook her head, her expression twisting in disbelief. “That’s what you’re worried