The Alpha's Unexpected Secret Replacement Bride

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ut a single heartbeat of hesitation. She dropped into a deep curtsy, her knee hitting

mand me. My l

is another ceremony happening today-for Alpha Caiden Gregory. I need to kn

otion on her face. "My La

one softening but losing none of its steel.

olve there. The confusion melted away, replaced

"Consider it done.

shing weight on my chest lifting. "Be discreet

e slipped out of the room, h

breezed in, a bright, artificial smile plastered on her

I told Lady Eleanor you were feeling a bit jittery, so she ha

ust as eager as her son to use me and the might o

or obedience-inducing herbs w

eeping into my palms. My knuckles turned w

g a grateful, naive smile onto my

. The herbal scent was cloying and thick. I tilted the bowl, letting the war

ne fluid motion, taking advantage of the split second she looked away, I dumped the entire contents of the

ack, I held out

on. "See? All gone. You'll f

already," I r

ant gown Lady Eleanor was wearing. When she mentioned my wedding dress, a flicker of raw jealousy flashed in her eyes. And the

ast life to never see thr

shift in me. She didn't feel the sudden drop in temperature in the room, or notice

She faltered mid-sentence, a flicker of unease crossin

are you looking

ng it with carefully constructed vulnerability. I reached o

red, injecting a slight tremble into my voice. "I'

ced by smug superiority. To her, I w

pped back into the room. She caught my

ll of the estate's iron bell echoed through

y Lady Eleanor appeared in the