[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-alpha-s-unwanted-bride":3,"chapter-the-alpha-s-unwanted-bride-the-alpha-s-unwanted-bride-chapter-197":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Alpha's Unwanted Bride",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1496821,1945,"Chapter 197: THE BRIDGE OF DEATH","the-alpha-s-unwanted-bride-chapter-197",197,"\u003Cp>Erik stepped on the rickety wooden bridge and felt it shake under his feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did not want to look don but because he needed to weigh the balance of how strong the wood was he was forced to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked down and he saw the rocks beneath and then looked back up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He climbed one after the other and felt his heart racing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you fell it was instant death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stepped on the wooden bridge with force to be sure it would be able to hold the horses one at a time. They were still firm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After about three minutes of going on the bridge he was able to cross on the other side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he looked over at them heavy with a sigh of relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You can begin crossing.\" He ushered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But they did not seem so convinced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bring the horses over Owen. One after the other.\" He said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The horses tended to be more attentive to Owen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one knew why but yet they were.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So it made sense that he would be the one to guide them back and forth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Owen was not so pleased because that meant he had to be going back and forth the horses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you certain that there is no other way?\" Owen asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There isn’t.\" Xaden replied. \"And we need to keep moving. Time is not on our side.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Owen reluctantly began to take the horses over the bridge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first time had been extremely difficult for him, but by the time he was on the fifth journey back, he was used to it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He helped each other horses until they were all across.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he waved for the others to follow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The men went in a single file, it being their\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First time they did not want to attempt to look downward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rowan was fidgeting because he was scared of heights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he kept on going on ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he reached only two paces away from the cliff, he tripped and then hit the wood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he tried to hold his grip but the rope slid out of his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He screamed and then Xaden grabbed his arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He kept on breathing hard as he held fervently to Xaden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Due to the impact of his almost fall, the rope that had cut extended to where Xaden stood and then he too fell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Xaden held the other end of the rope whilst still holding unto Rowan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We are bringing a rope that would hoist you up!\" Erik called out as the men watched on top in horror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My lord.\" Rowan said breathing hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do not let go Rowan.\" Xaden said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Rowan was breathing so hard and then his grip was slippery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My lord Xaden.\" Rowan said as he held unto him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xaden tightened his hold and then the rope that Xaden held unto dragged down threatening to be cut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rowan gasped in shock as he felt himself drop lower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Xaden gripped the far end of the rope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rowan looked down and saw the cliffs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do not look down Rowan!\" Xaden managed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rowan held unto him but then it was obvious that Rowan was weighing Xaden down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rope dragged down whilst the men hurried on to create the rope from vines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rowan looked up at Xaden and Xaden knew what was going to happen next.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw it in his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I shall not be the one who will cause the death of my alpha.\" Rowan said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No Rowan hold on!\" Xaden yelled as he strengthened his grip and then the rope dragged further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It began to pull at the ends.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he held unto him they would both fall he knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And together they would die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It was an honor serving with you my lord. Alpha Xaden of the Crescent pack. Tell my wife I love her.\" Rowan said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then Rowan let his hands go and Xaden screamed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"ROWAN NO!\" Xaden screamed down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it was too late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rowan fell down but not before turning to his wolf form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To the wolves it was a great disrespect to their souls to die in human form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They preferred to be turned into a wolf and die a wolf.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were born a wolf and they would go as one .\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one saw Rowan land to the bottom of the high cliff but they knew he was dead once a wolf howl he had yelped became faint.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xaden closed his eyes in pain as he acknowledged the death of one of his men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He howled and then all the other wolves howled, honoring his death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vine was finally strong enough to lift him up and then it was tossed down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xaden caught ut and climbed up the cliff his men helped him up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their faces were solemn witn regret and pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was also evident with grief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Didi who had been very close with Rowan had his face ashen with pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Rowan was a good wolf.\" Xaden said. \"We shall honor him!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And they made stones at the edge of the cliff from where he had fallen and stood before it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They all turned to their true wolf forms and then howled again and again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And soon they were all howling in harmony.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then after the small ceremony was over they turned back to their human forms and went to their horses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By now it was almost dark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How far do we ride?\" Xaden asked Erik.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A bit more far ahead.\" Erik responded. \"We have not quite gotten into the dark forest. This is just the territory after it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Silas looked at the bridge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We have to find another way when we return.\" He said. \"That bridge is gone.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They all now turned to look at tne bridge tjat had probably been there for centuries now empty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If we return.\" Someone said what was in everyone else’s mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the hard truth hit them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They could all die and never return.\u003C\u002Fp>",1002,"2026-06-06T04:22:13.102Z",1,"novelbin.me","8d7956bde250f4e1291ea8acd37800530b9e4b571fb103437c3a5e6407db2675","the-alpha-s-unwanted-bride-chapter-198","the-alpha-s-unwanted-bride-chapter-196",728,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-alpha-s-unwanted-bride-cover.jpg"]