[{"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-464":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},1496738,1945,"Chapter 464: THE DECEIT","the-alpha-s-unwanted-bride-chapter-464",464,"\u003Cp>A FEW HOURS BEFORE\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wind outside Alpha Hunter’s stronghold had stilled, the night sinking into a graveyard silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shadows coiled around the iron-stone towers like serpents, and even the wolves who usually patrolled the grounds walked with unease, their instincts whispering of something... wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the highest chamber of the eastern wing, the one barred from inside, the one cloaked from the outside world .\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was here Jasmine had finally managed to sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her hair sprawled in waves across the pillow, dark curls damp with sweat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One arm cradled her slightly swollen belly, the other curled over her chest like a shield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her child kicked lightly under her palm, a quiet thump-thump-thump as though sensing the air had changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it had.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the shadows had bent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And someone was already in the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Princess Chery stood by the window, her tall figure cloaked in night-black silk that shimmered faintly even in the dim moonlight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes glinted violet, serpentine, as she studied Jasmine — the pregnant traitor, the half-blood stain her family should have erased years ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this time... she would be thorough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was not here physically, just her spilt away from her body in astral projection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Appearing physically would be too risky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She crossed into the room with the ease of a ghost and then she stopped by the edge of the bed, lips curling into a cold smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jasmine stirred, her brow furrowing. She whimpered softly, clutching her stomach tighter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cherry sprinkled a few dust over Jasmine and twirled her finger until Jasmine had absorbed it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chery tilted her head, studying the girl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So fragile,\" she whispered. \"Yet so stubborn.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jasmine stirred to her side and shifted on her pillow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then her lashes fluttered open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then she jolted upright — eyes wild, breath caught — staring straight at the woman before her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Who—\" her voice cracked. \"What... Princess Cherry! Wh.. how... how are you here? What are you doing here?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chery gave a lilting laugh. \"Now, now, no need for theatrics. You’ve met ghosts before, haven’t you, sweet Jasmine? Consider me... the echo of a bad dream. Or better yet—your reckoning.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jasmine’s hand immediately flew to her stomach as if to shield her child from whatever this woman was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t worry I don’t care about your baby.\" Cherry said waving her hand. \"Not yet at least.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jasmine recoiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You shouldn’t be here,\" she hissed, voice trembling. \"You can’t be here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And yet,\" Chery said softly, stepping closer, \"here I am.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wind outside shifted again, rattling the windowpanes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jasmine was shaking now, as if her child could tell of her discomfort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if it knew that something was wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She felt the kick.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do you want?\" she demanded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chery’s smile widened. \"You should be asking what I’ve already taken.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She reached out, her hand surprisingly gentle as she swept a stray curl behind Jasmine’s ear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re quite the messiah now, aren’t you? Pregnant. Hidden away like some cherished treasure. It’s pathetic.\" Cherry said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don’t care what you think of me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, but you should,\" Chery whispered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do you even want from me?\" Jasmine asked. \"I’m a nobody. If Toh hate me because of what my father did to you, then you’re too late to the party. He is dead.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cherry’s face twitched. \"You’re right. You are nobody.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cherry’s hand moved again , but this time, with a flash of cold steel, she slipped a small ceremonial blade from her sleeve. Jasmine gasped and jerked back, but it was too late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A thick lock of her ginger curls fell into Chery’s palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You—!\" Jasmine tried to lunge forward, but her body failed her. The pressure of the magic in the room was suffocating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chery held the hair up, inspecting it like silk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Such a rich scent,\" she purred. \"Blood. Moonlight. Betrayal.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jasmine’s breath caught. Her heart pounded so hard she thought the baby might feel it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What are you doing?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Leaving you behind,\" Chery whispered. \"Where you belong.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She reached into a pouch tied to her belt — black leather, etched with runes only the oldest witches remembered — and placed the curl into a crystal vial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a flick of her fingers, she drew a rune in the air, and it lit with fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your lover has returned,\" Chery said casually. \"He clawed his way back to that precious pack of his. And now... I will make sure they think you followed him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jasmine’s eyes widened in horror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No,\" she whispered. \"No, don’t do this—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chery turned from her, already walking toward the window, where the breeze had picked up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You see, my darling,\" she said, glancing over her shoulder, \"if they think you’re free... they won’t come looking. You’ll rot here, right under their noses. Forgotten.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"HE’LL COME FOR ME!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was a scream now — hoarse, broken, pure grief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chery paused at the windowsill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I hope he does,\" she said coldly. \"So I can kill him myself.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And with that — she stepped into the wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jasmine rushed forward on unsteady legs, reaching the window just as the air shimmered, and Chery was gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gone with her scent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gone with her hope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gone with her chance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jasmine collapsed to her knees, sobbing into her hands as her baby kicked again, frantic and afraid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that instant Jasmine jumped up from sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was gasping and breathing so heavily she felt her heart was going to explode.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hurriedly looked around but her new prison looked just the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no Cherry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hurriedly touched her stomach and hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her baby was fine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her hair was okay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She heaved a sigh of relief and told herself that it was just a nightmare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>~~~~~~~~~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Somewhere beyond the eastern woods...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chery walked through the forest, her bare feet untouched by thorns or blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She stopped only once , by the river Xaden had collapsed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She dripped the strands of Jasmine’s hair across the bark of a broken tree, smearing it carefully in the bloodstained moss Xaden had left behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Perfect,\" she whispered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she drew her dagger and whispered three ancient words. The hair shimmered, fusing into the trail, spreading its essence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The forest breathed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, anyone who followed the trail would smell Jasmine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, Erik and his wolves would turn back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now... Jasmine would be alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chery smiled to herself, satisfied, then vanished into the night once more.\u003C\u002Fp>",1072,"2026-06-06T04:22:13.102Z",1,"novelbin.me","19d4a889a9c5b9bfea8786196571ea80ef5f6c947e458f0d4c62e701ab0dbded","the-alpha-s-unwanted-bride-chapter-465","the-alpha-s-unwanted-bride-chapter-463",728,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-alpha-s-unwanted-bride-cover.jpg"]