[{"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-627":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},1497051,1945,"Chapter 627: ANSWERS","the-alpha-s-unwanted-bride-chapter-627",627,"\u003Cp>Xaden led the horses along the narrow trail toward the lake, Erik riding in silence beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neither of the spoke for the mean time as they progressed through the lake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anna’s screams still echoed in the back of Xaden’s mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every cry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every plea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every desperate \"brother.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had carved itself into the spaces between his bones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet he rode forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because justice didn’t wait for grief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He adjusted his reins, trying to steady himself, but the weight in his chest only grew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the shimmering lake finally appeared through the trees, Erik slowed his horse and frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We’re going to her?\" Erik said in disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes,\" Xaden said simply, dismounting. \"I need answers. And Marie is the only one who might give them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Erik exhaled sharply. \"She gives answers nobody wants.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xaden nudged him lightly in the arm. \"Come on. Look at the bright side. If this goes well, Fiona might finally stop glaring holes into your head.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Erik stiffened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xaden immediately regretted trying to lighten the mood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fiona is gone from my life for good,\" Erik said flatly. \"There will be no relationship.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xaden paused, hand resting on the saddle. \"Why?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s best that way,\" Erik muttered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xaden studied him for a moment. Decided not to push. He only nodded once, silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They stepped into the lake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cold water reached their boots, then their ankles, then their waists. Erik hissed at the temperature, but Xaden kept moving with a tense determination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You know,\" Erik muttered, \"every time I come out here, I wonder why Marie couldn’t just live on land like a normal witch.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She’s not normal,\" Xaden murmured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You don’t say,\" Erik scoffed. \"Last time I visited, she ripped your heart out.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xaden lifted a brow. \"It was a price I paid wasn’t it? The heartless Alpha.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Barely.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They kept walking until the lake shimmered around their torsos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, through the fog, Marie’s small hut appeared, wooden, crooked, slightly glowing at the edges like a house that didn’t obey physical laws.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They climbed onto the platform and stepped toward the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Erik hesitated. \"I hate it here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xaden didn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not tonight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tonight he was too angry to fear anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knocked twice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, The chimney roared to life inside the hut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A bright, unnatural blue flame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both men exchanged a look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xaden pushed the door open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room was dark, smelling of herbs, old paper, and lake water. Shelves covered every wall, filled with jars holding things Xaden didn’t want to know. A cat’s tail flicked behind the shadow of a table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wondered which wolf she had changed to a cat this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the firelight brightened fully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marie sat in a rocking chair beside the hearth, lazily stroking her fat grey cat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her long locs spilled down her back like a river of shadows. Her gold eyes were half-lidded, smiling in amusement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Took you long enough,\" she said smoothly. \"I’ve been expecting you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xaden stepped forward, jaw tight. \"Do you know what happened?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marie didn’t look up. \"Oh, yes. You marched your poor sister straight to the Cave of Chaos.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She tsked her tongue, still playing with her cat. \"Tragic, really. But justice is justice, I suppose.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xaden’s hands curled into fists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s not what I’m talking about.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marie lifted her eyes at that, slowly, deliberately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then what is it you want, Alpha?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xaden’s voice dropped dangerously low.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I want the truth behind Lisa’s claims. Regarding Eleanor.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marie’s cat stopped purring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marie’s fingers froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her expression didn’t change at first, but her eyes did. A flicker of something raw. Something old. Something wounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Xaden pressed, voice full of controlled fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You owed Eleanor. You two were close. Don’t pretend otherwise.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marie inhaled sharply through her nose, a bitter sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You dare,\" she whispered, \"talk about her like that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then say something ,\" Xaden snapped. \"You remain silent. You hide the truth . You do nothing, always nothing. Did you even care for her? Or were you too selfish, too consumed by your own secrets to lift a-\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marie’s voice broke on a snarl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"ELEANOR WAS MY SISTER!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The silence that followed the shout was thick and violent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xaden’s entire body went cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Erik froze beside him, mouth falling open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marie smiled then, a cruel, twisted smile as she leaned back in her chair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Surprised?\" she asked sweetly. \"Don’t be. You always suspected there was something more about her, didn’t you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xaden couldn’t speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marie continued, voice dripping with venom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Eleanor was my elder sister. My blood. My protector. My heart. And she is the reason I am trapped in this wretched place.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her cat hissed, sensing her rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xaden swallowed. \"Then why didn’t you ever tell me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marie’s eyes flickered with pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Because you don’t need to fucking know•.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stepped forward. \"Then explain. What does Princess Chery have to do with my mother? With my sister? With Jasmine?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the mention of Chery, Marie’s entire demeanor changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her spine straightened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her jaw tensed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes went dark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xaden knew then, Marie was terrified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He repeated, voice sharp as a blade:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What does Princess Chery want? Why did she try to kill Jasmine?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marie stared into the fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her hands trembled slightly as she stroked her cat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, she spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I suspected this would happen,\" she whispered. \"I suspected she was still watching. Still waiting. Still meddling.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why,\" Xaden repeated, \"is she after Jasmine?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marie closed her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She still said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xaden became agitated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tell me something for Goddess sake!\" He screamed. \"I’ve paid so many prices to you! You owe me! If you won’t help your sister then tell me so I can help her! She was my mother.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marie walked away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why does Cherry want Jasmine?!\" He screamed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Get out.\" She said softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was taken aback.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She screamed. \"I said get out! Get out!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And with that she used her magic to blow them out of the hut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were dragged out with such force and flung meters outside the grass under the moonlight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They heard a loud bang that told them never to intervene again.\u003C\u002Fp>",1022,"2026-06-06T04:22:25.014Z",1,"novelbin.me","fd8f4be829f566b2f32f5c23c16ba4eeef3a29e0b273ace06ca65624a39a3f49","the-alpha-s-unwanted-bride-chapter-628","the-alpha-s-unwanted-bride-chapter-626",728,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-alpha-s-unwanted-bride-cover.jpg"]