[{"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-675":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},1497127,1945,"Chapter 675: MYSTERIOUS GIRL","the-alpha-s-unwanted-bride-chapter-675",675,"\u003Cp>And I can always tell when someone is hiding.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My heart stumbled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I tightened my grip on the cup, knuckles whitening beneath the dim tavern light. Her eyes didn’t pry, but they saw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Far too easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I forced my voice out, even though it shook.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m... not hiding anything.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She raised one perfect brow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Honey,\" she said again, slower this time, like she was speaking to someone fragile or someone lying or both, \"everyone who walks into this inn wearing a cloak that thick in weather this warm is hiding something.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I swallowed hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room suddenly felt warmer. My cloak suddenly felt heavier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I tried to breathe normally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bartender leaned her elbows on the counter, her jewelry quietly clinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What’s your name?\" she asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hesitated. \"Jas... Jade,\" I corrected quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her lips curled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So... Jade,\" she said, tasting the name. \"Welcome to the Dragon’s Cup. The home of misfits, runaways, and wolves who don’t belong anywhere else.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She winked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So trust me when I say... you’re in the right place.\" She said and then chipped in. \"Just be careful with that baby of yours. The town gets really tough here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And what does it concern you about my baby?\" I snapped at her rudely as I wrapped my hands around ny tummy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her beautiful black eyes looked down at me and said. \"Well that’s because I was pregnant like you once.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I became a bit calmer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A fellow mother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh I see.\" I mumbled inaudibly. \"How old is your baby.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He isn’t.\" She said as she poured in beer to a cup and then the atmosphere became chill. \"He died.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then the guilt overcame me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt so terrible at how I had snapped at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had lost her baby too?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And I had been so rude and nasty to her when she was only being kind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Uh.... I.... Er.\" I stuttered trying to find my voice. \"I had no idea.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt so guilty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She waved her hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s okay.\" She shrugged. \"Pregnancy makes you really cranky so I get it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I still felt guilty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And she was right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My last pregnancy hadn’t made me cranky, but this one?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was angry all the time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All throughout the journey with Otto.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had been unbearable as if the fact that my baby was growing faster at an alarming rate made me more terrified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When did this happen?\" I asked her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Two weeks ago.\" She said to herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I winced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then I looked down to her breast for no reason only to find out that shirt was damp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She swore as she walked off to pick up a towel and clean it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You don’t need to.\" She said as I heard her brush the damp path of her chest. \"It will probably soon go.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her breasts still milking was proof enough to show me that she had had the baby true enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yes it had been recent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What happened?\" I blurted out without thinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She set the towel aside once she was down and stretched her arms in the table before looking at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well, I had had some complications during my birth.\" She explained. \"And my baby was born still born pup.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m so sorry.\" I said as fresh memories of thalira’s death came to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least she had managed go hold her baby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mine hadn’t been given the chance to fully form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What of the father?\" I asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And I was beginning to wonder why all of a\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sudden I was being nosy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was not something I did, or was used to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She let out a sigh. \"He died.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My eyes closed as I felt each tragedy lump after the other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He was killed when he was coming to stay with me during the labor.\" She said through gritted teeth. \"Wolves of the moonlight pack killed him. He was my mate.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She chewed on her bottom lip and I felt pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wolves of the moonlight pack?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was going on here\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before I could ask any more question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound of boots approached behind me. Otto appeared at my side, a room key dangling from his fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There is a room with two beds.\" He said. \"And a warm bath ready for you\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he noticed the bartender staring straight at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He straightened instantly, clearing his throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Evening,\" he said politely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t blink. Just smirked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your friend,\" she said, pointing her chin at me, \"isn’t as invisible as she thinks.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otto frowned slightly, then looked at me... then back at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His whole body tensed. \"Did anyone bother her?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman snorted. \"Relax. Your girl is fine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My face flushed. \"He’s not... we’re not....\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know,\" she interrupted smoothly, waving a hand. \"But he watches you like you might vanish if he blinks. So forgive me for assuming.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otto’s ears turned slightly pink. \"I’m just... responsible for her.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman raised both brows, amused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t say what she was thinking, but it showed in her smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well,\" she finally said, pushing back from the counter, \"good luck, travelers. And Jade?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked up. \"Yes?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes softened into something unsettlingly kind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Whatever you’re running from...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She paused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...I hope you find what you’re running toward.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The words hit something in my chest I hadn’t known was exposed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otto gently touched my shoulder. \"Jasmine? The room.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I nodded weakly and slid off the stool.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before I turned to leave, the bartender added softly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And sweetheart... careful out there. You’re not the only one who feels the shift in the air.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I blinked. \"Shift?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wondering what the hell she was going on about.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She acted as though she had aid nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A chill swept down my spine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otto stepped between us instinctively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Come on,\" he murmured to me. \"We should rest.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As we walked away, I looked back once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had so much questions for this woman\u003C\u002Fp>",1002,"2026-06-06T04:22:25.635Z",1,"novelbin.me","5c231ebdb02b954c342bf68052eafb100572025b2ff3f5d2c000c35c153be9b4","the-alpha-s-unwanted-bride-chapter-676","the-alpha-s-unwanted-bride-chapter-674",728,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-alpha-s-unwanted-bride-cover.jpg"]