The Alpha's Unwanted Bride novel Chapter 696

Chapter 696: THE CAVE

Jasmine landed hard.

The fall ended abruptly with a jolt that knocked the breath straight out of her lungs, her body slamming down onto solid ground with a sharp, bruising impact.

"Oof-!"

Pain shot up her spine as she landed squarely on her bum. For a second, all she could do was sit there, stunned, the air wheezing painfully from her chest. The darkness around her felt thick, pressing in, and the only sound was her own ragged breathing.

She groaned softly and forced herself to move.

"I am never doing that again," she muttered under her breath.

Carefully, she pushed herself up, wincing as her back protested.

Fine dust coated her palms and the hem of her robe.

She brushed herself off quickly, heart still racing, then immediately checked for the dagger she had hidden under her robe.

Her baby kicked.

"I know," she whispered, rubbing her belly. "I know. That was... not graceful."

She straightened slowly.

And froze.

The space around her wasn’t just a cave.

It was massive.

The ceiling stretched high above her, supported by thick natural pillars of stone veined with glowing minerals that cast a soft, eerie light across the cavern.

The walls curved outward, opening into wide chambers connected by tunnels and carved archways.

Torches burned in numbers, their flames steady and warm, revealing sections upon sections of activity.

Beds made from furs and stone.

Cooking fires crackling quietly.

Weapons stacked neatly against walls.

Unshifted wolves walking among shifted ones without fear.

It looked like an underground pack house.

A hidden city beneath the forest.

Her breath caught.

There were dozens no, hundreds of wolves.

And they were all looking at her.

Jasmine took an involuntary step back.

Her foot struck something solid behind her.

Clatter.

The sound echoed far too loudly in the cavern.

Every head snapped toward her.

Silence fell.

Then a growl came and another followed.

Then another.

Shifted wolves stepped forward first, hackles raised, teeth bared, eyes glowing faintly in the dim light.

Unshifted wolves moved too, hands clenching, weapons appearing seemingly from nowhere. The air thickened instantly with hostility.

Jasmine’s heart slammed violently against her ribs.

"Oh no," she whispered.

They were closing in.

Snapping.

Growling.

Snarling.

Fear flooded her system so fast it made her dizzy. Her instincts screamed at her to run, but there was nowhere to go. Her back hit cold stone as she retreated another step, palms raised uselessly.

Her thoughts spiraled.

This was a mistake.

A terrible, stupid mistake.

Her father had warned her.

She should have listened.

She should have stayed in her room.

She should have trusted him.

Hot regret burned behind her eyes as the wolves drew closer, their anger palpable, vibrating through the cavern.

"Monster," someone spat.

"Usurper’s blood," another growled.

"She shouldn’t be here."

"Kill her."

The words hit her like blows.

Her hand flew protectively to her stomach as panic clawed up her throat. Her baby kicked again, harder this time, distressed.

"I just wanted to understand," she whispered desperately. "Please-

She bumped into someone behind her.

Jasmine spun around instinctively, fear turning into raw reflex. She lifted her arms, ready to fight, ready to scream then it stopped.

It was Sofia.

Sofia’s hands were already on her shoulders, firm but gentle. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"It’s okay," Sofia said quickly, leaning close. "I’ve got you."

Jasmine’s legs nearly gave out in relief.

Sofia stepped past her, deliberately placing herself between Jasmine and the crowd. She stood tall, shoulders squared, chin lifted.

"Enough!" Sofia shouted.

The growling didn’t stop.

"You brought her?" someone roared. "You brought her here?"

Sofia didn’t flinch.

"Yes," she said clearly. "I did."

A ripple of outrage spread through the crowd.

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