The Alpha's Unwanted Bride novel Chapter 711

Chapter 711: FATHER DEAREST

The forest felt wrong without Maelis.

Too quiet. Too empty. Like something vital had been ripped out and the land itself hadn’t learned how to breathe again.

I stood frozen where she had fallen, my fingers locked around the small chest, my body shaking so violently I thought my bones might crack apart. The warmth that had been at my side moments ago was gone. Replaced by cold and blood and the echo of her scream still ringing in my ears.

Then there was only him.

My father.

He took a step toward me.

I recoiled before I could stop myself.

"Don’t," I said, my voice breaking. "Don’t come closer."

He halted, his expression tightening not with guilt but with something like irritation. As if my fear were an inconvenience rather than the result of what he had just done.

"You shouldn’t have seen that," he said calmly. "She forced my hand."

My chest heaved as tears spilled freely now. I didn’t bother wiping them away.

"Why," I whispered. "Why are you like this."

He frowned slightly. "Like what."

"Evil," I said, the word tasting bitter and final. "Why are you evil."

For a moment he simply stared at me.

Then he sighed.

Not in anger. Not in shame.

In disappointment.

"I’m not evil," he said. "I’ve just learned what others refuse to accept. That sacrifices must be made."

My stomach churned violently.

"You murdered them," I cried. "You slaughtered them. They trusted her. They trusted me."

"They resisted order," he replied evenly. "They chose chaos. That always ends the same way."

I shook my head hard, as if that might dislodge the sound of his voice from my skull.

"You killed her," I sobbed. "You killed Maelis."

"She chose to stand against me," he said. "You don’t get to choose both sides and survive."

Something inside me snapped then.

Not loudly.

Quietly. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Like a string pulled too tight for too long finally giving way.

"And what about me," I asked. "What am I to you."

He stepped closer again, carefully this time, like one might approach a frightened animal.

"You are my daughter," he said. "You are my greatest legacy. Together we can change this world. Shape it into something better. Something strong. Something that cannot be threatened again."

My hands clenched around the chest.

"To our image," he continued. "With your power and mine there would be no more rebellion. No more division. Only unity."

The word tasted wrong.

Unity built on bones.

I looked at him then. Really looked.

At the man who had held me while I cried. Who had kissed my forehead. Who had promised safety while sharpening the knife behind his back.

And suddenly it all fell into place.

"Oh," I breathed.

He tilted his head. "What."

My laugh came out broken and hollow.

"It was her," I said. "Wasn’t it."

His eyes sharpened.

"My mother," I continued. "She was the royal who locked my wolf."

Silence stretched between us.

"She did it," I whispered, tears streaming down my face. "She locked my wolf to protect me. To protect me from you."

He didn’t deny it.

He just stared at me.

Heartbreak tore through my chest so violently I doubled forward, clutching my stomach as another sharp pain rippled through me.

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