The Alpha's Replacement Bride

We Are Outside, Milord...

Harriet continued to maintain her friendly smile throughout the party. Having grown so used to it, even though her cheeks felt stiff, Harriet was able to endure it. By the time the party had dragged on until past 9 p.m., Harriet noticed the nobles were starting to become more relaxed with the help of the alcoholic drinks served.

She didn't drink, because she didn't want a stomach ache. Today, her corset was very tight and new, so it didn't really feel right on her body yet. Harriet wanted to run away for a moment to loosen her chest corset area.

Harriet went into the break room, and at the door, she heard something from inside the room.

"I mean, she might not even be able to get pregnant, right?"

"The next Duchess?"

"Right."

Hearing that, Harriet furrowed her brows.

"Unless she's the real Luna. Then maybe she'll be able to get pregnant."

The voices in there sounded like the voices of women. Perhaps the ladies from the Northern noble families gathered to gossip in the break room, as any noblewoman would do at parties.

"Moreover, Young Lord is old and dying. Can he still be able to, you know, get it up?"

One woman's joke made the others laugh, and Harriet herself laughed at it.

Old and dying?

Couldn't get it up?

The women laughing were suddenly confused because they heard laughter outside the room door. And it still hadn't stopped. Harriet slowly opened the door, still laughing. Since her corset was so tight, laughing was a bit difficult.

However, upon seeing her, the noble ladies fell silent and paled.

"Lu… Luna…"

They all stood up and bowed deeply.

The noble ladies, although some of them were not Lycan mates and only wives of ordinary human nobles, were people who had already adapted to the Lycan environment. They all knew that Luna had to be appropriately respected.

However, because they were still relatively young, they needed to learn about the role of a 'Luna', which had been vacant for a long time. They might even be too young to have ever seen the appearance of the Young Lord, who never descended from his tower.

"No need to be rigid; I came here because my corset is too tight," said Harriet calmly.

The women laughed blandly and confusedly, still looking pale.

Harriet started to take off her top in front of the mirror, but the woman just stood there, not knowing what to do. Harriet turned to them and looked at them with the same confused expression.

"You don't want to help me?" asked Harriet.

The women jumped in surprise and rushed forward unison to help Harriet loosen her clothes. Harriet's smile was still the same, faint and gentle. Her eyes also looked shaded with calm and full of warmth.

However, the women were surprised to see the pale skin of Harriet's neck, shoulders, and back, which was covered with red marks that had almost faded.

"Ah, sorry to show you the embarrassing side of me..." Harriet muttered, gently stroking the red marks on her shoulders and neck that her dress had hidden. "Even though it's been more than a week since the full moon, it seems that because my skin is so thin and pale, the marks don't go away quickly…"

Instantly, many of the women started to blush. They realized where the marks that filled Harriet's body had come from. And they also discovered that Harriet was showing it off on purpose.

They then saw Harriet staring at them helplessly with sharp yet friendly eyes. "Madams, do you know the best way to get rid of these marks quickly? Young Lord gave me signs everywhere, even down there…" Harriet's eyes looked down, and the woman blushed even more.

"Hehe," Harriet laughed shyly and innocently.

***

.Her corset was looser and more comfortable now. But when Harriet came out of the break room, she didn't feel like returning to the party yet. Maybe after facing the noble wives, she felt like leaving the social space for a while.

Harriet went to the balcony on the side of the building, where the cold northern spring breeze blew against her gently. She took a deep breath.

Tap.

Harriet heard a sound behind her, and she looked back. Liam stood there casually, looking like he just jumped down from somewhere. 

"Milord," called Harriet, somewhat surprised.

This man always showed up at the most unexpected times…

"I don't know how I keep waking up and keep trying to find you… What exactly have you done to me?" the man asked, stepping closer.

Harriet smiled, remembered the women's words in the break room, and chuckled.

Liam raised his eyebrows. 

"So you enjoyed the party? You look happy," the man asked, pulling Harriet by the waist closer.

At that second, Liam immediately realized that Harriet's clothes were more challenging to remove than usual. He furrowed his brows in surprise at the dirty thoughts that had appeared from it, but then he laughed at himself inwardly.

"Did you just wake up, Milord? Do you want to attend the party?" asked Harriet.

"Everyone would have a heart attack if I suddenly appeared. And I'd better not show up..." Liam replied, slowly staring down Harriet's neck, which was covered by the high collar of her dress.

"I see. It would be better if people didn't know you could suddenly wake up without a full moon…" Harriet's voice slowly lowered. She also slowly realized that there was something strange with Liam today. Why was this man so attached to her the second they met?

Unable to feel the texture of Harriet's body beneath the corset, Liam's hands went around her bottom. Harriet's multi-layered skirt felt too obstructive, but for some reason, it only made Liam feel more excited to grope the body of this woman in front of him. The excitement was like opening a gift wrap.

"Milord?"

Liam blinked, slightly surprised at Harriet's breathless voice. He saw Harriet in his arms, looking so disheveled by his actions.

"Are you okay?"

The woman stared at him with shaded eyes and a slightly misty look. He saw her hair bun adorned with jewels, glittering in the moonlight, her lips slightly parted, with a dark red inside. Liam wanted to lick it and know how it tasted.

By this point, Harriet could already see from Liam's eyes that he wasn't just teasing her. Liam was going to eat her right there at the moment. But they were on the balcony, and a party was in the building!

"Milord, wait–m–"

Liam licked her lips gently, sucking on those plump lips with his own. Liam's saliva soaked their deep kisses, and Harriet…

Harriet gently pushed Liam's shoulder. "We are outside, Milord…"