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“You saw the monster you’re married to,” Leon said. “How can you live with that?” I didn’t choose Darius. I was forced into his bed, into his castle, into his curse 😣. But I saw the truth long before his body turned to fur and fangs—he was already bleeding inside 💔🐺. I thought Leon was my future. I thought love meant running away. But now I see the man who stayed, the prince who held me through pain, who bled for me, who would die before letting me fall 💔❤️🔥. This baby? It might break everything. But I’m not afraid of the beast anymore. I’m afraid of losing him 😩. Chapter 1 Octavia’s POV "I will not recite vows to a monster." My voice carried across the great hall before the assembled nobles like a blade through silk and the court fell silent. Father's eyes turned to ice. "You will recite the vows, Octavia. As rehearsed." I lifted my chin, meeting his gaze directly. "I refuse to pledge myself to the Beast Prince." The nobles exchanged glances, whispers rippled through the crowd. Father's knuckles whitened as he gripped the arms of his throne. "Clear the hall," he commanded, his voice deadly quiet. The courtiers scattered like startled birds and within moments, only Father and I remained, the vast space suddenly oppressive in its emptiness. He descended from his throne with measured steps, each footfall echoing off the stone walls. "Defiant little whore," he said, almost conversationally. "Twenty years I've fed you, clothed you, sheltered you. And this is how you repay me?" His backhanded strike sent me sprawling across the floor. Stars exploded across my vision. Blood filled my mouth from where my teeth cut into my cheek. "I saw you with that knight," he said, circling me like a predator. "By the stables yesterday. Laughing." His voice dropped to a whisper as he lowered himself to meet my gaze. "Did you think I wouldn't notice? That I wouldn't see how you look at him?" I pushed myself up, tasting copper. "Sir Leon is my protector—" "That boy is a fool who
