BOUND THE CURSED ALPHA

chapter 2

Luna didn’t realize she was holding her breath… until it burned.

His words echoed in her head.

You belong to me.

Something about the way he said it—calm, certain, unquestionable—sent a chill through her entire body.

“No…” she whispered, her voice shaking. “No, I don’t.”

For a moment, nothing happened.

Then his grip on her tightened.

Not painfully.

But enough to remind her that she was still trapped in his arms.

His red eyes darkened slightly as he studied her face, as if memorizing every detail, every reaction.

“You’re shaking,” he murmured.

“I told you to let me go,” she snapped weakly, trying to push against his chest.

It was like pushing against stone.

He didn’t move.

Didn’t even react.

Instead, his gaze dropped briefly to her lips… then back to her eyes.

Slow. Intentional.

Dangerous.

“You’re afraid,” he said quietly.

Luna clenched her jaw. “Of course I am! You just killed someone in front of me!”

Silence.

Then—

“So did they.”

Her breath caught.

“What?”

“They would have killed you,” he continued, his tone flat, almost indifferent. “Slowly.”

A shiver ran down her spine.

She knew that.

Deep down… she had known.

But hearing it out loud made it real.

Too real.

“That doesn’t mean I should trust you,” she whispered.

His lips curved slightly.

A shadow of amusement.

“Trust?” he repeated.

The word sounded foreign in his mouth.

Like something he didn’t believe in.

“I don’t need your trust.”

Her heart dropped.

“Then what do you want from me?”

For the first time… he didn’t answer immediately.

His gaze shifted, as if something deeper, darker was moving behind his eyes. Something he wasn’t ready to say.

Then—

“You’ll understand soon.”

Her frustration spiked. “Stop saying that!”

Her voice cracked, louder this time. “Stop acting like I’m part of something I don’t even know!”

The forest seemed to hold its breath again.

Even the wind stilled.

His expression changed.

Subtly.

But she saw it.

Something colder.

Something… dangerous.

“You are part of it,” he said quietly.

A pulse of fear shot through her.

“I don’t even know you!”

His eyes locked onto hers.

Sharp.

“You will.”

Before she could react—

He moved.

In one swift motion, he lifted her into his arms.

A gasp tore from her lips as her body was suddenly off the ground.

“Put me down!” she struggled, pushing against him.

But it was useless.

His hold was iron.

Unbreakable.

“No.”

The same answer.

Cold. Final.

Panic surged through her chest. “Where are you taking me?”

He didn’t respond.

Instead, he turned—

And ran.

The world blurred around her.

Trees passed in streaks of shadow, the wind whipping against her face as he moved with inhuman speed.

It wasn’t normal.

Nothing about him was normal.

Her fingers instinctively clutched his shirt as her stomach twisted violently.

“H-how are you—”

“Quiet.”

The single word silenced her instantly.

Not because he yelled.

But because of the way he said it.

Low.

Dominant.

Commanding.

And her body… listened.

Her lips parted slightly, but no sound came out.

Her heart raced faster.

Not just from fear.

But from something else.

Something she didn’t understand.

Something that made her hate herself.

Minutes—or maybe seconds, she couldn’t tell—passed before he finally slowed.

Then stopped.

They stood before something massive.

A structure hidden deep within the forest.

Dark stone walls.

Towering gates.

It looked abandoned.

Forgotten.

Yet… alive.

Luna’s breath caught as he carried her inside.

The air changed instantly.

Heavier.

Colder.

Filled with something ancient.

He set her down gently—too gently for someone like him.

Her legs nearly gave out, but she caught herself.

Then she turned on him immediately.

“What is this place?”

He stepped past her without answering.

“Hey!” she snapped, grabbing his arm.

The moment her skin touched his—

A sharp pulse shot through her body.

Like electricity.

She gasped softly.

And so did he.

The air shifted.

Again.

Slowly…

He turned to look at her.

This time, there was no indifference in his eyes.

No cold distance.

Only intensity.

Raw.

Unfiltered.

“What did you just do…?” she whispered.

His gaze dropped to her hand still on his arm.

Then back to her face.

“I didn’t do anything.”

Her heart pounded.

“That’s a lie.”

Silence.

Heavy.

Then—

“It’s the bond.”

Her breath hitched.

“The what?”

He stepped closer.

Too close again.

“It shouldn’t exist,” he said quietly.

A chill ran through her.

“What are you talking about?”

His jaw tightened.

As if the words themselves tasted bitter.

“You…” he paused, studying her face carefully, “are not supposed to be mine.”

Her chest tightened painfully.

“Then I’m not,” she said quickly. “So whatever this is—just let me go.”

A mistake.

The moment the words left her lips, the air around him changed.

Darkened.

His eyes flickered.

Dangerously.

“You don’t decide that,” he said, his voice dropping lower.

Her heart stuttered.

“I do.”

The silence that followed was suffocating.

Then suddenly—

He grabbed her wrist.

Pulled her toward him.

Hard.

Her body collided with his, and before she could react—

His hand moved to her neck.

Not choking.

But holding.

Firm.

Possessive.

“Listen carefully,” he said, his voice dangerously calm.

Her breath trembled.

“You felt it.”

She didn’t respond.

Couldn’t.

“Back there,” he continued. “When I touched you.”

Her silence confirmed it.

His grip tightened slightly.

“That doesn’t happen without a reason.”

Her lips parted. “I don’t care—”

“You will.”

Her heart pounded violently.

“No, I won’t!”

Something snapped.

Not loudly.

But deeply.

In him.

His eyes darkened completely.

Then—

He leaned in closer.

So close she could feel his breath against her lips.

“You will care,” he whispered, his voice rough now. “Because whether you accept it or not…”

His thumb pressed lightly under her chin, forcing her to look directly into his burning gaze.

“You are tied to me.”

Her chest rose and fell rapidly.

“No…”

“Yes.”

Her eyes burned with frustration, fear, confusion.

“This is insane…”

A pause.

Then—

A quiet, dangerous sentence:

“You haven’t seen insanity yet.”

A chill ran down her spine.

But before she could respond—

A distant sound echoed through the structure.

Footsteps.

Multiple.

Fast.

Kael’s entire posture changed instantly.

Alert.

Deadly.

He turned toward the sound, his expression turning cold again.

“They’re here already…” he muttered.

Luna’s heart dropped.

“Who?”

He didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, his hand tightened around hers.

Warm. Strong.

Unyielding.

Then he looked at her.

And for the first time—

There was something close to warning in his eyes.

“Stay behind me.”

Her breath hitched.

“What’s going on?”

His gaze darkened.

“The people who want you dead…”

A pause.

Then, colder:

“…and the ones who want me worse.”

The footsteps grew louder.

Closer.

The air thickened with danger.

And Luna realized something terrifying.

Running from him…

Might have been the safer choice.