The Cursed Alpha’s Bride

CHAPTER 5

Emily's POV:

I stood in the middle of a garden, bare feet. The air was sweet, and filled with the scent of blooming flowers.

I giggled, ducking behind an old wooden barrel that stood propped against the garden wall. Its wood was aged, moss creeping along the cracks, and the surface pressed against my back as I crouched.

“Emmy! Where are you?” A boy’s voice called out, playful and warm.

Another voice joined in, a little deeper. “You can’t hide forever, you know. We’ll find you!”

I bit my lip to keep from laughing, my small hands clamped over my mouth. The boys moved closer, their feet brushing through the overgrown grass.

“She’s gotta be around here somewhere.” A third voice said, more cautious, like he was the sensible one of the group.

I peeked through a gap in the barrel, but their faces were nothing but smudges, if someone had wiped their identities away. Yet, I knew them.

“Emmy!”

The youngest one sprinted past the barrel, his shadow stretching long across the garden. I bit down on my lip harder, my shoulders shaking as I stifled my laughter.

“She’s hiding.” The cautious one murmured. “She always hides when it’s her turn.”

The boy who had run past turned back. “We need to find her, before it starts raining.”

I blinked. “Rain?” I whispered.

And then, as if the world had heard him, clouds gathered. The sun vanished, swallowed by thick, angry clouds that rolled over the sky. A gust of wind swept through the garden.

“Come on, Emmy!” The youngest boy’s voice had changed—higher, almost pleading. “You’ll catch a cold!”

I remained where I was, knees drawn to my chest, my dress damp from the growing puddle beneath me. The rain came down in sheets, drumming against the ground and soaking everything in seconds.

“She’s being stubborn.” One of them muttered, his blurry face turning to the others.

I smiled to myself. I liked this. Liked the way they searched for me, the way they wanted to protect me. I felt safe here, hidden and cherished.

“Emily!” Their voices blended with the storm.

A flash of white sliced through the sky, and I flinched, as my fingers dug into the mossy wood behind me.

“Emily!”

The thunder followed, a roar that shook the earth, and suddenly, the boys were gone.

“No!” I screamed, my voice swallowed by the storm. “Where are you?”

The barrel behind me crumbled to dust, and I fell, my body weightless as the ground opened up beneath me.

Another flash of lightning, but this time it was a lot closer.

“Ah!”

I jolted awake, my scream still echoing in the room. My chest heaved, each breath a struggle as if I’d been drowning.

I reached for my neck, my fingers brushing over the skin.

“What…?” My voice was hoarse. I pulled my hand away, staring at my trembling fingers. “How am I still alive?” I whispered.

I pushed back the covers, my feet hitting the cold floor. I can't stay here. Not another second.

As I clutched my sore neck, the memory of those monstrous eyes—Xander’s eyes—sent a shiver crawling down my spine. If he became a beast every night, then what about Damon and Gideon? What else were they hiding behind those handsome faces and carefully crafted lies?

“No. I need to get out.” I swung my legs off the bed, barely noticing the thin, wrinkled nightdress I wore. It didn’t matter. Nothing mattered except escaping this nightmare.

I yanked the door open, the wood slamming against the wall, and darted down the hallway.

When I reached the staircase, I froze. The sitting room below was crowded with guards and maids, their heads bowed. Xander, Gideon, and Damon sat before them, their expressions hard and unforgiving.

“What…?” I crouched low, inching forward until I could hear them.

“Why weren’t you more vigilant?” Xander’s voice was sharp. “How could you let her sneak around last night under your watch?”

Her. They were talking about me.

I bit down on my lip, the taste of blood pooling on my tongue. Every instinct screamed at me to run. To flee while they were distracted.

This was my chance.

I moved backward, my hands brushing against the wall to guide me. When I reached the back door, I pushed it open with just enough force to slip outside.

I ran through the garden, my bare feet digging into the wet earth as I aimed for the wrought-iron gate at the far end of the estate.

Freedom. Just a few more steps.

“Stop!”

A hand gripped my arm, jerking me back. I spun around, my other arm swinging blindly. My fist connected with solid muscle, and the guard grunted, his grip loosening.

“Let me go!” I screamed, my voice cracking. “I need to leave!”

“You’re not allowed to leave the house all by yourself.” His voice was firm.

The other guard approached. “Should I get Alpha Xander?” He asked.

“No! Please—” I struggled, twisting and pulling, but hi grip was tight. “I can’t stay here! You don’t understand!”

But it was too late.

Xander, Gideon, and Damon appeared, out of nowhere.

“What’s going on?” Damon asked, his voice softer but no less dangerous.

“She tried to run away.” One of the guards explained, still holding my arm.

“Emily…” Gideon took a step forward, his hands raised as if approaching a wounded animal. “Calm down. No one’s going to hurt you.”

“Stay away!” I yanked my arm free, stumbling back against the gate. “You’re all liars, monsters and beasts!”

A muscle in Xander’s jaw ticked. He didn’t say a word. Instead, he moved, faster than I could react. His arm looped around my waist, and before I could scream, he hoisted me over his shoulder.

“Put me down!” I pounded against his back, my fists striking uselessly. “Xander! Let me go!”

He didn’t respond.

By the time we reached his room, my throat was tired from screaming. He kicked the door shut behind us, and the sound reverberated through my bones.

“Listen to me—”

“No!” I thrashed against him, but he only tightened his hold. “I won’t listen! I won’t stay! You’re a monster!”

The words barely left my lips before his mouth crashed against mine.

I froze.

His lips were hot, demanding, and I felt the world tilt beneath me. His fingers dug into my waist, anchoring me against him as his kiss deepened, swallowing my protests.

My hands that were thrashing his chest a few seconds ago, was now tangled in his hair, caught between the urge to pull him closer and to shove him away.

But then—

The door burst open.

Gideon stood in the doorway. “Xander, what the hell are you doing?”

Xander didn’t stop. His lips moved against mine, his hands sliding to the small of my back, pulling me closer.

“Get off her!”

Gideon lunged forward, his fist connecting with Xander’s jaw and I stumbled back.

Xander turned, his eyes burning with an animalistic rage. He moved to strike back, but Damon appeared, his body wedged between them.

“Enough!” Damon’s voice was sharp. “Emily’s scared. Can’t you see that?”

Gideon’s chest heaved, his fists clenched at his sides. “You don’t deserve her, Xander. Not after what you did to her in the past.”

Suddenly, pain exploded across my back, a searing burn that stole the air from my lungs.

“Aah!” I shrieked, my knees buckling.

“What’s wrong?” Gideon rushed to me, his hands hovering over my trembling form. “Emily, what's wrong?”

“My back… It burns.”

Damon moved closer, his eyes filled with concern. “Let us check.”

But Xander was faster. His hands gripped the fabric of my shirt, and within seconds it was yanked off.

A collective gasp filled the room. I couldn’t see my back, but their expressions told me everything.

Damon’s lips parted. “That’s…”

“Sable’s mark.” Gideon finished, his sentence.

"How is this even possible?” Xander demanded. “How was Sable able to put the mark of death on her?”

Gideon’s gaze hardened as he added, "It means someone in this room has betrayed us—again."