The Cursed Alphas

CHAPTER ONE

Talia

Three days locked behind the doors of the library. No food. No water. Just the same desperate page-turning, chasing a cure that might not exist.

Yet, every page was a dead end.

Seven times. Seven mates looked at me and saw only a curse. The last one had walked away four days ago, his rejection still burning underneath my skin. The sharp finality of it had driven me here—burying myself in books, in these pages.

I swallowed hard, fingers tightening around the parchment.

"No wolf born on this day shall ever bring life to this world. Their bloodline will end with them, their wombs will remain barren, and their mates will know only longing and loss."

I had read those words enough times to carve them into my bones.

My fate had already been sealed by the moon goddess even before I took my first breath.

My eyelids squeezed together. Why had I been born under that cursed moon? Why had fate chosen me to bear the weight of the Goddess's grief?

I shoved another useless tome aside, reaching for the next. My hands shook, and my vision blurred constantly, but I couldn't stop.

If there was a way to end this painful ride of mine, I was going to find it. I had to find it.

The door slammed open, and a gust of fresh air rushed in.

My body jerked up, my gaze zapped toward the door.

Lisa stood at the doorway,

dressed in a crisp suit, her short frame looked taller than it was. Blonde hair pulled into a bun.

Her piercing blue eyes swept across the room until they landed on me.

I curled inward, shrinking behind the rows of books. Pointless. She had already found me.

She strode towards me, her feet thudding against the wooden floor.

"How long are you going to do this?"

I didn't answer.

Her fist crashed down on my head. Not hard enough to hurt. Just enough to sting.

"Three days." Smack. "Three days, Talia." Smack."You were given time, and you've already passed it."

I winced, petting the spot that had burnt from her strike

"Why have you always been so mean?"

Lisa huffed, as she dropped into the chair beside me. Her eyes swept over me, taking note of my tangled black hair and puffy eyes.

Her nose scrunched. "Get up. Wash. You look like a homeless bitch." She sniffled, waving a hand in front of her face. "You stink."

I rolled my eyes, even though she wasn't wrong.

I couldn't care less about my appearance. A clean face wouldn't erase my curse.

Before I could reach for another book, Lisa grabbed my arm and yanked me up like I was as light as the pages of the book I had just read.

My stomach was too empty, and my muscles were devoid of any ounce of strength to fight her.

"Let's go. Your time's up."

Cursing her strength from her powerful wolf and tears of training, I writhed in her grip.

"Wait! My answer could be on the next page—Lisa!"

She sighed and stopped, but her hand still held me captive. "How many times have you told yourself that?"

Frowning, I averted my gaze.

"Exactly." She groaned and resumed dragging me along.

I slithered out of her grip, stumbling back toward my books.

"The Alpha wants you." Her words hit the air.

My breath caught, and my stomach clenched.

Had word of my seventh rejection spread already? Or was this about something worse?

I turned slowly. "Why?"

Lisa shrugged. "How the hell should I know? He sent me to get you." She crossed her arms. "And you shouldn't be wasting time here when you look like that."

I dragged a hand down my face.

I exhaled sharply. "Fine."

Straightening, I forced my aching limbs to cooperate.

"Let's go find out what he wants from me this time."

.

.

After showering and slipping into clean clothes, I stood before the door, the scent of tobacco slipping through the cracks and settling in my lungs—heavy.

My fingers lingered on the door knob. How could I face him, when I was nothing but a disgrace? I wasn't ready to see the disappointment in his gaze again.

"It's fine," I muttered beneath my breath "He just wants to see you."

Finally, I pushed the door open and stepped in

Smoke curled lazily from the pipe resting between my father's fingers.

Sitting behind his massive mahogany desk, his dark eyes swept over me from head to toe. His onyx eyes looked nothing like the crimson ones I had—a symbol of the curse I bore.

He took a slow inhale. A smirk stretched across his lips

"Look at you." His voice was laced with a warm tone but somehow still felt heavy on me. "How's my baby girl?"

My body still felt rigid. "Good morning, Dad"

He rose from his chair with an ease that didn't play nice with his size. Built like a damn wall—broad and powerful, his arms thick beneath the rolled-up sleeves of his white button-down shirt. Silver streaked through his black hair and full beard. If anything it made look even more intimidating, fitting for an Alpha.

Before I could react I was plugged into a tight hug by the bear-like of a man.

My face was practically being crushed against his chest. "Dad," I muttered, my voice muffled.

"My little princess," he murmured, squeezing me harder. "You are growing too fast."

"Old man, I'm way past the age for this." I pointed out, my arms pinned awkwardly at my sides.

He ignored that, holding on for a moment longer before letting me go, settling back into his seat, he gestured towards the seat across from him. " Sit, we need to talk."

I sank into the leather chair crossing one leg over the other. "About what?" My stomach tightened. This was definitely about my latest rejection.

His gaze held on to me for a while before he continued "How have you been?"

I shrugged, tapping a finger against my knee. "Hmmm let me think, Wake up, go to the office, run everything that I should. Come back train, beat the crap of the lazy guys in your pack…."

My gaze shifted to him in disbelief. " On that note how can those weak bastards call themselves male wolves of the Hayes pack? We are goners if any strong pack attacks those assholes who would be the first to die." I said, sinking into my seat.

A low chuckle rumbled from his chest. "They aren't weak you just have the blood of one the strongest wolves around running in your veins."

"Yeah, Yeah, all Gail the mighty Samuel Hayes," I said rolling my eyes. "So when did you get back?" I asked.

"Last night," he exhaled slowly "Wanted to call but there were a lot of things I had to take care of first."

"Sure the usual stuff, So what's the important matter we need to discuss?"

The old man's expression shifted and grew into

something serious. A seriousness I never liked.

My father leaned back into his chair, tapping his fingers on the armrest. He took another drag from his pipe, hanging from his lips.

"What?" My voice sharpened. "Just say it."

A cold feeling settled in my stomach. My father never stalled.

He exhaled, letting the smoke curl into the air.

"Talia," his eyes locked with mine. "Someone asked for your hand in marriage."

His words pounded in my head. Who in his right mind would want to marry a cursed woman like me?