MARKED BY THE CURSED ALPHA

CHAPTER 2

Damon's POV

The towering Blackwood Holdings headquarters pierced the clouds like a monument built to intimidate. A fleet of black luxury vehicles came to a smooth halt at the entrance, and within seconds, security guards lined both sides of the driveway. Employees who had been chatting moments earlier immediately lowered their heads. "Good morning, Mr. Blackwood." No one dared look him in the eye. Damon Blackwood stepped out of the car without sparing anyone a glance. At thirty years old, he had become the youngest billionaire in the country. As the CEO of Blackwood Holdings, his business empire stretched across real estate, technology, pharmaceuticals, shipping, luxury hotels, and finance. His name dominated magazine covers, business forums, and international headlines. But the world only knew one side of him. Behind the polished suits and billion-dollar deals stood a man whose true identity was whispered only in fear. The Alpha King. The ruler of the most powerful werewolf bloodline. The Mafia King. The click of his polished shoes echoed through the marble lobby as employees instinctively moved aside. Within minutes, Damon entered the executive boardroom. The atmosphere instantly turned suffocating. Twelve executives sat around the long conference table, each clutching a presentation file with trembling hands. The quarterly meeting had begun. "Our profits increased by seventeen percent this quarter," one director announced confidently. Another executive quickly added, "The overseas expansion has exceeded expectations." Damon remained silent. He lazily flipped through the financial report before placing it back on the table. "So..." His deep voice filled the room. "Who approved the East Harbor investment?" The room froze. A middle-aged executive slowly raised his shaking hand. "I... I did, Mr. Blackwood." Damon's cold gaze settled on him. "You invested two hundred million dollars into a company whose debts exceeded its assets." The executive's face turned pale. "I believed—" "You believed?" Damon cut him off. "The market report clearly warned against it three weeks before the investment." Silence. "Did you ignore the report..." "...or are you simply incompetent?" Sweat rolled down the man's forehead. "I... I can explain." "You have thirty seconds." The executive stumbled over his words, but every excuse only made the room quieter. Damon leaned back in his chair. "Time's up." He turned to the head of Human Resources. "Terminate his employment." The man's eyes widened. "Mr. Blackwood! Please! Give me another chance!" "I have no use for people who gamble with my money." Two security guards entered immediately. The executive was escorted out despite his desperate pleas. No one else dared speak. Damon stood, buttoning his suit jacket. "The meeting is over."

As the executives hurried out with relieved expressions, the large wooden doors opened once more. A tall man dressed in black walked inside before bowing respectfully. "Alpha." It was Ethan. Damon's Beta and the only person allowed to interrupt one of his meetings. Without saying a word, Damon walked toward his private office. Ethan followed behind. Once the office doors closed, the luxurious silence settled over the room. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the entire city. Damon stood with his back to Ethan, his hands tucked into his pockets. "Report." Ethan lowered his head. "Another one failed." The words hung heavily in the air. "So..." Damon spoke calmly. "She didn't transform." "No, Alpha." A long silence followed. For ten years... Every year, fifty women had entered Blackwood Palace. They fought through forests filled with traps, hunted beasts, and impossible trials. Only the final three survivors earned the right to receive the Alpha King's Mark. Every year, Damon marked them himself. Every year... Nothing happened. Not a single woman awakened a wolf. Not one was able to bear the heir destined to break the curse.

Damon closed his eyes. The palace physician's warning echoed in his mind. "Before your thirty-first birthday, you must find the woman born without a wolf. Only your mark can awaken the wolf sleeping within her. Only she can bear your heir and break the curse. Fail... and your bloodline will end forever." His father had searched until his dying breath. He had failed. Now the burden rested on Damon alone. His eyes slowly opened. For a brief second... Their dark color shifted into glowing gold. "I've wasted enough time." Ethan remained silent. He knew exactly what those words meant. Damon turned around. "Prepare another Survival Game." Ethan hesitated. "Alpha... our list of eligible women is shrinking. Many families now hide their daughters whenever the selection begins."

"Then expand the search." "To where?" "Prisons." Ethan blinked. "Orphanages. Underground fighting rings. Anywhere." "As long as they meet the requirements..." "...bring them." "As you command, Alpha." Ethan bowed before leaving the office. Once the door closed, Damon looked out over the glittering city below. Millions of people lived beneath those lights. Somewhere among them... She existed. The woman fate had hidden from him for ten long years. His lips curved into the faintest smile. "Find her." His voice was barely above a whisper. "No matter the cost."