Claimed By The Cursed Alpha

POV: Aria Vale Run. That was all I could think about. Run faster. Run harder. Don't look back. Branches whipped across my face as I tore through the forest. My lungs burned. My legs felt like they were made of lead. Every breath scraped against my throat, but I couldn't stop. Not tonight. A howl echoed through the darkness. My stomach dropped. They were still behind me. The hunters had been tracking me for six days. Six miserable days of sleeping in caves, drinking from streams, and barely eating enough to stay on my feet. Most rogues died within a few years. I had survived for eight. Not because I was strong. Because I was careful. And tonight, for the first time in years, I had made a mistake. The Blood Moon hung overhead like a giant crimson eye. My wolf paced anxiously beneath my skin. Danger. I know. Danger. I know. The scent of wolves drifted through the trees. Four of them. Maybe five. Too many. Far too many. A branch snapped behind me. Close. My pulse hammered. "She's slowing down!" A male voice echoed through the woods. "Keep moving!" The hunters burst through the trees. I caught glimpses of grey fur between the shadows. Damn it. They were gaining. I pushed harder. Pain exploded through my calves. My vision blurred. I stumbled. Almost fell. Caught myself. Kept running. The forest suddenly opened into a clearing. I skidded to a stop. Something felt wrong. The air changed. The temperature dropped. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. Even my wolf froze. The clearing looked ordinary. Grass. Trees. Moonlight. Yet something ancient lingered beneath the surface. Like invisible eyes were watching. Waiting. The hunters entered the clearing seconds later. Four massive wolves surrounded me. I slowly backed away. No escape. No opening. No chance. One of the wolves shifted. Bones cracked. Fur disappeared. A tall man stepped forward. Scar across his jaw. Cruel smile. Hunter. "Finally," he said. I rolled my eyes despite the fear clawing through my chest. "You tracked me for six days just to say that?" His smile widened. "I expected more fear." "I expected better hunters." His expression darkened. Worth it. The other wolves growled. The leader pointed at me. "Take her." Great. This was how I died. Not in some heroic battle. Not protecting anyone. Not saving the world. Just another rogue caught in the wrong forest. The wolves lunged. Then the ground shook. Everyone froze. The earth trembled beneath our feet. Once. Twice. Three times. The hunters exchanged confused looks. Silence followed. Complete silence. No insects. No wind. Nothing. A cold sensation crawled down my spine. Then I heard it. A woman's voice. Soft. Beautiful. Terrifying. "Aria..." My blood turned to ice. No. Not again. The voice had haunted my dreams for months. Always the same. Always calling my name. The hunters heard nothing. They simply stared at me. The voice came again. Closer. "Aria..." My knees nearly gave out. The world blurred. The clearing vanished. Suddenly I stood inside a massive hall. Black stone. Silver flames. Ancient banners hanging from towering pillars. At the far end sat a woman on a throne. Silver hair. Pale skin. Red eyes. Power rolled off her in waves. She looked like a queen. A very dangerous queen. Her lips curved into a smile. "At last." Fear exploded inside me. "Who are you?" The woman rose from her throne. The entire hall trembled. "I have waited a very long time for you." Every instinct screamed at me to run. But I couldn't move. She stepped closer. And closer. And closer. Until she stood directly in front of me. Her red eyes glowed. "You belong to me." The vision shattered. I gasped. The clearing returned. The hunters stared at me. Only seconds had passed. "What was that?" one of them whispered. I didn't answer. Because I had no answer. The leader growled impatiently. "Enough." He lunged. His hand wrapped around my wrist. Silver light exploded from my body. The force launched him backward. His body slammed into a tree. The crack echoed through the clearing. Silence. Everyone stared at me. Including me. What? That had never happened before. Not once. Not ever. The silver light vanished. Then another sensation slammed into me. A scent. Powerful. Overwhelming. Cedar. Rain. Smoke. Wolf. Alpha. My breath caught. My wolf erupted inside me. Mate. The word echoed through every part of my body. No. No. Absolutely not. The hunters smelled it too. Fear instantly flooded their faces. Slowly, I turned around. Golden eyes glowed from the shadows. A massive figure stepped forward. The forest itself seemed to bow before him. Power radiated from every inch of him. Dangerous. Deadly. Beautiful. Terrifying. My wolf whispered the word again. Mate. And for the first time in years... I forgot how to breathe.