Claimed By The Cursed Alpha

The Alpha's Curse

POV: Damian Blackwood

Mate.

The word slammed into me so hard I nearly lost control of my wolf.

For a second, I simply stood there at the edge of the clearing, staring at the woman fate had chosen for me.

Dark hair.

Silver eyes.

Blood streaked across her arm.

She looked exhausted.

Terrified.

Beautiful.

My wolf surged forward.

Mine.

The possessive growl echoed through my head.

I clenched my jaw.

No.

Mine.

No.

Not this time.

Not again.

The scent of fear filled the air. Not hers.

The hunters'.

Good.

They should be afraid.

Four wolves hunting a lone female inside my territory.

Idiots.

The lead hunter slowly got to his feet after being thrown into a tree.

His eyes widened when he saw me.

"Alpha Blackwood."

My reputation reached far beyond Shadowfang territory.

Most wolves feared me.

The smart ones stayed away.

The hunter swallowed hard.

"We didn't realize—"

"Leave."

My voice cut through the clearing like a blade.

The hunter hesitated.

A fatal mistake.

I released a fraction of my Alpha aura.

The ground trembled beneath the force.

All four hunters immediately dropped to their knees.

One vomited.

Another whimpered.

Pathetic.

"I won't repeat myself."

They ran.

Within seconds they disappeared into the forest.

Silence returned.

The female remained exactly where she was.

Stubborn.

I found myself studying her.

Most rogues would have fled the moment the danger passed.

Not her.

Her silver eyes remained fixed on me.

Suspicious.

Defiant.

My wolf liked that.

I hated that my wolf liked that.

The mate bond pulsed between us.

Stronger than any bond I had ever experienced.

It felt alive.

Like an invisible chain connecting us.

I could practically feel her heartbeat.

Could smell every emotion radiating from her.

Fear.

Confusion.

Curiosity.

And beneath it all...

Attraction.

The realization sent heat through my veins.

Dangerous heat.

The kind that got people killed.

I immediately shoved the feeling away.

"Who are you?" she asked.

Her voice surprised me.

No trembling.

No submission.

No fear.

Interesting.

I folded my arms.

"You entered Shadowfang territory."

She rolled her eyes.

Actually rolled her eyes.

At me.

Nobody did that.

Ever.

"I wasn't exactly checking maps while being hunted."

For some reason, I almost smiled.

Almost.

Instead, I hardened my expression.

"Name."

The female stared at me.

"I asked first."

Definitely stubborn.

Lucas would hate her.

My wolf adored her.

Unfortunately.

The bond tightened.

Mine.

I ignored it.

The female crossed her arms.

"Well?"

I sighed.

"Damian."

Recognition flashed across her face.

Of course it did.

Everyone knew my name.

The infamous Alpha of Shadowfang.

The cursed Alpha.

The monster.

The killer.

The female's expression shifted.

"Oh."

That single word irritated me more than it should have.

"Oh?"

She looked uncomfortable.

Good.

Maybe she had finally realized how dangerous this situation was.

"You're Damian Blackwood."

I nodded once.

She stared for several seconds.

Then she muttered something.

I caught it anyway.

"Well, that's unfortunate."

I blinked.

"What?"

Her face flushed slightly.

"Nothing."

Interesting.

Very interesting.

The mate bond revealed enough.

She was attracted to me.

And annoyed by it.

A dangerous combination.

For both of us.

The wind shifted.

Her scent hit me again.

Moonlight.

Rain.

Wildflowers.

Mine.

My wolf practically snarled.

I shoved him back.

Hard.

The female suddenly swayed.

I noticed immediately.

Exhaustion.

She was barely standing.

Yet she stubbornly remained upright.

"Prideful," I said.

Her eyes narrowed.

"Excuse me?"

"You're injured."

"I'm fine."

"You can barely stand."

"I'm standing."

I stared at her.

She stared right back.

Neither of us moved.

Neither of us backed down.

The bond tightened again.

The attraction became almost painful.

This was bad.

Very bad.

Because every second spent near her strengthened the connection.

Every second increased the risk.

Every second brought her closer to the fate that had claimed the others.

A memory flashed through my mind.

A young woman screaming.

Blood covering her hands.

The curse consuming her from the inside.

I forced the memory away.

Not again.

Never again.

I looked at the female.

At my mate.

At the woman fate intended to destroy.

Anger surged through me.

Not toward her.

Toward destiny.

Toward the Moon Goddess.

Toward the curse.

The female frowned.

"What?"

I realized I was staring.

Again.

Damn it.

I looked away.

The bond immediately protested.

Pathetic.

I had ruled a pack for years.

Led warriors into battle.

Faced rogue Alphas.

Yet one woman was making me lose control.

Unacceptable.

Lucas finally emerged from the forest.

Several warriors followed behind him.

The moment Lucas saw the female, his eyes widened.

Then he looked at me.

Then back at her.

Understanding immediately appeared.

His scent changed.

Concern.

Dread.

Pity.

He knew.

Of course he knew.

The curse was no secret within Shadowfang.

"Damian," Lucas said carefully.

I ignored him.

The female noticed the tension instantly.

Smart.

Very smart.

Her eyes moved between us.

Questions filled her expression.

Questions I didn't want to answer.

Not here.

Not now.

Not ever.

I turned toward my warriors.

"Take her to the packhouse."

The female immediately stiffened.

"No."

I looked at her.

"No?"

"I'm not going anywhere with strangers."

One of the warriors nearly choked.

Nobody spoke to me that way.

Ever.

The female apparently didn't care.

Lucas looked entertained.

Traitor.

I stepped closer.

Her heartbeat accelerated.

So did mine.

The bond practically crackled between us.

For one dangerous second, neither of us spoke.

Neither of us looked away.

The world seemed to disappear.

Just like before.

Just us.

Mate.

The word echoed through my head.

Mine.

My wolf pushed forward.

Claim her.

I took a step back.

Immediately.

The female's expression flickered.

Confusion.

Hurt.

Interesting.

She felt the rejection.

Even without understanding it.

Good.

Maybe that would make what came next easier.

Maybe she would hate me enough to leave.

I almost hoped she would.

Almost.

"That wasn't a request," I said coldly.

Her eyes flashed.

Anger replaced confusion.

Good.

Anger was safer.

"I don't take orders from anyone."

Lucas actually laughed.

The female looked ready to punch him.

I almost laughed too.

Almost.

Instead, I buried every emotion beneath ice.

The bond.

The attraction.

The hope.

All of it.

Because none of it mattered.

Only the curse mattered.

And the curse always won.

Always.

I met her gaze one final time.

The mate bond tightened painfully.

Then I spoke the words that would change everything.

"Bring her to the packhouse."

Because tomorrow...

I would reject her.

Before fate had the chance to kill her too.

And for the first time in years, the decision felt worse than death.