Claimed By The Cursed Alpha

Rejected

POV: Aria Vale

Something was wrong with Alpha Damian Blackwood.

Very wrong.

The entire journey to the Shadowfang Packhouse, he hadn't spoken a single word to me.

Not one.

The warriors escorting me looked nervous.

The Beta kept glancing between us.

And Damian?

He acted like I didn't exist.

Which was strange considering the fact that my wolf practically lost her mind every time he came within ten feet of me.

Mate.

I ignored her.

Mate.

Still ignored her.

Mate.

"Shut up."

Several warriors looked at me.

Wonderful.

Apparently I'd said that aloud.

The Beta smirked.

I immediately disliked him.

A lot.

Three hours later, we reached the packhouse.

I stopped walking.

My jaw nearly hit the floor.

Calling it a packhouse was ridiculous.

The place looked more like a castle.

Massive stone walls towered above the surrounding forest.

Ancient black towers stretched toward the sky.

Lights glowed from hundreds of windows.

People moved everywhere.

Warriors.

Pack members.

Children.

Families.

A real pack.

For a moment, something twisted painfully inside my chest.

I looked away.

I hadn't belonged anywhere in years.

Not since my old pack died.

Not since everything fell apart.

The feeling vanished as quickly as it appeared.

Good.

Belonging got people hurt.

I knew that better than anyone.

The large gates opened.

The moment we entered, heads turned.

Everywhere.

People stared.

Whispers spread through the crowd.

I could smell curiosity.

Suspicion.

Fear.

And something else.

Recognition.

My stomach tightened.

That wasn't normal.

Most packs didn't recognize random rogues.

Yet several people were staring at me like they had seen a ghost.

A little girl suddenly pointed.

"It's her."

The woman beside her immediately covered her mouth.

My pulse quickened.

What did that mean?

Before I could ask, Damian continued walking.

The crowd instantly parted.

Respect.

Fear.

Authority.

Everything about him screamed Alpha.

I hated how attractive that was.

My wolf disagreed.

Strongly.

Mate.

"Still not happening."

The Beta laughed.

I shot him a glare.

He laughed harder.

Definitely hated him.

We entered the castle.

The interior was somehow even more impressive.

Dark stone walls.

Massive chandeliers.

Ancient paintings.

The scent of old power lingered everywhere.

The place felt alive.

Watching.

Waiting.

Just like the clearing.

A strange chill crawled down my spine.

The same feeling returned.

The one I'd experienced during the vision.

I didn't like it.

Not one bit.

Damian finally stopped in front of a pair of giant doors.

Two warriors opened them immediately.

A large hall appeared beyond.

People filled the room.

At least a hundred wolves.

Every single one turned toward me.

The silence was immediate.

Uncomfortable.

Deadly.

My instincts screamed.

Trap.

The Beta looked surprised.

"Everyone's already here."

Damian's expression darkened.

Interesting.

This wasn't planned.

Then who gathered them?

A tall elderly woman stepped forward.

Her silver hair reached her waist.

Power radiated from her.

Not Alpha power.

Something older.

Something wiser.

The room respected her.

Even Damian.

"Council Elder," Damian said.

The woman nodded.

Then she looked directly at me.

The color drained from her face.

Fear appeared in her scent.

Pure fear.

Wonderful.

Apparently everyone was terrified of me today.

The Elder recovered quickly.

But not quickly enough.

I noticed.

Damian noticed too.

The room waited.

Tension thickened.

Nobody spoke.

Then the Elder broke the silence.

"The bond has awakened."

Every wolf in the room stiffened.

My stomach dropped.

Bond?

What bond?

The Elder looked at Damian.

Then at me.

Then back at Damian.

Understanding hit me.

Mate.

The room erupted.

Whispers exploded everywhere.

"The Alpha found his mate?"

"Impossible."

"The curse—"

"The curse is real—"

"The poor girl—"

I froze.

Curse?

What curse?

The whispers continued.

Panic began creeping into my chest.

Nobody looked happy.

Nobody celebrated.

Nobody smiled.

This wasn't how mates were supposed to be treated.

Something was very wrong.

I looked toward Damian.

His face was completely expressionless.

Cold.

Emotionless.

Like stone.

The Elder sighed heavily.

"Alpha Damian Blackwood."

The room immediately fell silent.

The Elder's voice carried authority.

Ancient authority.

"What is your decision?"

A strange feeling settled in my stomach.

Unease.

The mate bond pulsed.

Suddenly my wolf became nervous.

Very nervous.

I didn't understand why.

The Elder looked sad.

The Beta looked angry.

Several warriors looked uncomfortable.

Only Damian remained unreadable.

The silence stretched.

Then stretched further.

Finally, Damian stepped forward.

The room held its breath.

Including me.

His golden eyes met mine.

For one brief moment, something flickered there.

Pain.

Real pain.

Then it vanished.

Buried beneath ice.

His voice echoed throughout the hall.

"I reject her."

The words hit me like a physical blow.

Silence.

Complete silence.

I stared at him.

Certain I had misheard.

"What?"

Nobody answered.

My wolf screamed.

Agony exploded through my chest.

The bond twisted violently.

Pain shot through every part of my body.

I staggered backward.

The room blurred.

Rejected.

Rejected.

Rejected.

The word echoed endlessly.

I had never wanted a mate.

Never searched for one.

Never dreamed about one.

Yet somehow this hurt.

More than it should.

Much more.

Damian's face remained cold.

"Leave Shadowfang territory before sunrise."

The room gasped.

Even the Elder looked shocked.

The Beta looked ready to kill someone.

Possibly Damian.

Good.

Because I was considering it too.

Anger flooded through me.

Hot.

Violent.

Humiliating.

How dare he?

How dare he reject me in front of everyone?

I laughed.

The sound shocked even me.

It wasn't a happy laugh.

It was dangerous.

Broken.

"You know what?" I said.

My voice shook.

Not from sadness.

From rage.

"Good."

Several wolves blinked.

I stepped forward.

"Because if this is how you treat people, I'd rather die alone."

The room became even quieter.

Impossible, but somehow true.

Damian didn't react.

That hurt more than I wanted to admit.

Fine.

Two could play that game.

I looked directly into his eyes.

"I reject you too."

Gasps erupted around the room.

The Elder nearly dropped her walking stick.

The Beta whispered something that sounded suspiciously like, "Oh, shit."

Good.

Let them be shocked.

I was done.

Done with the bond.

Done with the Alpha.

Done with this ridiculous pack.

I turned toward the doors.

Then the pain hit.

Real pain.

Not emotional.

Physical.

A burning sensation exploded beneath my skin.

I cried out.

The room spun.

Silver light erupted from my hands.

The entire hall shook.

People screamed.

Tables shattered.

Windows exploded.

The ground cracked beneath my feet.

And deep inside my head...

A familiar voice laughed.

The same woman from my vision.

The same terrifying queen.

Her whisper slithered through my mind.

"At last."

Then everything went dark.