Rejected by My Alpha, Claimed by the Cursed King

4 The Moonlit Bond

The forest was eerily quiet, save for the soft rustle of leaves beneath Amelia’s feet. Every shadow seemed to watch her, every sound whispered danger. Yet for the first time since the mating ceremony, she didn’t feel alone. Lucien’s presence beside her was undeniable, like a protective wall she couldn’t see but could feel in every nerve of her body.

She glanced at him. He was walking silently, his gaze scanning the darkness around them, alert to every movement. Even in human form, there was no mistaking his aura,danger, power, and something else, something she couldn’t quite name.

Her wolf pressed against hers instinctively, a pulse of energy that matched his.

Mate.

The word throbbed inside her head, louder now than ever. It wasn’t just a whisper; it was a demand, an acknowledgment that the universe had chosen her, and no matter what, she couldn’t escape it.

Lucien stopped suddenly, his head tilting slightly. “Someone’s following us,” he murmured, his voice low and dangerous.

Amelia froze. “Who?” she whispered.

“Rogues,” he said. “One of the ones we didn’t kill.” His eyes glinted in the moonlight. “They’re smart. Patient. And very, very angry.”

Her stomach dropped. Even with Lucien beside her, she felt the weight of vulnerability pressing down. She had never known such fear. Yet, at the same time, a strange excitement surged through her. Being near him—this dangerous, forbidden, cursed man—made her pulse race in ways she hadn’t thought possible.

Her wolf growled in agreement. Mate.

Lucien’s expression softened slightly as he noticed her tension. “You’re afraid,” he said. It wasn’t a question. His voice was a statement, as if he could read her soul.

“I… I’m not,” she lied quickly, though her shaking hands betrayed her.

He stepped closer. The scent of him—wild, powerful, dangerous—washed over her like a wave. Her breath hitched. “I know,” he said softly, almost gently. “But that doesn’t mean you’re weak. Fear is natural. Survival instinct. But with me… you’re safer than anywhere else in this forest.”

Amelia swallowed hard. Every fiber of her being told her to trust him. And yet… she couldn’t forget the warnings, the stories she had heard. Every woman who became his mate… died.

“Why me?” she whispered, the question slipping out before she could stop it.

Lucien’s gaze darkened, and for a moment, he looked like a man carrying the weight of centuries. “Because you are the one the Moon Goddess chose,” he said, his voice low and reverent. “And because the bond has already formed. Even if you try to run, it will not break.”

Amelia’s heart twisted. “Even after everything… after Ryder… you still claim me?”

He didn’t answer immediately. His hand reached out, brushing against hers—not touching, but close enough that the warmth of him reached her. “I don’t choose to feel. I don’t choose to want. But the bond… it doesn’t care about my wishes. It only cares that you are mine.”

Her stomach fluttered, caught somewhere between terror and desire. The idea of being his mate—a cursed, dangerous, powerful Alpha King’s mate—was horrifying. And yet, the pull she felt toward him was impossible to resist.

They walked in silence for a few minutes, the tension between them thick, the forest around them alive with unseen dangers. Then, suddenly, a rustling came from the trees ahead.

Amelia froze. “They’re here,” she whispered.

Lucien’s posture stiffened, his silver eyes narrowing. “Good,” he murmured. “Let them come.”

From the darkness, a group of rogue wolves emerged, eyes glowing red, teeth bared. They moved with a predator’s grace, silent until the last moment, circling the pair like a pack of hungry shadows.

Amelia’s wolf growled in warning. She wanted to step back, to hide, but Lucien’s presence grounded her. He stepped forward, tall and commanding. Even in human form, there was no mistaking the authority he wielded.

The rogue leader stepped forward, a mangy black wolf with one eye scarred. “The Alpha King walks with his human,” he snarled. “You should not have come here, Lucien.”

Lucien’s eyes glowed brighter. “And yet here I am,” he said calmly, though the power in his voice made the ground beneath Amelia tremble. “I will not let you harm her.”

The rogue leader laughed, a low, cruel sound. “You think a human can survive this fight?”

Amelia’s pulse quickened. She wanted to run—but she couldn’t tear her eyes away from Lucien. Her heart screamed for him, even as her mind screamed danger.

With a roar that shook the trees, Lucien shifted into his wolf form. Massive, black, terrifying, he towered over even the largest rogue. His eyes blazed like silver fire, and his howl echoed through the forest, sending the rogue pack into a momentary panic.

“Stay behind me,” Lucien commanded, his voice low and feral.

Amelia obeyed instinctively, hiding behind a tree as Lucien’s wolf leapt into battle. Claws slashed, teeth snapped, and the air filled with growls and snarls. The forest shook with the intensity of the fight. Amelia’s hands clenched into fists. Every instinct in her screamed to help him, but she knew one mistake could mean her death.

Then, through the chaos, she heard a soft whine. A rogue pup, too young to fight, darted toward her. Amelia’s wolf growled instinctively, and without thinking, she scooped it up.

Lucien’s eyes, even in wolf form, found hers. And for a fleeting moment, there was recognition—relief that she was alive.

The fight ended as quickly as it began. The rogue pack, realizing they could not match Lucien’s power, retreated, disappearing into the shadows from which they came.

Lucien shifted back into human form, towering, powerful, and terrifying. He approached Amelia, his gaze softening slightly. “You should not have come this close,” he said, his voice low. “The forest is dangerous. And you… are mine. That makes you even more vulnerable.”

Amelia felt heat rush to her cheeks. “I—I wanted to help,” she admitted, her voice trembling.

He reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “You are brave,” he murmured. “But there is bravery…and there is foolishness. You are both.”

Her chest tightened. She wanted to argue, to deny the pull she felt toward him, but she couldn’t. Her wolf ached, screaming her desire for him. She wanted him… wanted to be claimed by him… even knowing the danger.

Lucien stepped closer, and for the first time, Amelia noticed the faint scar running down his cheek. A mark of battles fought, enemies slain, and a life of loneliness. She wanted to reach out, to touch it… to know him.

“You will stay with me tonight,” he said suddenly, his tone leaving no room for argument. “The curse… the world… the rogues. You are not safe anywhere else. You will remain under my protection.”

Amelia swallowed hard. “I… I have no choice, then?”

Lucien’s silver eyes softened. “You have a choice. But the bond… it is unbreakable. And you will soon realize there is no true safety outside my side.”

Amelia’s wolf whimpered inside her. Mate. Mate. Mate.

She nodded. “Then I will stay.”

Lucien’s lips curved slightly, almost a smile. “Good,” he said. “Because tomorrow… the real danger begins.”

Amelia’s heart skipped. She had survived the night, but she knew instinctively he was right. Danger was coming, and with it… secrets, enemies, and truths about the curse she was only beginning to understand.

The moon shone overhead, bathing them in silver light. And for the first time since her life had shattered with Ryder’s rejection, Amelia felt… alive.

Because being with him—terrifying, dangerous, cursed as he was—felt like the only place she truly belonged.

Cliffhanger:

Amelia didn’t notice the shadow watching from the treetops—a mysterious figure who knew the secrets of Lucien’s curse and would stop at nothing to claim her for himself.