The Cursed Alpha’s Regret

Chapter 8: The Price of Protection

Ethan’s massive black wolf crashed through the wall of the cottage, sending wood and plaster flying everywhere. He looked like a demon born from nightmares. His golden eyes glowed with an terrifying, murderous fury.

With one swipe of his massive paw, he tore the throat out of a warrior who was trying to lift the trapdoor. The other Blackwood warriors turned to fight, but Ethan was an unstoppable force of nature. He bit, tore, and crushed them within seconds, filling the cottage with dark blood.

Killian backed away, his blue eyes widening in surprise. He hadn't expected Ethan to react so quickly and with such savage power. Killian quickly shifted into his large grey wolf form and lunged at Ethan.

The two Alphas clashed, rolling out of the broken wall into the muddy garden. The rain began to fall again, mimicking the night of the rejection five years ago. They tore at each other, their growls echoing across the misty mountains.

Aria managed to push the silver net off her body, her skin covered in red burns. She crawled to the trapdoor and opened it, pulling a crying Leo into her arms. "I'm here, baby. I'm here. You're safe."

She looked through the broken wall into the garden. Ethan’s black wolf was winning the fight, but his movements were slowing down. The black veins of the curse were pulsing violently across his furry neck. The extreme physical effort was causing the poison in his blood to accelerate. He was coughing up black blood as he fought.

Killian noticed Ethan’s weakness. The grey wolf let out a mocking snarl. He saw a long, heavy silver spear lying on the ground, dropped by one of his fallen warriors. Killian shifted back to human form for a split second, grabbed the silver weapon, and aimed it directly at the cottage window where Aria and Leo were looking out.

"If I can't have her, nobody will!" Killian screamed, throwing the silver spear with all his strength directly at Aria's chest.

Aria froze, holding Leo tightly. She couldn't move in time.

But Ethan saw it. With a final, desperate burst of strength, his massive black wolf threw his body in front of the window.

Thwack!

The sharp silver spear sunk deep into Ethan's chest, right where his heart was. A terrible, agonizing howl ripped from his throat. The black wolf collapsed heavily into the mud, his blood pouring out, staining the green grass a dark, horrific red.