Entwined To The Cursed Alpha: Her Love, His Redemption

Getting To The Root

Chapter 11

KIERAN’S POV

I watched as Cyrus swayed his blade—not toward me, but toward Lira.

Time fractured.

My body moved before my mind could process it and I lunged, my claws slashing through the air, but I was too late. The dagger plunged into Lira’s chest.

For one horrifying second, I thought I would see her blood spill. That her body would crumple, lifeless, That I would fail —again!

Instead, blinding, golden light erupted from Lira’s body like a star being born, searing my vision, and scorching the air itself.

The dagger shattered in Cyrus’s grip, the force of it hurling him backward like a ragdoll. The witch’s scream was cut short, she dissolved into smoke and the smoke gradually faded into the thin air.

And still, I couldn’t breathe.

My hands trembled as they hovered over Lira’s limp form. Her skin was too pale, her breaths too shallow. She was dying. And I had been too late.

The cave groaned around us, the wall splitting, dust choking the air. Rathgar’s roar was distant, muffled beneath the ringing in my ears.

I snatched Lira into my arms, her weight terrifyingly light against me. Her head lolled her pulse a fragile flutter beneath my fingertips.

"Stay with me," I begged, my voice was raw. But the truth was she already had a knife wound in her ribs

I should have protected her.

And I hadn’t.

"Selene run" Rathgar screamed as the wall above us was slowly falling.

I didn’t hesitate. I snatched Lira’s limp body into my arms and bolted. Behind me, Cyrus snarled, scrambling to his feet, but the cave was coming down too fast.

We barely made it out before the entrance was sealed shut with a thunderous crash.

Panting, I set Lira down on the grass. Her chest rose and fell weakly—shallow and unsteady.

But she was alive. The dagger had never touched her—the power inside her had deflected it.

Then Rathgar came from behind, from the cave exit which had already shot closed. Whipped around, his eyes wild. "Where’s Luna?"

My stomach dropped.

"What do you mean by that? To think you had her?" I yelled at him for almost an instant. How could he have left her behind the walls? I was very angry but there was no strength to react.

"I had her by the hands till we exit the cave but the force of the last wall that fell pulled me to the ground and when I stood up, she was gone." He lamented and I felt like I should reap his throat out.

I hoped he was telling the truth, if not he would have me to contend with when I regain my strength.

" she must have run—but where? " He asked, looking and sniffing at every angle around us.

"Selene!"I bellowed, my voice raw. No answer. Only the howling wind.

Rathgar’s hands plunged my throat, slamming me against a tree."This is your fault. If anything happens to her....." He paused and I shoved him off, snarling.

"We don’t have time for this! Cyrus is still out there, and Selene—Luna—could be in danger!"

Lira groaned, stirring. Rathgar immediately dropped to her side, his anger forgotten. "Lira? Can you hear me?"

Her amber eyes fluttered open, dazed. "Rathgar…?" She said like a whisper.

He exhaled sharply, relief flashing across his face before he schooled it back into a scowl. "We need to move and move now!" He muttered.

Lira shook her head in disapproval.

"She is out in the wild. The night is full of danger and terror. Go find her and I shall come find when I'm okay" Lira managed to speak.

Her point was very valid and any reasonable person would not hesitate. Of course, Rathgar didn't hesitate.

"Promise me you will come by the pack house. Promise me you will be fine!" He muttered softly.

"I will be fine and I will come by the pack house, I promise, alpha," Lira responded in low tune. Obviously, she was losing her breath.

Rathgar paced like a beast while he left us. I gently carried her into my hands. I was so weak myself but seeing her in that state made me push myself up to help her. She doesn't deserve to die in such a place and situation.

We didn’t make it far before the war horns sounded.

The battle had been called to a halt.

Cyrus was wounded, and his forces retreated. The pack was in chaos, and we had no choice but to hide—at least until we figured out our next move.

We walked in dark wood aimlessly in the hope of finding a good place of shelter. The night was deep, tree shadows shielded the brighter side of the illuminating smile of the moon.

After a long walk, we found shelter in an abandoned castle on the outskirts of the territory.

I placed her weak body on the rusty, dusty floor while I quickly made the bed. A small-sized bed sat at the center of the first room we entered.

I took her to the bed and she coughed blood.

Her breath was unstable, her eyes were shot. So I figured she needed water...

"I will go find some water for you to drink so, hold tight. I will be right back." I said to her whimpering body.

"We need to find Luna." She said. Each time she speaks, her voice gets lower by a percentage. She marveled at the sense of care. She was dying yet, she cared about people she barely knew.

"We will," I said, though the words tasted like ash.

Because if she remembered everything… she would never forgive me.

*************

SELENE’S POV

A large wall collapsed behind us and it force pushed Rathgar and me to the ground just at the exit of the cave.

I yanked myself from his grip and bolted into the wood. I don't know exactly why I decided to run but I did. I just need a fresh breath of air.

My head pounded, memories slamming into me like tidal waves.

*Kieran’s hands in my hair.*

*His lips on mine.*

*The way he whispered my name*

Another mass of wall fell again sealing away Rathgar’s snarls—but freedom was no comfort. The woods swallowed me whole, shadows twisting into clawed hands and moonlight was barely bright enough to see the palm.

A twig snapped and I spun, teeth bared, but the figure that emerged wasn’t a hunter.

A woman. Gaunt. Eyes like shattered moonlight.

"Pl..... Please don't hurt me" I pleaded.

"Selene?" Her voice cracked.

I staggered back. "You… know me?"

She let out a sound..... half sob, half excited, and clutched her own arms as if to keep from reaching out. "Gods. You’re alive." She muttered and jumped on my neck. If only she knew I was exhausted, she wouldn't do that.

I was surprised to see a stranger get excited to see me.

"Who are you?" I asked curiously.

"Really? I'm not even kidding. OK?"

"I'm dead serious too, I can't recall if I have ever seen you"

"Selene, it's me, Mira! Your friend or is it because it's dark and you can't see me?" she asked amused. I was still lost and confused...

"Mira? Clearly, I can see you but I don't think I know you or heard the name." I replied and her expression changed.

She fetched a handful of soil and threw it on my body. I wondered what that was supposed to mean...

"Obviously, you're not a ghost so you remember Selene. It's me! Look at my neck. You gave me this mark and I can also see yours now. A mark of friendship we shared when we were growing up" She lamented. It seemed like she knew exactly what she was saying but I was confused.

"OK, do you remember Kieran?" She asked and the name tweaked my senses.

"I had met him earlier but we didn't get to talk," I muttered laying down my guard.

"It's a good thing you didn't get close to him. He's cursed because of his cruelty and he has been banished from the pack by his own father. I expected you to give him the longest distance for what he did to you" She gnarled.

"You sound like you know everything that happened. What did he do to me? Please, I can't remember."

"Whoa!! Really? If you don't remember then I believe this is not the right time to tell you." she muttered hesitantly.

"Come, we need to go to the house. The fight is over and the night is dangerous." She said abruptly and pulled me by the hand without waiting for me to decide.

---