Entwined To The Cursed Alpha: Her Love, His Redemption

The Bargain

CHAPTER 16

KIERAN’S POV

The forest was a blur of shadows. I was breathing heavily, catching my breath to see the tall figure approaching us.

As he came closer, I slowly recognized him. It was Logan the Son of the pack historian—Oldman Hewitt's son who left our pack when we were just teens. He went to his maternal home to find his Mate.

I was relieved that it was Logan but Sametime I was scared because at that moment I couldn't tell a friend from an enemy. Coupled with the way his arrows were pointed at me.

"Kieran!" He called. "Is this really you?" He asked as he stood right in front of me. He dropped his bow and gave me a tight hug.

This one time, I was fortunate enough to meet a friend.

I caught Lira's eyes scrutinizing the trees around us.

"We need to start going now!" He whispered, pulling away from me.

"Where?" Lira couldn't wait for me to ask. She was more concerned and focused than I was.

"Somewhere safe" He replied and gave her a dead glance. "I guess you don't know me neither do I know you. So, you'd better shut your mouth" He snarled at her.

"We are not going anywhere with you. So, f*uck off" Lira snarled back at him.

"Who said you're coming? You see, one thing about strays is that they fail to know their place" He muttered and the argument was getting intense when intervened.

"It's OK Lira. He is a friend and we are going with him" I said, reaching out to her hands.

"He called me a stray and he's been rude. It might be a trap. Kieran, we can't follow him" She lamented and gripped my hand hard.

I could see his pure intent and harmless thoughts. That's one gift the curse has given me.

Lira brushed the fast hair coming out of my body and whispered. "You will be fine I promise"

Her words were my stronghold. I believed I was going to be fine but first I needed to survive the night. The full moon was making my inner self rupture.

Logan led us deeper into the trees, his grip firm on my arm. Beside me, Lira stumbled, her breath ragged, but she didn’t complain.

"Move faster," Logan urged, his voice low. "Garrick’s men are still searching these woods."

I gritted my teeth, forcing my legs to keep moving despite the pain. My body was still halfway between man and beast, the curse writhing beneath my skin.

"When did you return?" I rasped.

" Yesterday... I'm Hewitt’s son and you know he'd protect the pack at all cost. He sent for me to help you" he answered, not slowing his pace. "My father sent me to get you out."

Hewitt? The old man who had warned me about Cyrus’s plans before?

"Why?" I demanded.

Logan glanced back, his dark eyes serious. "He told Cyrus isn’t just hunting you out of hatred. He made a new deal with the ShadowOne—the witch. She told him your death is the only thing that will bring ‘peace’ to these lands"

Lira’s grip on my arm tightened. "That’s insane."

"It’s the truth," Logan said grimly. "Cyrus believes sacrificing you will cleanse the land of the curse and secure his power. That’s why he’s offering Rathgar half his territory in exchange for your head."

My stomach twisted. So that was why Rathgar had been invited to the pack.

Cyrus wasn’t just after revenge—he was offering me up like a lamb to slaughter.

"We have to get as far away from here as possible," Lira whispered.

Logan nodded. "There’s a safe place in the northern woods. We’ll hide there until we figure out what to do next."

I didn’t argue. Every second we wasted was another second Garrick’s warriors got closer.

But as we ran, one thought burned in my mind…

Selene!

Where was she?

Was she safe?

Just the thought of her sends a tender ache through my heart.

SELENE’S POV

The woods were thick, the air heavy with the scent of pine and damp earth. Mira and I moved as quietly as we could, our footsteps barely making a sound.

"This is a mistake" Mira whispered, her voice trembling. "If they catch us... "

"They won’t," I said, though my own hands were shaking.

I didn’t even know why I was doing this. Kieran was not worth dying for. He had humiliated me, hurt me.

But something inside me refused to let him die without knowing why.

We searched for what felt like hours, but there was no sign of him. No tracks, no scent—nothing.

"He’s not here," Mira said, her voice edged with panic. "We need to go back before...... " Behind us, a twig snapped cutting off.

Before I could turn to react, a rough hand seized me, yanking me backward. Mira screamed as two warriors grabbed her, their grips bruising.

"Well, well," a deep voice sneered. "Look what we found."

I twisted in the warrior’s hold, my heart pounding.

Garrick!

His cold eyes raked over me, a cruel smirk twisting his lips. "The runaway omega and her little friend. How convenient."

Mira struggled. "Let us go!"

Garrick ignored her, stepping closer to me. "You’re coming with us. Alpha Cyrus will be very interested in seeing you again." He muttered. His face looked more ugly than ever.

"Please let us go!" I didn't know when or why I let that slip out my mouth.

"Nope! Consider it a favor from me if not tell me why I shouldn't kill you right now?" He snarled, his sharp dirty teeth grinning at me.

Fear coiled in my stomach. I twisted in his grip as though I could yank free. It was all a mere display. I knew was done for. I relaxed and let them drag me back into the house.

The thought that only Cyrus could decide whether I live or die made tears gush down my eyes. Even if I'd die, it shouldn't be Cyrus who decides my fate.

---

Cyrus’s throne was cold, the air thick with tension. Rathgar and his warriors sat to one side, their expressions unreadable.

When Garrick threw me and Mira onto the floor in front of Cyrus, I saw Rathgar’s entire body stiffened.

His eyes locked onto mine, a flicker of something dark passing through them.

"Ah, Selene" Cyrus purred, leaning forward. "I was wondering where you’d disappeared to."

I lifted my chin, refusing to cower. "I wasn’t aware I was a prisoner or wanted by you" I muttered.

Cyrus chuckled. "You are whatever I say you are." His gaze shifted to Rathgar. "Isn’t that right, Alpha?" He asked looking at Rathgar.

Rathgar’s jaw clenched. "Let her go."

Cyrus raised a brow. "And why would I do that?"

"Because she has done nothing wrong. I guess" Rathgar growled.

"Nothing wrong?" Cyrus laughed. "She was sneaking around the woods, likely trying to meet Kieran. That’s treason." He scoffed and a sickening weight pulled at my gut. I didn't want it to be noticeable but I could tell that Rathgar knew it.

Rathgar took a step forward. "Then give her to me."

Cyrus smirked. "And what will you give me in return?"

Rathgar’s voice was steel. "You want Kieran’s head? I’ll bring it to you myself. But only if you release her to me first and can keep the territory you had offered"

The room went silent.

"Wow! Is this not amazing?" Cyrus said breaking the intense silence. "This is my first time seeing someone do a thing like this for a lowborn. An omega of no class" Cyrus said and lifted his gaze toward where the other members stood and they all chorused a mockery laughter.

It felt like my chest had cracked open, and everything warm had spilled out. They all looked at me with mockery except Mira who gasped beside me.

Cyrus studied Rathgar for a long, calculating moment before a slow, cruel smile curved his lips.

"Fine," he said, at last, his voice smooth like poison. "You have three days. Bring me Kieran’s head… and the girl is yours."

Rathgar gave a single nod, sharp and cold. His eyes never left mine—not even for a second.

And that moment, something in me moved—quiet but true.

I realized he wasn’t just bargaining for me.

He wasn’t buying time. He wasn’t bluffing.

He meant it... I could tell from the look in his eyes —He would do anything and everything to save me but using Kieran's head as currency to buy me time or save me wasn't something that pleased me... I would forever live in guilt if Kieran died without me asking him why did what he did to me.

But it's getting more obvious that they will get him and kill him. The forces chasing him were too many.

And as that truth sank in, something inside me cracked. Not like a clean break, but like splintered glass under pressure, spreading until it touched everything.

I had trusted him—Rathgar. Somewhere deep down, I had.

And now, all I could feel was a hollow ache, sharp and cruel, echoing through the space where hope for him used to live.