Marked By Alpha's Curse

Chapter Two

The morning came dressed in silence.

No birds, no chatter. Just the sound of footsteps and chains.

They woke us earlier than usual. Mistress Venn’s voice sliced through the stillness. “Up! Wash and dress , you’re serving in the great hall today.”

A ripple of dread passed through the room. Even the bravest among us moved slower, as if delaying the inevitable might change something. But it never did.

I washed quickly with cold water, trying not to meet anyone’s eyes. The ritual was for wolves , sacred, they called it. To me, it was another night to remind us where we belonged.

The day of the ritual began like every other with cold water, trembling hands, and a quiet prayer not to be noticed.

But there was something different in the air that morning.

Everyone felt it. Even the guards barked their orders more sharply, their movements restless. The moon was high even before nightfall, glowing pale and swollen in the sky. The others whispered that it was a sign — the wolves’ goddess would choose powerful mates tonight.

To me, it was just another reason to stay small and silent.

Mistress Venn handed me a tray near dusk, piled high with goblets of dark wine. “Stay out of the wolves’ way. Don’t speak unless spoken to. And whatever you do, don’t spill.”

I nodded, biting back the thousand things I wanted to say. My palms were slick with sweat before I even stepped into the hall.

The grand hall looked nothing like the world I lived in. Golden torches lined the stone pillars, flames throwing light across a sea of wolves — tall, graceful, in their finest clothes. The air pulsed with energy. Musicians played slow, haunting music that echoed off the walls.

We servants moved like ghosts between them , quiet, unseen, necessary but unwanted.

I kept my eyes on the ground, balancing the tray as I wove through the crowd. Wolves brushed past me, their laughter sharp, their scents overwhelming , leather, musk, and something wilder underneath. Every instinct screamed to flee.

Then someone barked, “Move faster, human!”

A soldier jostled my arm, and the tray tilted dangerously. I caught it, barely, but one goblet slid off and shattered at my feet. Red wine splashed across the floor like blood.

My heart froze.

Mistress Venn’s glare burned from across the room. “Stupid girl! Clean it now!”

I dropped to my knees, gathering the shards with shaking fingers. A few sliced my skin, blood mixing with the wine. My vision blurred, but I kept on moving. One mistake could mean lashes later.

When I looked up, my stomach sank. The hall had filled more, and the nearest serving station, the one I was supposed to stand at, was gone, taken over by higher-ranking attendants.

I glanced around in panic, searching for an empty space, anywhere to set my tray down. But the only open table was near the front, the section reserved for high Alphas.

No. I couldn’t. Humans weren’t even allowed near that area.

Still, I couldn’t stay frozen either. The guards were watching, and Mistress Venn’s voice echoed in my head. Don’t embarrass me.

I swallowed my fear, hugged the tray to my chest, and slipped toward the front, head bowed low. The closer I got, the quieter the noise became. The air changed — heavier, sharper, like breathing near lightning.

There was one empty seat at the end of the long table. I didn’t dare look up. My arms trembled from the weight, so I lowered the tray, resting it on the edge of the table for a moment just to steady myself.

And then I felt it.

A chill crawled down my spine, the air thickening behind me.

Someone had entered the hall — or maybe he’d been there all along, hidden in the shadows until now.

The noise faded. Every wolf in the room stilled.

I straightened slowly, eyes flicking upward. That was when I saw him.

The Cursed Alpha.

He moved like something the earth feared to touch. Broad-shouldered, silent, a long scar running down his jaw. His eyes, molten gold, cold as the moon. His presence bent the air itself.

I didn’t mean to meet his gaze. I didn’t mean to do anything. But when he walked toward the empty seat , the one beside me — my feet refused to move. I froze, heart pounding in my throat.

He stopped right in front of me. The room held its breath.

And then he sat down.

The wood of the bench creaked softly under his weight. His arm brushed mine by accident, bare skin against bare skin — and the world broke.

Heat.

Light.

Pain.

It was like something inside my chest tore open. My pulse thundered in my ears. My vision was blurred white. Every sound disappeared except for my own heartbeat, hammering faster, louder, until it felt like it would rip through my ribs.

I gasped, clutching at my chest. My knees gave out, the tray clattering to the ground.

“What..... what’s happening?” I choked, my voice barely a whisper.

The surrounding air shimmered, real, visible — like ripples of silver light. It spread from where his skin touched mine, crawling outward. His eyes widened slightly, a rare crack in that frozen expression.

And then the whispers began.

“The bond.”

“It’s the bond.”

“No… she’s human.”

“A human can’t— it’s impossible.”

My mind reeled. Bond? What bond? What were they talking about?

The King’s voice cut through the noise like a blade. “What is this?”

No one answered. All I heard was my own heavy breathing and the sudden, low growl that came from beside me.

I turned to him, Kael, they called him, and saw the faintest tremor in his hand, as if he were fighting something unseen. His gaze snapped at mine, fierce and unblinking.

His voice was low, strained, rough with something I didn’t understand.

“You shouldn’t have touched me.”

“I didn’t— I didn’t mean to—”

Before I could finish, a guard lunged forward. “Move away from him, human!”

But Kael was faster. His hand shot out, grabbing the guard by the throat.

The man choked, feet lifting off the ground. Kael’s voice was quiet — terrifyingly so.

“Touch her, and I’ll break every bone in your body.”

The hall erupted in shouts. Wolves scrambled to their feet, some drawing weapons, others shouting at the King. The King’s face twisted in fury.

“Enough!” he roared. “Release her, Kael! She’s nothing!”

Kael turned, his expression deadly calm.

“She is mine.”