The Mate Curse.

Chapter 2

My boots echoed down the hall, deliberate and slow. I felt every gaze burning into my back, but none of them moved.

The corridor twisted into the east wing. The walls were white, with no scent. A sterilized territory for guests who shouldn’t be trusted.

The room I picked was at the end. It was plain, cold, and bare like it had no memory. I locked the door behind me before I exhaled.

My hands shook only after I turned off the lights.

The pull was still there, like a chain tightening around my ribs. It hurts to breathe. Like their wolves were still chasing me, even through walls.

This wasn’t supposed to happen yet. The bond wasn’t supposed to snap. Not in that room, and not this soon.

The Moon was moving faster than I planned. I only came to deliver the message I had, and get into character. Not this.

I stepped into the bathroom, leaned over the sink, and splashed water on my face.

The reflection that stared back wasn’t ready.

The reflection that stared back wasn’t ready for three Alpha scents stamped into her bones. She also wasn’t ready for the way her body burned, craving a touch she wasn’t allowed to want.

“You came here to end one of them,” I told myself.

A knock hit the door.

I couldn't speak. I also didn’t move. The door lock twisted on its own. I spun around fast.The door opened with a quiet click.

Lucien Vex stood there like the corridor belonged to him. His shirt sleeves were rolled, his hair a little messy now. To be honest, he looked like the kind of trouble that knew how to speak softly.

“Nice room,” he said casually, walking in. “Smells like heat.” He joked, "Yours or mine?”

I hissed. “Get out.”

Knowing their history, I was only brave enough to say that because of the scent manipulation.

The corners of his lips raised slowly. “Make me.”

I moved fast, slamming the door behind him and backing him into it in a flash. “You don’t want to start something tonight, Alpha.” I warned, pressing my arm on his throat, while on tiptoe.

He stared down at me. That half-smile stayed, but his eyes weren’t playing. He lifted his hand, and rolled a strand of my short raven hair around one of his fingers.

“I think it already started the second you walked into that room and made my wolf lose his f***ing mind.” His voice dipped lower. “You think I don’t feel you in my blood? Right here?” He grabbed my wrist and placed my hand on his chest.

True to his words, his heart was thundering. I love this. Even if the plan seemed rushed, it was working.

“This doesn’t happen to me.” He muttered like a curse.

“It's a curse,” I whispered, trying to pull my hand away. It truly was a curse. Never in the history of wolves has one wolf had three mates.

He didn’t let go. “It’s real. It’s raw. And it’s a curse I’d burn the world to keep.”

My body was betraying me. The air between us felt too thin. His scent was twisted silk and something feral. It sank into my throat, and I wanted him. I wanted to sink into him.

“Let me go.”

“Say please.” He deadpanned.

I blinked, frozen. I never knew he had manners. “Lucien—”

He leaned in. He leaned in slightly, but it was enough for my pulse to stutter.“I smelled you before the others. Don’t lie and tell me you didn’t feel it.”

My heart stopped. I shoved him back. Hard enough that he stumbled. My eyes widened at the effect of the push. It was either I was well trained, or he was letting me.

He laughed.

I raised my hand. “Get out. Now.”

Lucien stepped backward. His expression turned smug. He stopped at the threshold, and one of his brows raised. “The others will come too, you know.” he casually informed me. “Maybe not tonight. But they’ll come.”

I eyed him. “And when they do?” I questioned. I searched his eyes, as I tested my limits and boundaries with him. I needed to know how much, and how far each Alphas were willing to take.

“I won’t let them take you,” he said simply. “Not before I do. Chose me,”

He shut the door behind him before I could respond. And I stood there shaking. I didn’t shake from fear, but from the terrifying truth in his eyes.

I’d come here to decide which Alpha should die.

But if I wasn’t careful… I might want one of them to live.

………

I didn’t sleep. Not because I couldn’t, but because I didn’t trust the silence. I couldn't even trust my wolf, who wouldn’t stop pacing inside my head, growling at shadows with Lucien’s smile stitched into every one.

The air still reeked of him. The air still reeked of the heat I’d almost leaned into.

I stood under the cold shower until my lips turned blue. Until the bond inside me turned quiet.

By dawn, a knock came again. The knocks were sharp. It wasn’t Lucien. I could tell after yesterday.

I opened the door slowly, already braced. The guard outside didn’t look at me.

“Alpha Thorne wants you in his quarters. Now.” one of them informed me. It wasn't a request.

I followed in silence, my boots gliding over marble, with my muscles tight. The halls were colder on this side of the building. It was more steel, less wood and no warmth at all.

It felt just like Kade.

He stood waiting when I arrived. Once again, his sleeves were rolled up, and his shirt crisp. His expression was carved from ice.

He didn’t offer a greeting. He just stared, and I immediately concluded he'll be the last person to fully believe me.

What he said next almost threw me off balance.

"I need you to drop your scent shield again."

I blinked. “Excuse me?”

“Drop it,” he repeated, staring straight into my eyes. “I need to verify something.”

“You’ve already scented me, Alpha. Three of you have.” I was inwardly shaken. I took two steps back.

“I don’t want to scent you,” he bit out. “I want to study it.”

I folded my arms. “I’m not your specimen.”

“No,” he said, stepping closer. “You’re something worse. You’re a disruption.”

I lifted my chin. “Then reject me.” I dared him, and waited for him to take the bait. It would make things easier.

He stilled. “I can’t.” He rasped. “I tried,” he admitted. “I tried the moment you left that room. I tried again at midnight. And then again before sunrise.”

His voice dropped an octave. “But every time I push the bond, it coils tighter. It’s not natural, and it’s not you. This bond is forced.”

My red lips parted, and closed by itself. Like I said earlier, he really is so smart. Also impatient.

My chest burned. “You think I want this?”

He stepped even closer. Close enough that I had to tilt my head to keep his gaze.

“I think you’re hiding something. And I think the Rogue Council sent you knowing exactly what you are.”

I clenched my jaw. I could’ve slapped him. The way he said it wasn’t cruel, but it scared me a little. I have the moon goddess to back me up but she won't be enough to stop these Alphas.

And Kade Thorne didn’t fear anything.

“I’ve never failed to reject a bond,” he said, quieter now. “Not even once. But yours, yours is binding even when you’re not in the room.”

He stared down at me, hard, and I swallowed. He's right. Kade Throne rejected a handpicked mate by the moon goddess. That left him with a curse.

“What the hell are you, Miraelle?”

“A mirror,” I said with humor. “And you’re all about to see yourselves through me. Whether you want to or not.”

Kade’s jaw ticked.

His hand lifted before I would see it coming. His hand hovered just beside my face. He didn't touch me, but he kept it close, and studied my face.

close.

“Tell me something,” he asked, voice steady. “Do you feel it too? The burn? The tether?”

I did. But I wouldn’t give him that. If he asked this question, it means I appeared unfazed enough for him to care.

“No.” I lied.

“You’re lying.” He said in one heartbeat. He was certain.

He dropped his hand, turned away, and walked to the window. “One of us will go mad over you,” he said without looking back.

“The question is which one.”

I turned to leave. He didn't question me because he wanted to. He asked questions to know more.

“Wait.” He called out before I could open the door.

I paused. My hand was on the door, but my heart immediately dropped into my stomach. I didn't like this.

“Lucien was right,” he said. “You were seen years ago. In Telion. Without a name, and no pack. You disappeared before anyone could track you.”

My throat dried.

“If you’ve been hiding this long,” he said, voice low, “then you know exactly what this curse does.”