CURSED TO BE HIS MATE

chapter 15

“Alpha, there's an emergency!” Damian spoke, entering the training grounds.

Kade immediately left my hands. As the beta of the pack, he usually had more control over Kade—even beyond me. Kade stepped out. Some men followed, but regular omegas were not allowed to be near them during the conversation.

“Azren, you're the only one who can save me,” Kade's wolf called out.

Then I felt a sudden, urgent push. Kade's wolf wouldn’t let me be as he kept calling my name. I could feel his howl, his loneliness. I could even feel the pain of a prick on his toe.

But I refused to be associated with that. The more I resisted the feeling, the more painful it became—sudden pain like my body was on fire. The pack started throwing looks at me, and to escape them, I entered my room, heading straight to the shower.

But it didn’t help. The call kept getting stronger. I placed a pillow over my head just to stop hearing the voices, but nothing helped. As the call grew stronger, I couldn’t hold back anymore.

“Azren, please,” the wolf begged again.

I rose from the bed, frustrated, and decided to follow the voice. With each step, the calling of my name grew stronger. I left the house, eager to meet him.

My wolf took over, making the call worse. My body itched as if something was missing. The pull got stronger, like a magnet, and I walked toward the direction of the pull.

“I’m here,” I whispered, but Kade’s wolf was silent—no response.

I entered slowly into the ruined cave, only to be met by Tasha, who had clearly overtaken my pace. I wanted to enter and push her away from Kade’s wolf, which looked very angry at her presence, but my wolf held me back, watching Tasha like prey.

Kade’s wolf sensed mine as his black, teary eyes blinked at my sight.

“Go, Azren,” I heard the wolf speak again, but I was already too deep in to leave. I was willing to risk everything for my freedom. My wolf, on the other hand, wanted something more. The connection was undeniable.

The more I tried to resist, the more painful it became. I took a step forward. Night had already fallen—I didn’t even notice I’d spent the entire day reaching here, when with the elders it only took a few hours.

“I can see you decided to join us?” Tasha asked, looking in my direction.

My wolf walked slowly, yet cautiously, around Tasha. I didn’t want to expose my fear, but Tasha sensed it. Still, my full focus was on Kade’s wolf. Though bold as usual, he wasn’t comfortable.

I could smell the deceit on Tasha. I could tell she was hiding something. I walked toward her as her sharp eyes met mine. Her gaze seemed… familiar.

“Run, Azren,” Kade’s wolf spoke again, but it was too late. I wanted to find out what Tasha was really after. At first, I thought it was Kade’s life—but it seemed she wanted more.

I reached for the crescent knife and slipped it along my leg before Tasha could look around. I stealthily walked toward his wolf and placed the knife next to him. Then Tasha’s gaze found us.

I’d never gotten the chance to fully look at her—her eyes, her tone, her behavior looked very familiar.

“You came for rescue, I see?” she asked, locking eyes with me.

“Just a little stroll. What about you?” I asked, regaining my confidence.

“If you're taking a stroll, so did I,” she said sarcastically.

“His wolf called you, didn’t it?” she asked.

“Y…y,” I stuttered, but before I could finish, Kade’s wolf released itself—vanishing like dust, leaving me with Tasha.

“Hush, little baby, don’t you cry…” she started singing.

The first time I heard it, I was scared. The second, terrified. But the third time… I got curious.

Her movements and behavior were something I couldn’t ignore.

Tasha was Linda.

“Linda, you b***h!” I shouted, retrieving the knife Kade’s wolf had left.

“Took you long enough,” she said, dropping her disguise.

I couldn’t believe I hadn’t pieced it together. In a land full of my kind, she was the only one estranged—and capable of doing all this.

“What do you want?” I asked, my eyes wide with horror, full of betrayal.

“I trusted you,” I said, my voice nearly failing me from disbelief.

“I only wanted the best for you, and seeing you in that forest that night made me pity you,” she said.

“But why Kade? Why me? What did I ever do to you?” I yelled.

“Child, lower your voice when you're speaking to me, or I’ll end your miserable life right now!” she yelled back, then immediately returned to her calm nature.

“The redemption code was a lie… the death was your trick…” I said, but her laughter shattered my spirit.

“After Kade’s father defiled me and banished me, I was looking for a way to come back to the land,” she began, pacing restlessly.

“I tried everything to return. But with my mate killed by Kade’s father, an abominable creature like me wasn’t allowed. Then I met you—the one picked by the Alpha—and you became my way in,” she continued. The more she spoke, the more her eyes turned black.

My mouth froze.

“The redemption code?” I asked, still stuttering.

“Don’t be deceived. Those were just the words I needed for access into the land,” she said. “And you’re too naive,” she laughed.

“What about the deaths happening?” I asked, still in disbelief.

“That was real. Kade is cursed. And to evade the curse, I have to assume the throne,” she admitted.

“So that’s the reason for the fake pregnancy?” I asked, pointing to her belly.

“It’s not fake. It’s real!” she said. But Kade’s words already rang in my head. I was naive—but not naive enough to trust Tasha… or Linda.

“Why did you kill the young girl?” I asked, referring to the real Tasha’s death.

“You see, none of the mates Kade had actually died,” she said. “At least, not at first. Now they’re all dead—but they weren’t before.”

“You killed them?” I asked.

“They served no purpose, Azren. But Tasha did. The two grew up together, had a connection. If there was someone who could grab Kade’s attention, it was her,” she said.

“What did you do that for? You made an innocent man look like a monster!” I yelled. Her eyes narrowed dangerously.

“Yell at me one more time, and I’ll show you why they call me Linda,” she threatened. My teeth clenched in fear. She didn’t have to introduce herself—her words spread like poison.

“My goal was to make him heirless. Without anyone. So when he finally dies, I can reveal myself as his mother and ascend the throne,” she said, and my jaw dropped.

“You’re Kade’s mother?” I asked, my tongue too heavy to speak.

“Yes, child, I am. How do you think I know so much about Kade?” she asked, and finally, it started to make sense.

“I’m the answer to all your questions,” her previous words started to ring in my brain.

“You’re Kade’s mother?” I asked again, my mind refusing to believe what had just happened.

“Even if you ask ten thousand times, that’s the answer, my dear Luna,” she answered.

“You want to get married to your own son?” I asked, my head starting to hurt from the information.

“Don’t be silly, child. This is not Kade’s child,” she spoke, and for a minute, my brain calmed down—of course no one is crazy enough to have a child with their own child.

“This is Kade’s brother. When I said I was pregnant for the Alpha, I didn’t clarify which one,” she said, her voice twisting.