THE CURSED ALPHA AND HIS WITCH

THE CAPTIVE AND THE PLAN

Kaylan stood frozen in her room, the pounding on the door echoing through the house. Her heart raced, her mind whirling with panic. She knew this moment was coming, but not like this. Not so soon.

She hurriedly grabbed her cloak, but before she could slip out the window, Lina burst into the room.

“Kaylan, stay put!” Lina hissed, eyes wide with fear.“

But the knights—” Kaylan began

.“They won’t leave without you.” Lina’s voice was grave. “Amelia’s trying to hold them off, but she can only do so much. They know you’re here.”

Kaylan’s stomach dropped. “What do they want with me?”

Before Lina could answer, a loud crash reverberated through the house. The front door had been kicked in. Heavy footsteps echoed as the knights stormed inside.

“Stay hidden!” Lina whispered sharply and darted out of the room, leaving Kaylan alone with her racing thoughts.

She tried to calm her breath, but it was no use. She could hear the deep voices of the knights interrogating Amelia.

“Where is she?” one demanded. His voice was cold, authoritative.

“There is no girl here,” Amelia said, her voice steady but laced with defiance.

“You think we don’t know she’s a witch? The prince is deteriorating, and we need her now!

”Kaylan’s blood turned cold. The prince. They really were here for her. She backed away from the door, trembling. How did they find out? What were they planning to do with her?

And Before she could form another thought, the door to her room burst open. Three knights filled the small space, towering over her, clad in dark armor, their eyes filled with suspicion and authority.

“There she is,” the leader of the group said, his gaze sharp. “Take her.”

“No!” Kaylan tried to fight as they grabbed her arms, pulling her roughly toward the door. Her mind screamed for escape, but their grip was unyielding.

Amelia stood by the front door, her eyes hard as she watched the knights drag Kaylan through the threshold.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. But there was nothing she could do.

Kaylan’s heart sank as she was forced into the cold night, thrown into a carriage waiting outside. Her thoughts raced, confusion and fear swirling in her mind.

What awaited her at the palace?

Before she could have another thought, the door to her room flew open. Three knights crowded the cramped area, looming above her, dressed in black armor, their gazes brimming with distrust and power.

"The leader of the group said, his eyes keenly fixed on her, “There she is.” "Bring her along."

"Absolutely not!" As they grabbed her arms, dragging her towards the door, Kaylan attempted to resist. She longed to break free, but their hold was firm.

Amelia, with a stern look in her eyes, stood next to the entrance as she observed the knights pulling Kaylan inside.

She whispered, "I apologize." However, there was no action she could take.

Kaylan felt a wave of despair as she was escorted into the chilly night and tossed into a waiting carriage. Confusion and fear swirled in her mind as her thoughts raced.

What was waiting for her at the palace?Before she could form another thought, the door to her room burst open. Three knights filled the small space, towering over her, clad in dark armor, their eyes filled with suspicion and authority.

“There she is,” the leader of the group said, his gaze sharp. “Take her.”

“No!” Kaylan tried to fight as they grabbed her arms, pulling her roughly toward the door. Her mind screamed for escape, but their grip was unyielding.

Amelia stood by the front door, her eyes hard as she watched the knights drag Kaylan through the threshold.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. But there was nothing she could do.

Kaylan’s heart sank as she was forced into the cold night, thrown into a carriage waiting outside. Her thoughts raced, confusion and fear swirling in her mind.

What awaited her at the palace?

In the Palace**

Princess Serena paced the length of her brother’s dark chamber, her delicate hands wringing in worry. The shadows that clung to the corners of the room made it feel suffocating, but Prince Sutton barely noticed. His eyes were fixed on the far wall, his once brilliant gaze now dull and haunted.

Serena had to tell him. She had to warn him about what their father was planning.

“Sutton,” she called softly, her voice trembling.

The prince didn’t respond, his breathing shallow, as though even existing in the space drained him

“Sutton!” Serena’s voice broke through the thick silence, more forceful now.

Finally, the prince turned his head, his pale face emotionless, but there was a flicker of something—perhaps recognition, perhaps nothing at all.

Serena swallowed hard. “Father is bringing someone to you,” she said quietly, her heart hammering in her chest. “A girl.”

Sutton’s brow furrowed slightly. “A girl?” His voice was hoarse, as though it hadn’t been used in days. “What girl?”

“A witch,” Serena whispered. “They say she can heal you, break the curse.

”When the curse was brought up, Sutton's eyes grew darker and his jaw clenched. "I do not require a healer," he said with gritted teeth. "I require no one.

"However, Sutton, you're deteriorating. The court murmurs about it. They are scared. Father is extremely anxious.

Sutton forcefully hit his fist on the chair's arm, making Serena startle with the abrupt movement. He snarled that he would not be rescued by a girl. "I am capable of saving myself."

Serena paused, her voice gentle yet begging. "Dad believes this is the sole option." He is requesting her presence. "This evening."

Sutton's gaze became more focused. "What will Father do with her if she doesn't succeed?"

Serena turned her gaze elsewhere, feeling her throat constrict. She was aware of the response but chose not to verbalize it.

"If she doesn't succeed," she murmured, "she will not survive her departure from the palace."

They both fell into a deep silence. Sutton's expression contorted in fury, yet it was more than mere anger. Underneath, something different resided: fear.

Not for his own benefit, but for the young woman who was being led into a life-threatening situation.

Serena moved nearer, speaking with a sense of quiet urgency in her voice. If Sutton is truly the person who can assist you, then you should provide her with an opportunity. Time is running short for you.

Sutton suddenly rose from his seat and walked briskly to the window, gazing out at the moonlit night. Heavily breathing, each breath was filled with suffering.

"If the girl goes into the palace," he said in a low, dark tone, "she will come to regret it."

Serena felt her heart drop as her hope faded. She hoped there was a solution to rescue him, yet she observed the shadows growing stronger around her brother, dragging him further into darkness.

"Sutton, Serena said with her voice breaking, she is not coming here to die." "She's on her way to rescue you.

"The prince remained silent, his back turned.