THE CURSED ALPHA AND HIS WITCH

THE ENCOUNTER

Kaylan felt the chilly night air on her skin as she was pulled out of the carriage, her heart racing in her chest. The grand palace stood before her, its towering spires piercing the dark sky just like sharp teeth. Torches flickered and created eerie shadows on the stone walls while the knights led her towards the entrance.

Kaylan's thoughts were running wild. She found herself in the lion's den at the palace, leading straight to the feared prince, after a sudden turn of events from feeling safe at home. The idea of him caused her heart to beat faster—not due to fear, but from a more profound, inexplicable feeling.

The knights stayed quiet while escorting her along a lengthy corridor, their armor making noise with each move. The halls of the palace were dim, chilly, and devoid of life. Portraits of former monarchs adorned the walls, their gazes appeared to track Kaylan's movements as she passed by. It seemed like a cautionary signal, as if they were monitoring her every action, assessing her presence.

In the end, they arrived at a spacious wooden door located at the end of the hallway. The knight in the front opened it, exposing a magnificent chamber ahead.

Kaylan felt her breath get stuck in her throat. The room was large, yet devoid of any warmth or presence. Only one mysterious figure was seated in the corner near the window, facing away from her. He seemed to attract the shadows in the room with his strong presence.

"The knight greeted Prince Sutton with a slight bow." "We have brought the girl.

"Silence reigned briefly. The figure remained motionless. Kaylan could hear her heart beating loudly in her ears, feeling the almost unbearable tension in the air.

After that, he gradually rotated his head.

Kaylan's breathing caught in her throat. Even from a distance, she could perceive the intense strength emanating from him. Though his face was dimly lit, his eyes were intense, deep abysses that appeared to look directly into her soul. They were different from anything she had ever witnessed—part human, part something else. Something not functioning properly.

"Dismiss yourself," Sutton commanded in a low and firm tone, causing Kaylan to shudder.

The knights paused briefly, exchanging glances, before quietly exiting without speaking, the heavy door shutting behind them with a loud thud.

They were now the only ones left.

Kaylan stood frozen by the door, unsure of what to do, what to say. The weight of his gaze on her was almost too much to bear, but she couldn’t look away.

Sutton rose from his chair, his movements slow, almost predatory. He walked toward her, each step deliberate, his eyes never leaving hers.

As he approached, Kaylan could feel the air around him—thick, charged with something she couldn’t name. Power. Pain. It enveloped him like a second skin, a curse he couldn’t shake. But there was something else too, something that drew her in.

When he stopped just a few feet in front of her, Kaylan finally found her voice.

“Why did you bring me here?” she asked, her voice barely more than a whisper.

Sutton’s eyes narrowed, studying her for a moment. “You know why,” he said quietly. His voice was deep, rough, like it hadn’t been used in a long time.

Kaylan felt the heaviness of his words and took a deep breath. "Do you believe I am able to assist you?"

He didn't respond immediately. However, he moved nearer, so near that she could sense the warmth emanating from him. She couldn't help but feel suffocated by his overwhelming presence, yet she couldn't move away.

Sutton stated, with a low and menacing voice, that he didn't require any assistance. "I want this curse to be over.

"Kaylan felt pain in his heart from the bitterness in his voice. Now she could perceive it, the pain clearly shown in every facial feature, the deep circles beneath his eyes, the manner in which his body appeared to bear the burden of something much greater than any hex.

"I'm not sure if I can shatter it," she confessed, her voice shaking. "I will make an attempt.

"Sutton's eyes briefly became less intense for a moment, so short that she doubted she had even noticed it. He moved nearer, nearing to the point where their bodies were nearly touching.

"Why?" he inquired, speaking in a barely audible voice. "What is your reason for assisting me?"

Kaylan felt a sudden pause in her breathing. She heard the question repeated in her mind, unaware of what to respond. However, when she gazed into his eyes - those dark, haunted eyes - she experienced a magnetic, inexplicable bond. She felt like she had been acquainted with him for a lifetime, despite it being their first encounter.

"I do not have knowledge," she murmured, her voice cracking. "I simply..." I feel as though I must.

herself.

Kaylan experienced an abrupt cessation in her breath. She couldn't think of a response as the question kept echoing in her mind. Yet, as she looked into his eyes - those dark, troubled eyes - she felt a powerful, unexplainable connection. Even though it was their first meeting, she sensed a deep connection with him as if they had known each other forever.

" I lack knowledge," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I just..." I have a sense of obligation.

There was a silence between them for a moment, and neither of them said anything. The area surrounding them was brimming with unspoken feelings, exceeding their understanding. Kaylan noticed for the first time.Kaylan felt the heaviness of his words and took a deep breath. "Do you believe I am able to assist you?"

He didn't respond immediately. However, he moved nearer, so near that she could sense the warmth emanating from him. She couldn't help but feel suffocated by his overwhelming presence, yet she couldn't move away.

Sutton stated, with a low and menacing voice, that he didn't require any assistance. "I want this curse to be over.

"Kaylan felt pain in his heart from the bitterness in his voice. Now she could perceive it, the pain clearly shown in every facial feature, the deep circles beneath his eyes, the manner in which his body appeared to bear the burden of something much greater than any hex.

"I'm not sure if I can shatter it," she confessed, her voice shaking. "I will make an attempt.

"Sutton's eyes briefly became less intense for a moment, so short that she doubted she had even noticed it. He moved nearer, nearing to the point where their bodies were nearly touching.

"Why?" he inquired, speaking in a barely audible voice. "What is your reason for assisting me?"

Kaylan felt a sudden pause in her breathing. She heard the question repeated in her mind, unaware of what to respond. However, when she gazed into his eyes - those dark, haunted eyes - she experienced a magnetic, inexplicable bond. She felt like she had been acquainted with him for a lifetime, despite it being their first encounter.

"I do not have knowledge," she murmured, her voice cracking. "I simply..." I feel as though I must.

There was a moment of silence between them, during which neither spoke. The space around them was filled with unspoken emotions, with a depth beyond their comprehension. For the first time, Kaylan noticed a hint of vulnerability and loss in Sutton's softened gaze.

However, soon after, his expression became stern once more, and he moved away, ending the connection between them.

Coldly, he told her she shouldn't be present as he turned away. "Go away before it's too late.

"Kaylan felt her heart drop. "However—"

"Leave," he snarled, his voice full of caution. "I am in danger."

Suddenly, the chamber's door swung open. Serena, the sister of the prince, hurried in with a pale face filled with fear.

"Sutton," she exclaimed, her eyes widening. "It has commenced.

"Sutton's muscles tightened. "What has begun?"

Serena spoke softly, looking anxious at Kaylan, about the king's plan. He is not only bringing her here for your assistance. If she is not successful, he intends to...

Sutton's eyes filled with anger. "What for?"

Serena paused, speaking with a barely audible voice. "To cause her death."

Kaylan felt chills as the words lingered in the air. Looking at Sutton, her heart raced inside her chest.

Sutton quickly faced her, his expression impossible to decipher, before she could speak.

" You must go," he urgently exclaimed. "At this moment."

However, Kaylan disagreed by shaking her head, feeling a combination of fear and determination in her heart.

She whispered that she was not going to leave. "Can't lift this curse without breaking it."

Sutton gazed at her, his eyes holding an emotion that Kaylan couldn't identify, for a considerable amount of time. Suddenly, he reached out and forcefully pulled her arm, bringing her near.

"You fail to comprehend," he softly muttered, his voice infused with urgency. "If you remain... you may not make it out alive.

"Kaylan's breath got stuck in her throat, her heart racing madly in her chest. However, when she gazed into his eyes, she was certain of one thing.

She had no intention of leaving.