So-yeon: The Alpha's Cursed Mate

CHAPTER 001 The forest was alive, but it was not warm. The shadows danced in the full moons pale light, with each gust of wind. Their skeleton fingers clawed at the sky, whispering secrets that were trees. Running, rasp breath, tight chest, like her lungs shrank with fear. She heard the slapping of her bare feet against the damp earth and faint imprints that the cold night would soon swallow. She didn’t know how far she’d come or where she was going. She knew only that she had to keep running. Again the voices echoed, faint but sharp enough to cut through the silence. "Moonlit Blood…" Words slithered through the night; the words were invisible chains that continued to circle her. She didn’t know what they were saying, but the sound of them made her stomach churn. Her wrist throbbed, the scar painfully, glowing faintly, like a firefly trapped beneath her skin. With each step, it burned hotter, and she clutched her arm. Her legs shuddered and, she stumbled into a clearing. The trees suddenly ended, revealing a large splotch of grass underneath lit up by the light of the moon. The air here was heavy, like it breathed in, alive, and watching her. The scar flared again, and now it was bright enough to cast a faint glow on the ground. So-yeon gasped, covering it with her hand to smother the light. "What is this?" Her voice broke as she whispered. "Why won’t it stop?" A laugh answered her. Far too close, low, cruel. "You cannot hide, girl." So-yeon’s head snapped up. From the trees, shadows appeared, their shapes changing in a way that wasn’t quite human, or wolf. In the dark, yellow eyes glinted and looked at her as if they were a club of hunters who had cornered prey. She shouted, her voice wavered. “Stay away!” The figures didn’t stop. A tall, broad shouldered one stepped forward, his face hidden in darkness. His voice was deep, and laced with mockery. Yet, we’re not here to hurt you. "Come quietly, and we won't make this worse." So-yeon took a shaky step back. She dug her fingers into her wrist as if the scar could stop the pain. "I don’t know who you are or what you want, but stay back!" The man tilted his head, amused. “Oh, little Moonlit Blood, you don’t even know what you are.” Other kids chuckled, a sound so sickening all that she could feel it crawl up her skin. The throbbing in her wrist burned so bad it felt as though molten lava was coursing through her veins. Biting back a scream, she fell to her knees. "Leave me alone!" she cried. But they didn’t. Slow and deliberate they stepped closer, savoring her helplessness. “She’s barely holding on,” one of them muttered. This will be easy.” “No…” So-yeon shook her head, gripping the dirt beneath her hands. Pain rippled through her vision, blurring more and more until she couldn't even make out the edges of her fingers before her—a strange sensation famed and ferocious, like swells of hunger, knocked on the door of her chest. The light spilled out from beneath her fingers, her scar burned hotter, brighter. She didn’t know what was happening, but she let it happen. A burst of white light exploded in the clearing. The figures protected their faces and cried out, but it was too late. The light went away, and So-yeon lay on the ground, puffing, vision obscured. Momentarily blinded, the shadowy figures staggered. "Now!" She forced herself to her feet, she thought. Her legs screamed in protest, but she ran into the forest again. Behind her, the voices became snarls, guttural and angry. "Don’t let her get away!" Her heart pounded as she weaved through the trees. The crunch of leaves, the snap of a branch, they were all louder, closer. They were catching up. One of them barked, his voice like thunder, “Stop running!” Ignoring him, tears streamed down So yeon's face. The scar on her wrist faded, but it still hurt, as if it was telling her she couldn’t get away from whatever was happening to her. She didn’t know how long she ran, but her body was at its limit. She let her legs buckle and fell hard, scratching her arms on the rough bark of a fallen tree. Her chest heaving she gasped for air. Then everything went silent. The air held nothing but the sound of her laborsome breathing, the forest seemed to hold its breath. She lifted her head and scanned the darkness. Were they gone? Had she lost them? A branch snapped nearby. So-yeon froze. She stared into the shadows, her pulse thudding in herears. A figure walked slowly forward in an ethereal shade of pale moonlight. His dark hair fell across his forehead in disarray, and he was tall. Their amber eyes caught the light, glowing faintly, as they stared at hers. He didn’t come any closer, but his presence made the air feel heavier. His deep voice broke the silence, 'Han So-yeon.' Her palms scraped against the ground as she scrambled back. "Who… Who are you?" He moved smoothly, almost predatorily, the man stepped forward. Yet he softened his gaze and it still held an intensity in which she could feel her chest tighten. His tone was steady, 'You don’t need to be afraid.' "I’m here to help." His words should have been reassuring, but they weren’t. There was something wrong with him, too perfect, too calculated. However, she warned, although her voice shook. "I don’t trust you." His mouth twitched at the corner, almost a smile. "I don’t blame you. You can’t run from me, it won’t change anything. You’re not safe out here." "I’m not safe with you, either!" Her fear turned to anger, she snapped. His eyes darkened slightly, but his voice was calm. So-yeon, you’re not safe because of what you are. Because of what they want from you." Her throat tightened. "What are you talking about? "What do you mean, what I am?" She flinched but didn’t move away as he took another step closer. He flicked his gaze to her wrist and saw the scar still glowed faintly. "They’re hunting you because of that mark," he said quietly. Why they’ll never stop until they have you. Her mind raced, she stared at him. None of this made sense. Why her? What was this scar? She repeated her question, her voice nearly even quieter this time: “Who are you?” The man’s expression softened, but there was a weight to his words as he answered. "My name is Kim Joon-won. I’m the only one who can protect you, and whether you believe me or not." So-yeon’s heart raced. She wanted to trust his calm certainty, to believe him. She had to stay on guard, but something in her gut told her to. She forced strength in her voice and said, "I don’t need your protection." Joon-won’s gaze grew cold, to thinning patience. You don’t know what’s coming. "You'll die—or worse—if you stay out here alone." A low growl flew from the darkness before she could respond. Yellow eyes appeared in the shadows. More this time. More and glowing with a predatory light so-yeon’s breath hitched. Joon won’s tone was sharp now. 'They’ve found us.' His body was tensed like a coiled spring, he turned slightly. Her pulse was hammering in her ears, So yeon backed away. Half shifted wolves with half formed claws and snarling teeth stepped into the clearing, their forms becoming clearer. Her voice firm, Joon won glanced back at her. "Stay behind me." Frozen by fear and confusion, she didn’t move. Taking a step forward, Joon won’s eyes glowed more brightly as his voice was almost a growl. He growled to the attackers, 'This is your only warning.' "Get out of here, or you won't be leaving at all." The snarls grew louder. A wolf lunged forward. And Joon-won shifted. His muscles rippled and expanded and so-yeon’s eyes widened as he blurred as his form. Without a pause it was, and the man was now a massive black wolf, his golden eyes burning like flames. But the attackers hesitated, only for a moment. Then they charged. So-yeon stumbled back, her heart pounding as chaos erupted. The black wolf pounced on the attackers in full frontal view, his growls rattled the ground. Even as she heard the fight get louder, she couldn’t look away. The air stank with snarls and the sickening crunch of bone across the grass. Blood splattered everywhere. Next he turned, his amber eyes fixing on to hers. "Run!" His mouth didn’t move, but his voice echoed in her mind. So-yeon thought about fleeing and staying. One of the attackers broke through, charging straight at her before she could decide. Her scar flared with heat, and she screamed. Then the black wolf turned, looked into her amber eyes. "Run!" She heard his voice in her mind, but his mouth didn’t move. He hesitated, between fleeing and staying. However, before she could make up her mind, one of the attackers broke through, and charged at her. Her scar flared with heat, and she screamed. Again, the light pulsed out of her wrist, but it didn’t stop. The heat burned through her veins like wildfire, and it grew brighter and brighter. So-yeon couldn’t move, but the attacker froze mid lunge, snarling in pain. Now the light was blinding her, wrapping around her like a cocoon. Then everything went silent. But Joon won’s wolf, through the chaos, leaping toward her, eyes wild but with something in them that looked like fear, was the last thing she saw. What was happening to her, and would anyone survive it?