BOUND THE CURSED ALPHA

chapter 25

The corridors trembled.

Not from the fight outside.

Not from the clash of steel or the screams echoing through the structure.

But from something deeper.

Something rising.

Something awakening.

Kael felt it in every step he took.

Each movement forward grew heavier, as if the air itself resisted him. As if something inside this place was pushing back… warning him.

Or testing him.

His boots crushed broken stone and shattered debris as he advanced deeper into the structure, his senses stretched to their limits. Every flicker of movement, every breath, every shift in the air—he felt all of it.

But none of it mattered.

Only one thing did.

Luna.

The bond pulsed again.

Stronger this time.

Too strong.

His chest tightened painfully as he stopped mid-step, his hand pressing briefly against his chest.

“…this isn’t right.”

This wasn’t just her presence.

This wasn’t just her power.

It was something else.

Something darker.

Something… awakening.

His eyes darkened instantly.

“No…”

And then—

A scream echoed through the structure.

Sharp.

Short.

Cut off too quickly.

Kael’s head snapped toward the direction instantly.

He moved.

Faster than before.

No hesitation.

No restraint.

Walls blurred past him as he tore through the corridors like a storm, his presence alone enough to make the air distort. Guards tried to intercept him—

They failed.

One step.

One strike.

One body falling after another.

He didn’t slow down.

Couldn’t.

Because now—

He could feel her clearly.

Right ahead.

---

Inside the chamber…

Silence ruled.

Cold.

Heavy.

Unnatural silence.

The bodies of the guards lay scattered across the stone floor, unmoving, lifeless—like broken puppets discarded after use.

At the center of it all…

Luna stood.

Still.

Unmoving.

Her breathing slow.

Controlled.

Too controlled.

Her eyes…

They weren’t the same.

The warmth that once lived there—

Gone.

Replaced by something deeper.

Colder.

Her fingers flexed slowly at her sides as she stared down at the faint cracks spreading across the floor beneath her feet.

Power leaked from her unconsciously.

Not chaotic.

Not unstable.

Perfectly aligned.

Perfectly controlled.

And that…

Was the most dangerous part.

“…so this is it,” she whispered softly.

Her voice echoed gently through the chamber.

“This is what they were afraid of.”

She lifted her hand slightly, watching the faint dark energy swirl around her fingers like it belonged there.

Because it did.

Her gaze softened—not with kindness, but with realization.

“It doesn’t hurt anymore…”

That should have been comforting.

But it wasn’t.

Because the reason it didn’t hurt anymore…

Was because she had stopped resisting.

The doors exploded open.

A violent force tore through the entrance, sending shattered debris flying across the chamber.

Luna didn’t flinch.

Didn’t even turn immediately.

Because she already knew.

“…you’re here.”

Kael stood at the entrance, his chest rising and falling heavily, his eyes locked onto her instantly.

And the moment he saw her—

Everything inside him froze.

“…Luna.”

Silence fell between them.

But it wasn’t peaceful.

It was heavy.

Loaded.

Dangerous.

She turned slowly.

Their eyes met.

And in that single moment—

Kael knew.

Something had changed.

Something was wrong.

His jaw tightened.

“…what did they do to you?”

Luna tilted her head slightly, studying him like she was seeing him differently now.

“They didn’t do anything.”

Her voice was calm.

Too calm.

“They just showed me the truth.”

His expression darkened instantly.

“That’s not the truth.”

A faint smile touched her lips.

“Isn’t it?”

She took a slow step forward.

The air shifted with her movement.

The power around her responded instantly.

Kael’s instincts screamed.

Danger.

But he didn’t move.

Didn’t step back.

“I can feel everything now,” she continued softly.

Her gaze didn’t leave his.

“The power… the connection… the origin of it all.”

Her chest rose slowly as she inhaled.

“It’s not something I’m fighting anymore.”

A pause.

“It’s something I am.”

“No.”

The word came out instantly.

Sharp.

Firm.

Kael stepped forward now.

“That’s not who you are.”

Her expression didn’t change.

“And how would you know?”

His chest tightened.

“Because I know you.”

Silence.

For a brief second—

Something flickered in her eyes.

Something familiar.

But it disappeared just as quickly.

“You knew the version of me that was afraid,” she said quietly.

“That version is gone.”

Kael’s gaze hardened.

“I don’t care what version this is.”

He took another step closer.

“You’re still Luna.”

Her breath paused slightly.

Just for a second.

But he saw it.

And he held onto it.

“You’re still the one who fought this,” he continued, his voice lower now.

“The one who didn’t want to lose herself.”

A pause.

“The one who didn’t want to hurt me.”

That hit.

Harder than anything else.

Her fingers twitched slightly.

The energy around her flickered.

Unstable for a split second.

But then—

It stabilized again.

Her gaze sharpened.

“…that’s exactly why I accepted it.”

His brows furrowed.

“What?”

Her voice remained calm.

“If I don’t control this power… it will control me.”

A step closer.

“And if that happens…”

Her eyes darkened slightly.

“I will destroy everything.”

Silence.

Heavy.

Painful.

Kael shook his head slowly.

“You don’t fix that by becoming it.”

Her lips parted slightly.

“You don’t understand.”

“Then make me understand.”

Their eyes locked.

Intense.

Unyielding.

A long silence stretched between them.

Then—

Her voice dropped.

“If I lose control…”

A pause.

“…you’ll be the first one I destroy.”

The words cut deep.

But Kael didn’t flinch.

Didn’t look away.

“Then I’ll stop you.”

Her breath caught.

“You can’t.”

“I will.”

The certainty in his voice shook something inside her.

Something she was trying to bury.

“You don’t get it!”

The words snapped out of her suddenly, sharper than before.

The ground beneath them cracked violently as her power surged outward.

“I’m not just connected to the curse!”

Her voice echoed through the chamber.

“I’m the source of it!”

Silence.

Even the air seemed to freeze.

Kael’s expression didn’t change.

“…then I’ll destroy the curse.”

Her eyes widened slightly.

“And if that means destroying me?”

A dangerous question.

A painful one.

But he didn’t hesitate.

“I won’t let it get that far.”

Her chest tightened.

Because part of her…

Still believed him.

And that scared her more than anything.

“Kael…”

His name left her lips softer this time.

More fragile.

But then—

The shadows shifted behind her.

A slow clap echoed through the chamber.

“Well…”

The man stepped out from the darkness again.

Calm.

Unbothered.

“This is touching.”

Kael’s aura exploded instantly.

“You.”

The man smiled faintly.

“You made it faster than expected.”

“I’m going to kill you.”

Simple.

Direct.

Final.

The man didn’t react.

“Perhaps.”

His gaze shifted to Luna.

“But not before she makes her choice.”

Kael’s eyes narrowed.

“She’s not choosing anything with you.”

“Isn’t she?”

The man’s voice remained calm.

“Look at her.”

Silence fell again.

Kael’s gaze flicked back to Luna.

And for the first time—

He hesitated.

Because he saw it.

The power.

The darkness.

The change.

The man’s voice echoed again.

“She’s already stepping away from you.”

“No,” Kael said immediately.

But doubt…

It tried to creep in.

Luna’s breathing became uneven again.

“Stop…”

Her voice was low.

Strained.

“Both of you.”

The energy around her surged violently now.

Not fully controlled anymore.

Conflicted.

Torn.

“I don’t want to choose…”

Her hands trembled slightly.

“I don’t want to hurt anyone…”

The man’s gaze sharpened.

“Then don’t resist.”

Kael stepped forward instantly.

“Don’t listen to him.”

“Then what do I do?!”

Her voice broke.

Finally.

Cracking under the pressure.

“What do I do if I’m the thing destroying everything?!”

Silence.

Kael didn’t answer immediately.

Because this wasn’t a simple answer.

This wasn’t something he could fix with strength.

So instead—

He did something else.

He stepped closer.

Slowly.

Carefully.

Despite the violent energy surrounding her.

Despite the danger.

“Come back to me.”

Her breath hitched.

“You’re the only one who can choose who you are.”

Another step.

“You’re not a curse.”

Another.

“You’re Luna.”

Tears filled her eyes.

Her power trembled violently.

“I don’t know how…”

His voice softened.

“Then let me help you.”

The man watched silently.

Interested.

Curious.

Because this…

This was the real test.

Luna’s hand lifted slightly.

Shaking.

Reaching.

Not for power.

But for him.

And for a moment—

Just one moment—

It felt like she would come back.

But then—

The mark on her arm flared violently.

Pain shot through her body.

Her eyes snapped wide.

“AH—!”

The energy exploded outward uncontrollably.

Kael moved instantly—

Grabbing her before she could collapse.

“Luna!”

Her body trembled violently in his arms.

“I can’t control it!”

Her voice broke completely now.

“It’s too much!”

His grip tightened.

“Focus on me!”

Her eyes struggled to stay open.

“Kael…”

“Stay with me!”

The power surged again.

Even stronger.

Even more dangerous.

And this time—

It wasn’t just affecting her.

It was affecting him too.

The bond.

It reacted violently.

Linking their pain.

Their power.

Their existence.

Kael’s eyes widened slightly.

“…damn it.”

This was worse than he thought.

Much worse.

Because now—

If she lost control…

They both would.