BOUND THE CURSED ALPHA

chapter 17

The moment the enemies stepped out of the shadows—

The air turned deadly.

No warning.

No hesitation.

They attacked.

Fast.

Brutal.

Like predators who had already decided their prey would not escape.

Kael moved first.

Always first.

His body blurred forward with terrifying speed, intercepting the closest attacker before it could even reach Luna. Steel clashed against claws, sparks flying as force met force.

“Left!” he shouted.

Luna reacted instantly.

Not with panic.

Not this time.

She turned sharply, her senses already picking up the movement before her eyes fully registered it. One of the cursed hunters lunged toward her from the side—

But she was ready.

Her hand lifted.

The energy responded immediately.

Not explosive.

Not wild.

Controlled.

A sharp pulse shot from her palm, slamming into the attacker and throwing it off balance.

Her heart pounded.

But her breathing stayed steady.

“I did it…” she whispered under her breath.

Kael glanced at her briefly in the middle of combat—

And for the first time since everything began…

He didn’t see fear.

He saw control.

“Good,” he muttered.

Then the real fight began.

More enemies rushed in.

At least ten.

Maybe more.

And they weren’t weak.

Their movements were coordinated, their attacks precise.

They were learning.

Adapting.

“Stay close!” Kael ordered, slicing through one attacker before pivoting to block another strike.

Luna moved toward him, their backs nearly touching now.

The bond between them pulsed stronger.

Alive.

Guiding.

“I can feel them,” she said.

Her voice was steady—but her eyes were sharp.

“They’re not attacking randomly… they’re targeting us separately.”

Kael’s lips curved slightly despite the situation.

“Then don’t let them split us.”

A beat.

“Stay with me.”

“I am,” she replied.

Another attacker lunged—

But this time, Luna didn’t just block.

She stepped forward.

Her hand shot out, grabbing the enemy mid-motion.

Energy surged through her palm—

Not exploding outward…

But compressing inward.

The creature froze.

Its body locked in place.

Then—

Cracked.

And shattered under the pressure.

Silence hit for a fraction of a second.

Even Kael noticed that.

“That’s new,” he said.

Luna stared at her own hand, slightly shocked.

“I didn’t mean to—”

“No,” he cut in.

His voice firm.

“Don’t hesitate now.”

Another wave of enemies rushed in.

“Use it.”

Her heart pounded harder.

But she nodded.

“Okay.”

This time—

She didn’t wait.

She moved.

Fast.

Not as fast as Kael…

But faster than before.

Her body felt lighter, stronger, more responsive.

She dodged an attack, spun, and released a controlled burst of energy that knocked two enemies back at once.

Kael fought beside her, their movements starting to sync naturally.

Not planned.

Not forced.

Instinctive.

The bond.

Every time she moved—

He knew.

Every time he attacked—

She adjusted.

Perfect synchronization.

Deadly.

“This is insane…” she breathed.

Kael smirked slightly.

“Get used to it.”

But then—

Everything changed.

A sudden pressure slammed into the area.

Heavy.

Overwhelming.

Different.

Luna froze instantly.

“What… is that?”

Kael’s expression darkened.

“Trouble.”

The remaining enemies stepped back slightly.

Not retreating.

Making space.

Like they were waiting.

For something worse.

Then—

A figure dropped from above.

Landing between them and the forest line.

The ground cracked beneath the impact.

Dust rose slowly.

And when it cleared—

Luna’s breath caught.

This one…

Was nothing like the others.

Taller.

Stronger.

Its body was covered in dark, vein-like cracks glowing faintly.

Its eyes…

Completely consumed by the curse.

“No…” Kael muttered.

“That’s not normal.”

The creature tilted its head slowly.

Then smiled.

“You’ve improved.”

Its voice was clear.

Too clear.

Not like the others.

This one…

Was conscious.

Luna’s stomach dropped.

“It can talk…”

Kael stepped slightly in front of her.

“Stay alert.”

The creature’s gaze shifted to Luna.

“Impressive,” it said. “You’re learning faster than expected.”

Her chest tightened.

“You know me?”

A pause.

Then—

“I know what you are.”

Silence.

Kael’s aura turned cold instantly.

“Stop talking,” he warned.

But the creature ignored him.

“You’re not just controlling the curse…”

Its smile widened.

“You’re becoming it.”

The words hit hard.

Luna’s breath faltered.

“No…”

But doubt crept in again.

Kael stepped forward.

“That’s enough.”

The creature laughed softly.

“Then show me.”

A beat.

“Show me how strong you really are.”

And then—

It attacked.

Faster than anything before.

Kael barely blocked the strike, the force pushing him back violently.

“Kael!”

Luna reacted instantly.

But this time—

She didn’t panic.

She focused.

Her breathing steadied.

Her mind cleared.

The power responded.

Clean.

Sharp.

Controlled.

She stepped forward—

And for the first time…

She chose to fight.

Not because she lost control.

But because she decided to.

Her eyes sharpened.

“I’m not your weapon,” she said coldly.

Energy surged around her—

But stable.

Balanced.

“I decide what I become.”

Kael’s lips curved slightly.

That’s it.

That’s what he wanted to see.

The creature grinned.

“Then prove it.”

And the battlefield exploded again.