BOUND THE CURSED ALPHA

chapter 11

The night grew heavier.

Not just dark…

Oppressive.

Luna could feel it pressing against her chest as she and Kael moved deeper into the forest. The air was colder now, thicker, almost suffocating.

Something was wrong.

Very wrong.

“Kael…” she whispered, her voice barely steady. “Do you feel that?”

He didn’t slow down.

“I do.”

His tone was sharper than before. Alert. Dangerous.

“It’s not just hunters anymore,” he added quietly.

Her heart skipped.

“What do you mean?”

He stopped suddenly.

Luna almost collided into him.

The moment she looked up—

She understood.

The forest… had changed.

The trees twisted unnaturally. Shadows stretched longer than they should. The ground beneath them felt… alive.

A low whisper echoed through the air.

Not one voice.

Many.

Watching. Waiting.

Her breath hitched.

“This place…”

“It’s cursed,” Kael finished.

A chill ran down her spine.

Before she could react—

Pain shot through her chest.

Sharp. Sudden. Burning.

“Ah—!”

She gasped, clutching her chest as she dropped to her knees.

“Luna!”

Kael was beside her instantly.

“What’s happening?” he demanded.

“I—I don’t know…” she cried, her body trembling violently. “It hurts—!”

The pain spread.

From her chest…

Through her veins.

Like fire.

Then—

Light.

A faint glow began to shine beneath her skin.

Kael’s eyes widened.

“No…”

Her breathing became erratic.

“What’s wrong?” she whispered, panic rising.

He didn’t answer immediately.

Because he already knew.

Slowly…

Very slowly…

He reached for her hand.

And pulled her sleeve back.

Luna’s eyes followed—

And froze.

A mark.

Glowing.

Cracked.

Just like his.

Her breath stopped.

“No…”

The mark pulsed.

Alive.

Burning into her skin.

“What is this?!” she cried, trying to pull her arm away.

But Kael held her gently. Firmly.

“It’s the curse,” he said, his voice low… almost shaken.

Her heart pounded violently.

“No… no, you said it was in you—!”

“It was,” he corrected.

Silence.

Then—

“It’s in you now too.”

The words shattered everything.

Her vision blurred.

“That’s not possible…”

Kael’s jaw tightened.

“It wasn’t supposed to happen this way.”

Her breathing became uneven.

“What do you mean this way?”

He looked at her.

Really looked at her.

And for the first time—

She saw fear in his eyes.

“The bond…” he said slowly. “It didn’t just connect us.”

Her heart trembled.

“It awakened the curse inside you.”

Tears filled her eyes instantly.

“No…”

The mark burned brighter.

She cried out, her body shaking as the energy surged through her uncontrollably.

“Kael, make it stop!”

He pulled her into his arms immediately, holding her tightly.

“I can’t…” he whispered.

Her fingers clutched his shirt desperately.

“It hurts…”

“I know,” he murmured, pressing his forehead against hers. “Focus on me. Just me.”

Her breathing was chaotic.

“I can’t—!”

“You can,” he said firmly. “Luna, listen to my voice.”

Her eyes locked onto his.

Dark.

Steady.

Grounding.

“Stay with me,” he whispered.

The energy pulsed again.

But this time—

Something changed.

Her breathing slowed.

Just slightly.

The pain didn’t vanish…

But it eased.

Her grip on him tightened.

And the mark—

Stopped spreading.

Silence fell.

Heavy.

Fragile.

After a moment, Luna collapsed weakly against him, her body exhausted.

“It’s real…” she whispered.

Kael held her closer.

“Yes.”

Her voice trembled.

“I’m cursed…”

His grip tightened.

“No,” he said firmly. “You’re not cursed.”

She looked up at him, tears falling freely.

“Then what is this?!”

A long pause.

Then—

“You’re the key.”

Her breath caught.

“The key…?”

“To ending it,” he said quietly.

Her heart pounded.

“Or…”

He hesitated.

Her chest tightened.

“Or what?”

His gaze darkened.

“To unleashing something far worse.”

Silence.

The forest seemed to hold its breath.

Luna’s fingers trembled against his chest.

“So I’m either your salvation…”

A tear slipped down her cheek.

“Or your destruction?”

Kael didn’t answer immediately.

He lifted his hand slowly…

And wiped her tear away.

Then leaned closer.

His voice low.

Certain.

“You’re everything.”

Her heart stopped.

Then raced.

Before she could react—

He pulled her closer…

And kissed her.

Not soft this time.

Not hesitant.

But desperate.

Intense.

Like he was holding onto something he might lose.

Her hands gripped him tightly, her body responding instantly despite the fear still lingering inside her.

The mark on her arm glowed faintly again.

And his—

Responded.

Beating in sync.

Alive.

Connected.

Bound.

When he finally pulled back, their breaths were uneven, their foreheads pressed together.

“Whatever happens next…” he whispered.

Her heart trembled.

“We face it together.”

Luna closed her eyes for a second.

Then nodded.

Because now…

There was no turning back.