BONDED TO THE CURSED ROGUE ALPHA

CHAPTER 15: Fatal Decisions

Ashina's POV

The thought struck so suddenly it stole the air from my lungs as his face was only inches from mine close enough for me to notice the tiny scar beneath his jaw to feel the warmth of his breath brush against my cheek as the rest of the world seemed to disappear.

Move, Ashina.

But my feet refused to listen as his silver eyes searched mine, unreadable as ever but yet there was something different buried beneath the cold Something he seemed to be fighting.

Then his gaze flickered to my lips. The movement lasted less than a second.It was enough as Heat rushed to my face before annoyance quickly replaced it.

What is wrong with you?

I straightened my shoulders still refusing to let him see even a hint of uncertainty.

"If you're trying to intimidate me," I said evenly, "you're standing a little too close." His jaw tightened for a moment, I thought he hadn't heard me.

Then without warning he took a step backward as the distance between us returned.

The strange pull that had wrapped itself around the corridor snapped like a thread.

He looked away first.

"I wasn't." His voice had become colder than winter itself.

"Whatever you imagined forget it." I folded my arms.

"Oh, don't flatter yourself I wasn't imagining anything."

"If anything, I was wondering whether all rogue Alphas have such poor manners." His expression didn't change good and neither did mine.

"You corner women in empty hallways often?" I continued.

“ Or am I just receiving special treatment?" His eyes met mine again sharp and emotionless.

"You talk too much."

"And you growl too much." Another silence as this one heavier than the last.

Finally, he spoke.

"I don't have time for childish arguments."

"Neither do I."

"Then stop creating them." a humorless laugh escaped me.

"Interesting first you dragged me into your kingdom and marked me without asking. You even imprisoned me and somehow I'm the one creating problems?" Something dangerous flickered behind his eyes before disappearing just as quickly.

"You are alive because you're under my protection."

"I never asked for it."

"I know." His answer came immediately.

"That has never stopped you from doing whatever you wanted." I lifted my chin.

"I'd rather choose my own fate than have someone else choose it for me." His gaze lingered on me for a long second long enough to make me wonder what he was thinking. When he finally spoke, his words were clipped.

"I don't intend to have anything to do with you." The sentence landed harder than it should have.

"You are here for one purpose nothing more." His voice was calm.

"When the full moon rises we'll find out whether you can suppress the curse."

"If you can good." He paused

"If you can't..." He paused before finishing the sentence as his silence said enough. I forced a smile that didn't reach my eyes.

"So that's all I am? a test? an experiment." His expression remained unreadable.

"I didn't say that." He added.

"You didn't have to." For the first time since we'd met I turned my back on him before he could dismiss me.

"If you'll excuse me, Alpha I have no interest in standing here while you remind me how disposable I am." I walked away without waiting for permission.

I refused to look back to let him see the sting his words had left behind.

Behind me the corridor remained completely silent.

Draven's POV

She walked away and I let her as the sound of her footsteps echoed through the corridor until they disappeared into silence.

Good.

That was how it should be.

I exhaled slowly, rolling my stiff shoulders as though I could shake off whatever had almost happened moments ago.

My fingers curled into fists.

What the hell was that?

That silence unsettled me more than its voice ever had. I stared at the hand that had held her wrist. It felt no different yet I couldn't forget the warmth of her skin.

"Get a grip," I muttered to myself.

"She's nothing more than another attempt." The words sounded convincing as I repeated them.

"She isn't your Luna. She isn't your future. She isn't anything." The lie became thinner every time I said it as my jaw clenched.

No.

This wasn't about her. It had never been about her it was about the curse for centuries, women had been brought here with promises they couldn't keep and I refused to become another fool.

Ashina isn't different If she failed she would leave or die trying. The kingdom would move on and so would I.

A low chuckle echoed inside my mind not from the corridor from somewhere much darker.

"Still lying?" I froze as the curse voice slithered through my thoughts like smoke.

"You stepped closer." It yelled.

"I lost my balance."

"Did you?"

"I was making sure she wasn't hiding a weapon." It laughed slow, mocking sound.

"Is that why you looked at her lips?" My chest tightened.

"I didn't."

"You did."

"I don't care about her."

"Then why stop her from leaving?"

"Because she's needed."

"Needed..." The voice lingered over the word.

"Or wanted?" My patience snapped without thinking, I drove my fist into the stone wall beside me. The impact cracked the rock as it scattered across the floor as Instant Pain shot through my knuckles.

Good.

Pain was familiar.

Pain made sense.

Not whatever that moment had been.

A pair of guards at the end of the corridor stiffened but wisely said nothing as I straightened, flexing my injured hand.

By sunset that was the deadline.

The council had demanded a decision.

Either Ashina would undergo the trial at the coming full moon or they would find another woman to replace her for the first time since the curse had claimed me

I hesitated.

The easiest choice would be to let the council continue as they always had.

One failure after another.

Another name carved into stone.

Another life wasted.

My gaze drifted toward the corridor where Ashina had disappeared.She wasn't like the others not because I trusted her because I believe in destiny because when she'd touched me the curse had gone silent that had never happened before.

I closed my eyes as I opened them again, the hesitation was gone.

"I'll allow the trial," I said quietly.

"We test her during the full moon." The words echoed through the empty corridor.

A decision had been made whether it would save the kingdom or destroy it.