Taming The Alpha’s Curse

Chapter 17

Astrid’s Pov

The first thing I noticed when I started waking up was how incredibly soft the bed felt.

The pillows were plush, the sheets smooth and warm against my skin. I turned over slowly, burrowing deeper into the comfort, a small sigh escaping my lips. For a moment, I let myself enjoy it. I couldn’t remember the last time I had slept in something this nice. My thin mat in the servants’ quarters was nothing compared to this.

Wait.

My eyes snapped open.

This was not my mat. This was not the servants’ quarters at all.

I sat up quickly, heart racing as I took in the large, beautifully furnished room. The bed was high and wide, draped in rich fabrics. Sunlight filtered through heavy curtains. This was someone’s private chamber — and definitely not mine.

Talon was sitting calmly at the edge of the bed, watching me with a gentle expression.

I gasped and immediately checked myself, running my hands over my body to make sure my clothes were still on and nothing had happened while I was unconscious. Talon raised an eyebrow, clearly noticing.

“Relax, Astrid,” he said, his voice warm but amused. “Is that the thanks I get? You wake up in my bed and immediately check if I touched you?”

My face burned with embarrassment. “No! That’s not— I didn’t mean— I’m sorry, Beta Talon. I just… I wasn’t expecting this.”

He chuckled softly. “Sit down. You look like you’re about to bolt.”

I hesitated but obeyed, perching on the very edge of the other side of the bed. My hands fidgeted nervously in my lap.

“What happened last night?” he asked, his tone serious now. “I found you collapsed in one of the old corridors. You were out cold. What were you doing wandering around alone at that hour?”

I swallowed hard, trying to think of a believable lie. My fingers twisted together. “I… I wasn’t feeling well. I needed some plants for a remedy. The gardeners had mentioned where some grew, and I thought I could prepare it quickly at night when no one would notice. I didn’t expect it to affect me like that.”

Talon studied me for a long moment. “How are you feeling now?”

“Better,” I whispered, still fidgeting. “Thank you for helping me. I’m really grateful.”

He smiled faintly, looking at what I was doing.“Astrid. I don’t bite.”

I couldn’t help but glance at his teeth. In my mind I thought, *You definitely do.* He must have read something on my face because he laughed — a low, genuine sound that made his darker eyes crinkle.

“You’re one of the youngest here, aren’t you?” he asked. “How old are you?”

“I’m twenty,” I answered softly. “I’ll be twenty-one in a few nights.”

He nodded. “We don’t usually keep minors in the castle. They’re either sent away or… dealt with. You’re lucky in more ways than one.”

Lucky. The word felt bitter. I looked at him — his features were softer than Xavier’s, handsome in a different way, with shorter hair and kind eyes. Yet I had seen him fight. He was brutal when he needed to be.

“Why did you help me?” I asked quietly.

Talon leaned back slightly. “Would carrying you to my bed and letting you sleep count as help?”

My cheeks flushed. “Yes… a lowly servant like me has no business being in your bed.”

The moment the words left my mouth, I realized how they sounded. “I mean— I didn’t mean it like that. I’m sorry.”

He chuckled again. “It’s not a big deal, Astrid. You looked fragile. I couldn’t just leave you on the cold floor.”

We talked a little longer. He asked how I saw the castle and the kingdom. I gave careful, vague answers, terrified of saying the wrong thing. He was kind, but he was still a high-ranking wolf.

Suddenly, reality crashed back in. “Oh no… I have to go. I’m so sorry — I have duties. Luna Aliyah will be furious if I’m late.”

Talon nodded. “Go then. Be careful.”

I practically dashed out of his chambers. Two warriors standing guard outside gave me strange looks as I hurried past. Great. More rumors were probably starting already.

I ran toward Aliyah’s chambers, trying to fix my messy hair as I went. When I reached the door, one of the guards stopped me with a sneer.

“Where do you think you’re going, girl?”

“I’m supposed to draw her morning bath,” I said quickly. “She ordered me to have it ready when she wakes.”

The other guard laughed. “Oh, little servant. You’re finally dead. We’ve been waiting for you to slip up.”

My stomach dropped.

Mara appeared then, looking at me with pity. “Astrid… Luna Aliyah sent for you. She’s in the punishment courtyard.”

I knew then that it was over.

I followed Mara with heavy steps. The courtyard was already busy — warriors training, servants doing hard labor, people being punished. Aliyah sat elegantly in a raised chair, watching everything like a queen.

“Stand in the middle,” she ordered the moment she saw me.

Three warriors approached me. I barely had time to think before they grabbed buckets of cold water and dumped them over me. Then the whipping started. Lash after lash landed across my back and shoulders. My dress tore under the force. I cried out, begging for mercy, tears streaming down my face.

“Stop,” Aliyah said eventually.

She walked over and kicked me hard while I was on the ground. “Look at me.”

I lifted my head, sobbing.

“I told you to do one simple thing,” she hissed. “And you weren’t even in your quarters last night. Where were you? Were you out whoring yourself to some wolf because you can’t control your body?”

“I’m sorry, Luna,” I cried. “I was sick. I didn’t mean to—”

“Sorry?” She laughed coldly. “You’re pathetic. I’ve tried to be nice, but clearly you need a real lesson.” She turned to the watching crowd. “I’m not a bad person. I’m simply keeping order.”

Then she looked back at me with pure malice. “Strip her. Everyone will see your shame before we continue.”

The warriors moved toward me. I closed my eyes, trembling.

“No one touches her.”

Xavier’s voice cut through the courtyard like ice.

I looked up. Aliyah turned. Everyone froze.

“Alpha?” Aliyah said, surprise clear in her voice. “May I please have a word with you?”