Chapter 14 – The Crimson Alpha
590 Words
The man stepped into the clearing, every movement deliberate, like he owned the forest itself. The blood moon cast his figure in crimson light, highlighting sharp features and a cruel smile tugging at his lips.
The wolves bowed their heads as he passed, their snarls silenced into obedience. Even drenched in blood, Draven stiffened, his golden eyes narrowing, his aura clashing against the stranger’s like fire against ice.
“Who are you?” Elara whispered, her voice barely audible.
The man’s crimson eyes flicked to her, and her heart stuttered. They glowed with an unnatural light, colder than death itself.
He smiled. “So this is the human Luna.” His voice was smooth, almost mocking. “I must admit, the Moon Goddess has quite the sense of humor.”
Draven snarled, his massive wolf form stepping protectively in front of her. “Stay away from her.”
The stranger tilted his head. “Still so possessive, Draven. You haven’t changed. Always clinging to what should have been mine.”
The words cut like glass. Elara’s chest tightened, confusion sparking. Mine?
Draven’s growl deepened, his aura slamming against the clearing like a wave. The red-eyed wolves trembled but did not break formation. Whoever this man was, his hold on them was stronger than fear.
“You should be dead,” Draven spat, his voice thick with rage.
The stranger chuckled, spreading his arms wide. “And yet, here I stand. Death has no claim on me — not when the curse chose me first.”
Elara’s blood ran cold. The curse.
The man’s crimson gaze pinned her again, his smile sharp. “You feel it, don’t you, little Luna? The bond searing inside you. The whispers in your blood. The curse does not belong to Draven alone.”
Her breath caught. She stumbled back, the mark on her chest blazing in response to his words.
Draven lunged, his black wolf colliding with the man in a blur of teeth and claws. The forest erupted in chaos once more, wolves scattering as the ground shook beneath the clash of Alphas.
The stranger’s strength was inhuman. He caught Draven’s charge, his hand gripping the beast’s throat, forcing him back with a snarl. Crimson light flared in his eyes, and Draven’s body trembled under the pressure.
“Still strong,” the man hissed, “but weaker than me. You were always weaker.”
Elara’s scream tore from her throat. “Stop!”
The bond surged violently, the pain ripping through her chest as if Draven’s struggle was her own. Her knees buckled, tears burning her eyes.
For a heartbeat, the stranger’s crimson gaze flicked to her, his smile twisting. “Ah… so the bond ties you closer than I thought. Interesting. Dangerous.”
Draven roared, breaking free from the man’s hold, his claws slashing across his chest. Blood sprayed, dark and unnatural — it shimmered black beneath the moonlight.
The stranger barely flinched. His grin widened, revealing teeth too sharp to be human. “You cannot kill what has already died.”
The words chilled Elara’s bones. This wasn’t just an Alpha. This was something else. Something cursed.
The red-eyed wolves circled tighter, snarling, waiting for their master’s command. Draven crouched low, his body shaking with fury, his golden eyes locked on the enemy he had clearly known before.
And Elara stood frozen, her mark burning so hot she thought it might tear through her skin. The curse wasn’t just binding her to Draven. It was binding her to him.
The Crimson Alpha.
- Writer
