THE ALPHA'S CURSED MATE

PROPOSITION.

The great hall of the Umbra Keep was bathed in the warm glow of flickering candlelight, the scent of spiced wine mingling with the rich aroma of roasted game. Heavy tapestries embroidered with the sigils of the five united tribes draped the stone walls, their colors vibrant despite the age. Long, polished wooden tables were set with fine china, silverware that gleamed under the chandeliers, and crystal goblets etched with ancient runes. It was a setting befitting lords and legends, yet the air tonight was charged with an unspoken tension.

Lucian sat at the head of the table, his posture statuesque and unyielding, eyes calm but sharp beneath his dark brow. His black hair was pulled back loosely, revealing the faint silver streaks that spoke of battles fought and victories won. A half-empty goblet of deep red wine rested near his hand, though he had barely touched it. The faintest crease tugged at the corner of his lips as his eyes flicked over the other guests.

Across the table, Lord Demion, father to Selene, sat composed yet deliberate in his movements. His silver hair gleamed under the candlelight, and his eyes held the calculating wisdom of an old wolf who had seen too many moons. Beside him, Selene herself, her cold blue eyes shimmering with an unreadable mixture of ambition and restraint, watched Lucian with a gaze that lingered too long—too pointed.

In the corner near the grand double doors, Eldon stood rigid, the tension in his jaw evident as he resisted the urge to storm out. Once a favored suitor to Selene, his towering frame and sharp golden eyes made him one of the most respected Lords of the Demion Pack. Many whispered of his strength, his victories in the field, and the undeniable charisma that had won him admirers across neighboring tribes. But that admiration had curdled into bitterness and pain when Selene publicly rejected him and broke their mate bond, cruelly declaring him worthless, dismissing his worth with a savage finality, this hurt him beyond words and the love he had for Selene slowly turned to hatred.

Lucian took another sip and dropped his goblet on the table with a force that suggested he was running out of patience, he picked it up again and swayed it.

"you haven't touched your food " Selene said to him, isn't it to your liking?

Lucian took a brief but rigid look at her then turned to her father.

“Time isn’t on my side anymore,” Lucian’s voice finally broke the silence, low and commanding. “ you said you wanted to talk”

Demion inclined his head slightly, the faintest hint of a smile touching his lips. “Of course. But perhaps we could speak privately.”

His gaze flicked toward the two other lords seated nearby—Demion’s trusted commanders—who instantly rose, exchanging knowing glances. One by one, they excused themselves and vanished through the heavy doors, the sound of their footsteps echoing down the hall.

Lucian’s cold eyes shifted to Eldon, who had not moved. The Alpha raised an eyebrow—a silent warning. Eldon hesitated, then stepped back into the shadows, determined to overhear what was to come.

Demion’s voice softened, laced with a careful respect that belied the power he wielded. “Lucian, you are a man of wisdom—of patience. I know why you have not yet chosen a Luna. It’s not for lack of offers, but because you seek perfection. You would not settle for anything less than a mate worthy of matching your strength, your legacy.”

Lucian’s eyes narrowed, unreadable.

Lucian didn’t respond, but his gaze sharpened.

“who knows maybe the Moon Goddess may have fated you once with someone beneath you, and knowing you, you rejected such pairing without hesitation, cause I can't believe you haven't been mated.” He smiled. “That is the kind of king you are. You do not take what doesn't match your power. You choose what complements it.”

A pause.

“And for that, I come with a possibility.”

Selene straightened slightly.

Demion continued, slowly. “You’ve united five tribes—against every expectation. You’ve achieved what even our forefathers couldn't. But you and I both know rebellion is never far behind. One tribe, someday, will rise. Whispers already float in the wind.”

Lucian’s jaw ticked, but he stayed silent.

“Our packs,” Demion said, “yours—ShadowFang—and mine—Crimson Ridge—are the strongest. An alliance between us will eliminate even the idea of rebellion. Together, we will dominate all remaining territories. There will be none left to challenge us.”

"cut to the chase" Lucian interrupted.

“My daughter, Selene,” Demion gestured with subtle pride, “is unmatched across the tribes. In strength. In beauty. In wit. I do not offer her as a mate because she is mine—I offer her because she is the only one worthy of standing beside you as Luna.”

Selene’s cold blue eyes glinted. A small, victorious smile tugged at her lips.

Lucian tilted his head slightly. Then, slowly, he set his goblet down.

“Selene is… impressive,” he said flatly. “No doubt.”

Selene’s smile widened.

“But I’m not interested.”

The words were ice. Her smile cracked, vanished instantly.

She turned sharply to him, eyes wide, searching. Then to her father—betrayal flashing across her face.

Demion blinked, startled. “You’d reject—?”

“I don’t make decisions based on leverage,” Lucian cut in, rising from his seat. “And I don’t accept partners out of convenience. I’ve conquered without alliance, and I will continue to conquer with or without it.”

He stepped from the table, the long black fur of his cloak trailing behind.

“No rebellion frightens me, Demion. ShadowFang Hold was built in blood and flame. Let others plot—I will crush them just the same. worry more about yourself .”

He reached the doorway.

Lucian paused at the threshold. Without turning back, he said coolly:

“Your hospitality is appreciated.”

And then he was gone.

Eldon was cautious to hide behind the pillars as Lucian stormed past.

The heavy door closed behind Lucian with a finality that seemed to echo across the silent chamber. Selene stood frozen for a moment, her cold blue eyes still fixed on the space he had just exited. The weight of rejection crushed her chest, but it wasn’t just the rejection— the sharp, emotionless delivery of it.

She spun around abruptly, her voice sharp, pleading. “Father, do something. You can’t just let him walk out like that!”

Demion’s jaw tensed. His hand curled into a fist, and with a loud, resounding *thud*, he slammed it against the polished stone table. The goblets jumped, a few clattered to the floor and shattered.

“That *rude bastard*,” he growled through clenched teeth, rising slowly to his feet. His crimson robes swayed as he turned toward the door Lucian had walked out of, as though considering chasing after him.

Selene let out a frustrated cry and swept her arm across the table. Plates, goblets, and decanters crashed to the ground. A cascade of silverware and shards rang through the chamber like broken pride.

Outside the door, Eldon, still lingering in the shadows, caught every word. The corner of his lips lifted into a bitter smirk. He let out a dry chuckle and muttered to himself, “Glad you got a taste of your own bitter medicine, Selene.”

Demion moved to Selene’s side and grasped her shoulders gently. “Enough,” he said, his voice calmer now but still heavy with suppressed fury. “We will not let this pass. It’s high time someone clipped the wings of that arrogant Alpha.”

Selene looked up at him, breathing heavily, her expression a mix of pain and disbelief.

“He thinks he’s untouchable,” Demion continued, his tone low and dangerous. “Because he united five packs. Because he stands atop Umbra Keep like a god among wolves. He thinks no rebellion can shake him.”

He paused and leaned in slightly, his voice almost a whisper. “But pride, Selene… pride is always the first crack in a strong wall. And I will find a way to make it crumble.”

She swallowed, fury and shame mixing bitterly in her throat. “What are you going to do?” she asked.

Demion looked out the tall arched windows of the Moonrest Citadel, his expression unreadable for a moment.

Then, finally, he said, “Let him believe he’s invincible. I’ll show him otherwise.”