Cursed to the Alpha

Chapter 8: The Ride Back

Forsaken’s POV

She was asleep before we hit the main road.

Ridah’s head rested against my chest, her breathing shallow, too even. The golden light had taken more out of her than she’d admit. I could feel it through the bond now that she wasn’t blocking me a dull, drained ache under her fire.

Idiot girl. Brave, reckless, infuriating i***t girl.

The pack was quiet behind us. No one spoke. No one looked at me directly. Not after what they saw.

Ridah Carter, human-born, half starved orphan from the city fringe, just threw a trained enforcer ten feet with light that wasn’t pack, wasn’t wolf, wasn’t anything in the old books.

And she did it for me.

The bikes roared to life one by one. We rode hard, no stops. The council enforcers wouldn’t chase us tonight not after seeing the curse in action. But word would be at the council hall before sunrise.

“Alpha,” Marcus said low as he pulled up beside me. “The boys are rattled.”

“They can be rattled,” I said. “They follow me.”

“And her?”

I glanced down at Ridah. Her hand was fisted in my jacket, like she was still fighting in her sleep.

“She’s mine,” I said. Simple. Final.

Marcus didn’t argue. He just nodded and fell back.

By the time we hit pack territory, dawn was breaking. The wards recognized me, parting with a shiver of old magic. The moment we crossed, Ridah stirred.

“We’re home?” Her voice was rough, groggy.

“Home,” I said.

She sat up slowly, eyes scanning the territory walls, the scent of pine and steel and pack in the air. For the first time since I met her, she didn’t look like she was about to bolt.

Then she saw them.

The crowd waiting at the gates.

Elders. Enforcers. My beta. And at the front, Elder Mara, face like stone.

“Alpha Forsaken,” Mara said before I even stopped the bike. “Explain. Now.”

I killed the engine and swung off, helping Ridah down. She stood on her own, shoulders back, chin up. No fear. Good.

“Ridah Hale is under my protection,” I said. “She’s pack.”

Mara’s eyes flicked to Ridah’s wrist. The mark was still faintly visible, gold against her skin.

“That is a womb curse,” Mara said flatly. “Forbidden. Dangerous. You know the law.”

“I know the law,” I said. “I also know what happened tonight. The exiles attacked. Ridah fought. She saved pack lives. Mine included.”

“With forbidden magic,” Mara pressed.

Ridah stepped forward before I could answer.

“With my magic,” she said. Her voice didn’t shake. “You can call it forbidden all you want. But it stopped them. So tell me, Elder — would you rather be dead and lawful, or alive and cursed?”

Silence.

Mara’s face went red. “You insolent”

“Enough,” I cut in. “Ridah speaks with my voice. Challenge her, you challenge me.”

The crowd shifted. Some looked angry. Some looked scared. A few looked hopeful.

Mara studied Ridah for a long moment, then sighed. “The council will convene in three days. Until then, she stays under guard. No magic. No leaving pack lands.”

Ridah opened her mouth to argue.

“No,” I said quietly, only for her. “Pick your battles. The full moon is in two days. We need you rested.”

She hated it. I saw it in her eyes. But she nodded once.

As the crowd dispersed, Marcus pulled me aside.

“She’s changing things, Alpha,” he said. “Fast.”

“Good,” I said. “They need changing.”

I looked back at Ridah. She was staring at the pack lands like she was trying to memorize every tree, every stone. Like she was already planning her next fight.

The curse was awake. The bond was tightening.