Mated to the Cursed Alpha

A miracle to be back home

Stepping out of the taxi as she arrived home, Amaia let out a deep sigh.

She had narrowly escaped death—something she still didn’t fully understand—and now, as she stood in front of her house, she wondered if her parents had even been worried.

In front of their small home… she called it “small” now after seeing the Alpha’s mansion. Before, she had never thought of her home that way, especially since it was larger than most of the houses in her neighborhood. But after seeing that mansion… well, it had completely shifted her perspective.

There really were people who lived in unimaginable luxury.

Rich people who used facial recognition scanners just to lock their doors. Incredible.

Amaia knocked on the door, though she knew that at this time of day, everyone was likely already up and about, scrambling to head out. They might not even hear her knocking unless they were already on their way out.

She knocked again.

All she wanted was to go to her room, freshen up, and collapse onto her bed.

When no one answered, she leaned against the wall, watching as people passed by on their way to work or the academy.

She noticed a girl around her age practicing her water affinity as she walked, though it was clear she still hadn’t mastered it.

At least she had an affinity. Everyone does.

Amaia, on the other hand, was just a plain old werewolf who couldn’t even defend herself properly against others, let alone the end of days.

Amaia could easily picture herself being the first to die if there were to be any war. Even if she found a place to hide or a way to escape, she’d be surrounded by chaos—fire blazing through the air, thunder crashing all around, water, ice, wind… and countless other elements surging everywhere… then growls… she would completely be defenseless.

There would be no way out.

Suddenly, the door to her house burst open with such force that Amaia nearly flinched.

Veera Linson, with her blonde hair and a determined expression, stormed out of the house. Two years older than Amaia, Veera was in a hurry to avoid being late for school.

But she stopped abruptly when her blue eyes met Amaia’s, a look of shock crossing her face.

“You… you’re alive?” Veera asked, astonished.

“Why does everyone keep asking me that? Yes, I’m alive,” Amaia replied, frowning in confusion.

Veera folded her arms, her expression skeptical. “Did you even go to the Alpha, Amaia? You know about the bet… you know what will happen to me—your sister—if you lose that bet, right?”

Of course, Amaia knew.

Veera had been bullied at the academy, and the torment had followed her home. Amaia had tried to protect her, to be a good little sister, but it had only led to the bullies proposing a cruel bet.

Amaia had to touch the Alpha, or Veera would continue to suffer at their hands.

Well, she had done it.

But now, she realized she probably had no way to prove it. “Oh, damn it!” she thought, frustration welling up inside her.

Sighing, Amaia said, “I didn’t lose the bet, Veera, believe me. I went to the event, met him, and I touched him. Nothing happened...”

Before Veera could respond, the door swung open again, and their parents stepped outside. Their father immediately scolded, “Veera, what are you still doing here? You’re going to be late for school!”

Mrs. Alen Linson, also blonde, spotted Amaia and her eyes widened in surprise. “Amaia, your sister said you were missing, maybe even dead,” she said, her tone more shocked than concerned.

Amaia blinked, taken aback. “Missing? Dead? Why would you think that?” she asked, turning to Veera in confusion.

Veera shrugged nonchalantly. “You didn’t come home last night, so I figured something might have happened. I just told Mom and Dad in case they noticed someone was missing from the house. Anyway, I need to go.”

Without another word, Veera hurried off, and their parents followed, barely glancing back.

Amaia watched them walk away, feeling a knot tighten in her chest. She hesitated, then called out, “Um, Dad…”

Rief Linson, with his short black hair and blue eyes so similar to hers, paused and looked back at her.

“Dad…” she repeated, her voice quieter, hoping for a moment of connection.

But Rief merely shook his head and continued walking away.

All she had wanted was for him to say something—anything—to her. But he never really did.

Amaia stepped into the house, determined not to let sadness creep in. She reminded herself that she was stronger than that—after all, she was used to how they treated her by now.

Once she reached her room, she sat on the bed with a relieved sigh.

*This is a miracle, Amaia. You didn’t die. Look at you—you made it home! You escaped! Yes!*

A wave of happiness washed over her as she let herself fall back onto the bed. It was small and firm, a far cry from the Alpha’s massive, incredibly comfortable bed.

But that didn’t matter. There was no way she’d ever want to share a bed with him again. *What a weirdo,* she thought with a shudder.

She quickly headed to the bathroom to freshen up, relishing the cool water as it cascaded over her. Once she was done, she noticed a light white gown lying on her bed—something she must have left there the other day. She eagerly slipped into it, relieved to be dressed in something feminine again after having to wear those male clothes.

Ring, ring, ring…

As she settled back onto her bed, the sound of her phone ringing startled her. But where… where had Veera put it?

She followed the sound of the ringing phone to her closet and swung the door open.

But what greeted her was shocking—her closet was completely empty!

*What the hell?* she thought, her eyes wide with disbelief.

The phone, a small and ordinary one, was lying inside.

Still bewildered, she picked it up and saw that an unknown number was calling.

In a daze, she answered, her voice low and tense, “Hello?”

“Hey, little one, it’s me—your Alpha. I called to ask you a question,” came the Alpha's voice through the line.

Amaia’s jaw tightened as she recognized his voice. *That bastard should be lucky I even gave him the right number,* she thought, struggling to keep her cool.

“What is it?” she replied as calmly as possible.

“What’s your name?” the Alpha asked.

Amaia let out a sigh. *He’s going to find out sooner or later,* she reasoned. *And lying will only make things worse.*

“It’s Amaia… Amaia Linson,” she finally answered.