THE ALPHA'S CURSED MATE

Chapter 18 – Blood and Moonlight

He tried to bargain — my freedom for Rylan’s death. I refused.

So he tried something worse. He bit me, his teeth sinking into my shoulder in a mockery of the mate’s mark. Pain exploded through me, my wolf thrashing inside.

But before he could finish, the door blew inward. Rylan was there, golden eyes blazing.

The fight was brutal, each blow fueled by years of hatred. But when Rylan finally stood over Darius, bloodied and gasping, I saw it — the wound in his side, deep and bleeding fast.

Darius’s teeth sank deep into my shoulder, fire and ice exploding through my veins. I howled in pain, my wolf clawing at the edge of control, desperate to break free.

“This mark means nothing without the mate’s bond,” I spat, struggling against the searing pain.

His grin twisted. “You’ll learn soon enough.”

Suddenly, the door slammed open with a thunderous crash. Rylan stormed in, eyes burning gold with rage.

Without hesitation, he lunged at Darius, claws flashing through the dim light. The fight was brutal — teeth snapping, bodies slamming against stone walls, snarls echoing through the room.

I watched, torn between fear and awe as the two alphas battled with everything they had, years of hatred fueling every strike.

Then Rylan’s movements faltered — a sharp gasp escaping his lips as blood seeped through his torn shirt.

His wound was deep, crimson spreading fast.

My heart slammed against my ribs as I scrambled forward, ignoring the pain in my shoulder.

“Rylan!” I cried, grasping his arm.

He looked down at me, his golden eyes softening with fierce determination.

“Stay with me,” he growled. “We end this—together.”

The fight was far from over.

Summoning every ounce of strength, Rylan roared and threw himself at Darius with renewed fury, claws raking deep into his enemy’s side. Darius staggered, snarling in pain but not defeated.

The room echoed with the savage sounds of battle—growls, snarls, and the harsh scraping of claws against stone. Blood mixed with sweat as they fought with reckless abandon, each strike a desperate bid for survival and dominance.

I pressed close to Rylan, ignoring the burning pain in my shoulder, willing him to hold on. His breaths came ragged, but his eyes never wavered from Darius’s.

With a final, savage swipe, Rylan knocked Darius to the ground, pinning him beneath his weight. For a heartbeat, silence reigned, broken only by their heavy breathing.

Then Darius smirked, eyes gleaming with malice. “This isn’t over,” he spat, before a sudden surge of energy knocked Rylan off balance.

My heart plummeted as I saw Rylan stumble. I knew then that saving him—and the pack—would take everything we had.