The Cursed Alpha’s Reluctant Bond

By the time seven-fifty-five rolled around, Clara was staring at her reflection in the bedroom mirror, her heart doing erratic flips. Left on the bed was a sleek, form-fitting emerald green silk dress that hugged every curve of her body. It was a blatant power move by Killian, but she wasn't about to look like a frightened captive. If she was playing a game with the Alpha, she was playing to win. She walked down the grand staircase exactly at eight o'clock. Killian was already waiting at the bottom. He had ditched his suit jacket, rolling the sleeves of his black dress shirt up his forearms, revealing the sharp lines of his muscles and a glimpse of a dark, intricate tattoo. When he looked up and saw her, he froze. His silver eyes dilated instantly, turning nearly pitch black as his jaw tightened. Clara smiled secretly, gliding down the last few steps. "Like what you see, Alpha?" she teased, her voice smooth. Killian stepped forward, his gaze tracking down the length of her dress before snapping back to her eyes. "You are playing a dangerous game, Clara," he growled low, the sound vibrating with a mix of warning and pure heat. He offered his arm. "Dinner is served." The dining room was lit by a crystal chandelier, the table filled with an exquisite feast. But neither of them paid much attention to the food. The entire meal was a dance of heavy glances, witty banter, and accidental touches that felt like lightning strikes. Killian poured her a glass of wine, his fingers deliberately brushing against hers. "Tell me, sweetheart," Killian murmured, leaning back in his chair with a lazy, seductive smirk. "What is a human girl like you going to do when the full moon comes, and my wolf decides he doesn't want to sleep across the hall anymore?" Clara leaned forward over the table, resting her chin on her hand, her eyes locked on his. "I guess you'll find out that humans can be very creative with silver blades, Killian." Killian let out a dark, delighted laugh. "God, you are lethal." Before he could say another word, the heavy oak doors of the dining hall burst open. Gideon, the pack’s Beta, rushed in, his face pale and eyes wide with panic. "Alpha, we have a breach," Gideon breathed, his eyes darting to Clara. "The Shadowfang Pack. Alpha Julian is at the eastern border line. He has an army with him." The flirtatious atmosphere vanished in a fraction of a second. Killian stood up so fast his chair scraped violently against the marble floor. The protective, terrifying Alpha aura slammed into the room, making the air freezing cold. "What does Julian want?" Killian demanded, his voice a lethal snarl. "He wants her," Gideon said, pointing directly at Clara. "Julian just sent a message through the mind-link. He says he knows she isn't human. He knows she carries the Seer bloodline that can break any curse—and he's here to claim his new prize." Clara’s blood ran cold as her secret was laid bare. Killian turned his head, his silver eyes flashing with absolute, terrifying madness as he looked at her. But he didn't look angry at her; he looked ready to tear the world apart to keep her. He walked over, gripping her waist tightly and pulling her flush against his hard chest. "Nobody touches what is mine," Killian whispered darkly against her lips, a lethal, thrilling promise in his eyes. "Stay behind me, Clara. Tonight, you're going to see how an Alpha protects his mate."