BOUND BY THE ALPHA’S CURSE

Nova The night I turned twenty was supposed to be the happiest night of my life. Every young wolf dreams of the moment the moon Goddess reveals their fated mate. For years I had pictured it, walking into the hall, eyes locking with the one meant for me, feeling that spark of destiny, the rush of excitement, that bond that would never be broken. My heart had carried that dream through every lonely night, every whispered prayers to the Moon Goddess. But the Moon Goddess had other plans. The great hall of Black Moon pack was alive with celebration. Torches blazed against stone walls, casting golden lights across the crowd. Wolves of all ranks gathered, warriors, omegas, pack elders dressed in their finest. Laughter, chatter and cheers filled the air, but beneath it all was anticipation. Tonight, someone’s life would change forever. I smoothed the fabric of my simple pale blue dress, trying to calm the butterflies in my stomach. My hands trembled slightly, but I told myself it was t

Nova The training grounds buzzed with energy, the clash of fists and grunts of exertion carrying through the crisp morning air. Warriors circled one another on the packed dirt, some already locked in combat while others waited for their turns. The Black Moon Pack thrived on discipline and strength, and this arena ringed with stone pillars etched with claw marks from countless battles was its heart. I stood at the edge of the ring, my palms clammy despite the cool breeze. I should have been focused, centered, but every flicker of thought returned to him. To Benjamin, my Alpha. He stood on the raised platform with Marcus and Cassius flanking him, his presence commanding the field as easily as the sun commanded the sky. Every warrior moved harder, faster, sharper under the weight of his gaze. But not once, not once had his eyes fallen on me since that night. That night, when he had kissed me like I was oxygen itself only to leave me hollow the moment after. Now, his silence cut

Benjamin The forest was too quiet, the kind of stillness that made every rustle of leaves sound louder than it should. I walked its path as though the earth itself bent to my will, my boots crunching against the fallen leaves but inside my chest’s chaos. Chaos that wore the name Nova Stark. I had thought rejecting her would be the end. A clean severing of the bond, fate had tied between us. I have to keep rejecting her. That was the only way to keep control, to keep from unraveling. Yet my body betrayed me at every turn, aching with a hunger I couldn’t resist. She’s ours, Draven snarled inside me, voice sharp and commanding. Stop fighting it. Claim her, mark her, she belongs to us. I clenched my fists together. “No,” I muttered under my breath. “She’ll only break me. She’ll only make us weak.” But even as I said it, my mind betrayed me, conjuring her face, her scent and her very presence. Her beauty was the kind that shouted for attention. It was the kind that drew

Lena Drops of sweat clung to my skin as I strode away from the training grounds, my chin lifted high, my lips curved in the smallest, most satisfied smile. The scene replayed in my mind like a song I never wanted to end, Nova standing frozen, humiliated, her wolf simmering beneath the surface, and Benjamin ignoring her. Completely. Utterly. The Alpha hadn’t spared her a glance, and Lena had savored every bit of it. She had won. Not in a battle of fists, but in something far greater: perception. The way the others had glanced between us. whispering behind their hands, had only deepened my victory. Nova Stark, the girl with fiery red hair and a wolf no one took seriously, had been reminded of her place. And Benjamin, my Benjamin had done nothing to stop it. My fingers trailed idly across my arm as I walked, as if stroking the remnants of a victory. But beneath the smugness, I felt a stirring. A shadow of doubt that I quickly shoved aside. Because I knew. I knew Benjamin was

NovaThe ache in my muscles was merciless. Every breath burned, every limb throbbed, but I refused to stop. Training had become more than survival, it was defiance. Each bruise was proof that I was still standing.“Again,” Marcus commanded.I nodded, gritting my teeth as I faced my sparring partner-Damian, a seasoned warrior with a wolf as big as a house. His smirk was infuriating, like he expected me to crumble at his feet.“You’re slow, Stark,” he taunted, circling me. To him, pairing him with me is like a total waste of his time.Anger surged, giving me strength. I lunged, aiming a strike at his ribs. He caught my wrist easily, twisting until pain flared up my arm. I hissed, dropping to my knees.“Come on,” he pressed, leaning over me. “You’ll never”In one burst, I rolled, slipping free of his hold. My fist connected with his jaw, surprising us both.He staggered back, then laughed. “Better. But not enough.”We collided again with sweat, dirt, fists, and snarls. His size gave him