All Chapters of The Cursed Alpha’s Mate: Chapter 1 - Chapter 5

Ava's POVNo one sat beside the Cursed Alpha. Until I did.I still don’t know how it happened, exactly. One minute, I was scrubbing a stubborn stain out of the white marble floor in the Grand Hall—a rogue streak of wine left over from the royal mating celebration—and the next minute, a frantic, red-faced attendant had grabbed my arm, yanking me up so fast my head spun.“You! Get in there, now! The Alpha King is about to arrive, and we’re short three girls for the honor guard!”Before I could even stammer out, "I’m just Ava, the scullery girl," she had shoved me through the massive, oak doors and into the ritual hall.It was chaotic, but a silent kind of chaos. Everything glittered.The hall was massive, stretching farther than any room I’d ever been allowed inside, with high ceilings painted with scenes of the Moon Goddess and ancient wolves.My ragged tunic and bare, dirt-stained feet stood out like a blight on the pristine white carpet that led to the raised thrones.I froze, heart

Ava's POVThe kingdom has one rule: no one defies the Moon Court and lives.The blood of the unconscious guard was still glistening on the marble. Caeser had just threatened the life of the King, his own father, and the silence that followed was a deep, pregnant hush before a massacre."High Treason!" the King shrieked, finally finding his voice. He scrambled off his throne, robes rustling, and pointed a shaking finger at Alpha Caeser. "You have defied the sacred Mating Rites, rejected the Edicts, and threatened the Crown! Guards! Surround him! He is no longer your Alpha King—he is a traitor! Seize them both!"Dozens of elite Alpha Guards, the warriors who had been paralyzed by Caeser's sheer power, finally overcame their fear and surged forward. They didn't rush in blindly; they formed a tight, armed semi-circle around Caeser and me, their blades drawn and catching the light. We were completely trapped on the dais. The nobles, realizing a genuine fight was imminent, were retreating,

Ava's POVThe words were spoken with a terrifying mixture of horror and cold certainty. Caeser still knelt at the edge of the dark pool, his breathing ragged, the impossible, monstrous reflection shimmering in the water before him.I stayed rooted behind the tree, gripping the bark so tightly my fingers ached.I’d seen the shadow, the thing beneath his skin, the source of his silver blood and his missing scent. He was an Alpha cursed not just with bad luck, but with something actively predatory living inside him.I slowly stepped out from the shadows. "I know," I said, my voice surprisingly steady, despite the way my heart was thrashing against my ribs. "I saw your reflection. The shadow. It’s what the Seer meant."He didn't move, but his eyes, now a deep, furious silver, narrowed on me. "You saw it, Ava. Do you understand what it means? It means you have to run. Now."He finally pushed himself to his feet, turning his full height toward me. He looked like an ancient, magnificent stat