Semua Bab MATED TO THE ENEMY ALPHA: Bab 31 - Bab 40

Elara“I don’t believe you.” I said.I needed to leave. I needed to drop this but the words left my mouth before pride could stop them.Draven’s expression changes instantly.“You do not believe,” he repeats slowly, “that I poured out a cup of bitterroot I never had intentions to drink?”“Seeing as you enjoy letting her hang from your arm. No, I don’t.”His gaze sharpened and then he smirks, “The same way you enjoyed letting Aerin circle you.”The bond snaps hot. I see just a flash of it in his eyes.“That is not the same.”“Is it not?” He stepped closer until I could feel his body heat. He was too close and my body and wolf welcomed his scent.“You watched us all night,” he continues, voice low. “Then you proceeded to search my chambers, smell the cups and assume.”“It’s no big deal. I was just curious about the herb, that’s all. After all, it has always been a thing between you both!”“And that bothers you.”It wasn’t a question. It sounded like an accusation wrapped in amusement. H

ElaraThe morning of the mating festival begins. My wolf was in heat and so was I. I never realized it was this bad because I had always suppressed it with those suppressants herbs but this is torture and Sia said no cheating.Even if I wanted to cheat, I couldn’t. Astra’s gone. They said she’s never around for the mating festival.This is torture and all morning, Draven’s scent has been hijacking me especially when he came to get Lior which was a little surprising because after I had stupidly licked him and he’d been actively avoiding me, he hadn’t come to get by himself rather he’d been sending Lior’s nursemaid to get him.I flashbacked to how fast I handed Lior to him before I do something irreversibly stupid like and more shameful like kissing him and watch him get disgusted by me.“Get a fucking grip,” I said to myself. I need to go get my son.The training grounds were being prepared for the sparring match. I could feel as anticipation hums through the entire courtyard. Wolves m

DravenI stared at the red and black pulsing veins at my back. It’s spread around the upper part of my entire back. I delayed leaving my chambers as the sparring match had begun. “Draven, where are you?” Kael said using the mindlink. “Carry on, I’ll be out in a few.” I replied.“Okay,” he said.The mark burned slowly across my back. My fists tightened as I remembered the hollowed vale piercing me when Elara pulled me out. I smashed the mirror and instantly I heard Lior crying. I slowly drop my hand. I took in deep breaths. Then I went to pick him up and instantly his scent filled me, pulling me back from the edge for the first time since last night.As we got dressed I hoped Astra would bring answers. She’s always been absent for every mating festival after her husband died. I never asked and I never sought her out but this time I knew where she was.She had gone searching for answers and preferably a cure for me. I didn’t want anyone knowing he hollowed vale cursed magic followed

ElaraHe froze.His lips hovered a breath away from my neck as his body went rigid.His nostrils flared.“What is that?” he asked quietly, sniffing me.I blinked. “What?”His jaw tightened as he raised his head, “You smell like him.”Confusion flickered through me. “I don’t under—““You smell… like Aerin,” he growled.I stepped back. Where was all this coming from?He roughly ran his hand through his hair and tried to sniff me again but stopped midway and pulled his robe.“Draven… are you okay?” I asked, instinctively moving closer to him.“Why do you fucking smell like him?” He asked, raging.“Aerin only touched Lior—”I tried explaining but it was too late as his eyes snapped to mine. His eyes were supposed to turn amber when his wolf pushed forward but they didn’t.Draven eyes turned red.Why the fuck were his eyes red? A deep, violent red— like embers buried in ash.My stomach dropped. I stumbled back instantly.“Draven…”He staggered back like something inside him had clawed upwa

ElaraThornshade was warm as usual and it always felt good to be home. I didn’t exactly tell my mom and brother what’s going on but I did convince her it was nothing to worry about and they were more than happy to have Lior around for a few days.Anton didn’t exactly welcome Elysia but she didn’t mind at all. She explored a little before we returned to Ironfang.I hadn’t slept.Not a wink and the candles around me had burned down to trembling stubs, wax spilled across the stone table close to the grimoires I had laid on the floor both from Thornshade and Ironfang. Ancient texts lay open in every direction— inked diagrams of wolf anatomy, curse-binding rituals, accounts of the Hollowed Vale written in fading script.And yet… I had not seen what I needed.A cure. A way out. What kind of curse it was. None of it explained why Draven had been turned into a beast.My vision blurred for a minute and my hands shook but I turned another brittle page anyway.A knock sounded once before the do