All Chapters of The Cursed Alpha And His Hybrid Mate : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

XANDER“…Now for the final matter on the agenda—the Annual Moon Gem Auction will be taking place next month.”I clasped my hands together as I spoke, then turned toward the figure lazily leaning back in his chair.“Elder Rowland,” I said evenly. “The extraction of this year’s moon gem should already be underway. Report on the current inventory, and any other details we should be aware of.”The shift was immediate.All traces of nonchalance vanished from his face, as he straightened and rose to his feet, his expression turning composed and serious.That was precisely what I admired about him.When it came to petty politics, Rowland avoided taking sides like the plague. But when the Pack itself was concerned, he never treated the matter lightly. He would neither deflect responsibility, nor cower.“The moon gem output this year…” he began, pausing just long enough for every Elder to look up. “…is concerning.”Those few words of his were enough to drive the tension in the room to its peak

KATHARINAI lay upon the bare earth of the herb garden, my arms folded beneath my head as I stared up at the stars shimmering coldly in the night sky.The dreams had returned.Dreams of that faceless man.For three days—while that pup—no, that werewolf—had remained within my domain, they had ceased entirely. Yet the moment I drove him away, they came back, vivid and unrelenting.At first, I hadn’t connected the two.But when one has been alone for far too long, the mind has little to occupy itself with but old memories and retraced thoughts.And so, inevitably, I noticed the pattern.That those strange dreams had begun not long after my first encounter with the pup.Back then, unaware of his true identity, I hadn't gave it much thought. But now, knowing what he was, and more importantly, realizing that he was the only living being to enter this place in a hundred years—the only variable in my century-long solitude.There could be only one conclusion.The faceless man in my dreams was

KATHARINA“Why are you here?” he asked the moment we were seated in his study. “And how did you even find me? I don’t recall telling you where I’m from.”Straight to the point, isn’t it?I studied his stern expression, and for no particular reason, a fleeting thought crossed my mind—he had been cuter as a pup.Of course, I dismissed it immediately.“There’s something I’ve been searching for,” I said evenly. “For a very long time. Until yesterday, I had no leads whatsoever. And then… a clue appeared when I least expected it.”His expression remained unchanged, but the sharp glint in his eyes betrayed that he wasn’t as indifferent as he looked.“And that clue led you into my Pack’s territory?” he asked flatly.“No.” I shook my head faintly. “It led me to you.”That finally earned a noticeable reaction from him. Arching a brow, his gaze turned assessing. “Me?”“Yes.” I leaned back against the chair, my voice unhurried. “Surprising, isn’t it?”“…It is,” he admitted after a brief pause. T

XANDER“And you just gave in like that and allowed her to stay?”Disbelief was evident in Jaxon’s voice after I finished recounting the outcome of my discussion with Katharina. Of course, not the complete version, but a carefully tweaked one that conveniently omitted her identity as a hybrid.I shrugged, keeping my tone deliberately casual.“What else could I do when she was adamant about staying? Force her out and let her make a scene?”“Even so—” Jaxon’s voice rose before falling again, frustration seeping through his words. “You should’ve found an excuse to send her away. As the Alpha, you of all people should know that—except during the Annual Moon Gem Auction—outsiders aren’t allowed to remain in the territory for extended periods.”“Yet” he continued, the incredulity in his voice deepening, “you gave her a month?”“How exactly do you plan on explaining her presence when the Elders start asking questions?” he pressed. “Who she is. Why she’s here.”Then he paused, fixing me with a

KATHARINAWhere the hell did that sappy tone come from?I wrinkled my nose in mild disgust and cleared my throat before speaking again.“The fact that you’ve been forced to involve an outsider like me already means the matter is beyond your current capabilities,” I said coolly. “So what exactly is the point of withholding information now?”I paused deliberately.“Unless…” My gaze sharpened. “You don’t trust me.”That finally drew a reaction.Xander straightened, his brows knitting together as his lips parted slightly.But I didn’t give him the chance to speak.“There’s a saying I once read that seems quite fitting here,” I continued flatly. “‘If you doubt someone, don’t use them. If you use someone, don’t doubt them.’”My eyes remained on him."I never forced you to ask for my help, Xander. You made that choice yourself.”With that, I fell silent, already inwardly annoyed at how much I’d said.I never used to talk this much.And yet, ever since stepping out of the forbidden grounds an