All Chapters of The Cursed Alpha's Mate: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

The moon was unusually bright that night, lighting up the clearing where the pack had gathered for the Moonlight Ceremony. Aria stood near the back of the crowd with her hands clasped tightly in front of her. She had been trying not to look nervous for the past twenty minutes, but there was no point pretending anymore. Her palms were sweaty, and she had already looked toward the path leading out of the clearing at least five times. She should have stayed home, she didn't belong here. Everyone around her was a wolf. She could feel it in the way they moved, in the way they looked at one another, in the confidence they carried without even trying. But she was different than them, she was human. She had grown up among the pack because her parents had once belonged to them, but that had never made her one of them. After her parents died, the pack had allowed her to stay, but Aria had always understood that their kindness had limits. She couldn't shift or heal quickly or hear things

Aria barely slept at night after Kael left, his words kept replaying in her head. She didn't understand him. If he didn't want her, why had he come back, and if he cared about her safety, why had he rejected her in front of everyone? She was tired of trying to understand him. By morning, Aria had decided she wanted nothing to do with Kael Nightbane. Unfortunately, the Moon Goddess seemed to have other plans. Aria was outside collecting water when she heard a strange sound from the forest. She stopped. Normally, there would be wolves moving between the houses or children running around. Today, everyone seemed to be inside. Aria frowned, then she heard a growl. Her hand tightened around the bucket when another growl followed. This one was closer. She slowly turned toward the trees but saw nothing. She took a step backward and a wolf suddenly rushed out of the forest. Aria screamed, dropped the bucket and ran. She didn't know where she was going, she only knew she h

“That mark shouldn’t exist.” Aria stared at Kael in silence. The strange glow from her wrist filled the room with a faint light. Kael stood near the doorway, his eyes fixed on the symbol as if he had seen something he never wanted to see again. Aria pulled her wrist closer to herself. “What does that mean?” she asked again but he said nothing. “Kael.” His jaw tightened. “I need you to tell me what this is.” “I can't.” Aria's frustration rose immediately. “You brought me here after rejecting me. You told me I was in danger. You said you needed to find out why those wolves were hunting me. And now you're standing in my room looking at this mark like you know exactly what it is.” “I don't know exactly what it is.” “But you have seen it before.” Kael's eyes flickered toward hers. “You have,” Aria said. He remained silent. “You've seen a mark like this before, haven't you?” After several seconds, Kael finally nodded. “Yes.” Aria's stomach tightened.

Aria followed Kael and the scout toward the eastern boundary, ignoring the order he had given her. Kael noticed her behind him and stopped. “I told you to stay behind.” “And I decided not to.” His eyes narrowed. “This isn't a place for you to wander around.” “Then perhaps you should stop giving me reasons to follow you. You said the feral had a symbol like mine. I'm involved whether you like it or not.” Kael stared at her for a moment before turning away. “Stay close and don't touch anything.” Aria followed him into the forest. The scout led them along a narrow path until they reached a small clearing. The dead feral wolf lay beneath a tree, its body covered with dark fur. Its claws were longer than those of an ordinary wolf, and its mouth remained open, exposing its sharp teeth. Aria stopped a few steps away. Even in death, the creature looked terrifying. Kael crouched beside the body. He examined its neck and shoulders before turning it slightly. “Look at

Aria found Kael sitting alone on the balcony the next evening. He had a glass in his hand, but he wasn't drinking. His gaze was fixed on the dark forest beyond the settlement, and his expression was so distant that she wondered if he even noticed her approaching. She almost turned back. Then she remembered waking up in tears the previous night because of the loneliness she had felt through their bond. She couldn't keep pretending she hadn't felt anything. “Kael.” He glanced at her. “What do you want?” “To talk.” “I'm not in the mood.” “You never are.” His jaw tightened, but he said nothing. Aria walked closer and stopped beside the railing. “I felt your loneliness last night.” His fingers tightened around the glass. “I don't know how it happened,” she continued, “but I felt everything. It was as if I was carrying your pain myself.” “Then you should learn to keep your distance from me.” “I'm connected to you through a bond I never asked for. How exactly am I supposed to