Alpha's Forbidden Mate.

Selene pov

When he walked away, I ran to my room, trying to catch my breath.

My heart was still pounding.

On the bed, a beautiful gown had been laid out for me. It wasn't something I would've chosen to wear normally, but I knew if I wanted any standing here ...any chance of surviving or leaving with dignity ...I needed allies. Including the head maid.

So I changed into the dress, smoothing it down as I let my hair fall freely to my waist.

I was just about to pick up a book when the door to my room burst open.

Kael walked in , his chest rising and falling, his breathing harsh and uneven.

His eyes dragged slowly over my body, lingering on the swell of my breasts before finally meeting mine. A soft moan nearly escaped my lips at the heat in his gaze ...but I looked away quickly, forcing my emotions down.

"Why were you getting cozy with my friend, Selene?" he asked, his voice rough with barely contained rage.

I turned to face him fully, keeping my expression blank.

"I wasn't getting cozy with anyone."

He stepped forward, his jaw tight.

"Is that why you dressed up? For him?"

"You're being ridiculous," I said, trying to suppress the mix of anger and unwanted longing curling in my chest.

Kael stepped closer, his presence overwhelming, eyes burning into mine.

"I'll have you, Selene," he growled, voice low and full of dark promise.

"Begging for me. Begging for my cock like your body was made for it."

I turned my face away, even as my wolf whimpered in the back of my mind.

He then turned and walked out of the room, leaving me alone once more.

The infuriating bastard.

He forced me here, refused to let me reject the bond and now he won't even finish the mating process.

He keeps me on a leash, dangling between ownership and abandonment.

And I don't know how long I can wait.

But I swear I'd rather lose my mind than beg.

I gripped the edge of the dresser, trying to steady my breath, but it was becoming harder to breathe. The ache was crawling under my skin, blooming in my chest, my stomach, my thighs.causing my nipples to harden,

The bond was growing stronger.

I decided to go out and resume my search for Keisha. Since we were restrained, I hadn't laid eyes on my friend, and Kael refused to tell me what had been done to her .. not even his Beta would give me a straight answer.

I stepped out of the room, trying to steady myself, ignoring the heat pooling between my thighs.

Focus, I said, slapping my cheek.

I resumed my search.

The Pack House was like a massive labyrinth of polished halls, winding corridors, and too many doors. It was easy to get lost in here, but I've always had a brilliant memory, and for that, I was grateful.

Holding my small pocket knife close, I moved quietly, marking the corners I passed with tiny scratches....just in case.

After what felt like forever, I stumbled into a part of the house I hadn't crossed before.

It was quiet.

And then I saw an enormous arched door, slightly open.

The library.

I stepped inside, crossing the threshold into a space lined with books as far as the eye could see. Floor-to-ceiling shelves. Dusty tomes. Velvet chairs. The scent of old parchment and something faintly magical filled the air.

It was beautiful.

And completely empty.

I kept walking around the library, unable to keep my hands off the books.

Since I was a little girl, reading had always been the one thing that kept me going. For me it was an escape.

My fingers trailed over old spines, faded titles, and delicate gold-foiled covers.

That was until I noticed a gap in the wall ...it was subtle, almost unnoticeable unless you were really looking.

One section of the shelf seemed to protrude just slightly from the others.

I stepped closer, heart picking up pace, as I ran my fingers along the edge.

It didn't feel like the rest of the wall.

My fingers hovered along the edge of the shelf, tracing the faint outline of the gap. There was a small indentation near the base. I pressed it gently.

Click.

A soft grinding sound followed,like stone scraping against stone.

The shelf creaked forward an inch... then began to slide sideways, revealing a narrow passage hidden behind the wall.

The air coming from the passage was stale and cold,

I stared at it for a second, pulse pounding in my throat. The space was just wide enough for a person to slip through .

Clutching my knife tighter, I stepped inside.

The wooden floorboards shifted under my weight, and the light from the library dimmed the farther I went. The walls were lined with cobwebs and stone, and the only sound was the faint echo of my own footsteps.

My gut told me I was heading somewhere important.

Somewhere secret.

And maybe, just maybe... Keisha had been through here too.

Before I could convince myself that I was making a mistake , that I should turn around and leave a voice echoed down the passage.

It was Sylvester and he sounded close by.

I froze, pressing my back to the wall, holding my breath.

I inched forward, careful not to make a sound, just enough to peer around the bend of the tunnel. The passage widened slightly up ahead, opening into a small chamber lit by a single lantern.

And there he was.

Sylvester stood in front of a stone table, unfurling a map. His back was to me, his sea-blue hair catching the warm light like silk.

When are you going to tell Selene about the blood bond curse, Kael?" Sylvester's voice cut through the chamber like a blade.

I froze.

Kael was here too .. sitting at the other end of the stone table, his Beta standing just behind him with folded arms.

"I wanted you to confirm if it was true," Kael said.

"Seeing as your family has a thing for... bonds. And curses."

Sylvester scoffed and leaned over the table.

"Don't start with me, Kael. This curse ...this bond ...it's not natural. You marked her, yes. But the blood bond activated on its own."

Now tell me," Sylvester continued, eyes narrowing,

"When did the mark appear?"

"Immediately after I marked her."

Sylvester's brows drew together.

"And?"

Kael exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair.

"It appeared at the base of her neck. A blood sigil. It glowed red for a second before fading."

"I was able to mask it."

Sylvester cursed under his breath.

"So she has no idea she's not just bound to you... she's cursed to you."

Kael's jaw clenched.

"Then how do we break it?"

Sylvester exhaled sharply, like the weight of the answer exhausted him.

"The blood bond curse isn't something that can be easily broken, Kael. It's ancient. Twisted. It doesn't just bind mates... it feeds off conflict, pain, possession. The more you fight it, the stronger it gets."

Kael said nothing, his expression unreadable.

"You're hurting her just by holding back," Sylvester added, voice dropping.

"If you don't finish the bond soon,you both could spiral. Or worse."

I should've waited.

Should've stayed hidden until the end of their conversation.

But I didn't.

Instead I turned and ran away, my heart pounding with every step.

The idea that I might be more deeply bonded to Kael than I thought, that something ancient and cursed had wrapped itself around me without my knowledge... was suffocating.

What if I'm in danger?

What if I already am?

I didn't stop running until I reached the library again, slamming the hidden passage shut behind me and leaning against the wall, chest heaving.

No more secrets.

If they wouldn't tell me the truth, I'd find it myself.

Straightening my spine, I stepped out into the warm, quiet stillness of the library. A she wolf, maybe the Liberian nearly, froze at the sight of me.

"Is there any book here on mating bonds?" I asked, keeping my voice calm.

She hesitated, then nodded slowly.

"Yes, Luna. That section-" she pointed to a far corner, "back wall, top shelves. The older texts."

I nodded once, already moving.

Because if I was cursed...

I needed to know exactly what I was fighting.

Since that day, I haven't seen Sylvester or my mate.

I spend the entire day holed up in my room, either scouring dusty old books for answers about the bond or searching endlessly for Keisha. But I still had no clue where she was. Nothing.

The books I've been reading offer little more than vague warnings and scattered theories. Only one recorded case of this bond exists throughout history and it ended in horror.

The pair descended into madness, driven wild by something no one could understand, until they finally killed each other.

No one knows how the curse works. No one even understands its structure, its purpose, or its origin.

But what haunts me the most is that Kael knew. He knew and said nothing.

And maybe I should've expected that from him. Maybe I'm just naive for still hoping there's something good in him.

But right now, I can't see it. Not when everything feels like it's falling apart.

Knock, knock.

The sound of the door pulled me from the haze of my reading. I looked up, my heart still heavy with everything I'd just uncovered.

"Come in," I called, setting the book aside.

The head maid stepped inside, bowing low...more respectfully than she ever had before. There was a nervousness to her movements, like she wasn't sure how to act around me anymore.

"Luna," she said carefully, "you are to get dressed and appear before the Alpha."

I blinked. "Now?"

She nodded once. "Yes. Immediately."

I sighed, standing slowly. "Okay."

Whatever this was, I had a feeling it wouldn't be good. Not after what I'd just learned. Not after days of silence.

I walked into the hall and immediately felt like running.

There were more people than usual. No, not just more. Everyone was here. The entire pack had gathered, their gazes fixed on the entrance like they were waiting for a spectacle.

And I was it.

Kael stepped forward from the center of the room, his expression smug, almost too pleasant.

"How nice of you to join us, Selene," he said, smiling with that mock sweetness that made my skin crawl.

I gave a quiet nod, forcing my face to remain neutral. I began to walk toward him, ready to take my usual place at his feet, like I had done before. But something stopped me.

There was another throne beside his. A New Throne.

I hesitated, confused. Did he want me by his side now?

I took a cautious step forward, unsure if I should kneel or sit.

But then his voice, soft and sharp as a blade, cut through the silence.

"No, darling. That throne isn't for you."

I froze mid-step, shame washing over me in a wave so hot it scalded. The entire room watched, hungry for my humiliation.

"You've been so quiet. So obedient lately," Kael continued, his tone laced with something almost amused. "I thought it was time to... reward you."

My heart dropped.

"Today," he said with cruel pride, "I'll be announcing my concubine."

A roar built in my ears, drowning out the gasps around me. My wolf howled in fury, thrashing inside my chest, but I stood frozen.

"Who?" I managed, my voice barely more than a whisper.

And then I heard her.

"It's me."

The voice I thought I'd never hear again.

Elara.

My sister.