THE ALPHA'S CURSED MATE

She is here

DANTE’S POV

I knew something was off the moment we started preparing for this year’s moon ceremony. I couldn’t explain it, but a bad mood had settled over me like a storm cloud in the days leading up to it. I was never exactly cheerful, but this was different — heavier. My wolf was restless, growling at shadows, warning me of a danger I couldn’t see. He was never like this, mine was one of the calmest wolves to ever exist in the kingdom and yet today, for the first time since I first shifted, he felt anxious. He was worried about something. That was making me restless, because I couldn't even foresee what could possibly7 happen that would ruin the day for me. No one would ever dare to ruin this for me because they knew what ruining it meant to them. No alpha in this kingdom would ever be able to stand against me and this was something that I was confident of.

The other alphas hated the ceremony. I knew they met in secret, whispering about ways to stop me from taking their women each year. Let them try. None of them had the strength to challenge me. I deserved the moon ceremony — I had earned it. I was the one who protected the kingdom, who kept our enemies out. My warriors were the strongest, and every pack depended on me. Still, I wasn’t foolish enough to take chances. I doubled the guards, sealed off every path. No surprises.

When the day came, it arrived like a blade — swift and cold. The chosen females were gathered in the clearing when Max came to fetch me. I was supposed to give them their instructions, to play the role of the untouchable Alpha. But even then, something weighed on me. A pull in my chest. A whisper that told me to stay away.

But what was the moon ceremony without me?

I forced myself to go. The moment I stepped into the clearing, I felt it — a tug deep in my chest, sharp and undeniable. My wolf surged forward, desperate to break free. His growl rumbled in my head, his voice a demand.

She’s here.

I searched the crowd, my eyes cutting through the sea of faces. Hundreds of wolves — but none of them were her. My gaze landed on the group of selected girls, and my body moved before I could think.

She’s here, my wolf repeated, louder now sounding almost…excited.

I clenched my fists until my claws dug into my palms, the scent of my own blood grounding me — barely. I was losing control, and I hadn’t even touched her yet.

Then it happened — a sharp snap inside me, like a bone breaking. The curse shattered. Pain and clarity came together in one violent breath. Who would’ve thought a weak wolf could do it? I despised her for it — but my wolf refused to let me act on that hate. Instead, he wanted to protect her.

“bring her to me” I ordered

“which one?” Rex asked me, he was confused. This was out of character for me but nothing about this night was normal.

“the misfit” I said through my teeth. This was what my life, my reign had been reduced to. Everything that I had built was about to be destroyed by a wimp. Maybe this was a set up.

No it’s not….she is mine. My wolf echoed in the back ground.

Rex quickly pulled her out without hesitation because anyone could see which wolf didn’t quite fit in with the rest. I didn’t even understand why her alpha had her brought before me. They knew the kind of women I wanted and yet he had brought me…this.

“Name” I said with a low voice struggling to control myself, she could barely look at me and I could literally smell the fear coming out from her pores.

“Selene” she whispered

The sound of her voice…her name hit me a lot harder than I wanted it to.

Selene…of course that had to be her name. The goddess had a cruel sense of humor.

“look at me” I ordered raising her head and her eyes flickered into mine and then I saw it, something that I hadn't seen in a female wolf in years. It wasn’t fear nor worship…it was resentment. It unsettled me and bothered me more than her trembling.

“You are coming with me” I declared causing the crown to gasp and one of the elders stepped forward.

“But Alpha, the trials haven't even began-”

They won't” I cut him off “its done”

Silence fell. I could feel their confusion, their unease. They wouldn’t question me out loud, but I knew what they thought. The mighty Alpha Dante had broken his own rules for a girl who looked like she hadn’t eaten in days. I knew this decision would cause mass hysteria among the alphas, they were going to think someone had done something wrong and these girls were going to be blamed for it. I didn’t care, they had done something wrong this time…they had brought me what I wasn’t looking for.

Let them think it, let them panic over my disdain over the decisions they had made.

Selene’s lips parted, shock flickering across her face before she masked it with anger. Good. Anger was easier to handle than fear. When I turned away, I heard her take a sharp breath — the kind people take before stepping off a cliff. My wolf prowled under my skin, restless, hungry to claim her, to drag her somewhere no one could see.

But I didn’t. Not yet and I still wasn’t sure if that was something that I would be willing to do anytime soon.

She wasn’t ready for what I was.

And I wasn’t ready for what she could make me become.