The Alpha's Curse.

Alina Blackwood stood at the edge of the clearing, her eyes scanning the horizon as the sun dipped below the trees, casting the forest in a soft, golden light. The air was heavy with the scent of pine and damp earth, and the wind whispered through the branches, sending ripples across the grass. Her fingers tightened around the hilt of her blade, the weight of it familiar and reassuring in her hand.

Tonight was supposed to be a celebration- an annual gathering of the Blackwood pack, where alliances were strengthened, and new bonds were forged. Her father, Alpha Derek, had always placed great importance on these events, believing they were vital for maintaining the pack's power. But for Alina, the festivities felt more like a cage than a celebration. The pressure to follow in her father's footsteps, to assume the mantle of leadership, weighed heavily on her shoulders. She had been groomed for this role her entire life, but the thought of becoming the Alpha was suffocating.

A faint rustling of leaves drew her attention. She turned just as a figure emerged from the shadows, tall and imposing, with piercing blue eyes that gleamed in the dim light. His dark hair was tousled, and his muscles rippled beneath his shirt as he moved with the grace of a predator. Alina's breath caught in her throat. She knew exactly who it was.

"Cole," she said, her voice softer than she intended. Her heart pounded in her chest. She had crossed paths with him before, but this time, something felt different. There was an intensity in the air that hadn't been there during their first brief meeting.

He smirked, his lips curling into a wicked grin that sent a shiver down her spine. "You look like you could use a distraction."

Alina raised an eyebrow, trying to mask the fluttering in her chest. "I'm not in the mood for games, Cole. This isn't the time."

He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. The space between them seemed to shrink, and Alina couldn't help but feel the undeniable pull, the electric current that arced between them every time they were near each other. She forced herself to stand tall, refusing to let him see how much he affected her.

"Come now, don't tell me you've lost your edge, Alina," he teased, his voice low and teasing. "I thought the heir to the Blackwood pack could handle a little challenge."

Her eyes narrowed. "I'm not a child, Cole. I've been trained for this my entire life."

He tilted his head, his gaze never leaving hers. "Then why do you look like you're trapped in a cage?"

The words stung more than she expected. A familiar ache settled in her chest, but she pushed it down. She wasn't going to let him get to her. Not now. Not when she had so much at stake.

"I'm fine," she said, though the lie tasted bitter on her tongue. "I don't need your distractions."

Cole stepped even closer, and her pulse quickened. He was too close now. She could feel the heat of his body, the strength that emanated from him with every breath. His scent-earthy, wild, and undeniably masculine-surrounded her, making it harder to think clearly.

"You're lying," he said softly, his lips barely moving. "You need a distraction. You need something more than the life your father has planned for you."

Alina's chest tightened at his words. He wasn't wrong. She had been living in the shadow of her father's expectations for as long as she could remember. The title of Alpha was hers by birthright, and it was a role she had never wanted. Her father had always been distant, focused solely on maintaining the pack's power. She had spent years training, learning the ways of leadership, but it all felt like an unending weight. There was no room for her own desires, no space for her to forge her own path.

The sound of footsteps approaching pulled Alina from her thoughts. She turned her head to see her father, Alpha Derek, striding toward her with a determined look in his eyes. His presence filled the clearing, and for a moment, it felt like the very air had thickened with the weight of his authority.

"You're needed inside, Alina," he said, his voice commanding.

Alina swallowed her frustration. "I'll be there in a moment."

Her father's gaze flicked to Cole, and his expression hardened. Alina could see the disapproval in his eyes, though he said nothing. He didn't need to. The tension between her father and the rogue wolf was palpable, thick enough to cut with a knife. Cole was an enigma, a rogue wolf who had appeared in the Blackwood territory only recently. No one knew much about him, except that he had been a former member of a pack that had been destroyed under mysterious circumstances. Alina's father had always warned her to stay away from him, but she couldn't ignore the strange pull she felt when they were near each other.

"Is there a problem?" her father asked, his voice cold.

Cole didn't flinch, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes-something dangerous, something wild. "No problem, Alpha. Just passing through."

Her father's gaze lingered for a moment longer before he turned, his footsteps echoing as he left the clearing. Alina watched him go, a knot forming in her stomach. She had always done as he asked, always followed the rules. But something inside her was starting to rebel.

"You should go back inside," she said to Cole, her voice quieter now. "It's not safe out here for you."

Cole smirked again, his eyes darkening with amusement. "You really think your father will protect you from me, Alina? I'm not afraid of your pack."

The words were a challenge, a dare. Alina's heart raced. She didn't know what it was about Cole, but he had a way of making her feel alive, something she hadn't felt in years. She had been trained to lead, to be the perfect Alpha, but she wasn't sure she was ready for the responsibility. She wasn't sure she even wanted it anymore.

"I'm not afraid of you either," she said, her voice steady, though she knew deep down it wasn't entirely true.

Cole's eyes softened, his smirk fading into something more thoughtful. "Maybe you should be."

He turned away, vanishing into the shadows of the forest. Alina stood there for a moment longer, her mind spinning with thoughts she couldn't quite process. She should have gone inside with her father. She should have followed the rules. But instead, she was standing in the clearing, drawn to a man who was as dangerous as he was alluring.

With a heavy sigh, Alina finally turned and made her way back to the packhouse. The sounds of laughter and music filled the air as she entered, but the joy felt distant, as if it belonged to someone else. She had a responsibility, a duty to her pack. But all she could think about was the rogue wolf who had somehow infiltrated her thoughts- and her heart.