The Cursed Alpha's Secret Mate

he heart of Blackthorn Woods, Raven Blackthorn felt none of its peace. She pulled her scarf tighter around her neck as the chill of the autumn night bit in

calling her name. "Raven..." It was a sound she couldn't ignore, even when sh

the stories. The forest was cursed, they said. People who ventured too deep often disappeared, never to be s

nto the woods, her flashlight barel

ng her amidst the growing unease that prickled at the back

stillness, trembling with uncertainty

allen leaves. She didn't know what she was lookin

t oak tree. Her breath caught in her throat. The moonlight filtered th

alled out, taking cau

n't re

y concealed by the tattered cloak draped over him. His hair was dark and wild, and ev

spered, dropping to

sped. His eyes weren't normal-they glowed with an unnatu

ly audible but filled with an intens

said, ignoring his wa

h that belied his injured state. "You don

d deep, as though something had torn into him. A wild animal, perhaps?

e to die," she said firm

a faint, almost bitter sm

d pressed it against his wound, eliciting a low growl of pain from hi

ned to you?

gaze fixed on somethin

othing there-just the endless

he murmured, his v

s com

d of snapping branches and hurried footsteps echoed around them.

d, his voice stron

t leavi

sound so primal that

d on all fours, their bodies covered in dark, matted fur. Their eyes glowed with the sa

er mind screaming at her to ru

ch her, the man was on his feet, moving faster than should have been possible for someone so inj

olved into that of a massive wolf, his dark fur bristl

Raven and the wolf. It was enough for Raven to snap out of her daz

stance between herself and the chaos, but he

? And what were

f the forest, her lungs burning and her legs trembli

o the darkness she had just escaped. But even as she sat the

d never be th

e tried to make sense of what she had just witnessed. A man who could turn into a wolf. Creatures t

her screamed to go home, to lock her doors and pretend this night had never happened. But another

being so gravely injured? And why had he told h

g leaves behind her. She froze, every nerve in her body o

as t

moonlight. He was human again, though his clothes were torn, and his chest rose and fell wi

tayed," he said, his

ssing against a nearby tree. "What... wha

ements slow and deliberate

o anger. "You tell me to run, but then you show up here, c

ied her. "My name is Darius," he said final

ned into a wolf! You fought off... whatever thos

u're not safe, Raven. Being

ame?" she asked, her

, his towering figure casting a shadow over her. Despite t

" he said. "The forest. The to

l?" she

ones who attacked me tonight. They'll come for

id, shaking her head. "

eplied. "They saw you

wers, but deep down, she knew he was telling the truth.

surprising herself with th

frowned

ossed her arms over her chest, determined to stand her grou

d to search hers, as if he were trying to decide whether

ubborn," h

hat a lot," Ra

his expression conflicted. "Fine," h

an walking back t

want me to go back in ther

e," Darius said without looking back. "The

of safety and normalcy so close yet so far away. Then she looked b

de her

s heavier, the darkness deeper. Every rustle of

despite the uneven terrain. Raven struggled to keep up, her

she asked, her voice b

you," Darius said. "Somewher

anyway?" Raven asked. "An

Darius said grimly. "T

is that,

ly, turning to face h

said hesitantly, the word fe

es who've lost themselves to their instincts. The hunters track

old. "So you're saying they'll come a

need to stay hidden. At least until I

e couldn't just disappear from her life

?" she asked. "What i

aid. "The hunters are focused on me. As long as

tened at the thought of leaving her

us said, starti

lence, the tension b

, its wooden exterior weathered but sturdy. Smoke rose from the chi

stay," Darius said, le

n is this?"

he sai

"You live out

ed. "It's saf

terior was surprisingly cozy, with a stone fireplace, a

said, nodding toward the couc

"You're not s

t," he said. "In case

austed to fight him. She sank onto the cou

to leave, she c

helping me?

orframe. "Because I owe you,"

meant, he stepped outside,

t, her mind swirling with questions. But

r eyes drifted shut, she couldn't shake the feeling that this was

didn't come easily. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the glowing eyes of those creatures, heard the growls th

this man-this wolf? And why did she feel an odd sense

d into the darkness. There, at the edge of the clearing, stood Darius. His figure was barely visible, but she could see the fa

er. Wrapping the blanket around h

smelled of pine and damp earth. Darius didn't turn a

ide," he said, his

ed, stopping a few feet away fro

on unreadable in the dim light. "That's underst

a dry laugh. "I'm still trying to figure

not," Da

," Raven said, hugging the blanket tighter around herself

hrough his otherwise stoic demeanor. "It's not ti

Raven

tone darkened as he added,

ed. "What hap

moment, she thought he wouldn't an

art sank.

's part of the life we lead. Humans fear what they don't understand. An

actly?" Raven asked,

ir pack-either by choice or by force-they become unstable. The longer they're al

ought of becoming something so primal and uncontr

us said. "They were being contro

rowned.

tell her. "Because I know things," he said

e wh

p look. "You ask a

this," Raven shot back. "You drag

air. "Fair point," he admitted. "But some t

er arms. "You d

" Darius said. "It's a

is gruff exterior, Raven could see the weight he carried-the guilt, the responsi

I'm not going to just sit here and do nothing. If I'm in dange

he thought she saw a flicker of vulnerability

Raven said wi

but it quickly faded. "Go inside," he said. "Get so

as catching up to her. With a reluctant nod

-

ing. She sat up, her heart racing as th

casting the room in a faint orange glow. She glance

r burst open, and

said, his v

Raven asked, scra

," Darius said. "

slammed against the outer wall. Raven's blood ran cold as s

toward the back door. "Stay close to m

the door and into the night. The forest was alive with moveme

o that of a massive black wolf. He growled low in his th

n, but he cut her of

her heart pounding in her chest as the

s she pushed herself to keep going. She could hear Dariu

ers were gai

umbled, falling hard to the ground. Pain

er. He shifted back into his human form, hi

walk?"

rs streaming down her fac

h. Without another word, he scooped her

choing through the trees. Raven clung to Darius, her heart pound

ius said, his

to thin, and Raven saw the fa

of the riverbank. He leaped into the wat

, but Darius held her tightly, his pow

er, their glowing eyes watching as the cur

eeth chattering as the icy water seeped into her clothes. She couldn't tell how long they were in the riv

ully before collapsing beside her. His breaths came in heavy

e?" Raven asked, h

anning the darkness. "They won't cross the

up, wincing in pain. "What were th

" He ran a hand through his damp hair, his expressi

?" Raven asked, her curio

ption. The hunters use dark magic to twist their minds, t

the cold. "And they're after y

ardened. "Somet

he exhaustion on his face stopped her. Instead,

higher ground, somewhere defensible. And I

itated before taking it, the warmth of his t

his arm steadying her as she

er weight on her injured ankle sen

rius scooped her i

protested.

us said, his tone leavi

As much as she hated feeling h

-

ng way to rocky terrain. The sky began to lighten as dawn a

where a narrow cave was hidden among the rocks. He

said, more to him

injured ankle stretched out in front of her. Darius disappeared for a moment an

ng a fire?"

ks in a small pile. He produced a lighter from his p

e, and Raven let out a sigh of reli

his sharp gaze fixed on

jeans to reveal the swollen joint. Darius frowned, h

id. "But you'll need to

ecause that's so easy when

ntly. "I'll carry

couldn't help the small sm

-

feeling that she was being watched. She glanc

she said

re he was tending to

he asked, her voice b

moved toward the entrance, his senses on high

aid, his voice lo

epped outside, his figure disappe

in her chest. The minutes dragged o

d a low growl from

called, her vo

as no r

ck, her fingers tightening around the makesh

en, si

her knuckles white as

fying moment, she thought it was one of the rogues. But then D

eer," he said,

the tension leaving her body.

tened. "Sorry," he said

de her, his pres

t," he said. "I

hat she wasn't some helpless damsel.

n the cold stone floor. "But w

s gaze fixed on t

but wonder what the next day would bring-and how