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