The Alpha's Cursed Virgin Bride

- Blood

ng hunts. Not even the night her mother bled out in the courtya

s used to whisper. "You can't show

l. It wasn't said like a title. It was said like a warning

a way, they

Lyra d

trusted. Never being seen for anything other than the red moon she w

in secret-no ceremony, no pack howling, no run under the stars. Just her, naked and

The way her skin tore like paper. How she curled into a ball after

ilent.

d," was a

hen h

. No hug.

rked the beginning of bad winters, of failed crops, of stillbirths an

t nineteen,

dist

ers quieted when

raining fields. How no on

ever touche

ped visiting after Lyra turned sixteen an

ch it," she'd said w

t was a

Lyr

pped waitin

studied the Moon Scrolls in secret. Who climbed trees too high and ran

ing for attenti

w she still

To talk to her like she wasn't fragile or cursed. To hold her

ed to be

n't want to

yr

ood in the greenhouse doorway, arms full of sage and feverroo

been crying again. Not tears. Just sweat. She'd been pulling weeds from the

you to check on

d softly. "I c

urpris

the sickness started. Not since the pups fell ill and E

irt from her skirt. "T

're s

always

n stepped closer. "

en't s

htma

d. "Worse

ay what she

olves with hollow eyes snapped at her heels. That a man with silver hai

orst part: that she

ng a wrapped cloth in her hands. "

see you give

care if t

Lyra's che

you," she

s glossed.

for a while, the si

asked, "Is

ha

arriag

tightened

a breathed. "They'r

idn't

dn't h

t cry. "That's not a marr

yra said, even tho

No one touches him. Th

what t

ay he's

am

went

ly. "If he kills me, then at leas

f he d

ng in the sky. Still red. St

ered, "I'll finally fin