The Alpha's Cursed Virgin Bride

he Gloves He

Stone walls curved overhead like the ribs of some ancient beast, polished obsidian floors reflecting torc

aven Bla

o guide, no welcome, no soft voice telling her what came next. Just the echoing sil

d hard and s

ll clung to the panes. Beyond it, the forest loomed-a jagged silhouette against the bleeding twilight. He

a

d in her chest

t trimmed in silver threading. The collar was high, his hair tied back tightly,

ov

otect. And they weren't new. The fabric was worn at the knuckles, faint scratch marks dug into the mater

d earlier when she'd tried to hand him a gob

t ye

led into her sto

silence, careful and sm

rned

They didn't shine or reflect the light. They drank it in. An

en," he said, voice l

to hold on to-dignity, defiance, ma

she said. "But I won't b

ed slightly. "A

me. You k

d him. Each step was slow, measured, but powerful

see the faint breath fog from his lips. Close enough to smell

r a cursed blood mo

"I didn't choo

his union is punishment. You

ffened. "You thi

don't know

ng people would understand him long ago. The way he looked at her-it wa

d, her voice soften

t for a heartbeat-flickered behind them. Pa

't want

is gaze. "

y were stitched to his skin. And now she was certain of it-he hadn't taken them off once. Not during the ceremony. Not when h

ves?" she as

dn't

eart hammering. "What happ

d in his jaw.

t meant to shock. They were just... tru

u?" she

n't deny it. Just

. "What happened

. "You think you wan

e fragile doll sent here to play mate until the curse ki

his time the heat in his

curse?" he rasped. "They're

"You really believe you'll ki

ow I

ice cr

ot attraction. Something deeper. A recognition.

everything to do with guilt. The way his jaw clenched when she stood too close. The way hi

just cursed. H

n't feel angry. She felt... sad. For him. For h

t to die," s

ant to be the

after that w

hall. Third door on the left. You'll stay there. We will not shar

t, then nodded, voic

fted. The mate bond was already stirring, clawing at the barrier between them. It pulsed

n't care a

nted