The Alpha's Cursed Heir 2

The chilly air stunged Lena's skin even as she followed Kaden farther into the forest, the sound of their steps muted by the thick underbrush. The weight of the night was pressing down on her shoulders, and every stride felt heavier than the one before. She didn't even know why she had agreed to follow him, less alone where they were heading. She only knew that she couldn't return to the shame she had left behind or to the pack that had rejected her.

Kaden's broad frame cut through the darkness like a stealth predator as he moved forward. He moved with a grace that belied his stature. His senses were acutely aware of their environment. Oftentimes he would turn back to look at Lena's face, his expression neutral, but there was a hint of evil in his eyes.

Lena had several questions, but the one that was burning inside of her was the most important: Why was he helping her? The Alpha of a rival pack had no reason to involve himself in her cursed fate. But here he was by her side, guiding her into the wilderness, far away from the only life she had ever known. She kept getting the impression that he had his own agenda.

At last, she broke the stillness between them by asking, "Where are we going?"

Kaden didn’t slow his pace. “Somewhere safe.”

"That's not an answer." Lena pressed on with annoyance brewing inside of her. "I have no idea who you are. Why are you helping me?”

He paused, turning to face her, his stormy eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. “You’re more valuable than you realize, Lena. Your curse isn’t just about you, it’s about balance. There are forces at play that want to keep you from unlocking your true potential. I won’t let that happen.”

Lena blinked, her heart skipping a beat. True potential? She had been humiliated, rejected, stripped of everything that made her strong. What potential could he possibly be talking about?

Before she could question him further, the sound of distant howls echoed through the trees, sharp and menacing. Her body tensed, recognizing the sound immediately. They weren’t alone.

Kaden’s expression hardened. “We need to move.”

He took hold of her arm and tugged her ahead, without waiting for an answer, his hold firm but tender. They hurried through the forest at the speed of light, avoiding tangled roots and drooping branches so as not to get spotted. Lena's heart pounded in her chest heavily immediately she knew that they were being chased.

---

Lena's lungs burned as she struggled to match Kaden's relentless speed. She saw shadows moving out of the corner of her eye as the forest closed in around them. As time passed, the group of wolves chasing them became increasingly aggressive in their growls.

Panic enveloped her completely, she looked over her shoulder and saw the black figures making their way through the trees behind them. These were Damon's wolves and not others. The realization sent a jolt of fear through her. Of course, he would come after her. Damon wasn’t the kind of man to let things go. He had rejected her publicly, but she knew his pride wouldn’t let him leave her in peace.

“Faster!” Kaden urged, his voice low and commanding.

Lena pushed herself harder, her legs screaming in protest as the terrain became more uneven. She stumbled but quickly caught herself, adrenaline driving her forward. They couldn’t outrun the pack forever, she knew that much. But Kaden seemed to have a plan, even if he wasn’t sharing it with her.

Just as the howls grew dangerously close, Kaden veered off the path, pulling Lena into a narrow crevice between two massive rock formations. The space was tight, barely enough for them to slip through, but it provided cover from their pursuers. They pressed their backs against the cold stone, their breath ragged and heavy.

The sound of pounding paws and snarling wolves filled the air as Damon’s pack tore through the forest, passing just beyond the rocks. Lena breathed slowly, her body shook with fatigue and anxiety. But when Kaden's hand touched hers, she knew he was still clinging to her with a firm and comforting hug.

Their eyes briefly locked, and Lena sensed an odd, unsaid connection between them, one that was created not of trust but of mutual peril. She couldn’t explain it, but something about Kaden made her feel… protected. Safe, even.

The wolves passed by, their growls fading into the distance. Slowly, Kaden released her hand, his expression returning to its usual guarded state.

“They won’t stop until they find you,” he said quietly, his voice a rough whisper in the stillness.

Lena swallowed hard, nodding. “I know.”

---

They stayed hidden for what felt like hours, the cold seeping into Lena’s bones as the forest around them gradually fell silent. Kaden remained silent, observing the treeline with a predator's keen eye. When he finally decided it was safe to go on, they slipped out of the crevice and proceeded farther into the trees.

They moved more slowly and cautiously this time. With everything that had transpired, Lena's thoughts were racing. Even though the immediate threat had gone, she was still plagued by lingering suspicions about Damon's betrayal.

“What did you mean earlier?” Lena asked, breaking the silence between them. “About my curse being more than just mine?”

Kaden's jaw tensed, but he took a moment to respond. After a few more minutes of walking in silence, he eventually spoke in a low voice.

“The curse that binds you is older than you think. It was placed on your family long ago, to prevent your bloodline from rising to its full power.”

Lena’s brow furrowed. “But why?”

Kaden’s gaze flicked toward her, his expression unreadable. “Because your wolf is dangerous. If your full power is unleashed, it could disrupt the entire balance between the packs.”

Her heart raced at his words. All her life, she had believed she was special, destined for something great but hearing Kaden’s words sent a shiver of fear through her. She wasn’t just cursed. She was a threat.

“So… I’m not broken?” she whispered, almost afraid to ask.

“No,” Kaden said softly, his voice surprisingly gentle. “You’re not broken. You’re locked.”

The weight of his words settled heavily in her chest. Locked. Her wolf hadn't failed to emerge; it had only been kept out of her reach by a force she couldn't comprehend. She was frightened by the thought of it alone. If only her curse is broken, she could at last become the person she was destined to be.

But how? And what would it cost her?

---

As the evening went on, Lena found it difficult to control her emotions. Her heart still ached from Damon's rejection, but it was now entangled with her increasing concern over Kaden. He was helping her, but why? And what was the reason behind her unexplained attraction to him?

As they walked, she cast a quick glimpse at him, his powerful features highlighted by the dim moonlight peeking through the trees. She hadn't anticipated the strong loyalty and strength that he possessed. But, he was also keeping something from her.

“Kaden,” she began, hesitating for a moment before continuing, “why do you care what happens to me?”

He didn’t respond at first, his gaze focused ahead as if he were weighing his answer carefully. Then, without looking at her, he said, “Because your fate is tied to mine.”

Lena’s heart skipped a beat. “What do you mean?”

Kaden slowed his pace, finally turning to face her fully. Her breath caught as his fierce, black gaze pierced hers heavily.

"My family has been enslaved to the Moon Temple for generations." He said. “We’re the guardians of its secrets, and we’re cursed to protect the power locked within it. Your power.” He paused, his jaw tightening. “If you break the curse, it will free my pack. But it will also mean the end of my strength as an Alpha.”

Lena stared at him, her mind reeling. His strength was tied to the curse? If she succeeded in breaking it, Kaden would lose everything. It dawned on her that, He was helping her at the expense of his own strength, something Damon would never have done.

Her heart ached with the weight of it, and for the first time, she saw Kaden not as a rival Alpha, but as someone who had suffered as much as she had. Someone who was willing to lose everything, yet chose to risk it all for her.

“Kaden…” she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion.

But before she could say anything more, the ground beneath them trembled violently, cutting her off. Kaden quickly extended his arm to steady Lena as she staggered. The woodland was filled with a deep rumble that became louder by the second.

Lena’s eyes widened in fear. “What’s happening?”

Kaden’s expression darkened, his gaze scanning the horizon. “We’re not alone.”

---

The earth continued to quake beneath their feet, the trees swaying ominously as if bowing to some unseen force. Lena's body tensed and her pulse raced as danger filled the atmosphere around them.

Suddenly, the sky above them split open and a blinding light shone through the darkness.