The Alpha's Cursed Heir 5

Lena woke up as her heart pounded in her ears. She observed her current environment closely as the cold air hit her skin. Above her was the thick forest with leaves rustling in the breeze. Her entire body hurt, and she had a persistent feeling that something had changed inside of her.

She struggled to sit up, trying to steady her thoughts. All she could recall was Zara's enchantment, Damon's treachery, and Kaden's frantic appeal for her. Everything felt different now, as if her consciousness had expanded beyond its bounds and her senses had become more acute.

Her wolf.

It was there, she could feel it, no longer silenced by the curse. It hummed beneath her skin, not fully awakened but waiting, a coiled force ready to be unleashed. But the awakening hadn’t brought clarity, only more questions. What had Zara done? And where was Kaden?

A sudden snap of a twig caught her attention, and she twisted around, her heart racing. Kaden emerged from the shadows, his face pale and drawn, his eyes scanning her with intensity. Relief flickered briefly in his gaze, but it was quickly replaced by something darker, something heavy.

“You’re awake,” he said, his voice rough, as if he hadn’t spoken in hours. “Thank the gods.”

Lena stood slowly, her body stiff but her strength returning. “What happened? How long was I out?”

“Too long.” His jaw tightened, and she could see the exhaustion in the lines of his face. “Zara’s spell… it knocked you out cold. I couldn’t wake you. I thought…”

Lena swallowed, her throat dry. “You thought I wouldn’t wake up?”

His tense stance spoke for him even though he didn't respond. Whatever had transpired while she was unconscious had disturbed him more than he was prepared to acknowledge, and she could tell.

“What did Zara do to me?” Lena asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Kaden paused, his eyes darting elsewhere. “I've no idea. She’s powerful, Lena. I’ve never seen magic like hers before. But… whatever she did, it triggered something in you. Something strong.”

Lena pressed her hand to her chest, feeling the faint hum of energy within her. It felt both strange and familiar, as though the wolf inside of her had been waiting for this moment to come alive her entire life.

“I can feel it,” she murmured. “My wolf… it’s there.”

Kaden’s gaze sharpened. “You can control it?”

“I can't say. It’s… not fully awakened. But it’s there. I can feel its presence now.”

Kaden exhaled, rubbing a hand over his face. “That’s something, at least.”

Lena felt the weight of his words, but it didn’t ease the unease gnawing at her. Zara had unlocked something, but for what purpose? And Damon, he was still out there, still plotting with the sorceress. The thought of his betrayal, of how he had turned against her so completely, made her chest tighten. She needed to seek solutions before time ran out.

---

While navigating through the forest, the silence between them became oppressive. Lena couldn't rid herself of the feeling that something deeper was going on. Kaden’s uneasiness wasn’t just about Zara’s spell. He was hiding something, and it gnawed at her as they trudged through the thick underbrush.

“Kaden,” at long last she said, breaking the silence. “What are you hiding from me? Why do I feel as though you've not been completely honest with me”

She noticed the small strain in his shoulders, but he continued walking. "What do you mean?"

“You’re holding something back. Ever Since I woke up, I noticed you've changed. You're not telling me everything that's happening here."

He paused, his back still to her. The forest seemed to hold its breath, waiting for his response. Finally, Kaden turned to face her, his expression unreadable.

“There’s a reason Zara wants you, Lena. And it’s not just about your wolf. It’s about the power your family carries. The curse wasn’t just meant to lock away your wolf. It was meant to keep your bloodline from fulfilling its true potential.”

Lena frowned. “What are you talking about?”

Kaden sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Your family isn’t just any Alpha bloodline. Your ancestors were once rulers, not just of a single pack, but of all the packs. The curse was placed to prevent that power from ever being restored. Zara’s spell was meant to keep your family’s dominance buried.”

Lena’s heart pounded as she processed his words. Rulers of all the packs? That kind of power… it didn’t seem real.

“And you knew this?” she asked, her voice barely steady.

Kaden met her gaze, his expression hard. “I didn’t know the full extent until recently. But when I found out, I realized Zara was after more than just your wolf. She wants control over the packs, and you’re the key to that.”

Lena’s chest tightened as the weight of Kaden’s revelation settled over her. It made sense now, the curse, her parents’ deaths, Damon’s betrayal. It was all connected to a legacy she hadn’t even known existed. And now, she was the last of that line, the one who could either restore her family’s power or watch it fall into the wrong hands.

---

The weight of this new revelation hungover Lena as they continued through the forest. Her mind churned with questions, but before she could ask more, the sound of approaching footsteps brought both her and Kaden to a halt.

Damon emerged from the darkness, his entire being reek of malevolent intent.

“You didn’t think I’d let you escape that easily, did you?” he sneered.

Kaden stepped forward, his stance protective, but Lena felt a surge of anger growing inside of her. Damon had once been her mate, the man she thought she’d spend her life with. But now, seeing him aligned with Zara, with the look of betrayal and greed etched across his face, all she felt was rage.

“What do you want, Damon?” she asked, her voice cold and steady.

Damon’s eyes flicked between her and Kaden, his smile twisted. “I want what’s rightfully mine. The power your family has hidden for centuries. You’re just the key to unlocking it.”

Lena felt her wolf stir beneath the surface, its presence growing stronger with each word Damon spoke. She could feel the power building, simmering, but not yet fully within her control. And she knew that Damon could sense it too.

“You’re making a mistake,” Lena said, her voice trembling with suppressed anger. “Zara will turn on you the moment she has what she wants. You’re nothing but a pawn to her.”

After a little pause in his smile, Damon shrugged and his confidence returned. "Perhaps. But when the time comes, I'll take care of that. You are the one obstructing my path for the time being."

Kaden stepped closer to Lena, his presence grounding her as Damon advanced. “You’re not touching her,” Kaden growled.

Damon’s eyes flashed with amusement. “Oh, I don’t intend to touch her. But I do intend to break her.”

Before Lena could react, Damon lunged. Kaden moved to intercept, but Damon was faster than either of them anticipated. His claws sliced through the air, and Kaden let out a low growl as he blocked the attack, forcing Damon back.

But it was clear from the ferocity of Damon’s movements that he wasn’t playing games anymore. He was out for blood.

Lena’s heart pounded as the two men clashed, their power evident in every strike. Damon battled recklessly, making him unpredictable, but Kaden was strong. Lena felt her wolf's pull intensifying as the battle continued, pushing her to join the battle and fight back.

But she wasn’t ready. Not yet.

---

As Kaden and Damon fought, the power inside Lena surged. She could feel it, like a force trying to break free, a pressure that built with every second. But she couldn’t control it, not fully. And if she unleashed it too soon, it could destroy everything.

Kaden was holding his own, but Damon was relentless, his attacks fueled by a savage desperation that made him even more dangerous. Lena could see it, Damon was losing control, his obsession with power drove him to madness.

And then, in a single moment of distraction, Damon landed a blow that sent Kaden crashing to the ground.

Lena’s heart stopped as Kaden hit the earth, his body still for a terrifying second. But then he moved, pushing himself up, blood dripping from a deep gash across his chest.

Damon stood over him, a cruel smile on his lips. “You’re weak, Kaden. Just like her.”

Something inside Lena snapped. Before she could stop herself, she stepped forward, her power rushing out of her like a tidal wave as her wolf roared to life. The force sent Damon sprawling, and he turned, his eyes wide with amazement.

For the first time, Lena did not resist the wild and untamed power that was pulsing through her. She embraced it.

But as Damon staggered to his feet, bloodied and enraged, Lena knew this was far from over.

---

Damon wiped the blood from his mouth accompanied by a wicked grin twisted on his face. "You think this changes anything?" he sneered, his voice low and dangerous. "Zara knows where you are, Lena. She’s already coming for you. And when she gets here, she won’t just take your power, she’ll take everything."

Lena’s heart raced, her wolf’s energy still pulsing wildly inside her. Suddenly, the ground shook beneath them before she could answer. She had never heard a howl like the one that reverberated through the trees from a distance as a result of the ground shaking. Kaden’s eyes darkened with recognition as he stepped toward her, his voice tight with urgency.

"She’s not coming alone."

The air around them shifted, thickening with the promise of something far more dangerous than Damon.