The Alpha's Cursed Heir 6

Lena stood in the open area staring blankly at the charred remains of her family's home. She stood there with a lot on her mind, though the chilly breeze rustled the leaves beneath her boots making small noises, she was lost in thought. Her family's home used to be a warm, inviting space where people laughed and loved one another, but now it's just a horrible memory, a harsh reminder of what she had lost. Her parents, the most powerful alphas in the history of the Grey Hollow pack, had passed away. The passing of them had destroyed the very core of her existence.

She had always carried the burden of the past, but now it was overwhelming, engulfing her in feelings of guilt and uncertainty. Her grip on the necklace from her mother tightened, the last tangible bond she had. Her expectation was that this place would provide some form of resolution, but instead, it intensifies the emptiness within her.

Lena's thoughts went back to the evening when everything took a turn. The pack had assembled to commemorate her reaching adulthood, an evening designed to signify her initial transformation and establish her position as the future leader of the Grey Hollow pack. Her parents had proudly stood by her, believing that their daughter would continue their legacy. Her father placed his hand on her shoulder, his eyes shining with pride when he spoke to the pack.

"We are here to witness the strength of our bloodline, to honor the legacy that runs through Lena’s veins," he had declared. "Tonight, she will claim her birthright."

But when the time came, Lena had felt nothing. She had tried to summon the wolf within her, but her body remained still, unyielding. The pack’s hopeful whispers had turned to confusion, and then to murmurs of doubt. Her mother’s smile had faltered, her father’s grip tightening as if he could make the transformation happen.

And then, just hours later, they were dead.

Her parents had left for a routine patrol, but they never returned. The pack found their bodies in the forest, mutilated beyond recognition. The official explanation had been an ambush, an attack by rogue wolves. But there were too many questions, too many whispers. Some in the pack had started to believe the curse was real, that Lena’s failure to shift had somehow doomed her parents. Some believed that her parents' deaths were not a random event, as her wolf did not show up that night. They believed this tragedy was a consequence of hiding her true bloodline.

The grief consumed her, eating away at her constantly. It was a persistent ache always present hovering beneath the surface. She would wake up in the middle of the night, lost in thought, thinking about her mother's affection towards her, or her father's laughter lingering in her memories, only to realize they were no longer there. The pack’s rejection only deepened her isolation.

Lena had once been beloved, the future Luna, destined to carry her family’s legacy. Now, she was little more than a ghost among them, walking in the shadows of her past. The pack’s disdain was palpable, their cold stares and whispered accusations cutting into her every time she passed them. They blamed her for her parents’ deaths, for the curse they believed she carried.

"What good is a Luna without her wolf?" someone had sneered one morning as she walked past. Others had simply turned their backs, as if her very presence was a blight on the pack.

She had tried to endure it, to prove them wrong, but each day chipped away at her resolve. Damon's rejection was the final blow to her previous life, the most devastating event. Her mate, who was meant to support her, had abandoned her like she had no value. And at this point, there was no longer anyone remaining.

Standing in the ruins of her home, Lena’s fingers brushed over the worn surface of a stone that had once been part of the hearth. Her mother used to sit here, telling her stories of their ancestors, of the wolves who came before them. But those stories now felt like lies. She knew very little, her parents had not told her everything she needed to know.

The curse had stolen everything from her, and she had no idea how to stop it.

"Lena."

Kaden's sudden presence and voice shattered the quiet, starkly contrasting with the solitude she had enveloped herself in. Standing on the outskirts of the open space, he gazed intensely at her, causing her heart to race. The tension had increased between them after leaving the Moon Temple, and despite not fully trusting each other, there was an undeniable connection. She couldn't explain it, but being there provided an unexpected sense of solace.

"You shouldn't be here alone," he said, his tone softer than usual. "The pack still doesn’t trust you."

Lena straightened, forcing herself to meet his gaze. "I needed to see it one last time."

Kaden's jaw tightened, and he remained silent for a moment. Afterwards, he moved closer to her, reducing the gap. "We're in this together," he whispered softly, placing his hand tenderly on her arm.

Lena felt her throat constrict as she was touched. She desired to trust him, to trust that there was still someone willing to support her. However, she had been left alone too frequently, deceived by those who were meant to care for her.

"What if their assertions were correct?" she murmured, barely audible. "What if my parents died because of something I did?"

Kaden’s eyes darkened, a storm brewing behind them. "Your parents died because someone killed them, Lena. Not because of you." He paused, his voice softening. "But if you want the truth, we need to find Zara."

Mentioning the name Zara caused Lena to feel a shiver run down her back. The sorceress held all the answers to the darkness that plagued her life, it was this same person who had cursed her family and was the key to everything. But finding Zara meant facing the woman who had destroyed her family, and Lena wasn’t sure she was ready for that.

Before Lena could respond, the sound of rustling leaves caught her attention. Her body tensed instinctively, and Kaden was already moving, stepping in front of her, his body rigid with alertness. The air around them seemed to thicken, a presence lurking just beyond their sight.

"Kaden?" Lena’s voice was barely above a whisper.

Kaden squinted as he scanned the line of trees. "It seems we have company."

Lena's heart raced in her chest as she listened carefully, her pulse increased beyond her control as each step drew nearer. Whoever or whatever it was had no intent to conceal their arrival. Immediately Kaden changed his position, his muscles became tense, prepared to attack at any moment.

Suddenly, a silhouette stepped out of the darkness in the forest. It was Damon.

His face twisted into a sneer gleaming with a perilous mixture of conceit and ill will. "Do you truly believe you can escape without consequences, Lena?" His voice was full of disdain as he hissed.

Lena held her breath, her heart pounding. Damon had followed them? Why?

Kaden growled low in his throat, stepping forward to confront him. "You have no place here, Damon. Leave."

But Damon’s gaze remained fixed on Lena, his lips curling into a smug smile. "You think you’re safe now? You think you can escape what’s coming?" His voice lowered, his next words sending a chill down her spine. "Zara’s already coming for you."

Lena’s heart stuttered at Damon’s words, but it was the look in his eyes that unsettled her most. He knew something, something he hadn’t revealed. As Kaden tensed, preparing for a fight, Lena stepped forward, her voice sharp.

"What do you want, Damon?" she yelled angrily.

Damon's teeth gleamed as his smile grew. "It’s simple, really. Zara and I have made a deal. I help her, and she gives me the power I’ve always deserved." He took a step closer, his gaze flicking between Lena and Kaden. "And I’m going to make sure you don’t survive to break the curse."

The shock hit Lena like a wave, her mind reeling from the revelation. Damon had aligned himself with Zara? He was willing to betray the entire pack, to betray her, just for power?

Before she could process the full weight of his betrayal, Damon lunged. Kaden was ready, meeting him head-on as the two clashed in a brutal flurry of movement. The sounds of their fight reverberated around the forest, yet Lena was unable to look away from Damon's expression. How did the man who once professed his love for her turn into her adversary?

Amid the chaos, Damon’s voice cut through, sharp and menacing. "It’s too late, Lena. Zara’s already found you. And when she gets here, there will be no place left for you to run."

A cold sense of dread settled over Lena as Kaden shoved Damon to the ground, his chest heaving with exertion. But the fight wasn’t over.

Zara was coming, and the worst was far from over.