The Cursed Alpha And His Hybrid Mate

KATHARINA

"You're an abomination!"

"You should never have been born into this world!"

"Let's burn her at the stake!"

"A curse like her would only bring calamity upon us!"

Different voices-distorted and warped-filled my mind as I slept, their tones dripping with disgust, contempt, fear, and morbid jealousy.

I saw myself as a child standing before the crowd in confusion, unable to understand the hatred in their eyes, or why they wanted me dead when I'd done nothing wrong.

-

Present.

In my deathly still, dark bedroom, my golden eyes snapped open. They were clear, alert and untouched by sleep.

I sat up slowly, a momentary daze clouding my gaze before clearing up.

Perhaps it was because today marked my nine hundred and ninety-ninth birthday-coupled with the fact that I hadn't fed in ages, leaving my physical vessel frail-that I dreamed of such an ancient, dusty memory.

Speaking of which... how old had I been back then?

Less than ten.

Abandoned. Parentless.

With no one to protect or explain the uniqueness I carried.

That fateful day, I had inadvertently activated my witch powers to save a werewolf pup from a rogue's attack.

I never imagined that one moment of kindness would turn everyone against me-even the parents of the very child I'd saved.

They all looked at me with fear and disgust, whispering that I was a monster.

An abomination.

As a child, I couldn't understand why I was treated that way despite showing them nothing but kindness.

But now, I did.

It was because I was a hybrid. The cursed fruit of a vampire and a witch.

It might have been tolerable if I had inherited only one lineage's power, like most mixed-bloods.

But I was different. I inherited both.

And that made me a threat.

A freak. An oddity.

Most wanted me dead. Some wanted to save me, but only to use me.

To experiment on me.

To drain my blood and strengthen their own powers.

None of them succeeded.

Not out of mercy. Not because they suddenly grew a conscience.

But because they couldn't defeat me.

Even as a child, with my hybrid powers raw and unrefined, I had already become the strongest supernatural alive.

Blinking and snapping back from the unpleasant memory, I summoned a hand mirror from the vanity with a flick of magic.

My reflection stared back at me.

A young, exquisitely beautiful woman with high, sculpted cheekbones, full crimson lips, and long, raven-black hair cascading down her back.

Her fair skin gleamed faintly even in the dim light.

But it was her eyes, a mesmerizing shade of light gold, that stood out the most.

The sight of such beauty would have brightened anyone's day.

Yet all I felt was boredom.

Boredom that seeped deep into my bones.

After all, I'd been looking at this same face-frozen in time-for almost a millennium now.

Long enough for dynasties to rise and fall ten times over.

And I was not the least bit happy about it.

Many longed for immortality and would do anything to attain it.

Yet for me, who possessed it, immortality was nothing but a curse.

Each passing year left me feeling hollower than the last.

So by my five-hundredth year, I had begun searching for a way to end it.

Yet even after all these centuries...

My gaze hardened as I tightened my grip on the mirror until it shattered to dust in my palm.

I still hadn't found a way to turn mortal, or die.

The air around me twisted, my magic teetering on the edge of a rampage.

Before it could tear through the room, I exhaled softly, letting the agitation within me ebb away. Then I slid off the bed, slipped on my slippers, and stepped out.

-

At the back of my mansion lay the herb garden, the place where I grew ingredients for my potions.

Potions, or rather poisons, meant to 'cure' my immortality.

Here, thrived the most poisonous plants known to this world, each one of which I had personally ingested.

I stepped inside, brushing my fingers lightly across their leaves as I walked past.

Belladonna. Hemlock. Mandrake root. Wolfsbane.

The air smelled earthy and bitter, rich and heady with a faint, deceptive sweetness.

Normally, I despised strong fragrances. But here was the exception.

I stopped at the heart of the garden and drew in a deep breath. The scent filled my lungs, and with it came a subtle sting from the poisonous fumes.

For anyone else, this place would have been a death zone.

But for me, it represented hope.

The distant, desperate hope that one day I might finally cure my curse...

Then I heard it.

A faint whimper, coming from the farthest depths of the garden.

For a second, I thought I'd imagined it.

How could there be a living creature here?

My mansion stood deep within Mystic Forest-a place even the bravest dared not enter lightly. And I had also cast layers of enchantments around the estate, making it impossible for any soul to trespass unnoticed.

At that, I dismissed the sound as a trick of the wind.

Then it came again.

Soft. Pained.

My expression froze.

I hadn't imagined it.

Which meant...

Something had managed to slip through my barriers without alerting me.

A slow, intrigued smile curved my lips.

Now, I was curious.

Just what kind of creature could bypass my enchantments?

I turned toward the sound and walked over, my steps measured, unhurried.

And then I saw it, illuminated by the soft glow of the full moon overhead.

A tiny, black-furred pup-bloodied and trembling-lying amidst my roses, almost blending into the darkness.

I arched a brow.

Fortunate little thing.

It had collapsed in the only corner of the garden protected from poison.

Anywhere else, and even the miasma alone would have killed it...

Then I caught a scent, faint but unmistakable.

Dominant. Enticing. Sweet.

Instinctively, I inhaled... and froze.

My weakened body stirred, as though something inside me had just awakened.

Power.

Hunger.

I could feel it, a fraction of strength returning to my limbs, as well as my fangs itching to make an appearance.

Impossible.

I frowned, testing it again by drawing in another breath.

The effect was the same, but stronger this time.

My gaze snapped back to the wolf pup.

The scent... was coming from it.

I blinked, and for the first time in centuries, I felt something other than perpetual weariness.

Interest.

And the faintest spark of fate.

XANDER

"Fuck."

I cursed under my breath as I tore through the heart of Mystic Forest in my wolf form, paws thudding against damp earth.

Full moon nights.

They'd always been the bane of my existence.

Nothing good ever came from them as long as I was concerned. Never had, never would.

Somehow, every damn time, they found a way to drag me into the messiest situations imaginable.

And tonight was no exception.

I, the Alpha of Crescent Ridge, was being forced to flee my own pack's territory-midway through a moon run, no less.

Ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous.

But to understand how I ended up here, we'd have to go back a few minutes earlier.

-

Tonight, as usual, I'd been leading the newly wolfed-out pups on their first run under the full moon, in the western fringes of Mystic Forest.

Everything had been going smoothly until word reached me-through the mind link-that a pup from the neighboring pack had strayed into our land.

It wasn't unheard of.

Young, newly shifted wolves were curious, reckless little things. They were drawn to anything that moved, glowed, or smelled unfamiliar.

They chased scents and shadows through the forest without a shred of thought for borders or consequences.

And every now and then, those reckless little paws would find cracks and forgotten trails, slipping unnoticed into another territory through hidden paths.

The Mystic Forest stretched vast and deep, but it was clearly divided between two packs: Crescent Ridge-mine-ruled the western half, and the Night Howlers controlled the east.

Only the forest's heart-a dense, perilous expanse of fog and poisonous miasma-remained a neutral zone, serving as the natural boundary between us.

For generations, both packs had respected that invisible line. Crossing it without permission meant one thing: provocation.

And provocation demanded blood.

However, there was always an exception to every law.

That held true in this case as well when mercy would be granted if the trespasser was a pup.

Even then, a steep compensation followed, meant to remind and deter everyone that accidents, no matter how harmless, carried a cost.

So when the border guards reported the stray, I handed the young wolves over to my Beta, Jaxon Thorne, and went to handle the matter myself.

"Let me take care of it," Jaxon had said, his voice tight with concern.

He was one of the few who knew about my condition-how, unlike other werewolves, full moons didn't empower me. They weakened me instead.

And worse, they stirred the curse in my blood.

But I'd brushed him off. "I'm the Alpha. Unless I'm dead or tied up with other matters, dealing with intruders is my responsibility."

I'd sounded confident. Too confident.

And for a good reason.

The curse had specific conditions for awakening, and that was if I bled beneath the full moon, and I was sure I wouldn't.

It should've been a routine matter.

Simple. Effortless.

Except it wasn't.

The so-called 'pup' turned out to be a fully grown wolf-stunted in size, but deadly fast-lying in wait.

Because the full moon has dulled my instincts-and I also hadn't bothered to guard against it-I didn't sense the ambush until its claws, coated with wolfsbane, tore into my left arm.

The poison from the wolfsbane was no problem because my blood was immune to it, perhaps because of the darker magic already running within me.

But that didn't matter.

Because I was bleeding.

The cold realization sliced through me as I jerked my gaze toward the silver disk above.

The curse was awakening.

Within half an hour-maybe less-I'd shrink into a helpless pup-sized form, stripped of all strength and power.

Reduced to prey.

-

No. I couldn't let that happen.

Not under the watch of my pack members-and especially not in the presence of an enemy.

I could already imagine the chaos that would follow if anyone saw such a bizarre thing happen.

The fallout. The questions.

It would be chaos all over, both internally and externally.

And worse, I still didn't know who had sent that assassin wolf-or what their motive was.

Had this ambush been deliberate? Has they learnt of my curse?

Was the assassination a test? To confirm their suspicions?

A thousand questions flashed through my mind in the span of a minute.

But all of them boiled down to one conclusion-I couldn't stay here any longer.

With time running out, I lunged at the assassin wolf in one swift move, knocked it unconscious and then sent a mind link to Jaxon.

'The curse struck. The stray was a trap. I've disabled the attacker. Put him in a cell and watch him until I return. I'll be back by dawn.'

I cut the connection before he could respond.

Then I sent another message, calm and authoritative, to the guards.

'I have urgent business to attend to. Beta Jaxon will arrive shortly to take the intruder. Hand him over when he comes.'

"Understood, Alpha," came their solemn reply.

After making these arrangements, I allowed myself a breath of relief.

Then, without another word, I turned and slipped deeper into the forest-urgency burning in my veins.

Along the fringes of the heart of the forest, I had a cabin-a hidden refuge for nights like this.

But I never made it that far.

The first wave of pain hit first-a deep, bone-twisting agony that dropped me to the ground.

A strangled sound tore from my throat as my body convulsed.

Then came the sharp crack of shifting bones, the sickening pop and grind of muscle and tendon rearranging.

Pain was an understatement, distortion a more apt description.

A grotesque reshaping.

My vision blurred, appearing white-hot, the forest spinning as I clenched my jaw shut, refusing to howl.

I couldn't afford to be found.

I lost track of how long had passed.

Minutes? Hours?

I couldn't tell.

Then, slowly, the pain receded, leaving only the lasting agony of it humming in my bones.

My breath came shallow and uneven.

Sweat matted my fur.

I didn't need to look to know what I'd become.

A glance downward confirmed it anyway.

Small, fur ruffled, paws too tiny to belong to an Alpha.

The curse had run its course.

My ears twitched suddenly.

Someone-or something-was coming.

I sniffed weakly, trying to catch a scent, but my senses yielded nothing beyond the smell of blood and earth.

Whether it was because the newcomer was still far away, or because my senses were dulled by the curse, I couldn't tell.

But it didn't matter who, or what it was.

Either way, I couldn't be seen like this-not when my black fur and blue eyes were unique to my lineage.

Even if they didn't recognize me immediately, doubt would take root. And doubt, once planted, had a way of growing wild.

My eyes hardened with resolve.

I had only one option left.

Taking a desperate gamble.

With what little strength I had left, I stood up and turned toward the ominous looking fog expanse.

Then without giving myself a chance to rethink, I bolted straight into the mist.

My life or death, I'll leave it up to the universe to decide.

KATHARINA

I crouched before the pitiful little creature, my lips curved in a smile that never reached my eyes.

"What a distressing situation you've found yourself in, little thing," I murmured. "But do tell me... how did you manage to slip past the poisonous miasma outside, and my enchantments on top of that?"

My tone was gentle. Soft.

Deceptively so.

As I spoke, I sent out a subtle probe of magic, sweeping through its tiny body-searching for shifter energy, hidden spells, anything unusual.

Nothing.

Just an ordinary wild pup, or so it wanted me to believe.

The thought flashed through my mind, sharpening my wariness rather than easing it.

Not only had it bypassed my barriers, its blood also carried an unmistakable lure-one potent enough to stir my dormant hunger.

I'd drunk animal blood before which I found far less repulsive than the human blood my vampiric half clearly preferred.

Yet never-not once-had the scent of their blood stirred such a response in me.

Two peculiarities appearing on the same creature?

No.

I didn't believe in coincidences.

But seemingly not understanding my questions, the pup merely whimpered, peering up at me with striking blue eyes-too clear, too innocent.

Anyone else might have softened. But my heart was made of stone.

Still, I couldn't leave it bleeding out on my doorstep. Not until I figured out the mysteries surrounding it.

That thought had barely formed when I felt something warm brush against my hand, still resting over my knee.

I froze, then snapped out of my thoughts and looked down.

The tiny creature was nuzzling my hand, rubbing against it hesitantly.

For a moment, my mind went blank. When I finally reacted, I stood abruptly, retreating several steps backward while staring at the pup with an unreadable expression.

How long had it been since I felt another's warmth on my skin?

Too long. So long I'd nearly forgotten what it felt like.

At least not since I sealed myself inside this self-imposed cage a century ago, refusing to leave until I found a cure for my immortality.

My fingertips trembled.

Yet somehow, a creature had found itself in, as though sent to remind me of the world beyond these walls-to tempt me. To lure me out. To make me forget why I locked myself away... and accept the curse of living an endless, hollow life.

At the thought, murderous intent rose in my chest like a blade unsheathed.

I'd grown used to the deathly silence around me. Comfortable in it.

So how dare an unrelated stray intrude and try to make me waver?

A sudden premonition struck-sharp enough to steal my breath. A warning from the universe itself.

This creature's appearance would bring change.

Earthshaking changes.

And a witch's premonition was never to be dismissed.

My eyes hardened.

No. It had to die.

As long as it died, whatever fate it carried, good or bad, would die with it.

I lifted my hand-the same hand it had nuzzled moments before-and a death spell gathered on my lips...

But then I caught its gaze.

Wide, innocent.

And seemingly as startled by its own behavior as I was.

My hand stilled.

Then, a bitter laugh tore from my throat-sharp, derisive, laced with self-mockery.

I had lived for nearly a thousand years and considered myself neither righteous nor kind. But I had always upheld one bottomline: I did not strike the innocent and defenseless.

And yet I had nearly done so just now.

Over a premonition. Over an unproven fear.

What did that make me, compared to the people who once branded me an abomination for being a hybrid-condemning me based on nothing but their own unfounded beliefs and prejudice?

I had always thought myself clear-minded. Perfectly so.

Now I wasn't sure.

I remained still for a long moment. When I finally moved, the spell on my lips shifted, into one of healing.

A mist of silver and green drifted from my palm to envelope the pup, mending its wounds in silence.

As the magic faded, I lowered my hand.

"I don't care how you got here," I stared at it and said with cool indifference. "But count yourself lucky you're leaving alive. Now that your injuries are healed, be on your way-and don't let me see you again. Next time, I can't guarantee you'll be as fortunate."

Without waiting for a reaction, I turned around and walked toward the house.

In my long, insufferable life, this encounter would be nothing more than a fleeting memory.

Or so I thought.

Just as I stepped over the threshold, a soft rustle from behind me caught my attention.

Not too stupid, I thought, assuming that it was leaving as I instructed.

...Wait.

My brows suddenly knitted together as I realized the sound wasn't receding.

It was approaching.

I stopped in my tracks, and turned around.

The pup was trotting toward me-slowly, determinedly.

My expression iced over, a humorless scoff slipping past my lips.

I had allowed it to leave out of rare compassion, but apparently, that wasn't appreciated.

Fine. If it wished for death so badly, I would allow it the luxury.

As it approached the edge of my herb garden, my gaze narrowed.

Outside the protective spell circle around the rose garden, the air was lethal. Even a breath of that miasma could kill a grown wolf, much less a pup.

I counted silently as it neared the boundary.

One... two... three...

By ten steps, the poison in the air would seep into its lungs and end its life.

A fitting end, I would say. A consequence of its own foolishness.

Nine...

Its paws hovered inches from the invisible deathline.

Before I could think, my hand moved-an isolation spell burst forth and shot toward it, wrapping around its small body like a protective veil.

I froze.

Why... had I done that?

A moment later, I told myself it was simple logic: I had gone to the trouble of healing it. Letting it die now would be wasteful.

Yes. That was the only reason.

When it finally stopped before me, looking up with those pitiful blue eyes, I let out a quiet scoff...and then smiled.

"You don't want to leave? Is that it?" my voice dropped low.

It didn't respond and simply stared at me.

Unbothered by its silence, I continued, "Very well. Stay, if you wish. I suppose..."

My fingers twitched, a strange glint flashing past my eyes.

"...I could use the company."

Let's see how long you can keep your wily little tail hidden.