Chosen By The Cursed Alpha King Chapter 134

MAXIMUS'S POV

Soraya collapsed like a broken puppet.

Her knees buckled, her arms shaking so violently she could barely keep herself upright. The moment Milandra released her, she hit the stone floor with a thud that echoed through the cave. She curled in on herself, trembling uncontrollably—small, weak, nothing like the monster who had nearly torn my entire world apart.

Her breath came out in sharp, panicked gasps. She looked less like a witch and more like a wounded rat, cornered and helpless.

A pathetic end for someone who had caused so much chaos.

I didn't feel sorry for her.

Not even a little.

Milandra turned slowly, the glow in her eyes dimming but not disappearing. Her expression softened when she looked at me—as if everything murderous inside her had evaporated the moment her gaze met mine. She walked toward me gracefully, each step calm and powerful.

When she reached me, she lifted her hand and touched my face.

A strange warmth filled my chest—deep, settling. Like something inside me bowed again without my permission. Her eyes softened in a way that almost disarmed me.

"You're a good king," she said quietly. "The Goddess is proud of you."

Something in me wolf and man—responded to those words. My lips parted, and before I could stop myself, a smile tugged at my mouth.

"Thank you," I murmured.

Milandra smiled back, gentle for the first time.

"Oh, it's time," she said softly. "Time to give you back your beloved."

The warmth inside me tightened. Fear and hope twisted together. Even though I could see Emilia's face, hear her speaking through Milandra's voice. I wanted her back. My Emilia. My mate.

"But know this," Milandra added. "From now on… I will guide her."

I swallowed hard. "Soraya made everyone believe you were bad," I said.

Milandra rolled her eyes dramatically, crossing her arms. "Well, I am a badass… am I not?"

A rough laugh escaped me.

Goddess.

Emilia's body. Emilia's face.

But someone entirely different inside.

I shook my head, chuckling despite everything. "Yes. You are."

Milandra winked. "Now… go. Stop the war. And make sure you treat your mate with love and respect."

"I will," I promised.

She studied me for a heartbeat—long enough to make my chest tighten—before her eyes began to roll back. The silver light drained from them like water sinking into sand.

Emilia's body swayed.

"Emilia—" I lunged forward just as she collapsed.

I caught her in my arms, pulling her tightly against me. Her head fell against my shoulder, her body limp and warm. A weak groan escaped her lips as her eyelashes fluttered.

Then slowly, slowly, she opened her eyes.

Confusion washed over her face. Soft. Familiar. Hers.

She blinked up at me. "Maximus…? What… what happened?"

I couldn't speak.

For a moment, all I could do was stare at her. Alive. Breathing. Here.

"You're back," I whispered, voice shaking.

Then I crushed her against my chest in a hug so tight she gasped softly. I buried my face in her hair, inhaling her scent, grounding myself in the proof that she was here.

"You scared the hell out of me," I said, my voice cracking.

She pulled back enough to look at me, her eyebrows pinched together. Then she glanced down at her chest and touched the spot where the dagger had been. Her fingers trembled.

"What… what happened to me?" she asked.

"I'll explain everything," I said firmly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "But we need to leave. We need to go back to the palace. The war…" I swallowed. "We need to stop it."

Her eyes widened.

She turned her head—and froze when she saw Soraya.

Soraya lay in the corner of the cave, shaking, crying silently, her hair matted to her face. She looked half-dead, stripped of everything she once used to lord over others.

"W-what happened to her?" Emilia whispered.

"She lost all her powers," I said. "Every last drop."

Emilia stared at Soraya like she was seeing something disgusting on the ground. "How…?"

"I said I'll explain everything," I repeated. "Right now, we need to move."

I stood and walked toward Soraya. She tried to scramble back, but she was too weak, her limbs failing her. When I reached her, I grabbed her roughly by the arm and yanked her up.

She screamed—high, broken, terrified.

Her body shook so violently she could barely stay standing. Her head hung forward, her breathing shallow.

"You've got some explanations to give," I said coldly.

Her knees buckled, and she sagged in my grip like a sack of useless flesh.

I glanced back at Emilia.

She closed her eyes for a moment… then opened them wide, joy flooding her expression.

"I can feel my wolf," she whispered, her voice breaking with happiness. She touched her chest like she still couldn't believe it. "My wolf… she's back."

Soraya whimpered at the sound of Emilia's happiness.

Emilia turned toward her with pure disgust. "Good."

I motioned to the entrance. "We need to hurry to the palace. You'll ride on my wolf."

I jerked Soraya forward a little. "We're dragging her with us."

Emilia nodded.

I stepped back and let the shift ripple through me. My bones cracked, my muscles stretched, and black fur erupted across my skin as my wolf took over. I dropped to all fours, massive and strong, filling the space with the presence of a king.

Then I lowered myself to my knees for Emilia.

She smiled softly, running her hand through my fur. The warmth of her touch shot straight through me.

Before climbing on, she grabbed Soraya by the arm and dragged her forward. Soraya let out another weak scream, her voice shaking, thin, nothing like before.

"You don't deserve to sit on the king's back," Emilia hissed.

Soraya whimpered as Emilia dragged her to my side. Emilia forced her into an uncomfortable position—basically hanging her by one arm against my flank, her legs scraping the ground even before we moved.

"Ready," Emilia said.

I launched forward.

Soraya's screams echoed behind us as I ran—loud, pained, helpless. Each step jarred her body, making her cry harder, but Emilia didn't seem bothered.

If anything… she seemed satisfied.

The wind slammed against us as we burst out of the hollow mountain. Trees blurred by. The ground thundered under my paws. Emilia clung to me, steady and strong, while Soraya bounced and hit the ground again and again whenever my pace shifted.

None of us cared.

The night air was sharp, cold, filled with the scent of blood and wolves and war.

I pushed my wolf harder.

Faster.

Faster.

Faster.

Until the first distant growls erupted through the trees like rolling thunder.

We were close.

The palace walls appeared through the forest, towering. Shadows moved everywhere—wolves fighting, bodies charging, snarls tearing through the night.

My wolf slid to a halt at the edge of the battlefield, claws digging into the earth.

Emilia tightened her grip on my fur.

Soraya dangled limply, whimpering.

Growls echoed all around us. Snapping teeth. The sound of a thousand wolves locked in battle.

And then—

My wolf lifted his head.

Opened his jaws.

And unleashed a powerful roar through the mind link.

"ENOUGH!"