Chosen By The Cursed Alpha King Chapter 27

The chains were biting into my wrists.

Thick iron links dug into skin already raw from the struggle, holding me against the cold stone wall of my black room. My breath came out in ragged bursts, chest heaving, the air tasting of steel, sweat, and the faint copper tang of my own blood where the shackles had already carved lines into me.

And still—it wasn't enough.

I thought by now the fire would've died down. That hours would've been enough. But her scent clung to me, and every time I closed my eyes, I saw her on her knees again, head tilted, that dangerous little smirk playing on her lips. My cock still throbbed, hard and aching, even though I'd done everything in my power to cage the beast. Even now, my body shuddered, my claws itching against my palms, begging me to give in.

The beast wanted her.

No. Needed her.

That was why I was here, shackled like an animal, because I knew if I wasn't, I'd already have gone to her. Torn through every guard, every locked door, every barrier between us until I had her beneath me. And I didn't trust myself not to break her in the process.

The chains rattled when I exhaled, my head snapping back against the cold wall. Sweat slid down my temple, mixing with the thin lines of blood that still dripped from my palms where my claws had cut into skin earlier. The metallic scent of it mingled with hers, phantom and maddening.

My beast was clawing at the edges of my sanity, pacing inside me like a caged predator desperate for release. Every second that passed, I felt the scrape of its hunger, the violent insistence to break free, to tear apart anything that stood between me and her.

Her.

Emilia.

The name alone was gasoline poured over open flame.

I jerked against the chains with a snarl, the sound reverberating off the walls. My body strained forward, muscles bulging, veins popping beneath my skin. Every fiber of me wanted to rip those chains apart and hunt her down. My cock was still hard, mocking me with her touch, her smirk, her goddamn innocence that was anything but.

I was seconds away.

Seconds from giving in, from letting my beast claim what it wanted most.

But I couldn't. I'd rather stay chained in here.

The black room was the only place strong enough to hold me. The only place where I could cage myself when the urges became unbearable. Four walls of stone, reeking of iron and restraint, lined with chains heavy enough to hold even me. I had forged this place for my madness, for the nights when my beast threatened to tear me apart from the inside out.

But never—not once—had I come here because of a woman.

The thought made me snarl, the sound echoing off the stone.

A sound broke through my haze.

Footsteps. Calm, steady.

Lucien.

I didn't need to see him to know it was my Beta. His scent was a sharp bite in the air, cold pine and steel, always cutting through the chaos.

The door creaked open, heavy bolts sliding back, and then he stepped in.

Lucien folded his arms across his chest, his eyes glinting with something between curiosity and amusement as he leaned his shoulder against the wall.

"Well," he said slowly, voice calm in contrast to the storm ripping through me. "This is a first."

I bared my teeth at him, my fangs elongating, the beast within flashing through my skin like lightning.

"Careful, Lucien." My voice came out low, guttural, thick with the strain of holding back. "I'm not myself."

He tilted his head slightly, as if studying me like a puzzle he hadn't yet solved. "That's obvious."

The chains rattled as I pulled against them, my breath tearing out of me in harsh bursts. My body was burning, every nerve on fire. I could feel the mark of her touch like a brand, and no amount of time or restraint was dulling it.

Lucien let the silence stretch for a beat too long before finally speaking again.

"Tell me," he said, his tone deliberate, "why are you resisting?"

I froze.

Of all the things he could have asked—of all the sharp observations that bastard was capable of—he went straight for the vein.

My jaw tightened, but the words still forced themselves past my teeth.

"Because if I don't..." My voice cracked into a snarl. "If I don't, she dies."

The words reverberated through the chamber, heavy and raw, and for a moment, the only sound was my ragged breathing and the clink of the chains as I strained against them again.

Lucien's eyes sharpened, his arms unfolding as he took one step closer.

"And when," he asked, his tone quiet but cutting, "did you start caring if the woman dies?"

The question hit me like a blade between the ribs.

I jerked against the chains again, fury and confusion colliding inside me, but no words came. My beast roared within, demanding I answer, demanding I claim, demanding I stop denying what every fiber of me already knew.

But my mouth stayed shut.

Because I didn't have an answer.

***I woke up with my pulse hammering like I'd already been running. Not from fear—no, this was something sharper. Anticipation.

Today.

Today I'd find a way out.

I swung my legs off the bunk before my thoughts could spiral into doubt. The floor was cold beneath my bare feet, a reminder of where I was and why I couldn't stay here another damn day. I forced my movements steady as I crossed to the bathroom. Quick shower. Quick dress. Every second mattered.

The water hit my skin like a slap, and I welcomed it. It cleared the fog from my head, sharpened my focus. This wasn't about comfort. This was about preparing myself. By the time I toweled off and slipped into a plain blouse and skirt, my mind was racing through possibilities.

Back at my bunk, I folded my clothes with mechanical precision. It wasn't nerves—it was control. If my hands were busy, I wouldn't give myself away with shaking fingers or a twitch of impatience.

The door creaked open.

Every head in the room turned as a woman stepped inside—not the mistress, but she wasn't any less scary. Hard eyes, stiff shoulders, a presence that made the air colder just by existing.

"Up," she barked. "All of you. The palace is too busy for you to sit in here all day. Move."

The girls scrambled out of bed, falling over themselves to obey. My pulse quickened—not with fear, but with savage triumph. Perfect. If they sent us to work, I'd have an excuse to move through the palace, to study, to slip away in the chaos.

I bit down on the smile clawing its way up my throat. Stay sharp. Stay silent.

One by one, the girls filed out. I fell into step, my head lowered, heart drumming with the steady beat of opportunity. But when I reached the door, the woman's arm shot out.

"Not you."

I froze. My head snapped up, confusion cutting through the fog of excitement.

"What?"

"King's orders." Her voice was flat, unyielding.

My stomach twisted. Of course. Of course he would ruin this.

I forced a polite nod, masking the fury curling in my chest like smoke. "Of course," I said tightly, stepping back.

The woman gave me one last unreadable look, then pulled the door shut behind her leaving me alone.

My jaw ached from clenching it. My nails dug into my palms until it hurt.

That insufferable, arrogant bastard. Did he suspect? Did he know what I was planning? No. No, this had to be about the ultimatum he'd given me—three days to give him an answer. And today was the third.

I cursed under my breath, pacing the room. He thought he could keep me locked up? That I'd just sit here like a good little thing and wait?

Not a chance.

I stalked to the door, yanked it open. Empty hall. No guards.

A bitter laugh slipped from my lips. Did they really think I'd stay put just because the King said so?

I stepped out, easing the door closed behind me. My heartbeat thundered, every nerve on fire with defiance.

I barely made it three steps before a voice slid through the corridor behind me.

Low. Mocking.

"You're still alive?"