Chosen By The Cursed Alpha King Chapter 78

EMILIA'S POV

For a moment, it felt like time forgot how to move.

Maximus's gaze locked with mine, steady and unreadable, but I could feel something behind his eyes—something heavy, buried deep, clawing to be seen. He didn't speak, didn't blink. Just looked at me like he wanted me to understand something without words.

I waited.

My chest rose and fell in quick, uneven breaths, every nerve in my body stretched thin. I wanted to say something—anything—but before I could, he finally turned away from me and faced Damien.

"I want a duel," he said, his voice low but sharp enough to cut through air. "Whoever wins... can have her."

My stomach dropped.

Damien stared at him for a second, then laughed—a hollow, mocking sound that echoed down the hall. "A duel?" he repeated, shaking his head. "You're unbelievable, brother."

He stepped forward slightly, his arm brushing mine as if to remind Maximus that I was standing beside him. "She's already mine, Maximus. The sooner you accept it, the better. I don't need to fight for what's already mine."

He smirked. "You, on the other hand... need to wake up."

The air between them thickened. Maximus's jaw tightened; his fists clenched until his knuckles turned white. The muscles in his arms flexed, and for a second, I thought he might actually hit him.

I could feel my pulse in my throat.

A sharp ache bloomed in my chest as I looked at Maximus. The way his hands trembled, the way his breathing deepened—it wasn't just anger. It was pain.

But that only made it worse.

So, he wasn't willing to reject his own mate... but he wanted me to reject mine?

The realization burned.

He wanted me to cut ties with Damien, to throw away something sacred, while he clung to his own bond like it was untouchable. Because for him, I wasn't sacred. I was just... convenient. The woman his beast accepted enough to fuck. The one who could give him an heir.

I swallowed hard. The hurt stung like acid in my veins.

Before either of them could say another word, I forced myself to smile—small, shaky, but enough to hide the storm brewing inside me. "I... I'll go take a shower," I murmured, stepping back. "And change out of this shirt."

Damien turned to me, his expression softening a little. "Sure," he said, his voice dropping low. "I'll see you around, okay? Don't run away from me."

I nodded quickly, not daring to look at Maximus. If I did, I might break.

So, I turned and walked away. My steps were uneven, my legs trembling with every movement. I could feel their eyes on me—the weight of two men tearing each other apart while I was caught between them like a rope ready to snap.

As I reached the end of the hallway, I heard Damien's voice behind me, sharp and warning. "Don't you dare follow her."

And then Maximus's reply—low, furious, and final. "Fuck off."

I didn't stop to hear more. I pushed the door open and slipped inside the room, my breath coming out in uneven bursts. The moment it shut behind me, I pressed my back against the wood and squeezed my eyes shut.

My heart hurt. Goddess, it hurt so much.

I tried to breathe, but every inhale felt heavy, like I was pulling in shards of glass.

For a few seconds, the silence held. Then—

The door opened.

I didn't even need to turn to know who it was. His scent filled the air—wild, powerful, and unmistakable.

"Emilia," Maximus said quietly.

I turned slowly. He was standing there, his hair slightly disheveled, his eyes burning with a thousand emotions I couldn't name.

"Listen," he said, stepping closer.

I forced out a laugh, though there was nothing remotely funny about any of this. "I don't think we should share the same room," I said, my voice trembling despite my effort to sound calm. "I want a separate room. Or maybe I'll just go back to the quarters."

His jaw tightened. "That's not happening."

I let out a dry, humorless laugh. "Of course not," I whispered. "You never let anything happen unless it's on your terms."

"Emilia—"

"You're selfish, you know that, Maximus?" I cut him off, my voice shaking. "Or should I say... Your Majesty?"

The title tasted bitter on my tongue.

His eyes darkened, his jaw clenching hard enough to make a muscle twitch in his cheek.

"Damien wasn't wrong," I said quietly. "You really are selfish. You want to eat your cake and have it. You want your mate... and the woman who can give you a quick heir."

His chest rose sharply. "It's not like that."

"Then what is it, Maximus?" I snapped. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks exactly like that."

He took another step toward me, his voice softening. "Emilia, please. Listen to me. I need you to trust me."

"Trust you?" I repeated, almost choking on the words. I shook my head, tears stinging my eyes. "You made me feel like I was just... a body. Someone special enough to take your dick."

"Stop saying that," he said through gritted teeth.

"Why?" I demanded. "Because it's true?"

He didn't answer. His silence said everything.

I rubbed my forehead, trying to keep myself together, but my hands were trembling too much. "What was I even thinking," I muttered under my breath. My voice cracked. "What the hell was I thinking believing you could ever see me as anything more?"

"Emilia—"

He moved closer again, reaching for my hand. His touch was warm, steady, pleading. "It's complicated," he said softly. "But please, I don't want to lose you."

I looked down at his hand holding mine. For a moment, I wanted to let myself believe him. I wanted to fall into his voice and forget every reason I should walk away.

But then I remembered the way he told me to reject Damien. The way he claimed me like property. The way he only saw me when it suited him.

I pulled my hand away. "I have a mate now," I said quietly. "I hope you can respect that."

His breath hitched. I saw the flicker of rage and hurt in his eyes. Then he reached out, faster than I expected, pulling me close—too close. My chest pressed against his, my breath caught in my throat.

His eyes burned, dark and intense. "You belong to only me."

"Stop," I whispered, turning my head away.

"Look at me," he said, his voice low, commanding.

I shook my head, refusing to meet his eyes.

"Emilia, look at me," he said again, rougher this time.

But I couldn't. Because if I did, I knew I'd break.

I took a shaky breath and whispered, "It was just a yes or no question, Maximus."

He stilled.

My voice was soft but steady. "Will you reject your mate?"

Silence.

The kind that stretches and strangles.

"Emilia, you have to understand—"

"No," I interrupted, taking a step back. "I don't have to understand anything."

He tried to reach for me again, but I pulled away sharply, turning my back to him. "I won't be with someone who won't choose me."

He didn't respond. I could hear his breathing—heavy, uneven, almost like a growl threatening to escape.

"For whatever reasons you don't want to lose your mate," I said, my voice trembling, "I'm sure Damien feels the same way about me."

When I finally turned to look at him, his expression gutted me. The power, the pride—all of it was gone. He looked... broken.

And that hurt even more.

"I'm sorry," I whispered. "But I can't do this anymore."

He shook his head slowly. "You don't mean that."

"I do," I said, the words catching in my throat.

He took one step closer. I took one back.

My eyes blurred, but I forced the words out anyway. "You'll have your child," I whispered. "That's the least I can do for you."

He froze. His eyes widened, confusion flashing across his face like lightning.

I swallowed hard, tears spilling down my cheeks. "But please," I said, my voice breaking completely this time, "leave me the fuck alone."

The silence that followed was deafening.

He didn't move. Didn't speak.

For a moment, I thought he might fight back—say something cruel just to hurt me back. But he didn't. He just stood there, staring at me like the ground had been ripped out from under him.

And then, without another word, he turned and walked out.

The door closed softly behind him.

And I finally let myself fall apart.

My knees gave out, my body trembling as I slid to the floor. The tears came fast, unstoppable, shaking my whole body as I pressed my palms to my face. I didn't even know what I was crying for anymore—Maximus, Damien, myself, or the twisted mess we'd all become.

All I knew was that I felt used.