Claiming Emerald: Four Alphas At Her Feet
Chapter 32: The Curse...

Chapter 32: The Curse...

The morning sun streamed through the large windows of Emerald’s bedroom, but it brought no warmth. No comfort.

She paced the room like a caged wolf, her bare feet padding silently against the cool floor. Her thoughts spiralled like a storm she couldn’t tame.

The book lay open on her bed.

Its presence was too loud—its truths too real.

She hadn’t slept. Not a single hour.

Her eyes flicked back to the weathered pages. She could still hear his voice from last night, low and hot in her ear.

"I’ll be seeing you soon, little wolf."

She shivered and wrapped her arms around herself.

The way he’d looked at her, that wasn’t lust. It wasn’t even want. It was possession. It was obsession. And she couldn’t decide if it scared her more... or intrigued her more.

Viola’s voice stirred in her mind. "Maybe you should try to get some rest."

"I doubt I’ll be able to sleep," Emerald whispered. "Not after that." She gritted her teeth and rubbed her temples. "Why me?"

"You know why," Viola murmured.

"Goddess," she muttered.

A knock at her door made her jump. She spun, heart slamming into her ribs, adrenaline flooding her system. "Who is it?" she called warily.

"It’s me," came Nessa’s voice, muffled through the door. "You okay?"

Emerald rushed to the door, unlocking and yanking it open.

Nessa raised a brow. "Um—hi?"

Before Nessa could get another word out, Emerald grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her inside.

"Okay, what the hell, Em?" Nessa hissed as the door slammed shut behind her. "You look like you’ve seen a ghost—again."

"Shhh," Emerald urged, holding up a finger. "Just come here."

Nessa narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms. "This is becoming, like... a routine. Are we scheduling daily secrets now? Should I bring breakfast next time?"

She paused, taking in Emerald’s expression. "Don’t tell me another mate dropped from the sky or...?"

Emerald didn’t respond; her eyes flicked toward the bed. Nessa followed her gaze and saw the book.

She didn’t need to ask.

"You read it," she said, her voice softer now.

Emerald nodded slowly.

Nessa walked over and sat down, the mattress sinking under her weight. "Tell me."

Emerald hesitated, then sat down beside her. She looked like hell... felt like it too.

"You don’t have to keep in suspense, Em... start talking."

She took a deep breath. "The Chapter wasn’t that long, but... it was enough."

"Enough for what?"

"For me to know he’s not just a legend. He’s real. He was a real man. Once. And he’s not just another Alpha. Not just another fated bond. He’s more." She exhaled hard. "He’s cursed."

Nessa’s brows lifted. "Cursed?"

Emerald opened the book again, flipping to the beginning of the Chapter.

"It said... long ago, there was a powerful Alpha. No name was given; he was just ’the King.’ His pack was one of the oldest, strongest bloodlines. But during a great war, centuries ago, he made a deal for power."

Nessa blinked. "With who?"

"That’s the part the book doesn’t say," Emerald muttered. "Only that he traded something sacred for power. Betrayed his entire pack."

Nessa’s lips parted. "He betrayed them?"

"For power. For protection. For immortality," Emerald said quietly. "But the deal went wrong. He got what he asked for... but in the worst possible way."

Nessa leaned closer. "What happened?"

"He became cursed. Immortal. Unkillable. But also... unanchored. No pack. No lands. No allies."

Nessa was silent for a long moment.

Then she asked, "And that’s when he became the Rogue King?"

Emerald nodded. "He vanished for over a century. No one knew where he went. But when he came back... he was different. Cold. No one could defeat him. They tried. Gods, they tried. But nothing worked."

Nessa inhaled sharply. "So the legends... they weren’t legends."

Emerald shook her head. "No. They were warnings."

Nessa swallowed. "And now he’s here."

Emerald didn’t speak.

Nessa looked down at the page. "But why come back now?"

Emerald turned a few more pages. "Because, according to this, he can only be... saved. Broken. Whatever. By one person. His fated mate. His curse is tied to her."

Nessa’s head whipped around. "Wait. What do you have to do with that? Do you think...?"

"I don’t think," Emerald said, voice hoarse. "I know."

Nessa let out a shaky breath. "But you don’t know how. Or why it’s you."

"I don’t know," she whispered. "And that... is the part that scares me."

Nessa blinked. "You mean the book doesn’t say?"

"It mentions the mate as a ’beacon born in blood’ and that she’ll ’wear the crown of wolves,’ but no name. No prophecy. Just... hints."

Nessa sat back, her face pale. "Beacon born in blood? Crown of wolves? That sounds like you."

Emerald looked down at her hands. "I know."

Viola stirred in her chest. "Because it is."

"I still don’t get it," Nessa said slowly. "Why you? Why now?"

Emerald stood again, pacing once more. "That’s what I’ve been asking all night. Why not someone else? Why not centuries ago? Why come back now, after I already have three mates and a pack to run?"

"Because fate’s a cruel, dramatic bitch?" Nessa offered weakly.

Emerald gave her a tired look.

"Sorry," Nessa said quickly. "Too soon."

Emerald stopped pacing and rubbed her arms. "He said he was coming to collect what’s his."

"Possessive much?"

"He didn’t seem like he planned to take no for an answer."

"That’s... horrifying."

Emerald sank back down beside her. "I can’t kill him. No one can. He’s immortal."

"And he wants you."

"Yes."

Nessa bit her lip. "Then we need a plan."

Emerald gave a hollow laugh. "A plan to do what? Deny fate?"

"I don’t know. Maybe," Nessa said. "Or figure out what that bond really means. Maybe there’s more to it than the book says."

Emerald stared at the open pages, the aged ink like blood on the paper.

"Maybe," she whispered. "Or maybe I’m already too deep."

Nessa reached over and touched her hand. "Or maybe you’re stronger than even he knows."

Emerald didn’t respond right away.

She just stared at the last line of the Chapter again.

A King cursed by betrayal... a Mate chosen by the Moon.

A mate he believed was her.

Viola whispered softly, "You can feel it too, can’t you? That he’s tied to us. To something... old."

Emerald’s hand tightened into a fist.

Nessa sat up straighter. "Look, it could still be some myth, you know? Something meant to scare kids and scare off challengers."

Emerald shook her head. "I thought that too. Until I found that photo."

"The one with him and your dad?"

Emerald nodded slowly. "He was there, Nessa. Standing beside my father like he belonged. Like they knew each other. And he hasn’t aged a day since."

Nessa paled.

"It’s real," Emerald said in a quieter voice. "He’s real. The book, the curse, the bond. All of it."

Nessa swallowed. "Then we need to find out what he wants before he takes it."

Emerald stood, closed the book, and held it to her chest. "He wants me."

"But why?"

"I don’t know," Emerald whispered. "But Nessa... I think I’m the cure."

"You mean...?"

"I think I’m the one who can end the curse."

Nessa paled. "And what happens to him if you do?"

"I don’t know."