Page 23 of Cursed Love

Behind me, Moses and Hunter are already out of the car, the sound of their growls cutting through the silence like thunder. Hunter’s fists clench at his sides, his blue eyes blazing as he looks around the empty roadside, like he’s expecting someone to step out of the shadows. Moses’ jaw is tight, his hazel eyes burning with barely-contained fury as he growls, “Where is that fucking Alpha?”

Amel whirls on them, his own growl cutting through the air. “Both of you, calm the fuck down,” he snaps. “Now, is not the time to lose your shit.”

I stumble slightly, tears slipping down my face as I try to steady my breathing, try to find my footing. “I—I don’t know,” I cry, my voice cracking. “I don’t know where he is.”

Both brothers freeze at the sound of my voice, their heads snapping down to look at me. The rage in their eyes flickers, replaced by something softer, something almost sheepish as they glance at each other and then back at me.

Hunter scratches the back of his neck, his lips pulling into a crooked, apologetic grin. “Shit, Koa,” he mutters, his voice softer now. “Didn’t mean to scare you.”

Moses steps closer, apologizing as well. “I’m sorry,” he says quietly, his voice rough but earnest. “Just the thought of someone hurting you… it has my blood boiling. I can’t help it.”

As terrified as I am of their reactions, there’s another emotion—happiness. It’s small, just a bit, but not one person has ever been so fiercely appalled at my situation. Most people look at me with disgust that I can no longer have children or they tell me that it was my fault for that night. A few have expressed their condolences but no one has ever wanted to rip that Alpha and his friends apart. I’m terrified but also intrigued about what will happen when I mention that Damien was the cause of all that.

That’s for another time, though. Right now, I’m hanging on by a thread and I need to face my brother. I need to confidently tellhim that I’m not coming back, that I’m more than just a stepping stone for the family.

So, I look up at the brothers, letting my face relax. Both of them let out heavy sighs as I step into their embrace, the brothers holding me steady between them. “Thank you,” I whisper.

Hunter

I’m chomping at the bit, my beast pacing just beneath the surface, ready to tear into something—someone—the moment I’m given a reason. The second Koa told us what happened to her, it was like a fire ignited inside of me, a blistering rage I haven’t felt in years. Someone hurt her. Someone made her feel like she was nothing, like she wasn’t worth protecting. And that knowledge is eating me alive.

Every breath I take is calculated because I know I’m one wrong move away from snapping. Moses isn’t doing much better. I can feel the tension radiating off him like heat, his jaw clenchedtight as we follow Koa up the path to her house. But he’ll hold it together—for her. We both will. Because this isn’t just about us. This is her space, her nightmare, and we’re not going to make it worse. Not unless someone inside that house disrespects her. Then all bets are off.

She’s back in that damn dress from last night, the one Amel threw through a quick wash, and seeing her in it again makes my chest ache. It clings to her curves like it was made for her, but it’s a reminder of everything she’s been through in the last twenty-four hours. She shouldn’t have to wear it again, but there wasn’t much of a choice.

The house is.. cute, I guess. Smaller than I expected. The paint on the shutters is peeling, the yard could use some work, but it’s homey in a way that doesn’t quite fit the people we’re about to meet. The second I step inside, I feel it—the weight of the tension, thick and suffocating, like a storm about to break.

There’s an Alpha standing by the kitchen table, nearly as large as Amel, his eyes narrowing as he takes us in. He’s trying to act unfazed, but I can see the way his muscles tense, the subtle shift in his stance. Good. Let him be on edge.

In the living room, two kids are playing quietly, an Omega around Koa’s age hovering nearby. She doesn’t look up, her shoulders hunched as she folds laundry with shaking hands. At the head of the table, though, is the real problem—Koa’s father. His presence fills the room like a shadow, his sharp eyes and stone-cold expression making it clear he’s the one who used to call the shots here.

But it’s Damien who draws my attention. He’s standing by the table, arms crossed, his lips curling into a sneer as soon as Koa steps through the door. “Nice of you to show up,” he says, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

I feel my blood boil, my fists clenching at my sides as I take a step forward, but Moses’ hand on my shoulder holds me back.

What surprises me, though, is Damien’s complete lack of fear. Most Alphas—hell, most people—are terrified of Valla. Our presence alone is enough to send a room into silence, our reputation for violence keeping everyone in line. But not Damien. No, he’s standing there, glaring at his sister like she’s dirt under his shoe, like we’re not even here.

Damien’s voice cuts through the tense air like a blade. “Sit, Koa.”

Koa hesitates for a moment, her eyes darting to me and Moses, who are standing just behind her before she slips into a seat. Amel sits down beside her, the Alpha keeping it together a lot better than we are. My jaw tightens at the way Koa kind of curls into herself—at the way Damien’s words alone can shrink her down into something smaller than she is. My beast snarls inside me, clawing at the edges of my control, but I wait.

Damien leans forward, his hands resting on the table as his gaze flicks between me, Moses, and Amel. “So,” he says, his tone dripping with mock civility, “if you’re considering taking Koa over the Alpha I had planned for her, I assume you’ve discussed what you’re offering the family in return?”

Koa’s head hangs in shame, her fingers gripping the edge of the table so tightly that her hand starts shaking. I can feel the frustration radiating off her in waves, but she doesn’t say anything.

“What are you talking about?” she finally mutters. She doesn’t lift her head, doesn’t meet his gaze. “Where is the other Alpha?”

Damien smirks, leaning back slightly, his arms crossing over his chest. “I didn’t actually call him here this morning. I lied to get you back here.”

I expect Koa to curl into herself a little further but there’s an anger simmering beneath the surface, her nose scrunched up as she tries to find the right words. If it’s anything like the way she spoke to us this morning, I’m more than excited to see herput her brother in his place. And we’ll be right behind her if he decides to try something.

“You had one job, Koa,” Damien continues, his voice hardening. “One simple job—to choose an Alpha who would bring money back into this family. That’s all you had to do. And instead, you chose the St. Clair pack?” His laugh is bitter, cutting. “Tell me, how exactly is that supposed to help us?” Koa lets out a soft growl of frustration, but it only makes Damien step closer, his eyes narrowing as though daring her to challenge him. “You’re so fucking selfish,” he snaps. “Everything is always about you, isn’t it?”

The frustration boils over, and Koa finally snaps, her voice trembling with rage as she growls, “Because I’m done being a pawn in your little game, Damien! I’m not your property and I’m not going to let you sell me off to the highest bidder!”

Damien’s face darkens, his body tensing as he takes a step toward her. “Watch your tone—”

But he doesn’t get the chance to finish. I’m already moving, my hand shooting out to grab him by the throat. His eyes widen in shock as I shove him back, slamming him against the wall hard enough to rattle the frames hanging there. The room goes deathly silent, the tension so thick you could choke on it.

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