Page 53 of The Alpha's Cursed Queen

I feel a strange sensation building inside me. I’ve never experienced it before. It’s like a fire within, something stirring, waking up from a long sleep. Emotions that are not my own course through me. Anger, rage, incredible hurt, outrage. It’s like there’s another being in there.

It’s not me. These feelings are not mine.

Something stretches inside my mind, something sleek and graceful, something furious.

I always wondered what it felt like to have a wolf spirit. But feeling this other creature residing in my mind, watching through my eyes, is not how I imagined it. I don’t know how I know this is my wolf spirit. Perhaps it is instinct. I just know.

I don’t lack a wolf spirit! That’s another shocking blow.

But why now? Why show up when my life is breaking apart?

A small, desperate voice within me whispers wistfully, “Would Darian still reject me if he knew I do have a wolf spirit?”

That sliver of hope is crushed instantly by the small flicker of pride I have left.

“Alice Lane is not who she claims to be.”

Darian’s words make me numb. Then, the whispers surround me.

“I knew it.”

“He’s been escorting Beta Thomas’s daughter ever since the dance.”

“They make a better pair.”

“No wolf spirit? What was the girl expecting?”

“Did you see the way she was smiling at him, like she thought she actually had a chance?”

“How embarrassing! How deluded does one have to be?”

Just then, the doors of the ballroom are thrown open, and five hooded figures walk in. They’re wearing white robes, the hoods concealing their faces. All attention falls upon them.

“Where is Alice Lane?”

I take a step back, and Mary immediately comes to stand in front of me protectively.

“What is this?” King Edward growls. “Why are the white witches interfering in a wolf shifter event?”

One of the white witches speaks up. “We were informed by the prince that Alice Lane carries the bloodline of the dark witches.”

Shocked gasps erupt from everyone around me.

What? But I’m not a—

I can’t help but start to shake in fear. I look at Darian, who is staring at me. Why did he lie to them? How deep does his hatred of me run?

The witch is not done speaking. “She carries the mark of the dark witches on her ankle. The prince has confirmed it.”

I flinch, recalling the way he stared at my foot when we were in bed together. But he had continued on with our lovemaking instead of telling me the significance of the mark. Did he decide right then to reach out to the white witches and brand me as some sort of dark witch? Why?

“That’s her!” Willow declares, pointing at me. I’ve never seen her look so happy.

As the white witches approach, I retreat more, and Mary spreads her arms in front of me. “Alice is not a witch. She’s a wolf shifter—”

“Nonsense!” Willow cries out, her voice shrill. “She doesn’t even have a wolf spirit! I knew something about her was wrong the day I met her. She’s a dark witch!”

“She’s not a dark witch,” Darian corrects her, his voice cold. “But those who carry the mark of the dark witches are not accepted by the Wolf Kingdom. I brought the white witches here to perform a sealing spell on Alice Lane so that she does not pose a threat to the Wolf Kingdom. She will be exiled after the sealing, and no wolf pack will be allowed to give her refuge.”

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