Chapter 13 - Chapter13 A Contract Marriage? All He Wants Is Her, For a Lifetime

The darkness of the dungeons clung to Alphard like a second skin, thick and suffocating, reeking of rot, blood, and the ancient, insidious stench of dark magic. The stone walls dripped with moisture, their surfaces etched with faded runes—remnants of Selene's magic, once used to seal the evil that lurked within, now cracked and useless, their silver glow snuffed out by centuries of corruption. The low, menacing growl echoed through the corridors, growing louder with each step he took, a sound that vibrated in his bones, awakening the primal fear even an Alpha King could not fully suppress.He had left Elaine above ground, safe in the protection of Lilith and the pack, but his heart ached with every step away from her. He could still feel the softness of her lips against his, the warmth of her hand on his arm, the faint flutter of their child beneath his palm—a tiny, precious spark that gave him the strength to keep moving, to face the horror that waited in the depths. His scarlet eyes glowed in the darkness, cutting through the blackness like embers, his claws extended, his fangs bared, his Alpha power radiating from him in waves, a silent warning to whatever evil dared to stand in his way.The growl erupted again, closer now, shaking the stone walls, and Alphard froze, his muscles coiling like a spring. At the end of the corridor, in a chamber bathed in black smoke, stood the true source of the shadow curse. It was not a physical form, not a twisted abomination like the Curse Bearer—it was a swirling mass of black smoke and shadow, tendrils of corruption snaking out, hissing as they touched the stone floor, leaving behind smoldering marks. Within the smoke, two blood-red eyes glowed, cold and ancient, filled with a hunger that had festered for 300 years—a hunger for Selene's bloodline, for the power of the Alpha King's child."Alpha King," a voice echoed, low and guttural, as if it had been spoken from the depths of hell itself, reverberating through the chamber. "You come to destroy me? After 300 years of waiting? You and your little moon goddess—you think you can end what I began?"Alphard snarled, his scarlet eyes blazing with fury, his body tensing, ready to attack. "You will not touch her. You will not touch our child. I will destroy you, and I will end this curse once and for all."The shadow laughed, a sound that sent a cold shiver down Alphard's spine, a laugh filled with malice and amusement. "Destroy me? You cannot destroy what is eternal. I am the shadow curse. I am the darkness that lingers in the hearts of all wolves, the corruption that tears apart packs, the pain that haunts your dreams. I was born from the betrayal of Selene's love, from the rage of an Alpha scorned—and I will not be destroyed by her weak, reborn vessel, or by a King who cannot even control his own curse."With a roar, the shadow lunged, its tendrils of black smoke snapping toward Alphard, sharp as obsidian blades. Alphard dodged, his body moving faster than the eye could follow, his claws slashing at the smoke, but the tendrils reformed instantly, wrapping around his legs, pulling him to the ground. The smoke burned his skin, seeping into his veins, reigniting the pain of his own curse—the curse that had plagued him for 300 years, the curse that had made him cold, unyielding, afraid to love."Feel it," the shadow hissed, its voice echoing in Alphard's head. "Feel the corruption. Feel the pain. It will consume you, just as it consumed your predecessor. Just as it will consume your child. Selene's bloodline cannot save you. Nothing can."Alphard struggled, his claws tearing at the tendrils, his roar shaking the chamber, but the shadow's grip tightened, the corruption seeping deeper, making his vision blur, his strength fade. He thought of Elaine—her silver-blue eyes, her warm smile, the way she leaned into his touch, the faint flutter of their child. He thought of his promise to her—to come back, to protect her, to give her the life she deserved. And in that moment, a surge of rage erupted within him, stronger than any he had ever felt—a rage fueled by love, by protectiveness, by the unyielding desire to keep his mate and child safe."No," he roared, his voice breaking through the shadow's hold, his Alpha power exploding from him in a wave of scarlet light, cutting through the black smoke. "I will not let you win. I will not let you hurt them."Above ground, Elaine stood beside Lilith, her hand pressed firmly against her lower belly, her silver-blue eyes locked on the dungeon entrance, her heart racing with fear. She could feel Alphard's pain, his struggle, his rage—their bond was strong, unbreakable, a thread of light that connected them even in the darkest of times. Her silver magic glowed brighter than ever before, pulsing in time with her heartbeat, and she closed her eyes, focusing all her energy on sending her magic to Alphard, on giving him the strength to fight."He's struggling," she whispered, her voice trembling, tears glistening in her eyes. "I can feel it. The corruption—it's consuming him. I have to help him. I have to go to him."Lilith grabbed her arm, stopping her, her silver eyes filled with concern and determination. "No, Elaine. You cannot go down there. The shadow curse will target you, target the child. Alphard is fighting to protect you—do not undo his efforts. Your magic is reaching him, I can feel it. It's giving him strength. Trust him. Trust your bond."Elaine nodded, her eyes still fixed on the dungeon entrance, her magic flowing relentlessly, a warm, silver stream of light pouring into the depths, wrapping around Alphard, shielding him from the shadow's corruption. She could feel his strength returning, his rage fading into resolve, and a faint smile tugged at her lips—he was going to be okay. He was going to come back to her.Beneath the estate, Alphard felt the surge of Elaine's magic, warm and bright, wrapping around him like a shield, burning away the shadow's corruption, mending his wounds, reigniting his strength. He opened his eyes, his scarlet gaze blazing with renewed fury, and he pushed himself to his feet, his claws slashing at the shadow's tendrils, tearing them apart, the silver magic from Elaine merging with his Alpha power, creating a force so powerful it made the chamber tremble."You will not touch her," he snarled, his voice dripping with venom, his body coiling, ready to deliver the final blow. "You will not touch our child. This ends now."He lunged forward, his claws glowing with a mix of scarlet and silver light, and slammed them into the heart of the shadow. The shadow let out a terrible screech, its form writhing in agony, the black smoke dissipating, its blood-red eyes dimming. Alphard pressed harder, his power surging, until the shadow let out one final, guttural cry, and dissolved into nothingness, leaving behind only a faint wisp of black smoke, which was quickly burned away by the silver light of Elaine's magic.The chamber fell silent, the only sound Alphard's heavy breathing, his chest heaving, his body covered in sweat and blood. He had done it—he had defeated the true source of the shadow curse. Or so he thought. As he turned to leave, a faint, almost imperceptible whisper echoed through the chamber, a whisper that made his blood run cold."It is not over… the curse… it lives in you… in your child… I will return… when the moon is black…"Alphard froze, his scarlet eyes narrowing, his body tensing. He spun around, but the chamber was empty, the shadow gone, the only trace of its existence the faint stench of dark magic. He shook his head, pushing the whisper aside—he would deal with it later. Right now, he needed to get back to Elaine, to hold her, to make sure she was safe, to feel the warmth of her body against his, the faint flutter of their child.He strode through the dungeons, his steps quick, his heart racing with anticipation, and emerged into the moonlight, where Elaine stood, her silver-blue eyes wide with relief, tears streaming down her face. The moment she saw him, she ran toward him, her arms wrapping around his neck, her body pressing flush against his, her face buried in his chest, her sobs muffled by his fur-lined cloak."You're back," she whispered, her voice trembling, her hands clinging to him as if she was afraid he would disappear. "You're okay. Thank the moon, you're okay."Alphard wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer, his hand sliding to her lower belly, pressing gently against it, feeling the faint flutter of their child—a tiny, reassuring spark of life. He pressed his lips to the top of her head, his voice thick with emotion, rough but tender."I'm back," he whispered, his breath warm against her hair, the familiar pine and smoke scent of him wrapping around her, calming her fears. "I told you I would come back. I told you I would not leave you. I keep my promises, my love."Lilith stood nearby, a soft smile on her face, her silver eyes filled with pride and relief. The pack members gathered around them, their heads bowed in reverence, their voices rising in a chorus of celebration—a low, primal howl that echoed through the mountains, a celebration of their Alpha King's victory, of the end of the shadow curse. But Alphard paid them no mind—his entire world was in his arms, the woman he loved, the mother of his child, safe and sound.As the celebration died down, Alphard pulled back slightly, his hands cupping Elaine's face, his scarlet eyes locking onto her silver-blue ones, his thumbs brushing away her tears. The pack members watched, their eyes wide with curiosity, as their Alpha King—cold, unyielding, untouchable for 300 years—looked at Elaine with a softness, a tenderness, that none of them had ever seen before."Elaine," he said, his voice steady, his eyes filled with resolve, "there is something I need to ask you. Something that has been on my mind for a long time—since the moment I found you again, since the moment I realized you were carrying my child."Elaine's heart raced, her eyes widening, as she looked up at him, her hands resting on his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart. "What is it, Alphard?"Alphard took a deep breath, his scarlet eyes never leaving hers, his voice soft but unshakable. "I want you to marry me. Not out of duty, not out of obligation—not because of the child, though I cherish our baby more than anything. I want you to marry me because I love you. Because you are my mate, my equal, my light in the darkness. Because I want to spend the rest of my life with you, protecting you, loving you, cherishing you."The pack members gasped, their eyes wide with shock, their voices rising in whispers of disbelief. The Alpha King—who had never shown any interest in love, who had never even considered marriage—was proposing to Elaine, the reborn Selene, the mother of his child. It was unheard of, unprecedented, a sight none of them had ever imagined.But before Elaine could respond, Alphard spoke again, his voice dropping to a whisper, his eyes filled with a hint of vulnerability—a vulnerability he showed only to her. "But I understand if you are not ready. If you need time. If you do not want to marry me out of love… then we can make it a contract. A contract marriage, to protect you, to protect our child, to stabilize the pack. It will be nothing more than a formality, on paper only—until you are ready to give me your heart, if you ever are. But know this, Elaine—whether it is a contract or a true marriage, I will love you, I will protect you, I will cherish you, for a lifetime."Elaine stared at him, her eyes wide with shock, tears glistening in her eyes. A contract marriage? She had never expected that—she had expected him to demand her hand, to take what he wanted, as Alpha King. But instead, he was giving her a choice, giving her time, respecting her feelings, even when his own heart was laid bare for all to see. It was a gesture of love, of respect, of devotion—a gesture that made her heart swell with warmth, that made her eyes overflow with tears.She leaned up, her lips pressing against his, a soft, tender kiss that was filled with love, with gratitude, with promise. Her hands cupped his face, her thumbs brushing over his sharp jawline, her silver-blue eyes locking onto his scarlet ones, her voice soft but unshakable."Alphard," she whispered, her breath warm against his lips, "I don't want a contract. I don't need a contract. I want to marry you—because I love you. Because you are my mate, my protector, my everything. Because I want to spend the rest of my life with you, too. With you, and our baby. Forever."Alphard's eyes widened, his scarlet gaze softening, filled with love and relief, and he pulled her closer, his lips crashing against hers in a passionate, hungry kiss—a kiss that spoke of 300 years of longing, of pain, of hope, of love. The pack members watched, their hearts filled with awe and joy, their voices rising in a chorus of cheers, as their Alpha King and their Luna kissed, a promise of a future free from curse, free from pain, a future filled with love and happiness.The kiss deepened, Alphard's hand sliding to her lower belly, pressing gently against it, as if including their child in their promise. Elaine melted into his touch, her arms wrapping around his neck, her body pressing flush against his, the warmth of his body seeping into hers, the silver magic of Selene humming between them, a silent bond of love and devotion.When they pulled apart, their foreheads pressed together, their breath mingling, their eyes locked, Alphard's voice was thick with emotion, his thumb brushing over her cheek."I love you, Elaine," he whispered. "More than anything. More than life itself. I will never let you down. I will never let anyone hurt you. I will be the mate you deserve, the father our child deserves. For a lifetime.""I love you too, Alphard," Elaine whispered, her voice trembling with emotion, her lips brushing his. "Forever and always."The pack members cheered, their howls echoing through the mountains, their joy palpable, as they watched their Alpha King and Luna embrace, a symbol of hope, of love, of a new beginning. But the celebration was cut short by a cold, mocking laugh, echoing from the steps of the main house—a laugh that made the pack members freeze, their joy fading, their fear returning.Valerius stood there, his throat bandaged, his body weak, but his scarlet eyes blazing with malice and amusement, a faint smirk on his lips. He had escaped the guards, his dark magic allowing him to slip away, and now he stood, watching the scene before him, his laughter ringing out, cold and cruel."How touching," he cackled, his voice dripping with venom. "The Alpha King and his moon goddess, so in love, so hopeful. But you are fools. All of you. You think you have defeated the curse? You think you have a future? You have no idea what you have unleashed."Alphard's body tensed, his arm tightening around Elaine, his scarlet eyes locking onto Valerius, filled with cold, unforgiving rage. "You should be dead," he snarled, his voice carrying the full weight of his Alpha power, shaking the ground beneath Valerius's feet. "I should have torn you apart when I had the chance."Valerius laughed again, a loud, triumphant sound, his body trembling with amusement. "You think killing me will change anything? You think defeating the shadow's source will end the curse? Oh, Alphard—you are so naive. The shadow curse is not just a force of darkness. It is a bond. A bond between you, me, and the child. A bond that was forged 300 years ago, when Selene chose you over me, when she sealed the curse within my bloodline."Elaine's heart raced, her hand flying to her stomach, her silver-blue eyes wide with fear. "What are you talking about? What bond?"Valerius's smirk widened, his scarlet eyes locking onto Elaine's stomach, filled with a greedy, malicious hunger. "The bond of the Alpha's bloodline. The bond of Selene's magic. Your child, Elaine—it is not just the key to breaking the curse. It is the key to uniting the two Alpha bloodlines—the bloodline of Alphard, and the bloodline of me. And when that happens, the curse will not be broken—it will be reborn, stronger than ever before. And I will be the one to control it. I will be the one to rule the world."Alphard roared, launching himself toward Valerius, his claws extended, his fangs bared, ready to tear him apart once and for all. But Valerius raised his hand, his dark magic flaring to life, and a blast of black smoke slammed into Alphard, sending him flying backwards, slamming into the iron gates, his body crumpling to the ground."Alphard!" Elaine screamed, rushing to his side, her silver magic flaring to life, wrapping around him, trying to heal his wounds. But Valerius was already moving, his steps slow, his body weak, but his eyes filled with triumph, as he approached her, his hand reaching for her stomach."Stay away from her!" Alphard roared, pushing himself to his feet, his body trembling with pain, his Alpha power radiating from him in waves. But Valerius paid him no mind, his focus solely on Elaine, on the child growing inside her."Your child is mine," Valerius snarled, his hand inches from Elaine's stomach. "And soon, the curse will be mine. And there is nothing you can do to stop me."But before his hand could touch her, a bright, silver light erupted from Elaine's body, stronger than ever before, slamming into Valerius, sending him flying backwards, his body crashing into the wall of the main house, his dark magic dissipating into the air. The light was so bright it blinded the pack members, so powerful it made the ground tremble, and as it faded, Elaine stood tall, her silver-blue eyes blazing with the power of Selene, her body surrounded by a silver aura, the ancient runes on her cheeks glowing brightly."You will not touch my child," she said, her voice clear and powerful, cutting through the chaos, carrying the weight of Selene's power. "You will not touch my mate. You will not destroy our future. This ends now."She raised her hand, her silver magic flaring to life, and a beam of silver light shot toward Valerius, pinning him to the wall, his body writhing in agony, his skin burning as the silver light seeped into his veins, purging the dark magic from his body. Valerius screamed, his voice high and shrill, his body convulsing, until he fell limp, his eyes empty, his body lifeless—the dark magic completely purged from his system, his life taken by the power of Selene.The pack members watched, stunned, as Elaine stood tall, her silver magic glowing, her head held high—a true goddess, a warrior, their Luna. Alphard stumbled forward, his arm wrapping around her waist, pulling her close, his scarlet eyes filled with love and awe."You are incredible," he whispered, his lips brushing her forehead, his hand pressing gently against her stomach. "So strong. So brave. I love you."Elaine leaned into his touch, her eyes closing, a soft smile on her face. "I love you too. We did it. We defeated him. We defeated the curse."But as the words left her lips, a cold, icy wind swept through the estate, the moon disappearing behind dark clouds, casting the entire estate in shadow. A faint, menacing growl echoed from the dungeons—familiar, yet different, a growl that made Elaine's blood run cold, that made Alphard's body tense.Lilith's face paled, her silver magic flickering, her eyes locked on the dungeon entrance. "No," she whispered, her voice filled with dread. "It's not over. Valerius was telling the truth. The bond— it's real. And the curse… it's not gone. It's just been awakened. By your child."Elaine's hand flew to her stomach, her silver-blue eyes wide with fear, as she felt a strange, cold energy pulsing within her, a energy that was not her own, not Alphard's, but something dark, something ancient. She could feel the child stirring, its magic merging with the cold energy, and a faint, terrifying thought crossed her mind—their child was not just the key to breaking the curse. It was the curse.Alphard pulled her closer, his body shielding her from the cold wind, his scarlet eyes locked on the dungeon entrance, his growl low and deadly. He could feel it too—the dark energy, the awakening curse, the threat that loomed over them, over their child, over the entire pack."Whatever it is," he whispered, his voice steady, unbreakable, his lips brushing her ear, "we will face it together. You, me, our baby. We will not let the curse take you. We will not let it take our future. I promise."But as he spoke, the growl from the dungeons grew louder, closer, and a faint, black mist began to seep from the dungeon entrance, swirling around the estate, curling toward Elaine, toward her stomach. The pack members stood frozen, their fear returning, their eyes wide with dread, as they realized—the fight was not over. The curse was not defeated. And this time, it was inside the one they loved most. Inside the child of the Alpha King and the Luna.Elaine closed her eyes, clinging to Alphard, her silver magic flaring to life, trying to shield her child, trying to fight the dark energy. But she could feel it growing stronger, pulsing within her, merging with her child's magic, and she knew—this was the true test. This was the fight that would determine their future, the future of the pack, the future of all wolves. And she had no idea if they would survive.Alphard held her close, his scarlet eyes blazing with resolve, his Alpha power radiating from him in waves, ready to fight, ready to protect his mate and his child, no matter what. But as the black mist drew closer, as the growl echoed through the estate, a single question lingered in his mind—could he protect the ones he loved from a curse that lived within their own child? Or would he be forced to make the ultimate sacrifice, to save the world from the darkness that threatened to consume it?