Knotting His Rejected Breeder

The tree line was barely visible through the gray mist before three figures slunk out on all fours. They moved with an awkward, stumbling gait, yet their lean frames beneath torn rags carried a terrifying strength. Coarse patches of fur clung to their spines, and their jaws hung open, exposing teeth far too long for any natural wolf.

The creature in the center towered over the others. A thick, swollen scar was carved across his chest, leaking dark tissue through split skin. Dane stared at the ruined flesh, a cold realization settling in his gut: Was that what the curse did?

The creature straightened, bones popping beneath its skin. "You can try," it rasped, its yellow eyes locking onto Dane. "But one bite turns the alpha here into our puppet. Though... I suppose we break our own leash the moment we kill you, girl."

Destiny tightened her grip, her knuckles white. "Be careful, Dane. They don’t want me infected."

"Because you’re the key," Dane muttered, keeping his eyes on the scarred wolf. "Whatever they plan for your blood, the curse ruins it."

The wolf’s mouth stretched into a wide grin. "Smart man. Pity intelligence doesn’t harden skin."

The three wolves fanned out, blocking their escape.

Then the wolf on the left sprang.

Dane shoved Destiny aside as claws ripped through his sleeve, driving him into the wet forest floor. Damp leaves crushed beneath his back as the creature landed on top of him, snapping at his face. Dane caught its wrist, driving his forehead straight into its snout.

Cartilage crunched.

The creature recoiled, but before Dane could stand, the scarred wolf charged.

They collided hard. Dane hit the ground on his back, the wolf’s jaws snapping inches from his face. He braced both forearms against its throat, fighting off its weight.

"Dane!" Destiny screamed.

Past the monster, Dane saw the third wolf rush her. Destiny dodged, but claws caught her coat, tearing fabric and skin.

"Destiny, run!" Dane roared.

She hesitated, turning back toward him, and the wolf lunged again, dragging its claws across her arm. Her cry echoed through the fog.

Dane shoved the scarred wolf off with everything he had and scrambled up, driving a knee into its chest. The creature staggered, but its hand shot out, clamping around Dane’s wrist with crushing force.

Their eyes met, and the creature smiled.

It wasn’t trying to kill me, Dane realized. It was holding me still.

Dane ripped his hand free, driving an elbow into the wolf’s throat. It released him with a choke, then immediately slammed him back-first against a tree. Its jaws snapped down, catching the edge of his shoulder.

Dane struck back hard enough to break free and stumbled away.

Destiny screamed his name again.

The third wolf had pinned her.

Dane lunged to help, but the scarred wolf intercepted him, hooking claws into his coat and dragging him sideways. Destiny scrambled to her feet and reached for him.

Seeing her open, the scarred wolf released Dane and pivoted, lunging straight for her throat.

Dane threw himself between them.

The jaws snapped shut around his wrist.

Pain exploded through his arm, teeth crushing through muscle and grinding against bone. A strangled cry escaped him as he grabbed the creature’s throat.

"Let him go!" Destiny pulled frantically at its shoulder.

A cold, agonizing burn spread instantly from the bite. Black discoloration raced outward across Dane’s skin, veining up his forearm.

The curse was taking hold.

"Get away from him!"

Henrik emerged from the mist, swinging a broadsword.

"Destiny, move!"

She dived backward.

Henrik’s blade arced down, severing the scarred wolf’s head in a single stroke.

The heavy jaws slackened, releasing Dane’s wrist as the corpse collapsed. The two remaining wolves froze, stared at their dead leader, and retreated back into the fog.

Destiny dropped beside Dane. He was hunched over, clutching his wrist as dark fluid seeped through his fingers. Black veins climbed toward his elbow, and his hand began to tremble uncontrollably.

"Oh my God..." Her voice broke. "Dane... you’ve been bitten."

Henrik lowered his sword, crouching beside them. His eyes fixed on the spreading black mark.

"He will heal."

Destiny snapped her head up. "What? The bite spreads the curse! He’s infected!"

Dane gasped as the burning climbed past his elbow. A sudden tremor wracked his arm, and his senses flared violently. He could hear Destiny’s racing heart, Henrik’s steady breath, and a dark pulse thumping inside his own chest.

His fingers involuntarily clamped down around his wrist with terrifying strength.

Henrik noticed the shift.

"So, he’s cursed?" Henrik’s eyes hardened as he looked at Dane. "Well, then I guess we use him to figure out how to break it without killing you."

"That’s cold, Henrik," Destiny breathed.

"That’s logic."

Dane stared down at his darkening arm, feeling the fire reach his shoulder. He swallowed hard and looked up at Henrik.

"Yeah," Dane rasped. "Cold logic."

For a moment, none of them moved.

Then Dane’s knees buckled.

Destiny caught him before he hit the ground, struggling to keep him upright as another wave of heat tore through his body.

"We need to get him back to the estate," Henrik said.

Dane tried to straighten, but his injured arm hung uselessly at his side. "I can walk."

"You can barely stand," Destiny said.

Henrik sheathed the broadsword and stepped forward. "The car is nearby."

Between them, they managed to get Dane through the wet undergrowth toward the waiting vehicle. Henrik took most of his weight while Destiny stayed close, keeping one hand against Dane’s back whenever his legs threatened to give out.

The short walk felt endless.

Dane’s breathing grew harsher with every step. The black veins had spread beyond his elbow, crawling toward his shoulder beneath his skin. By the time they reached the car, thin dark lines had begun appearing along the side of his neck.

Henrik opened the rear door.

"Get him inside."

Destiny climbed into the back first and helped Dane onto the seat. He sank against her, his head falling back against the leather.

Henrik shut the door and walked around to the driver’s side.

The engine came to life.

As the car pulled away, Dane stared through the window at the trees disappearing into the mist. His reflection looked unfamiliar. His skin had gone pale, his eyes were glassy with pain, and the black veins beneath his neck seemed darker every time he blinked.

Destiny pressed a hand against his uninjured shoulder.

"Stay with me."

Another tremor seized his body.

Destiny tightened her grip.

By the time Henrik drove through the estate gates, the dark veins had crept past Dane’s shoulder and begun mapping a black grid across his neck.

Henrik stopped near the entrance.

Destiny was already opening the door.

"Careful," she said as Dane tried to move.

He pushed himself upright, but his legs nearly gave way again. Destiny caught him beneath his uninjured arm, and Henrik came around to help from the other side.

Together, they got him through the front doors. A couple of guards threw them an uneasy and confused glance.

The moment they entered the study, Henrik kicked the heavy oak door shut behind them and threw the bolt.

"Sit him down."

Destiny guided Dane into a deep leather armchair. He collapsed into it, his chest heaving as he stared at his right arm. The skin wasn’t just discolored anymore. It was hot to the touch, thrumming with an unnatural, heavy rhythm that matched the sound of his own hammer-fast heartbeat.

Every noise in the room was amplified for Dane. The crackle of the dying hearth, the rustle of Destiny’s coat, even the steady drip of moisture from their clothes onto the floorboards sounded unnaturally loud.

"Don’t you think you should alert his parents?" Destiny snapped, whirling around. "Look at him! It’s spreading!"

Henrik walked over, leaning down to grab Dane’s chin and forcing him to look him in the eye. Henrik’s gaze was cold, searching.

"Your pupil dilated," Henrik noted, releasing him. "He still has his mind. For now."

"Henrik, please," Destiny pleaded, stepping between them. "You said we could use this to figure out how to break the curse. How? What is the first step?"

"The first step is seeing if he survives the night without turning into one of those things," Henrik replied, stepping toward a cabinet and pulling out a heavy iron chain. "And ensuring he doesn’t tear your throat out if he loses the fight."

Destiny went pale.

"You’re not chaining him like a dog."

Dane looked at the heavy iron links in Henrik’s hand, then down at his own black-veined arm. The primal pulse inside him spiked, whispering a sudden, violent urge to snap Henrik’s neck.

The thought terrified him more than the pain.

"Do it," Dane choked out, leaning his head back against the leather. "Chain me, Henrik. I don’t want to hurt her. I don’t want to hurt either of you or infect you too.Call my parents. Get help."

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