The Shadow King's Alpha : The Cursed Bond

[House Voss Manor — The Celebration — Continuation]

Kael’s heart pounded violently; ignoring the confused nobles behind him, he pushed through the crowd and hurried toward the moonlit gardens.

"Lytharion..."

The name escaped his lips almost unconsciously.

"Kael!" Nora immediately stepped after him; she had barely taken three steps—

FOOSH!!

A firm hand suddenly caught her wrist; her body jerked backward. "What—"

Before she could react, she was pulled into someone’s chest. Nora looked up. "Lord Cassian."

Standing before her was Cassian Voss.

The eldest son of House Voss, a tall Alpha with neatly combed silver hair, piercing emerald-green eyes, and an expression that remained calm...yet possessive, his grip never loosened.

"My Lady."

His voice was polite, almost gentle. Yet it carried the unmistakable authority of someone accustomed to being obeyed.

Nora immediately tried to free herself. "My Lord Cassian...this is highly inappropriate."

Cassian’s gaze briefly shifted toward Kael’s retreating figure before returning to her; his jaw tightened.

"How much longer?"

Nora blinked. "Pardon?"

His voice became quieter. "How much longer do you intend to chase after him?"

Silence.

Cassian slowly stepped closer. "He already has a mate."

Nora looked directly into his eyes. "And that mate abandoned him. So why shouldn’t I remain by his side?"

Cassian’s expression hardened, and he slowly tightened his grip around her wrist. "No. It changes nothing. The Lunar Covenant cannot be undone; he belongs to another. Whether that deity acknowledges him...or abandons him forever...Kael Vaelric is no longer yours to hope for."

Nora looked away. "Hope isn’t a crime."

Cassian gave a bitter smile. "No. It is simply foolish."

He stepped even closer. The distance between them vanished; his free hand slowly settled against her waist, preventing her from stepping back.

Nora’s eyes widened. "My Lord—"

He looked directly into her eyes. "And while your heart remains trapped in the past...you continue forgetting something far more important."

His voice lowered.

"You belong to me."

Nora’s expression immediately darkened; she forcefully tried to push him away. "I belong to no one."

Cassian barely moved, his strength as an Alpha completely overwhelmed hers.

"No? Your father accepted the alliance, our engagement has already been done, and soon we will be marked in front of the spirits; the entire empire already knows."

Nora clenched her jaw; she met his gaze without fear. "My heart...still belongs to Lord Kael."

Something cold flashed across Cassian’s face, not anger but possession. He tightened the arm around her waist, and his voice remained unnervingly calm.

"So be it, but hearts..." He slowly brushed a loose strand of hair away from her face. "...have a habit of changing. The night after tomorrow...beneath the lunar moon...I shall place my mark upon you."

Silence.

"After that..." His emerald eyes locked onto hers. "...you will no longer be permitted to look at another Alpha."

Nora glared at him. "I will never accept you."

Cassian’s smile never faded. "You don’t need to; you only need to stand still."

Her eyes widened. "You—"

She jerked her wrist violently, finally managing to pull free. "Don’t touch me."

Cassian watched her calmly, then...he took her wrist again, this time far more firmly, and now his voice carried a quiet warning.

"You’ve spent enough years chasing someone who can never belong to you. It’s over. You are coming with me."

"No." Nora struggled again. "Release me, Lord Cassian. I said no."

Several nearby nobles turned toward them. Yet...not a single one stepped forward because no one wished to interfere in the affairs of House Voss.

Cassian calmly ignored her resistance; without another word...he began walking, dragging her with him.

"My Lord!" Nora stumbled after him, trying desperately to free her hand. "Let go! You are hurting me!"

Cassian never looked back; his grip remained unyielding. Nora dug her heels into the polished marble floor, but still...the Alpha continued forward without slowing.

Her protests disappeared beneath the music...while somewhere beyond the moonlit gardens Kael unknowingly chased the shadow of a deity.

***

[House Voss Manor — The Moonlit Garden — Moments Later]

Kael hurried through the moonlit garden; his footsteps echoed across the stone path as he searched every corner.

The marble pavilion, the rose hedges, and the quiet fountain—nothing. Only silver moonlight bathed the garden in an eerie calm; his breathing gradually slowed.

"No." He looked toward the place where he had seen the black figure. "I know what I saw."

He walked closer, no trace of black mist and no lingering scent. Nothing that suggested someone had ever stood there.

Kael frowned deeply.

"There’s no way...I imagined him."

Silence.

The night answered only with the rustling of leaves; he slowly rubbed his forehead. "Or perhaps...I’ve finally begun imagining him."

He closed his eyes briefly.

"For an entire year...I’ve thought about him every single day. It wouldn’t be surprising...if my own mind started creating his shadow."

"My Lord Kael!" The voice broke the silence; Captain Riven, commander of House Vaelric’s personal knights, hurried into the garden. "My Lord, we’ve been searching for you."

Kael turned. Riven carefully observed his young lord. "Is everything alright?"

Kael glanced toward the empty moonlit window one final time. Then...he slowly nodded. "Yes. I believe...we should return home."

Riven bowed. "As you command, my lord."

Without another word... Kael walked toward the waiting carriage; the House Vaelric knights silently followed.

Silence reclaimed the garden, and another heartbeat passed. Then upon the highest rooftop of House Voss Manor...two ancient golden eyes slowly opened; a massive black wolf stood motionless against the crimson moon.

His fur seemed woven from living darkness itself; black mist drifted endlessly around his enormous body.

The Deity of Darkness had never left. Lytharion quietly watched the departing carriage, his gaze never wavered, and a slow smirk curved across his muzzle.

"Run while you still can..." His deep voice disappeared into the night wind. "My little mate. We shall meet again...beneath the upcoming lunar moon."

The black wolf slowly stepped backward.

Then—

FOOOOSSHHHH!!

Dark mist swallowed his enormous body; the rooftop became empty, as though he had never been there.

***

[Somewhere Within the Dream — Before Dawn]

Darkness, endless and cold. Kael stood once again upon blood-soaked earth; the familiar nightmare had returned. Around him...the Ashkarath mourned. Countless black wolves cried beneath the crimson moon. Broken eggs lay scattered across the battlefield. Tiny lifeless pups rested beside grieving mothers.

The howls echoed endlessly, heartbreaking and relentless. The same nightmare...that had tormented him for an entire year.

Kael lowered his head. "No...Not again."

The howls grew louder. Another mother collapsed over the shattered remains of her child, an old wolf silently buried tiny bones beneath bloodstained soil. A father howled until blood spilled from his own throat.

Kael clenched his fists as his breathing became uneven. "I...I can’t watch this anymore."

He turned and ran.

He ran faster than he ever had before; the mourning voices chased him. The scent of blood clung to the air. Branches clawed at his clothes. Roots reached toward his feet.

Yet...he never stopped. The deeper he ran...the quieter the howls became. Until...they vanished completely.

Silence.

Kael slowly stopped, his breathing echoing softly as he looked around. The forest no longer smelled of blood. Instead...a cool breeze carried the scent of rain and ancient wood.

Before him flowed a crystal-clear river. Its waters reflected the crimson moon above like polished glass. At its edge...stood an enormous ancient tree.

Its silver leaves shimmered beneath the moonlight. Its roots embraced the earth like the hands of an ancient guardian.

Kael’s eyes widened. "The Heart Tree..."

It was the same tree, the one beneath which the Lunar Covenant had been completed. The one that had witnessed his bond with Lytharion.

He slowly approached, and every step felt strangely peaceful. There were no howls, no blood, and no grief.

Only silence.

He reached out; his fingertips gently touched the ancient bark. The tree rustled softly. Its silver leaves danced although there was no wind.

Kael blinked, and a faint smile appeared on his exhausted face. "Did you...stop the nightmare?"

The branches swayed once more, as though answering him. He looked around, and nothing remained except the quiet river.

The moon and the ancient tree. For the first time in an entire year...his heart felt light.

"Thank you."

His voice was barely a whisper; he slowly lowered himself beneath the tree, resting his back against the sturdy trunk.

"Can I...sleep peacefully just this once?"

He leaned back. Then his brows furrowed.

"...Hm?"

Something felt soft and warm. Not bark. His eyes slowly opened and he looked downward. A pair of long black-clothed legs stretched lazily beneath him.

Kael froze, and his heart skipped. "What..."

Almost unwillingly, he turned his head, and his eyes widened with shock, and he saw, there...leaning comfortably against the opposite side of the Heart Tree sat Lytharion.

Long black hair flowed over one shoulder. Ancient golden eyes gleamed beneath the crimson moon; one arm rested lazily upon a raised knee. The corners of his lips curved into an amused smile.

As though he had been watching Kael from the very beginning. The silence itself became terrifying.

Then Lytharion tilted his head ever so slightly as his smile deepened. "Long time no see...my Queen."

Kael’s eyes widened.

"Wha—"

SNAP!!

The dream shattered.

***

[House Vaelric Manor — Early Morning]

Kael bolted upright.

"HAAAH!"

His breathing was ragged; cold sweat soaked his night robes. Sunlight streamed softly through the bedroom windows, and birds chirped outside.

Morning had arrived.

Kael remained frozen upon the bed; his hand slowly rose to his chest. The mark beneath his clothes felt unusually warm, and he looked toward the mirror across the room; his own pale reflection stared back at him.

"Why do I feel as if...it wasn’t a nightmare?"

Silence.

No answer came, only the distant song of morning birds. Yet somewhere deep inside... Kael knew that dream...had not felt like a dream at all.

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