Bride of the Cursed Alpha (Auren and Lucien)

Auren POV

Tarian reappeared and led me out, with a kind but cautious expression. "Don't take it personally," he said quietly as we walked down the long hallway. Was he listening to us? But with sharp hearing senses, what else could I expect from the Beta of the most powerful Alpha?

"I didn't," I lied. Even though Lucien was cold, distant, and angry, I felt safer here than I ever had back at Crimson Howl.

Tarian led me through the grand halls of the pack house, his boots echoing against the polished floors. I followed close behind, keeping my gaze low to avoid staring at the beautiful but intimidating surroundings. Everything about this place felt unwelcoming, much like its Alpha. The sadness of Alpha Bram's rejection came back, and I took a deep breath in to stop myself from crying.

He had smartly not only rejected me, an omega, as his mate, but he had ensured that I would die in a year. At the same time, because of me, he formed an alliance with Alpha Lucien.

When I was just leaving the pack, Bram had come to my room. He stood too close to me and traced my jawline with his fingers. I wanted to lean into him, but I stopped after what he did to me. "You better serve your purpose nicely, Auren. If I come to know that you've escaped, I'll personally hunt you and kill you." And then he leaned down and kissed my brushed my cheeks with his lips. I felt sick, so I pushed him away, but he chuckled and sauntered away.

"This will be your room," Tarian said, snapping me from my memories. We had reached a door at the far end of a hallway. He stopped and turned to me, opening the door.

I peeked inside, half-expecting something dreary, but it was surprisingly clean, comfortable and better than anything I had ever lived in. The room had a bed with a plush blanket, a simple wooden table by the window, and a wardrobe. Sunlight poured through the window, making the space seem warmer than I'd imagined.

"You can explore the pack house if you want," Tarian continued in a steady but kind voice. "But stay away from the north wing. That's Alpha Lucien's quarters, and he doesn't want to be disturbed. Understood?"

I nodded quickly, not wanting to make a bad impression. "Yes, I understand. Thank you."

Tarian studied me for a moment, as if trying to figure out why I was being so agreeable. Without another word, he turned and left, the door clicking shut behind him.

I stood in the middle of the room, letting out a small sigh of relief. This room felt like a safe haven. It was beautiful, but it was mine, even if only for now.

The thought of being left alone made me smile a little. I didn't have to see Alpha Lucien or deal with his anger. I didn't have to endure Reya's sharp words or Maris's cruel smirks or Alpha Bram's rejection. Here, I could just be quiet and unnoticed.

After placing my small bag in the wardrobe, I spotted a door on the side of the room. Curious, I opened it and found a bathroom. The bathtub looked clean and inviting, the shiny faucet glinting in the light.

The idea of a warm bath was too tempting to resist. I filled the tub and stepped in, the heat instantly easing the tension in my sore muscles. I had never felt this kind of comfort. I closed my eyes for a moment, letting the water wash away not just the dirt, but the weight of the past few days.

When I finally got out and wrapped myself in a soft towel, I felt lighter, like I'd shed

a layer of my worries. I dried off quickly and came into my room.

That's when I noticed it-the smell of food.

On the small table by the window, there was a tray piled high with bread, steaming soup, fresh fruit, and even a small plate of a chocolate dessert. My stomach growled loudly, reminding me I hadn't eaten properly ever since I was thrown in the dungeons.

I walked over, hesitant at first. Carefully, I picked up a piece of bread, wondering if I was dreaming, and took a bite. It was soft and warm, the kind of food I hadn't ever had. It was a luxury for me, and certainly not a dream.

Before I knew it, I was eating everything, savoring each bite like it was a feast. The bean soup was rich and creamy. The fruits juicy and sweet. By the time I got

to the dessert, my cheeks were puffed like a squirrel's.

But I didn't care. I was hungry, and this food felt so good.

However, as I reached for the last piece of bread, my stomach revolted, and before I knew, I was retching. I ran to the bathroom and puked it all out. Bewildered, I sat on the floor of the bathroom, heaving. I guess, my stomach couldn't handle eating so much after a long time. I took a deep breath and rinsed my mouth.

Suddenly, a faint sound caught my attention. A creak outside my door.

I froze. Slowly, I went out to see.

My door was slightly open, the crack wide enough for a shadow to flicker across the floor. My heart skipped a beat. Who was there? I opened it wide enough to peep out and heard retreating heavy footsteps. Out of fear, I closed the door quickly and locked it from inside.noveldrama

Feeling mentally and physically exhausted, I dragged myself to the bed and plopped on it. I sprawled on it and closed my eyes, drifting into a deep sleep almost immediately. My dreams were filled with that of a wolf with silky black fur and golden eyes, who was taller than me, walking beside me, purring. And surprisingly, I felt so warm and comforted in his presence. He sat down beside me and I curled into his thick furry coat like a ball.

I don't know for how long I slept, but knocking on my door jerked me awake. I jumped out of the bed and dashed to the door to open it. To my utter surprise I saw Alpha Lucien.

His gaze dropped to the towel that was wrapped around me loosely. My head snapped down to my chest and I flushed till my chest, seeing how the upper swells of my breasts were protruding out. Quickly, I covered myself, tightly wrapping the towel around me.

"Alpha Lucien," I rasped, meeting his eyes, feeling mortified.

I was really surprised that he came to see me when he was the one who asked

me to stay away from him. "H-how can I help you?"

Through his clenched teeth, he said, "Our marriage is deferred by a week."