Aria's breath hitched as the Shadow Alpha's presence enveloped her, dark and suffocating. His eyes locked onto hers, glowing with an unnatural intensity. The air between them crackled with something she couldn't understand, something that felt ancient, cursed, and inescapable.
"You are mine now," the Shadow Alpha growled, his voice deep and primal.
Aria shook her head violently, her hands trembling at her sides. "No… I'm not."
But the words were futile. The moment the mark was placed, her body went rigid, a searing pain shooting through her chest. She gasped, staggering backward, falling to her knees in the cold earth.
A symbol, glowing faintly beneath her skin, burned into her flesh like fire. It was a brand—a curse that could never be undone.
Her eyes met his once more, and this time, the pull was undeniable. She could feel it deep within her bones, the way her heart raced in sync with his. The curse was alive, feeding on their connection. But how could this be? How could she be bound to him when all she wanted was to escape?
"Why?" she whispered, her voice broken, pleading.
The Shadow Alpha's face was unreadable. His hand, large and calloused, hovered over her, as though tempted to touch her. But he didn't. He couldn't. Not like this. Not when everything was hanging by a thread.
"This is not what I wanted," he muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible, before turning away.
The ceremony had ended. But for Aria, it was just the beginning of a nightmare she couldn't escape.