Chosen By The Cursed Alpha King (Emilia) novel Chapter 168

DAMIEN’S POV

The car hummed quietly beneath us as we drove through the busy streets of the human city. Sunlight poured through the windows, painting golden streaks across Rose’s face. She sat beside me, her hands folded neatly in her lap, staring out at the tall buildings and rushing people with the biggest, brightest smile I’d ever seen on her.

God, she was beautiful when she was happy.

Her eyes sparkled like she was seeing the world for the first time, even though we’d driven these roads together a hundred times. Today felt different. Today, she was finally doing something she’d wanted-enrolling in the human college she’d fought me so hard for.

I glanced at her again, my chest warming at the sight of her joy. It was contagious. Almost enough to make me forget how much I hated this idea.

Almost.

I sighed and turned my attention back to the road for a second before looking at her once more.

“You sure you won’t change your mind?” I asked, keeping my voice light even though the words tasted heavy.” There’s still that great college back in the kingdom.

Smaller classes. Safer. Closer to home.”She turned to me, her lips püshing out into that adorable little pout that always wrecked me.

“No,” she said firmly, shaking her head. “You’re always here, Damien. In the human world. Meetings, business, everything. This feels more like your world than the werewolf kingdom does. I want to understand it. I want to be part of it—with you.”

Her words hit me right in the chest.

She wasn’t just doing this for herself. She was doing it for uS.

I groaned, running a hand through my hair.

“Can I even refuse you anything?” I muttered, half to myself.

She grinned, knowing she’d won.

“Nope,” she said cheerfully.

I shook my head, a reluctant smile pulling at my lips.

“Fine. Let’s go, then. Mr. James is waiting.”

Her brows lifted in curiosity.

“Mr. James?”

“He’s the administrator I’ve been talking to,” I explained.”

He’s going to walk you through everything-your schedule, campus rules, all of it. I made sure he’d takegood care of you.”

Her eyes lit up like I’d just handed her the moon.

“Really?” she whispered, her voice soft and grateful.

I reached over and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, letting my fingers linger against her skin.

“Anything for you, baby,” I murmured.

The way she looked at me then-full of love and wonder-made my heart stutter.

1 pulled into the campus parking lot a few minutes later.

The place was alive with students walking between buildings, laughing, carrying backpacks. It smelled like coffee and fresh-cut grass.

I stepped out of the car first, then walked around to open her door like I always did.

She climbed out slowly, her head tilting back as she took in the tall brick buildings, the wide green lawns, the flags waving in the breeze.

Her mouth parted slightly in awe.

I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Like it?” I asked.

She nodded, still staring.

“It’s… huge,” she breathed. “And so pretty.”I closed the door behind her and placed my hand on the small of her back, guiding her forward.

She kept looking around as we walked—up at the clock tower, over at groups of students sitting under trees, at the signs pointing to different departments.

Seeing her like this-so excited, so full of life-made something shift inside me.

Maybe this wasn’t such a bad idea after all.

Maybe watching her grow into this world would be worth the fear clawing at my insides.

We reached the administration building and climbed the steps. I kept my hand on her shoulder the whole time, needing that contact, needing to feel her close.

Mr. James was waiting in his office when we arrived-a middle-aged man with kind eyes and a warm smile.

“Mr. Valkar,” he greeted, standing to shake my hand. Then his gaze shifted to Rose. “And this must be your fiancée, yes?”

I nodded proudly.

“Yes. This is Rose.”

She gave him a shy nod, her cheeks turning pink.

Mr. James smiled wider and reached out to shake her hand gently.”Welcome, Rose. It’s wonderful to meet you.”

She shook his hand, still a little quiet, but her smile was genuine.

We sat down across from his desk, and he slid a folder toward her.

“Everything’s been taken care of,” he said kindly. “Tuition, housing options if you want them, your student ID will be ready by next week. You’re officially enrolled in the Business Management program, starting next semester.”

Rose’s eyes widened as she opened the folder and saw the acceptance letter, the class schedule, the campus map.

She looked up at me, beaming.

I winked at her, Loving how happy she was.

She signed the last few documents with a slightly shaky hand-excitement, nerves, all of it mixed together.

When we finished, Mr. James stood and shook our hands again. _

“Welcome to the university, Rose. We’re glad to have you.”

“Thank you,” she said softly, and I could hear the emotion in her voice.

That one word broke me.

I couldn’t stop the smile that pulled at my lips, even though I tried to fight it.

I still didn’t look at her.

“Honey,” she said again, giggling now.I turned to her then, grinning despite myself.

She was smiling wide, eyes bright and playful.

“I’m sorry,” she said quickly. “I just got shy. It won’t happen again. Promise.”

I reached over and brushed my thumb across her lower lip.

“Well,” I said, voice low, “if you call me honey every day, t won’t stay mad anymore.”

She laughed, the sound light and warm, filling the whole car.

“You’re such a baby,” she teased.

I stopped the car then I leaned closer, my hand sliding to the back of her neck.

“Do we have a deal?” I murmured, my lips almost touching hers.

She smiled against me.

“We have a deal, honey.”

I groaned, the word sounding way too good coming from her mouth.

I kissed her then-slow, deep, full of everything | felt but couldn’t always say.

When I pulled back, her cheeks were flushed, her eyes soft.But then I remembered.

I pulled back fully, my expression turning serious.

“Rose,” I said quietly. “You have to promise me something.”

She tilted her head, listening.

“Going to a human college… it means you can never reveal who you really are. Never tell anyone you’re a wolf. You have to be careful—super careful. And you can never, ever shift in front of humans.”

Her playful smile faded.

She nodded slowly, understanding the weight of it.

“I know,” she said softly. “I understand.”

But as she said it, something cold settled in my gut.

Because promises were one thing.

Keeping them in a world full of secrets?

That was something else entirely.