Chosen By The Cursed Alpha King (Emilia) novel Chapter 190

DAMIEN’S POV

I walked back into the ballroom like I hadn’t just fucked my mate senseless upstairs. My suit was perfect, heartbeat steady. No one would know. Except maybe the faint scent of her still clinging to my skin-and the satisfied heat in my blood that wouldn’t cool for hours.

I spotted Maximus right away. He stood near one of the tall marble pillars, surrounded by a small circle of alphas-powerful men from allied packs, all broad shoulders and sharp eyes. Lucien was there too, arms crossed, looking tehse as always.

The second the alphas saw me approaching, they dipped their heads in respect.

“Prince Damien.”

I gave them a nod. They murmured excuses and melted back into the crowd, leaving just the three of us.

I grabbed a glass of whiskey from a passing tray, the amber liquid catching the light.

Maximus raised a brow, his mouth twitching. “You look Like you just came back from doing something that definitely isn’t meant for public eyes.”

I shot him a look. “Shut the fuck up.”

He laughed—deep, genuine-and Lucien cracked a raregrin.

Maximus clapped a heavy hand on my shoulder, grip firm.

“You’re really happy, brother.”

I took a slow sip of the whiskey, letting it burn down my throat.

“‘ve never been happier,” I said, voice low. “Not even close.”

His eyes softened.. just for a second, the fierce king giving way to the brother I’d always known.

Mom and Dad… they’d be proud of us.”

The words hit me harder than I expected. I nodded once, tight. “Yeah. They would.”

We stood in silence for a moment, the weight of the crown and everything we’d fought for settling between us.

Then Maximus turned to Lucien, who’d been quiet, eyes flicking toward the corner table where Adele sat with Emilia and Rose.

“Come on, man,

” Maximus said, voice lighter but still commanding. “Just get her and get the hell out of here.

You haven’t stopped staring at her all night.”

Lucien straightened, jaw tight. “I have to stay until the ball ends. Security-”

Maximus rolled his eyes. “I’m asking you to leave.Everything’s under control.”.

Lucien scratched the back of his neck, clearly torn. I chuckled under my breath.

Maximus tilted his head toward Adele. “Go.”

Lucien exhaled, gave a short nod. “Excuse me.”

We watched him cross the room-tall, lethal, moving with that quiet intensity that made people step aside without realizing why. He reached the table, leaned down, and whispered something in Adele’s ear.

She laughed-soft, surprised-and took his offered hand.

They slipped away together, disappearing through a side door.

“I know.”

He stepped closer, his royal power rolling off him inwaves. “This is fucking reckless, Damien. Humans can’t know about us. One slip…one shift, one wrong word…and everything we’ve built falls apart.”

I met his stare, unflinching. “We’ve talked about it. I’ve told her what’s at stake. She understands.”

He shook his head. “You’ve been in the human world long enough to handle yourself. You know how to blend, how to lie, how to fight if it comes to it. But her? She’s young.

She’s never had to hide like that. What if something happens? What if she doesn’t know what to do?”

His voice was tight with real worry-not just for the kingdom, but for me. For Rose.

“We can’t risk exposure. Not now. Not ever.”

Tension coiled in my gut, sharp and cold.

I looked across the room again. Rose was laughing, head thrown back, completely unaware of the conversation happening about her future.

My future.

Our future.

I turned back to Maximus, voice steady even as everything inside me tightened.

“I’ll handle it.”

My eyes found hers one more time across the crowded hall.

“Nothing will ever go wrong.”