Chosen By The Cursed Alpha King (Emilia) novel Chapter 76

The night air was cold enough to sting my lungs.

I stood at the edge of the forest, arms folded, staring into nothing. The moon hung low above the trees, pale and hollow, like it was watching me fall apart in silence. My breath came out in white puffs, sharp and uneven, disappearing as quickly as they formed

I’d been out here for hours. Maybe longer. I’d lost track of time.

All my life, I’d known how to control chaos. I’d mastered it-ruled it-bent it to my will. But tonight, everything inside me was slipping through my fingers.

This wasn’t like the battles I’d fought before. It wasn’t even like the nights when my beast clawed at my skin, begging to take control. This was worse.

This was helplessness.

The one thing I’d sworn never to feel again.

Because now… I didn’t know who I was supposed to be. The King. The protector. The cursed monster. The man who couldn’t even choose between two women fated to destroy him in different ways.

I didn’t want to lose Emilia. But I needed Raina.

The words haunted me. Needed. Not wanted. Needed.

I ran a hand through my hair, dragging in a deep, shaking breath. The forest around me was quiet-too quiet. The kind of quiet that made you feel like even the trees were listening.

I pressed my fist against my mouth, trying to steady the storm inside my chest.

What kind of King am I if I can’t even control my own heart?

A branch cracked behind me.

I didn’t turn. I didn’t have to. The steps that followed were slow, even, careful-like someone approaching a wounded animal.

Lucien.

He stopped just behind me. I could feel his presence before he spoke-the weight of his gaze, the steady rhythm of his breath.

He said nothing for a while. Neither did I. The silence between us stretched, heavy and sharp.

Then finally, his voice came, calm but edged with worry. “Don’t you think you’ve been out here too long, my King?”

– I didn’t respond.

The truth was, I didn’t want to go back. Going back meant facing everything I was trying to forget-the look in Raina’s eyes, the sound of Emilia’s voice breaking, the impossible choice waiting for me like a blade against my throat.

Lucien sighed quietly, his boots crunching against the frozen ground.

“You’ve found her, haven’t you?”

My jaw clenched. “Found who?”

He stepped beside me, his eyes catching the faint moonlight. “Your mate.”

The word twisted something deep in my chest.

After a moment, I nodded once. “Yes.”

Lucien studied me, his face unreadable. “Who is she?”

I hesitated. For a second, I thought about lying-but what was the point?

Lucien would find out sooner or later.

“It’s Raina, said finally. “Doctor Charles’ daughter.”

He froze. Then blinked, stunned. “What?!”

didn’t look at him. “You heard me.”

“Raina?” he repeated, disbelief dripping from his tone. “That’s-Goddess, that’s… unexpected.”

“Tell me about it,” I muttered.

He ran a hand down his face. “That’s good news, Your Majesty. You’ve found your mate. Emilia’s found hers. The bond has chosen. That means-”

Before he could finish, I turned sharply, grabbed him by the collar, and

•slammed him against a tree.

The bark cracked under the force, and his breath hitched. My eyes burned with fury.

“What the fuck did you just say?” I snarled.

Lucien didn’t flinch. His lips twisted into something like a bitter smile.

“You heard me.”

“Say it again,” I growled, my voice low and dangerous.

He met my glare head-on. “Emilia will never be yours. You’ve found your mate, Maximus. Let her go.”

And that terrified me more than anything else.

Bécause if I admitted it-if I truly accepted it-it meant I wasn’t the King my people needed. I was just a man drowning in something I couldn’t control.

I pressed my hands to my face, dragging in a long breath. The cold air Spurned in my lungs. My chest ached, my mind spun.

I’d spent my entire life making hard choices. Sacrificing others.

Sacrificing myself. But this-this felt different. This felt like standing on the edge of a blade, knowing that no matter which side I fell on, someone would bleed.

I wanted to believe I could fix this. Save her. Save everyone.

But for the first time in years, I wasn’t sure I could.

I was beginning to calm down-just a little. The forest was still, the moonlight soft, I almost managed to take a full breath without feeling like I was being crushed.+20 Points at most

Then I heard it-another set of footsteps.

These were lighter. Quicker. Desperate.

I tensed instantly, my head snapping up. I didn’t turn right away, not until the faint scent of wild herbs and smoke hit my senses.

Soraya.

turned sharply, and there she was-running toward me, her coat flying behind her, her breath coming in fast, broken gasps.

“My King,” she breathed out, clutching at her chest, her eyes wide with Tear.

I frowned. “Soraya? What is it?”

She didn’t answer right away. She bent over slightly, trying to catch her breath, one hand pressed to her ribs.

Soraya,” I said again, more firmly this time. “What happened?”

She lifted her gaze to mine, her face pale under the moonlight, her lips trembling.

“My King…”she said again, her voice breaking between breaths.

“What?” I demanded, the unease in my gut growing sharper.

She swallowed hard, her eyes glistening with terror.

“It’s Milandra,”