Forbidden Bond (The cursed Alpha and the Thrall)

Outside the birthing chamber in the late night, Alpha Brannock of Lycaon’s Pack paced like a caged beast.

His beloved Luna was always strong, but she had been in labor too long. Just too long.

His wolf clawed inside, howling to go to her, but he couldn't. She-wolf's are considered unclean during birthing rituals.

Just when he was reaching his breaking point, a baby's small cries rang out like a bell.

“My heir…” His voice cracked and he rushed closer to the chamber.

The bloodline of their lineage was finally secured.

A midwife stepped forward, holding a small, swaddled bundle.

He hastily took the child into his arms, staring down at the tiny copy of Selene—every heartbeat of torment forgotten.

“Lucian! Luna Selene's final gift”

“What do you mean?” a half-growl tore from his throat, “Where is Selene?”

The midwives lowered their gazes, their silence a death knell.

“I asked a question,” he raged.

“She gave her last breath for Lycaon heir, Alpha. She….did not survive it.” a voice hushed, thick fear.

“No,” Alpha Brannock rasped, pushing forward into the room.

To his dismay, Selene's limp form lay in the middle of the room, already draped in her wedding costume for her final rite.

“No, you can't do this to me. You promised” He cried, arms cradling the newborn tighter.

“Selene, talk to me—I’m here now”

He persisted to communicate with her via mind link,

Her wolf whimpered once to his effort before falling completely silent.

An agonizing soul-tearing pain exploded from the depth of his being.

“Selene” he howled, shifting to his massive wolf with thick fur.

The Elders council gathered outside the birthing Chamber at that howling—a tragedy has struck.

Great elder walked up to him, pressing his staff on his back.

“Get a hold of your wolf.” he whispered, taking the child.

“The Elders will take her to Lunaris Glade for ancestral blessings, in the meantime gear up for the Bloodfang Pyre.”

“No one will touch my Selene” Alpha Brannock rasped impatiently, shifting back to human.

“You Elders always wanted to strip her off her Luna status….you can as well as take your fake sympathy somewhere else”.

“Stop it Brannock—you can't disrespect the funeral rite” Great Elder flared.

“The four chosen Elders symbolizes returning her spirit to the balance of nature, opposition to this ritual will struck a backlash from the Moon Goddess”

“So be it” Alpha Brannock scurried and carried her alone.

Darius the Beta stepped in, but he held out a hand like a stop sign.

“You won't stop me Darius—you are bounded by the Moonbound vow”

Darius's shoulders dropped, he just watched the Alpha carry his wife alone, staggering under grief.

The midwives walk ahead with torches, weeping softly, leading the way to Lunaris Glade.

At the clearing of Lunaris Glade, he performed the rites and returned Selene's remains for the Bloodfang Pyre.

He stared intently at her face for the last time as she laid on the Moonstone Altar, the highest cliff of their land.

The silver light of the Moon Goddess which had once bound them shone down, creating a bridge between.

The Great Elder’s chants echoed, every word a severing of the bond between him and his late wife.

Above them, a single Nightjar circled—Selene’s soul-guide.

Her remains began to glow, her soul transforming into a soft light. At that moment, Brannock was granted a sliver of Selene's soul, so he would remember her all his lifetime.

Despite the privilege, he wasn't ready to light the pyre.

“Brannock! You need to stop—the Moon calls her home” Great Elder cried mid-chant.

Gamma Varian stepped in and lit the emberstaff, handing it to Alpha Brannock.

With trembling hands, he lit the wood.

The pyre crackled beneath Selene’s body, the scent of sacred herbs rising with the smoke.

“Go home my Love—Lycaon’s Pack never deserved you” Alpha Brannock whispered as the wolf tattoo on his body, the symbol of their mate bond shattered, turning to black ash.

The Nightjar swooped low, its wings catching the red crackles of the fire.

At the same time the pack howl rises like thunder, honoring her passing.

Great Elder walked up with the baby,

“Luna Selene had proven herself worthy by leaving the bloodline an heir—do the needful”

Alpha Brannock's gaze snapped to the pup, and he carried him, raising him to the sky.

Around them, the pack and the Great Elder bowed their heads in respect.

“Moon Goddess, You gave me an heir yet you took my mate! Therefore on this red moon, with you as a witness, I curse the night of this child’s birth—may he bear the mark of my loss, may his life never know peace”

The moment the words left his lips, the moon casted its cursed hue against the newborn’s skin—a crimson mark, blooming over his left shoulder like a brand.

The pack gasped at his curse while the baby wailed, tiny fists trembling in the cold air.

“Kaelen….Kaelen Lycaon” Alpha Brannock named him.

^^^^𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐋𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫^^^^

####

“Morwen!” my name cracked through the smoke filled chamber.

“Y-yes, my Luna…” I scurried forward with a clumsy bow, hands pressed to my apron.

“Worthless girl!” she snarled, biting back a curse. “Do you think the Moon Goddess will fetch the Moonwater bowl herself?”

“Sorry my Luna” I cowered meekly under her gaze.

The Bone Oracle groan some gibberish chants as I awaited dismissal from Luna Isolde

“Don't make me repeat myself, Thrall” her patience snapped and she dragged me down by my unkempt braid, which swung like a rope down my back.

My scalp burned, but I dared not raise my eyes to her or scream.

Expression was for the free. I was a Thrall — silence was my only defense.

“Are you eavesdropping or just showing off your long braid?” She yanked harder, making my eyes water,

“Fetch the sacred vessel. And for the last time, hide that face of yours — before I’m forced to claw it off.” she gnashed before flinging me away.

The command and my pulled hair lashed hard, but what claws harder was who I crashed into— Kaelen, the cursed Alpha.

The air around his feet was cold as stone, and when I looked up, his eyes were like ash smoldering in a dead fire.

“Sorry Sir” I managed, stumbling to my feet, clutching my scalp as I scrambled away to order.

Little wonder why Luna pulled my hair, the cursed one was in our midsts.

On a normal day Luna Isolde would just bark, but today…..

“Kaelen!” I heard Luna call out to him, and I knew that from that chamber I just left, the maids must have all dropped into a shaky curtsey.

I am Morwen: a Thrall, just like Luna Isolde addressed me.

I carry the shame of my ancestors, marked by stripping of our surname.

Ten years ago, I first crossed the Sentinel Gates, the maw of Alpha Brannock’s dominance.

Foolish six year old as I was then never knew that passing through the gate meant surrendering my freedom to Alpha Brannock’s bloodline.

The first two years were blissful compared to this pit of scorn.

Back then, Luna Isolde let me attend school with her children Eira & Leoric— not as a pupil, of course, but as a handmaid.

Still, to sit among scrolls and ink was a privilege most Beta and Gamma children prayed for but here I was enjoying it, a Thrall.

Brother Leo, as I always call him, would always beckon me to sit in his classroom.

“Morwen! Come in…mother won't know”

“Are you sure about that, Alpha Leoric ?” the teacher asked the first time as I stepped in barefoot— my apron smudged from sweeping ashes that morning.

“Yeah”

The teacher offered me a wobbling stool near the back, close enough to watch, never close enough to belong.

After all, these kids were heirs to a throne of fangs and I was the Thrall—nameless.

He rarely glances my way—unless the stool makes a noise, then it’s a glare.

At lunch, Leo allows me to sit across from him, offering me the meal I couldn't dream of, despite staying in the Palace.

Those moments of stolen lessons ended the day Eira’s sharp tongue undid me.