The Cursed Alpha's Fifth Luna

The first wave of arrows came without warning. A dozen tore through the damp air.

"Move!"

Rodrigo barked fiercely, his voice resounding in the night. Seven was already moving before the word left his mouth. He vanished, an arrow passing through the empty space his head had occupied a heartbeat earlier. Caleb twisted aside as another streaked toward him. The arrow skimmed past his shoulder and buried itself in the stone wall behind him.

Rodrigo didn’t flinch. He tracked the arrow flying straight for his chest and shifted his body barely an inch at the last second. The shaft hissed past his ribs.

The masked men surged forward. Half drew steel swords, while the rest kept their wooden bows raised, spreading through the quiet cemetery to continue firing. Rodrigo tracked their movements. They were trying to create an opening into the tomb. His teeth gritted as his gaze darkened.

Three broke from the tight formation and sprinted toward the open tomb, aiming straight for the tomb.

Seven intercepted the first man. His sword flashed in the moonlight, and the man’s head left his shoulders before his body took another step.

The second ducked beneath Seven’s wide swing and threw himself toward the dark entrance. Caleb appeared suddenly from the side, his sword piercing clean through the man’s back. The heavy force carried them both several feet before Caleb ripped the blade free.

The third nearly reached the doorway, but a dark shadow landed in front of him.

Rodrigo.

The man stumbled to a halt, staring into Rodrigo’s venomous eyes. Curved claws burst through his chest, and Rodrigo snatched his heart out in one swift movement.

Rodrigo flung the corpse aside with one push, and it landed to the side with a thud.

Another rain of arrows descended, a few falling right in front of him. The three wolves became blurs between the gray gravestones, every arrow missing by the narrowest margin.

A masked man with a sword lunged for Caleb. Caleb stepped inside the strike. One quick slash, and the man collapsed. Another came from behind. Caleb spun low, avoiding the blade before driving his sword upward beneath the attacker’s chin. Hot blood sprayed across the weathered stone.

Rodrigo used only his bare claws on them. A masked man swung his sword at his neck. Rodrigo moved with speed to the side, and caught the wrist before he could move. A bone cracked. Before a scream could escape, his claws ripped across the man’s throat. Another charged. Rodrigo ducked beneath the blade, drove his arm into the attacker’s chest, and sent him flying.

A third reached the tomb steps. Rodrigo crossed the distance in a blur. His claws swept once, and the man’s body slid apart on the cold stone.

He turned toward another man who was charging towards him, but his feet came to a stop.

A sharp impact drove into his side. Rodrigo’s body jerked backward. The arrow punched through the flesh just below his ribs.

For the first time that night, the cemetery fell still. Seven turned, his eyes wide.

"Alpha!"

Rodrigo lowered his gaze to the shaft protruding from his stomach, and his eyes grew dark. He wrapped one hand around the wood, broke the shaft, then pulled the remaining piece free and let it fall at his feet.

A low growl tore from Rodrigo’s throat as he lifted his gaze to the woods where the arrow had come from.

He sighted the masked man hidden behind a tall tree, drawing another arrow.

Rodrigo disappeared. The archer barely had time to blink before a strong hand closed around his throat. The force lifted him off the ground and slammed him against the rough trunk. With one swift movement, he snapped his neck.

Another archer beside him turned to flee, the bow slipping from his fingers. But Rodrigo caught his throat before he could make another move, his fangs digging into the man’s flesh.

"Who sent you?" he drawled darkly, his voice deep with venom.

The man’s breathing grew frantic. His eyes darted toward Rodrigo’s face, then his jaw clenched. A muffled crack snapped inside the man’s mouth—too late. Dark liquid spilled over his lips. His body convulsed violently. Rodrigo tried to force his mouth open, but the poison had already taken hold. The man’s eyes rolled back, and his body went limp in his hand.

Rodrigo’s jaw clenched tightly, and he released him. The corpse rolled down the woods, settling at the foot of a tree.

His eyes dropped to his stomach, and he raised his hand to it. It was still bleeding.

Rodrigo’s gaze darkened. There was only one explanation.

Wolfsbane.

"Alpha!" Seven’s voice sounded as he dashed toward him after killing the last of the remaining masked men. Caleb was right behind him.

"Alpha? Are you okay?" Seven asked, his eyes dropping to where the arrow had been.

"Yes," Rodrigo replied stiffly, suppressing a sharp grimace, as he turned towards the open tomb.

"Caleb," he called harshly, and Caleb stepped forward.

"Return to the barracks immediately and bring reinforcements," he said.

Caleb hesitated for a second, but the look on Rodrigo’s face made him nod instantly. "At once." He turned and disappeared into the trees, his footsteps fading into the distance.

Rodrigo turned back to the tomb.

They were here for the Alpha’s seal, which meant they would go to any length to get it.

Beside him, Seven stood with his sword drawn, his eyes alert as he scanned the surroundings.

"Who sent them?" Seven asked. "Who dared to open an attack on you?" he drawled, his attention sweeping across the forest. Rodrigo did not reply. His eyes remained fixed on the tomb.

He needed light to find the seal; going in now was useless.

Until the guards came, he would guard the tomb.

A warm trickle slid beneath Rodrigo’s shirt. He ignored it.

The wound burned with every beat of his heart, a dull ache spreading from his side. His hands clenched into fists at his sides as he tried to steady himself, but his breathing grew labored. The world tilted so slightly he almost didn’t notice. He steadied himself.

Then,

Drip

Drip

Rodrigo looked down.

Blood trickled down from the wound to his feet.

"Alpha..." Seven called, closing the gap between them, as dread filled his eyes.

"The wound isn’t healing?" he said, his voice trembling with sheer panic, the question leaving his mouth as though in shock.

"I know," Rodrigo replied through his teeth.

"How dare they use wolfsbane..." Seven growled savagely, seething venom through his nose.

Rodrigo closed his eyes as he tried to pull his thoughts together, but they were becoming more disoriented.

"If the concentration is high," Seven swallowed, "it’ll spread through your body faster."

Rodrigo had already begun to feel it. It was climbing faster than usual. He’d been struck with wolfsbane before, but the reaction had never been this immediate.

"We have to go back," Seven said quickly.

Rodrigo’s eyes darted through the woods, yet there was still no sign of Caleb. He ground his teeth.

He would search with his hands. He needed to find the seal before it became worse.

Rodrigo turned toward the tomb, but Seven blocked his way immediately.

"Alpha, are you not listening?"

"Stay here and guard the entrance. I will be out soon."

Rodrigo took another step toward the tomb. Seven blocked him again.

"No," Seven said, desperately struggling to keep his voice steady. "We have to remove the wolfsbane before it spreads. The more you move, the quicker it spreads. If it gets to your heart... you will be dead."

Rodrigo stared at his beta for a moment, and then he ground through his teeth.

"Move," he commanded.

Seven held his ground. "Tell me what it is and I will bring it to you."

Rodrigo did not reply. Seven stared at the man he’d been by since childhood, realizing how much Rodrigo still trusted no one but himself, even now.

"Don’t you believe me, Rodrigo?" he called.

Rodrigo remained silent.

Seven let out a slow breath. "I’ve been with you since we were children, and yet you think I would betray you?"

Rodrigo’s gaze shifted at his words, his jaw hardening.

"I’ll bring it to you, whatever it is," Seven said fiercely. "I swear on my life."

At his words, Rodrigo’s gaze softened.

"The Alpha’s Seal," he said quietly.

Seven frowned.

"I hid it here. It’s the key... to the Vothraki."

Before either could speak, voices echoed through the forest.

"Alpha!"

Caleb emerged from the trees with about two dozen warriors behind him, each carrying a burning torch and swords in their hands. Relief crossed Caleb’s face, but it vanished as his eyes dropped to the blood running down Rodrigo’s side.

"Alpha—"

Rodrigo’s eyes turned to the men gathered, and he opened his mouth to speak.

His vision blurred. The trees began to sway. The bright torchlight stretched into streaks of gold as the ground rushed upward.

The last thing he heard was Seven frantically shouting his name. Then everything went dark.