All Chapters of The Cursed Alpha’s Only Mate: Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

Hecate POV The studio smelled of dried lavender and crushed rosemary, the familiar scents that had always grounded me. Mortars and pestles lined the shelves, glass vials caught the afternoon light, and a small cauldron simmered over the hearth, releasing tendrils of steam that curled toward the ceiling. It was my sanctuary. The one place in the castle where I felt like myself. Ysabella sat on a stool near the worktable, her legs crossed, a cup of tea forgotten in her hands. She had been there for hours, playing the role of assistant, sidekick, companion. She ground herbs when I asked, fetched supplies when I needed, and filled the silence with chatter that kept the darker thoughts at bay. "The whole castle is talking about you and the king," Ysabella said, grinding a handful of dried chamomile into powder. "I cannot go anywhere without hearing someone whisper about the festival. About how you stopped the beast. About how the Goddess bound you as mates." I poured a measured amount o

Hecate POVThe morning light was pale and cold, filtering through the windows of my studio in thin, watery stripes. I had not slept well. The conversation with Maddox in the greenhouse had stirred things I had tried to bury, memories I had tried to forget. But there was no time for reflection. There was only the problem at hand.Carmen.I reached out through the mindlink, not the ordinary one that connected all wolves, but a private thread, a whisper of magic that only I could weave. It was a gift of my awakened wolf, this ability to speak across distances without being overheard, without being tracked. No alpha, no king, no spy could listen in.Ysabella, I sent. Nyra. Come to my studio. We need to talk.They arrived within the hour.Ysabella came first, her dark hair still damp from a morning bath, her eyes sharp with curiosity. She closed the door behind her and leaned against it, waiting.Nyra slipped in moments later, her red hair hidden beneath a dark hood, her grey gown blending

Nyra POVThe candles in Hecate's studio had burned low, their flames casting long shadows across the walls lined with dried herbs and glass vials. Nyra sat in the worn wooden chair near the hearth, her hands wrapped around a cup of tea that had long gone cold. Across from her, Hecate stood at the worktable, her dark hair loose, her expression focused as she listened."The tea party went well," Nyra said, setting down her cup. "Carmen talked. Not as much as I would have liked, but enough."Hecate's eyes sharpened. "What did she say?""She spoke of Blackthorn's vineyards. The early bloom. The promise of an exceptional vintage." Nyra shrugged. "Nothing of consequence. But she listened more than she spoke. That is a tell. Women who have nothing to hide chatter freely. Women who have secrets are careful.""And Carmen has secrets.""Many, I suspect." Nyra leaned back, crossing her legs. "She is ambitious. She is patient. She did not rise to her position by being careless. But she is also de

Hecate POVThe corridors were quiet as I walked toward Maddox's chambers, my footsteps muffled by the thick carpets, the torches casting flickering shadows across the stone walls. My mind was still heavy from the conversation with Nyra, from the weight of Carmen's presence, from the careful balancing act I had been performing for weeks.But as I approached the door, the tension in my shoulders began to ease.This was where I wanted to be. Not in the studio, not in the shadows, not plotting and scheming with allies. Here. With him.I pushed open the door.Maddox stood by the window, his back to me, his silhouette outlined against the moonlight. He turned when he heard me enter, and his golden eyes lit up in a way that made my heart skip."You are late," he said."I had things to attend to."He crossed the room in three long strides, and before I could say another word, his hands were on my waist, pulling me against him. His mouth found mine, hot and demanding, and any thought of Carmen

Hecate POVThe door opened, and Carmen stepped inside.She moved like she owned the room, her golden hair catching the morning light, her crimson gown trailing across the stone floor. Her smile was half ironic, half amused, the expression of a woman who believed she had won something. She probably thought she had convinced me to help her. She probably thought I was just another healer she could manipulate.She had no idea.Ysabella followed close behind, her expression carefully neutral, her eyes sharp. She took her place near the worktable, close enough to intervene if needed, far enough to seem unobtrusive. A silent witness. A quiet guard.Carmen stopped before me, her hands clasped before her, her head tilted."I knew you would change your mind," she said."I have not changed my mind." I kept my voice cool, professional. "I am willing to attempt treatment. That is different from promising results."Carmen waved a hand dismissively. "Details.""The details matter." I gestured to the