Claimed by the Cursed Alpha

I was tricked into guarding a tomb, paid three hundred bucks a night.

They whispered that the place was haunted by a vengeful spirit, one that claimed a life every night to ease its wrath.

I sat by the tombstone, sighing deeply. "My mate, it’s been so long. Why can’t you let it go?"

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It was a family tomb.

The middle-aged man who brought me here trembled as he spoke, his voice weak. "This is it. Three hundred a night."

I carried my backpack, glancing around. "No bed? Where am I supposed to sleep?"

The man gave me a strange smile. "You won’t need one."

With that, he hurried away.

I sat in front of the tombstone, staring at the black engraved letters.

**Elisha Lane**

Just three words, no other description. The air around the tomb was thick with dark, oppressive energy.

I ran my fingers over the tombstone, hearing whispers from not far away.

"She’s got no family, no one to miss her if she dies. She’ll do for tonight, and we’ll figure it out tomorrow."

"Are you sure? What if someone comes looking for her…"

"Throw some money at them if they do. Since when are you short on cash?"

"I’m not."

"Exactly! Problem solved."

"But this spirit kills someone every night. How long can this go on?"

"If you don’t hire someone to guard the tomb, it’ll be your family next! Your ancestors made this mess. You think you can just shrug it off?"

A rogue Lycan and a wealthy Delta, deciding lives with a few cold words.

I stroked the tombstone, my heart aching.

"My mate, it’s been so long. Why can’t you let it go?"

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Elisha and I held our mark ceremony seventy years later.

When my time ran out, I joined him in the afterlife, my aged form reverting to the vibrant twenty-something I once was.

Elisha had built a solid reputation in the pack’s afterlife, and our ceremony was a grand affair.

Ford Rogers stayed to witness our union before he moved on to his next life.

He’d been afraid he’d miss it, so he’d gifted us a mating present early. Now, he could leave with no regrets.

Elisha stood tall, dressed in ceremonial attire, his presence commanding yet tender.

He took my hand, his voice steady. "My mate, I’ve waited so long for this day."

I nestled into his embrace.

"So have I."