Hybrid Alpha’s Prettiest Obsession

The rotting curse

Alpha Malakai Bloodrot

The blood in the silver goblet sloshed and rippled dangerously when the hunch-backed elder slammed his fist down on the dark wood table between us, frothing at the mouth with rage.

“This is unacceptable behavior, Alpha Malakai! I will not stand for it!” He roared, huffing and puffing like a puffer fish that had just been flung out of the sea.

“Then sit, Gobar, f***s sake.” I snickered, pushing to my feet so that I stared down at the brash elder elite who spasmed as if I’d just jammed an electric rod down his throat, as green, leathery popped on his temples.

“Why you ungrateful little s**t–” The mammoth wolf cursed indignantly as he rose to all nine-feet-nothing of his imposing height, stretching through the suspicious lump in his back until his spine stood straight as a board, his sharp hooked fangs gnashing furiously, black against his pasty-white skin.

“Watch your language, elder Gobar–” Wulfgar, my best man, snarled before clutching the large silver sword on the leather strap around his waist in a warning and making the other four elders rise cautiously to their feet, claws stretched out and digging tensely into the round table.

I’d had high hopes for this meeting with the Viper elders but it was clear that all four of the overlords had half a brain cell between them.

“All we’re asking is for you to find a bride, Malakai. A princess like the warrior pureblood from the Seif clan, to be our Luna. Seven of our allies have fallen to the Nightcrawlers, Your Highness, We’re only looking out for what’s best for this pack…something it seems only WE care about,” Another hairy elder announced calmly, splaying his hands as if it would have made his insult any lesser.

Rage made my chest tight but I balled my hands into fists at my side, biting back the retort on my tongue for a more level-headed response.

The last thing I wanted was an all-out war in my pack, but by Goddess, were they making it difficult!

I didn't want to have to marry Natalie Seif just because my uncle had thought it best to betroth me to a woman I barely knew.

I didn't care for love or any of their bloody rites, and between the four elders and me, we were strong enough to defend the pack against any crawlers.

Vipers weren't some blubbering wimps for f***s sake, every goddamned wolf in the vicinity could take on two dozen of enemy wolves in a battle.

“I will mate when I am ready to, elders. For now, we send out reinforcements to the allies we’ve got left. That is the end of the discussion. Do have a lovely evening,” I rasped, feigning a mock bow before promptly turning my back on the throng of elites just as their discontented murmurs echoed behind me.

“This is why Ivar should have been Alpha instead of you. The old Alpha would have rolled in his grave if he saw what disappointment remained of his legacy.” Gobar growled loudly, and his words made my feet slam to a stop halfway across the orange-lit throne room.

I inhaled deeply, slowly…fighting to release the way my claws instinctively shot out from my fingertips before I raked them back in almost painfully.

I couldn't shift so soon again…not yet at least…not here.

Flames roared from the fire torches hooked around the towering white pillars lined on either side of the long red carpet, as my wolf burned with rage inside me but I bore my heel down into the granite flooring, refusing to rise to the elder’s cheap bait.

I’d taken Ivar Krane as my brother up until the night the old Viper king crowned me as his prince because I was stronger, and the entitled little s**t backstabbed me and ran off.

Ivar could never really handle being bested at anything.

I shook myself, pasting the smile back on my face before I half-turned to face the throng, only enough that I could still see their strained faces out of the corner of my eyes.

“And here I was thinking your wife would have called YOU the greatest disappointment in this pack, Gobar. I guess we both have something in common then?” I chortled, catching the flash of his massive body as he shot across the hallway like a bat out of hell, his sword clanging noisily with Wulfgar’s shield as they stared nose-to-nose at each other, each breathing raggedly.

“Come along, Conrad, we’ve got real work to do,” I hissed, watching my Beta push off Gobar’s large sword as he staggered away from the huffing wolf who watched us both with an unmistakable air of disdain, not daring to attack me directly.

“Blasted hells, I thought it would never end, what are we going to do about the lost pack, Your Highness?” Wulfgard cursed under his breath as we broke out into the chilly air of the night outside the throne room.

His square face was still red with rage as his pet eagle hawked and flapped above his head noisily, its yellowed eyes widened as if sensing his familiar’s distress.

Yet another of our allies had fallen to Ivar’s band of night crawlers, breaking off another small portion of our territory I just knew would be a b***h to get back.

“We wait, Wulfgar, and then we make stronger allies,” I hissed, cursing under my breath when the princess’ wide hazel eyes met my own as she rushed up to meet me halfway across the crowded square.

“Kai? Baby? Is everything alright? I’ve been waiting for so long that I thought you’d never come out!” Natalie Seif whined as she hooked her hands on the lapel of my black shirt, pushing her lips up into a pout before I dodged her kisses.

“Not here, Natalia. I've got s**t to do,” I hissed, roping her wrists away from my body but she latched on stubbornly, her dark red brows furrowing in disbelief.

Fucking the princess the first time had been a mistake. The other five times had been just plain stupid. Desperate need.

I was like a beast who needed some form of release to be able to shift into my wolf, thanks to the double whammy of curses the moon goddess had handed down to the Bloodrots. The last of which was me.

I’d told Natalie time and again there wasn't shut else between us besides a good, wild f**k, and yet, the woman had somehow gotten it into her head that she could change me.

“Why don't you let me ease some of your work then, Your Highness? Make it easier for you?” She purred seductively, tracing her hand down the line of my groin to grip at the girthy weight in my pants before Wulfgar coughed behind me and I batted her hand away.

I tried not to notice how much needier the woman was getting by the night after I broke my one-night-one-w***e rule with her.

“Please, you barely even LOOK at me anymore, Your Highness, is there another woman satisfying you?” She cried, pushing herself up into my face before I forced back an irritated eye roll.

“There's no other b***h, Natalia, listen, this isn't the right time alright? We’ll f*****g talk when I get back.” I growled, shoving past her and nodding to my best man who threw a posh leather saddle over my royal horse before I hooked my leg over the Dane’s large rump.

“A-Are you leaving already? I thought we could–” The siren-eyed woman squeaked, backing away when the horse rose on it’s hind legs to neigh loudly.

“Goodnight, Natalia.” I deadpanned in a tone that brooked no argument, only feeling a pinch of guilt in my chest when tears pooled in her eyes before she snatched her gaze away, bowing deeply.

The horses shot into the night like a freight train going off the rails and I waited until we were a good distance away before turning to meet Wulfgar’s gaze where he watched me.

“Do you mind seeing the new club tonight? Your Highness? Pompero’s prepped the prisoners specially for your viewing, his invitation—” The Beta rapped anxiously and I almost waved him off before thinking better of it.

Fucks sake. I wasn't some bloody virgin gentleman, what the f**k was I doing turning down a night of fun?

“Lead the way, Conrad. This better be worth it.” I seethed, determined to forget all about the s**t-show going down in my pack and the haunting memories of the past cuddled up inside me like a dead wolf's shroud, the curse forming something colossal with each night that passed.

I was going to let myself be free…for just one night.