Mute And Marked: The Feared Alphas' Mate

6: Like A Curse

~Axel~

The day started like any other—bright, clear skies over Silverclaw University, the tension between us barely contained after everything that had happened with that mute freak. We tried to push it down, pretend it didn’t bother us, but I knew my brothers felt it too. We’d never been in this kind of situation before—mated to someone we despised. It was like a curse hanging over us.

Kade was itching for a fight, throwing punches at the air, and Ryder had that restless energy too. I was trying to keep calm, to focus on anything else, but deep down, I felt the same irritation. We were at the football field, trying to blow off steam. But something was different today. I could feel it in the air—something heavy, charged, like the world was holding its breath.

We didn’t get much time to think before everything went to hell.

It started as a regular scrimmage—some guys challenging us, probably thinking they could test the infamous triplets. We’d crushed them easily enough, laughing as we tossed them aside like ragdolls. But then, out of nowhere, another pack of wolves charged onto the field. They weren’t from our school. Rogues? No, something worse. Their eyes were wild, bloodshot, and filled with an uncontrollable rage.

“Axel, these guys aren’t alright!” Ryder growled, his eyes flashing gold as he began to shift, fur rising along his arms.

I felt it too. The air was thick with something dark, something that made my wolf, Rodolfo, snarl and snap within me. But there was no time to think about it—one of those wolves lunged at us, and instinct took over. I shifted in an instant, fur ripping through skin, bones cracking as I let my Alpha wolf take full control. My brothers were right there with me, a wall of teeth and claws as we tore into the attackers.

Blood sprayed across the field as claws ripped through flesh. The growls and roars echoed, blending with the screams of onlookers. I bit down on a rogue’s shoulder, my jaws crushing bone as I shook him until he went limp. But no matter how many we took down, more kept coming. And these weren’t regular wolves—they fought like they had nothing to lose, like they were possessed.

Kade was in full beast mode, a blur of black fur and fangs, tearing through anyone who came near him. Ryder was just as deadly, his snarls savage as he ripped into a wolf’s flank. But I could feel it—something was wrong. Our movements were getting slower, our strength fading. Every time we struck, it felt like the energy was being sucked out of us.

“What the hell is happening?” I barked out, struggling to keep my focus as a wave of dizziness hit me.

And then it all went south.

Kade let out a blood-curdling scream, clutching his head as he shifted back to human form, his eyes wide with terror. Blood was pouring from his ears, staining his shirt as he stumbled, collapsing to the ground. “Make it stop!” he screamed, his voice broken, desperate.

Ryder wasn’t any better. He dropped to his knees, clawing at his head like he was trying to rip something out. “It’s in my head! Get it out!” he howled, his voice cracking. Blood streamed from his ears too, and I could see the panic in his eyes.

My own vision started to blur, a sharp ringing tearing through my skull. It was like knives digging into my brain, each pulse of pain worse than the last. I tried to fight it, but my legs buckled, and I hit the ground hard. Rodolfo was thrashing inside, howling in agony, but I couldn’t shift. I was paralyzed, trapped in my human form, gasping for air as everything went dark around the edges.

“What the hell is this?!” I forced out, my voice barely a whisper as the ringing in my ears grew louder, turning into a deafening screech.

But no one answered. Kade was already unconscious, his body twitching, blood pooling around his head. Ryder was still screaming, clutching his head as his eyes rolled back, foam bubbling at his mouth. And me—I couldn’t move, couldn’t see. My vision was gone, replaced by nothing but darkness and that horrible, shrieking noise.

It was like the Moon Goddess herself had cursed us. Something more powerful than anything we’d ever faced was ripping us apart from the inside out. I clawed at the ground, trying to drag myself toward my brothers, but my limbs were numb, useless.

People were shouting, trying to get close, but no one could help. We were Alphas, the strongest of the strong, but we were being torn down like we were nothing. This wasn’t a normal fight—it was something more sinister, something beyond our control.

And then, as quickly as it started, everything stopped. Silence fell over the field, the only sound the ragged gasps of breath as I tried to pull myself back from the brink of unconsciousness. But even in the silence, the damage was done.