Chosen as the Cursed Alpha's Seventh Bride

Emilia’s POV

I didn’t sleep at all.

How could I, when the taste of him lingered on my lips like a brand I couldn’t scrub away?

The bed beneath me felt foreign. Wrong. No matter how I shifted, I couldn’t find comfort on the mattress. My body remained tense, hyper-aware of every sound from Sebastian’s room beyond the thin wall.

I wanted to shower, to wash away the heat still clinging to my skin. But I couldn’t risk waking him.

So I lay there, staring at the ceiling, counting the hours until dawn.

When morning light finally crept through the curtains, I dragged myself out of bed. My reflection in the mirror looked as exhausted as I felt—dark circles shadowed my eyes, and my hair was a disaster.

Perfect.

Just what every new Luna wanted to look like on her first morning in the pack house.

But there was no time to dwell on it.

By Silver Moon Pack tradition, the morning after a mating ceremony, the new Luna shared her first meal with the pack’s ruling family. It was a small, private thing.

It was a ritual of respect, a formal acknowledgment of my new position.

Even if my so-called mate wanted nothing to do with me, I still had to play the part.

I made my way downstairs, where several pack members who worked in the house were already setting the long table. They greeted me with cautious politeness, their eyes curious but guarded.

I pitched in, carrying dishes out and laying the places. Coffee in the good pot, warm bread, the nice plates brought down just for the morning. By the time we had it all on the table, it looked like something out of a magazine.

Sebastian’s parents came in as I was setting down the last plate. Sebastian trailed behind them, and stopped at the far wall with his arms crossed, like he had no intention of sitting.

The man easing into the high-backed chair was Titus Simons, the former Alpha. Even at his age, he carried himself with unmistakable authority. Back straight, eyes sharp and assessing.

I pulled out the chair for him first and poured his coffee, keeping my gaze respectful.

"Alpha Titus. Please."

The formal address felt safer.

Titus took the cup, but he didn’t drink. His expression stayed unreadable. I turned to Mila and filled hers too, with the same careful deference.

"Madam Simons . Please."

Before I could step back, Mila set her cup aside and reached for my hands. Her grip was warm, firm, and completely unexpected.

"Child," she said gently, drawing me down until I had no choice but to sit beside her. "We know about your situation in the Frostridge Pack."

My breath caught. I hadn’t expected this.

"We know your mother passed when you were young," Titus added, his voice surprisingly soft. "And we know your father never truly cared for you."

Mila squeezed my hands tighter. "We want you to know that here, in the Silver Moon Pack, you have a place. A real place. Not as an outsider, not as a burden. As our daughter-in-law."

Her thoughts poured into my head before I could shut them out.

[This poor girl. So young, and she’s been through so much. I can feel how alone she is. She deserves to be loved. To belong to a real family.]

My throat tightened. I wasn’t used to this. Kindness with no strings. Acceptance that didn’t come with a price.

"You don’t have to call us Alpha and Luna," Titus said firmly. "Those titles are for the pack. But you’re family now. Call us Titus and Mila, if you like."

"Or," Mila added, her smile hopeful, "you could call us Mom and Dad. If that ever feels right to you."

For a moment I couldn’t get a word out. The sincerity in their voices, in their thoughts, was too much. These people barely knew me, and they were holding out the one thing I’d never had. A family that actually wanted me.

I swallowed hard and blinked against the sudden sting behind my eyes.

"Mom," I said quietly, trying the word out. It felt strange. Foreign. But also, somehow, warm. "Dad."

Mila’s face lit up like I’d handed her the world. She pulled me into a fierce hug, and Titus’s big hand settled gently on my shoulder.

"Good," he said, his voice rough. "That’s good."

For the first time since I’d walked into this pack house, something in me eased. Maybe, just maybe, I could belong here.

"So," Mila said, casual in a way that was anything but. "How was last night?"

My brain short-circuited.

"I... what?"

Her thoughts crashed in before I could stop them.

[He let himself be close to her. Oh, Moon Goddess, maybe there’ll be pups soon. Maybe this girl really is the one who can reach him.]

My face went up in flames.

"I... um..." I fumbled for any words that wouldn’t make this worse. "It was... fine?"

Mila leaned in, her smile widening. "I saw the two of you kissing."

Oh no.

I wanted the floor to open up and swallow me.

"Well, that was..." I cleared my throat, hunting for an exit. "That was just... you know..."

Footsteps came thundering down the stairs and saved me from finishing that sentence.

"Morning, everyone!" Tiffany burst in like a ray of sunshine, grinning ear to ear. "Did I miss anything good?"

"No," I said. Too fast. "Nothing. Nothing at all."

Tiffany raised an eyebrow, not buying it for a second, but she let it go.

Mila sighed and let my hand go, reluctant. "Tiffany, go tell your brother to come down for breakfast."

"Ugh, hard pass." Tiffany wrinkled her nose. "He’s a bear in the mornings. I’m not poking that thing."

"I’ll get him," I said, already on my feet.

Anything to get out of this conversation.

I fled upstairs before anyone could stop me, my heart still going from Mila’s grilling.

At the bedroom, I pushed the door open without thinking.

Sebastian was halfway through changing, the white shirt he was pulling on still half-buttoned, his chest bare beneath it.

He glanced at me, fingers stilling on the buttons. "Don’t you knock before walking into someone’s room?"

I crossed my arms. "If I remember right, I live in this room too. And it’s time for breakfast. Mom asked you to come down."

His jaw tightened at the word.

"Mom?" he repeated, dripping sarcasm. "I don’t recall picking up a new sister besides Tiffany."

"Sorry to disappoint you," I shot back, "but everyone except you seems pretty happy about this. So keep playing the stubborn, uncooperative son if you want. I’ll just take the open spot as the obedient daughter. I’m sure your parents would love the trade."

His eyebrow twitched, and satisfaction curled through me.

Got him.

I cleared my throat and dropped the teasing. "Also, so you know. Your mother already asked me if we... did something last night."

Sebastian went still. "And what did you tell her?"

"Didn’t get the chance. Tiffany showed up and saved me." I let that sit a beat. "But you should know she saw us kissing. So unless you want her getting ideas about grandpups, you might want a better cover story."

His eyes narrowed. "Grand-what?"

"Grandpups," I said, easy. "The whole pack’s been waiting for one. An Alpha pup straight from the bloodline. You have no idea how badly they want it."

His face darkened. "That’s not happening."

"No?" I tipped my head, playing innocent. "Because last night you seemed pretty eager to play the devoted mate."

"That was for show."

"Was it?"

I took a step closer, watching his jaw work. "Because from where I was standing. Or lying. It felt real enough."

Sebastian’s hand shot out and closed around my shoulder. "Don’t push your luck, Emilia."

I wasn’t done.

Before he could stop me, I wound my arms around his neck and pulled him down into a kiss.

His whole body locked up.