Chosen By The Cursed Alpha King Novel

The Stranger's Eyes ROSE'S POV The gym was dead silent after my scream . Every pair of eyes locked on me - wide , shocked , confused . The ball rolled to a stop somewhere near the baseline . Even the coach's whistle hung forgotten in her hand . " Did you see that ? " someone whispered from the back . " Her ankle - it twisted all the way around . " " How is that possible ? " another voice said , louder this time . " That was like ... broken . I heard the snap . " " That's insane , " Mia muttered beside me , kneeling fast . " Rose , your ankle- " I couldn't let them keep staring .

Couldn't let them keep talking . Panic clawed up my throat . My wolf had healed me too fast - too perfectly . The pain was gone . The bone was straight . The swelling never even had time to start . I was fine . Completely fine . But they'd seen . They'd heard . And they were already whispering . This was one of the things Damien was scared of and didn't want me going to a human college . I forced myself to wince . Hard . I grabbed my ankle like it still hurt , letting out a shaky breath . " Ow ... yeah , that ... that really hurt . " I made my voice small . Trembly .

I shifted my weight , pretending to test it , then hissed through my teeth like I couldn't put pressure on it . Mia's face crumpled with worry . " Okay , okay - don't move it . Let's go to the clinic right now . " She slid an arm under mine , helping me up . I leaned into her more than I needed to , limping dramatically on my " injured " leg . Every step was exaggerated - slow , careful , wincing like the floor was made of glass . I felt Katie's stare burning into my back .

When I risked a glance over my shoulder , she was standing there with her arms crossed , lips curled in a satisfied smirk . She looked ... pleased . Like she'd won something . My stomach twisted . What the hell was her problem ? Mia kept me steady as we walked out of the gym , down the long hallway toward the campus health center . A few students stared as we passed - whispers followed us like shadows . " Did you see how fast she got up ? " " I swear I heard bone crack . " " Maybe she's faking it ... " I kept my head down , forcing the limp , praying they'd just think I was tough . Or lucky .

Anything but what I really was . We reached the clinic . The waiting area smelled like antiseptic . Mia helped me into a chair while the nurse - a tired - looking woman in scrubs - came over with a clipboard . " What happened ? " she asked , already kneeling . " Twisted my ankle during basketball , " I said , keeping my voice small . " It hurt a lot at first , but ... I think it's okay now . " She lifted my foot gently , pressing around the ankle , turning it side to side . Her fingers probed . She frowned . " No swelling . No bruising . Full range of motion . " She looked up at me .

" You're sure it twisted badly ? " 1/4 082 The Strangers Eyes +25 Bonus " Yeah , " I said quickly . " It ... popped really loud . I thought it was broken . " She hummed , unconvinced , but wrote something down anyway . " Well , it's fine now . Probably just a bad sprain that didn't develop . Rest it , ice it if it starts hurting later , and no sports for a couple days . You shouldn't strain the leg . " " Thank you , " I said , forcing another wince as I stood . Mia hovered the whole time I " limped " out of the exam room . " Are you sure you're okay ?

" she asked again , arm around my waist like I might collapse any second . " Yeah , really . Thank you , Mia . You didn't have to do all this . " She smiled , soft and worried . " No problem . I'll give you my number, " she said as she took my phone and punched in her phone number . " Text me later , okay ? Let me know how it feels . " " I will . Promise . " We stepped outside into the afternoon sun . A black car waited at the curb - sleek , tinted windows , engine purring quietly . A man in a dark suit stepped out - mid - thirties , short hair , professional but friendly . "Miss Rose ?

" he said , voice calm . " I'm James . I'll be taking you home . " " Oh , " I said , relieved . " You're my new driver? " " Yes , ma'am . Mr. Valkar arranged it . " I turned to Mia . " Thank you again . Seriously . " She hugged me quickly . "Take care of that ankle . And text me ! " " I will . " James opened the back door for me . I slid inside , the cool leather seat a shock against my sweaty skin . The door closed with a soft, expensive thud . The second it shut , something felt ... wrong . My head suddenly weighed a ton . My eyelids drooped .

My arms went heavy , like they were filled with sand . I tried to sit up straighter . " James ? " He slid into the driver's seat . Our eyes met in the rearview mirror . They weren't friendly . They were cold . Calculating . Realization crashed over me like ice water . This wasn't James . 1 I lunged for the door handle - but my fingers were numb . My vision blurred at the edges . Darkness rushed in fast , dragging me under . The last thing I saw was the stranger's eyes in the mirror - watching me fade . Smiling .

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