Zane’s POVI was about to step into the witches' chamber when Rhylie’s voice called out from behind, interrupting my thoughts. Her voice held a familiar sweetness, but something in it felt sharper than usual.“My Alpha,” she said, her voice dripping with a gentle insistence. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you. You left early this morning without a word. Where did you go?”I turned to face her, irritation beneath my expression. Her eyes held a softness, a look she reserved for me and me alone, but I was far too concerned with Scarlett to care.“Scarlett was in trouble,” I replied, keeping my voice soft, trying not to sound harsh. “I had to go look for her.”Rhylie’s gaze tightened for a brief moment, almost as if she was suppressing anger. She stepped closer, looking up at me with wide, seemingly innocent eyes. “Zane, you left without a word… I was so worried about you,” she said, her hand reaching up to touch my arm.I tried to ignore the pull in my mind, the strange haze that seem
Scarlett's Point Of View After feeling tired, nauseous, and oddly emotional for the past few weeks, I went to visit the pack's healer at the east border of the pack.Zara was the pack's healer and after father's death a few years ago, we'd become good friends. She smiled as she walked out of her camp.“It's good news, Alpha Scarlett,” She announced with a warm smile, bright enough to send my heart racing.“Come on Zara, please tell me, is it what I think it is? Am I really with a child?”Zara's smile ran impossibly deeper as she nodded. “Yes. You're pregnant!”I leaped up from the wooden chair in excitement, tears welling up in my eyes. Finally, Rand and I would have our own family, my dream was finally coming true.I left the camp and ran through the halls of the Silver Crest Pack’s manor, my chest bursting with happiness. I was eager to tell the good news to Rand, my mate.I searched around the manor looking for him but I couldn't find him, so I dashed to our chambers. I stood behi
Scarlett's Point Of ViewI was dead. Killed by my mate. My consciousness was gone as I drifted through the void, completely lost and wandering. There were times when the darkness grew cold and lonelier, and I almost succumbed to it. But something was stopping me from letting go and crossing over. There was something still connecting my soul to the side of the living.I wasn't sure how long I had wandered in the darkness, but all of a sudden, I felt a strong overpowering force breaking through the darkness and surrounding me. It was a surge of immense power. I felt my body burn with an overwhelming intensity until I felt a faint warmth, blossoming in my chest.The warmth felt like a fire as it grew stronger spreading all over my body and stirring me from my deep sleep.Then I heard my pulse, steady and rhythmic, my heartbeat bringing me back to life. Slowly I regained my senses and feelings in my limbs. I could hear the soft murmurs of voices around me, speaking in a language I couldn'
Scarlett's Point Of View I took a few steps back as I stared at Alpha Zane in front of me, his hazel eyes were heated as he took a step into the cave.His presence filled the room, waves of raw power and respect filling the room.It was impossible, the moon goddess only gave a wolf one mate in a lifetime. Alpha Zane couldn't be my mate.But I could feel it, the string tugging at my insides, urging me to get closer to him and lean into his warmth.The moon goddess had a sick humor and she was now toying with my life. I bet she thought dying in the hands of my very own mate wasn't enough.I wish I could meet with her and give her a piece of my mind.The witch's sisters already knew about the connection and they had been waiting for Alpha Zane to arrive so I could feel it myself. Their three pairs of eyes stared at me with expectation.“H…how?” I muttered, my voice breaking with surprise. This wasn't supposed to happen; I already had a mate, Rand, alas not a good one, but he had always
Scarlett's POV The deal was simple. Zane would help me get my revenge, and in return, I would help him break the curse. His hand held onto my hand as he took me back to his pack’s, a touch that kept sending both excitement and protection, an emotion I wasn’t ready to accept As we walked, the anger inside me was replaced with this peace of mind I couldn't pin down. My wolf, Luisa, was restless, her excitement mixed with the grief she couldn’t let go. We will have our revenge, Luisa, I whispered inwardly, trying to offer her comfort.I hope so, she replied, though it was still very hard to believe that Rand and Cassie could betray us, even to the point of almost killing us. But why would the goddess give us a mate again Luisa asked I didn’t have an answer, I really wish I did but I just didn't. I hadn’t stopped wondering that myself. What cruel game was the Moon Goddess playing with me, having me mated to someone who had already belonged to another? It just wasn’t fair, not after eve
Scarlett's Point Of ViewI barely slept that night. The deal with Zane was heavily on my mind, but what I wanted more was revenge, it was stronger than the fear that I felt inside me. My thoughts kept going back to Rand and Cassie, how they had betrayed me, how they had stolen everything from me. It was impossible to let go of the rage that burned inside me.I lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, the flickering light from the window casting long shadows on the walls. The silence of the Black Blood Pack could be felt even inside the room and around me, but inside, my thoughts were anything but quiet. My hand drifted to my stomach, where my child should have been. The pain of that loss was a constant reminder of why I couldn’t let this go.Eventually, I rose from bed and paced the room. Luisa, my wolf, stirred restlessly within me, her anger was exactly like mine. She longed for vengeance just as much as I did. I had made a deal with Zane, but I knew that nothing would truly calm the
Scarlett’s POVThe cold air was harsh on my skin as I pushed through the thick forest, the small stone the witches had given me clutched tightly in my palm. Every step forward was so unsure and uncertain as if the weight of the curse was pressing down on me. The stone grew warmer in my hand, a sign that I was on the right path, exactly what they had said.But it wasn’t just the stone that was on my mind but the fact that they said the dark magic was going to be dangerous, I couldn't help but wonder if it was the right thing to help them, I have lost a child, almost did lose my life but still I owe them for keeping me alive and granting me a new identity, so maybe yeah it did worth the effort, and then there was someone on my mind.Zane was on my mind.His presence was just in my thoughts, pulling at the bond that tied us together. The mate bond. A bond I never asked for, never wanted. Yet every time I thought of him, I felt a strange pull deep within me. The memory of his touch sent s
Scarlett's POVThe man who stepped from the shadows carried an air of authority so thick it weighed on the air around him. His tall frame, filled with darkness, made the night seem colder and harsher. The eyesthat met mine were as black as the night void of warmth but full of something I couldn't explain.“I’ve been waiting for you,” He said again, his voice weirdly calm.A shiver ran down my spine, but I got myself ready. There was no way in hell I’d show weakness to this stranger, whoever or whatever he was. I clenched the stone tighter in my hand, feeling its power move through me.“Well, isn’t that flattering,” I said, forcing a smirk. “Sorry, I’m late. Traffic in the woods is a nightmare.”He didn’t react; he just stared at me with those pitch-black eyes. “You think this is a game?” His voice was barely above a whisper, yet it carried enough echo to send a shake through the ground under us. “You are standing at the heart of the curse, and yet, you jest.”My heart raced, but I wa
Zane’s POVI was about to step into the witches' chamber when Rhylie’s voice called out from behind, interrupting my thoughts. Her voice held a familiar sweetness, but something in it felt sharper than usual.“My Alpha,” she said, her voice dripping with a gentle insistence. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you. You left early this morning without a word. Where did you go?”I turned to face her, irritation beneath my expression. Her eyes held a softness, a look she reserved for me and me alone, but I was far too concerned with Scarlett to care.“Scarlett was in trouble,” I replied, keeping my voice soft, trying not to sound harsh. “I had to go look for her.”Rhylie’s gaze tightened for a brief moment, almost as if she was suppressing anger. She stepped closer, looking up at me with wide, seemingly innocent eyes. “Zane, you left without a word… I was so worried about you,” she said, her hand reaching up to touch my arm.I tried to ignore the pull in my mind, the strange haze that seem
Zane’s POVThe sun was already beginning to set as I returned to the packhouse, my mind racing. Scarlett’s disappearance haunted me, and after looking for her in the cursed forest until I was near collapse, I had no choice but to return to gather the pack. I needed everyone out there searching so she could be hurt, alone, somewhere deep in that cursed land.As I approached, one of the guards stepped forward, his eyes widening as he bowed, when he saw me. “Alpha,” he greeted, then hesitated, his voice a mix of relief and worry. “Scarlett… She's back. Your beta brought her in earlier. He found her unconscious and carried her straight to the witches’ chambers.”I stopped short, a mixture of relief and anger boiling through me. She was back. She was here. But Kent had found her first? The idea sent a sharp pang through my chest. Gritting my teeth, I pushed past the guard, making my way to the witches’ chambers as fast as I could.The corridor outside the chamber was empty, save for one fi
Kent’s POVI woke up to the early morning sun entering through the window, my body warm and relaxed from the night I’d spent with Kiana. She lay beside me, a faint smile on her lips, her face looking quiet while sleeping but as I stirred, a feeling of regret settled in my chest.“Time for you to go, Kiana,” I muttered, gently shaking her awake. She blinked, giving me a lazy smile as she stretched before finally reaching for her clothes.She slid her tunic over her head, her eyes on me as she finished dressing. “Already rushing to leave?”I nodded, not looking her way as I started gathering my clothes. My mind was already elsewhere, my thoughts filled with Scarlett and the moment we may have shared yesterday until she turned me down.Once Kiana finished dressing, she leaned back against the door, smirking. “It’s funny how you’re so quick to leave for someone who isn’t even here.”I looked up, frowning. “What are you talking about?”“Oh, you don’t know?” Her smirk widened, a taunt playi
Scarlett's POVI woke up, my heart pounding. I have been having nightmares lately. The darkness, the figure from the cursed tree, his words running through my mind like a curse I couldn’t escape. I rubbed my temples, and the witches’ instructions echoed in my mind: Return to the cursed tree.Taking a deep breath, I pushed the blankets off me and forced myself out of bed. I wasn’t sure what I would find at the tree, but I was ready for whatever it might throw at me.“Lui, you there?” I whispered to my wolf.“I’m here,” Luisa answered, her voice soft. “But this whole thing feels… wrong. Going back to that tree…”“We have to,” I whispered back. “If we want any chance of ending this curse, it has to be done.”Luisa didn’t respondGetting ready, I prepared to leave for the forest, I moved quietly through the corridors, heading toward the forest. The sun was yet to be setThe forest was cold and so scary but I tried composing myself as I approached the cursed tree. Each step felt harder th
Kent’s POVI paced around my room, to and fro, trying to calm the emotions running through me and raging inside me. Scarlett had pulled away from me, and no matter how much I tried to brush it off, it stung. Badly. I couldn’t understand why I was feeling this way. It wasn’t like we were mates, but the connection I felt with her was undeniable. Something had changed between us, or maybe I was the only one who could feel it, but I knew I could feel that it was something real. And then, just when I thought she might feel it too, she pulled away. It left me feeling lost, angry, and confused. I ran a hand through my hair, my thoughts confusing. “What the hell is wrong with me?” I muttered under my breath. “I told you to not go after Scarlett,” my wolf Lucas said “Shut it !” I said blocking Lucas from communicating with me.I wasn’t supposed to feel like this. Scarlett had made it clear she was focused on the curse and her revenge, and I had told myself I was okay with that. But after to
Scarlett’s POVI walked down the corridor, the pain in my chest growing tighter with every step. My eyes burned with unshed tears, and my mind was anxious about what I had just witnessed. The image of Zane and Rhylie together, so intimate, so close, wouldn’t leave my head. It haunted me, making every step feel heavier than the last.I don’t care, I told myself, but the ache in my chest screamed otherwise. I shouldn’t be this upset. After all, Zane wasn’t mine, and I wasn’t his. Fuck the mate bond. He was free to be with whoever he wanted. That was the reality of the situation.But despite my attempts to understand it, I couldn’t stop the pain coming at me. My hands trembled as I clenched them into fists, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to spill.“You have no reason to cry, Scarlett. Focus on the curse. Focus on your revenge” I said to myself “Umm, Scar, don't you think Zane has been weird lately” Luisa said“Weird?” I said laughing, “Not weird Lui, this is the second t
Scarlett’s POVI had woken up this morning, hoping to get something done. I had cried myself to bed yesterday, but right now, my thoughts are spinning wildly. Ever since I had seen Zane in Rhylie’s room, my emotions were tangled in a mess I couldn’t seem to untangle. I didn’t want to care. I told myself repeatedly that I shouldn’t. The mate bond, whatever was pulling me toward Zane, wasn’t real. At least, it wasn’t meant to last. Maybe it might disappear after the whole deal thing.You’re stronger than this, Scarlett. I muttered to myself, but the pounding in my chest disagreed. Every time I thought of Zane with Rhylie, I don't know, but I felt anger, hurt, and confusion.Like as if I got betrayed for the second time."Forget about it," I whispered, shaking my head as if that would clear the thoughts from my mind. "You have bigger things to worry about. The curse, your revenge Zane doesn’t matter."But he did. No matter how much I fought it, the bond between us was there, pulling at m
Scarlett's POVI sat beside my bed, tears flowing down my face before I could even stop them. I didn’t understand why I was crying. What was happening to me? My heart ached, and my chest felt burdened, like something inside me was breaking apart. Why do I care? Why am I hurt? Why does it really hurt so much? I have no reason to be. I had told myself that I only wanted revenge that I had agreed to say here for a single purpose, the deal, to break the curse and return back to my pack to have my revenge, but. yet seeing Zane with Rhylie, seeing him about to make love to her after the kiss we shared last night it was too much, too painful to bear, I didn't understand why I felt betrayed I wiped my cheeks with the back of my hand, angry at myself for feeling this way. It shouldn’t matter. It was just a kiss, I reminded myself. It wasn’t supposed to mean anything.But the pain said otherwise. The betrayal I had once felt with Rand and my cousin now seemed like a distant memory compared to
Zane's POVMy hand froze inches from Rhylie’s door, my body torn between instinct and reason. Everything in me screamed to turn around, to walk away before I did something I will be regretting for the rest of my life. But the bond... the pull to her was undeniable, stronger than I had ever felt.I could feel Dalton pacing in my mind, his fury making my mind feel like a burning furnace. "Zane, don’t do this. You know something’s wrong."But I couldn't understand what he meant; Rhylie was our mate; it was normal to feel this way, but what bothered me more was the fact that ….It didn’t make sense. Just last night, all I could think about was Scarlett. The way her lips felt against mine, the way her body had fit so perfectly in my arms. But now... it was like she was fading, slipping away, and all I could think about was Rhylie.It wasn’t natural. It couldn’t be.The door opened before I even knocked, and Rhylie stood there, her eyes wide with surprise. I stared at her all I could feel we