Scarlett's POVThe exhaustion was starting to hit me as Zane and I approached the pack’s main grounds. My encounter with the man or whatever he was at the heart of the curse had drained me, and all I wanted was to crawl into bed and forget about the darkness clinging to me like a pest.But I knew better than to think rest would come that easily.Zane walked beside me, his presence comforting yet filled with what I couldn't exactly pin down. He hadn’t spoken much since we left the woods, and I could feel the questions buzzing in the air between us. I wasn’t ready to face them, not now.I was about to tell him I needed to get some rest when a voice, syrupy sweet but filled with something far more snaky, cut through the stillness of the night.“There you are! I’ve been looking for you everywhere, darling.”I stopped mid-step, my eyes staring at a woman I had never seen before walked toward us with far too much confidence. Her long dark hair swept down her back in waves, and she wore a s
Scarlett's PovThe first rays of sunlight entered through the window of my chamber, casting rays and shadows across the stone walls. I sat up slowly, the exhaustion heavy on my body. And I still couldn't fall asleep even after countless hours. I kept thinking about the cursed tree, the man, and his words, Zane and my revenge, and his first mate.“So that’s Zane’s first mate,” I said with a scoff, swinging my legs off the bed. I wasn’t sure what I had expected, but after our first meeting last night, I knew one thing for sure she was going to be a problem.I pushed the thoughts of Rhylie aside and focused on more pressing matters. The witches had kept secrets from me, but I wasn’t about to let them dodge my questions this time. They had to know more about the curse, about why I was connected to it. I had to figure out how to control whatever it was that had awoken within me.I stood and dressed quickly, my mind racing as I prepared to face the day. I had dismissed my maid because I cou
Scarlett’s POVThe witches’ chamber was dim; their candles made shadows on the stone walls. The air was thick with the scent of herbs and something ancient, something powerful. I had come here for answers, and I wasn’t leaving until I got them.The eldest witch sat at the head of the room, her silver hair flowing over her shoulders like a veil of moonlight. Her sharp eyes followed my every movement, and the younger witches remained silent, watching with unsettling stillness.I stood tall, swallowing the doubt building in my chest. “You’ve kept things from me,” I said, my voice Calm “About the curse. About my connection to it. I want the truth.”The eldest witch gave a small smile, though it lacked warmth. “The truth is a heavy burden, Scarlett. Are you sure you’re ready to carry it?”“I don’t have a choice,” I replied, holding her gaze. “ I need to know what’s happening.”The witches exchanged glances, their eyes gleaming in the candlelight. The eldest witch leaned forward slightly, h
Scarlett’s POVThe air between Rhylie and me filled with heat, like a fire waiting to burn everything in its way. Her hand was held in the air, fingers twitching as if she were about to slap me into the ground. My heart raced, but I didn’t flinch. I wasn’t about to give her the satisfaction of seeing me back down.But then, her wrist was caught mid-swing and I froze, my breath catching in my throat. Who would dare intervene?My eyes trailed up the arm that held Rhylie back, landing on a man standing behind her. His grip was firm but relaxed, and there was a teasing smile playing on his lips. He looked at Rhylie as if they had known each other for long.“Still feisty, are we Rhylie,” the man said, his voice deep and filled with amusement.Rhylie’s eyes widened in shock, her mouth hanging open as she recognized the man. “Kent! When did you get back?” she stammered, her anger immediately replaced by surprise.“Ten minutes ago,” Kent replied, finally releasing her wrist. His eyes stared
Kent’s POVI stepped into Zane’s study. He stood by the fireplace, his back straightened as if he’d been waiting for me. The room felt colder than I remembered, despite the fire burning in the fireplace.“Hey, Alpha,” I greeted casually, hoping to lighten up the mood because a lot of things seemed to have happened when I was away.Zane didn't turn around. “Cut the bullshit, Kent.”I raised an eyebrow, smirking to myself. Same old Zane always to the point, especially when things were complicated. I couldn’t blame him. He had a lot on his plate, and I’d been gone for weeks.“Take it easy on me, man,” I said, settling into the chair across from his desk. “I’m just coming back from burying my mate in her hometown.”Zane finally turned to face me, his eyes softening for a moment, and I could see the genuine regret there. “I’m sorry, Kent,” he said, his voice low. “I didn’t mean to ”“It’s alright,” I cut in, waving it off. “ It’s sad, but it’s over now. She died of that damn disease. The g
Scarlett’s POVThe night was dark and suffocating, as though the shadows themselves were closing in around me. I was running, my heart pounding in my chest as I tried to escape the suffocating grasp of the trees that twisted and bent unnaturally. The forest was alive, moving with a dark energy that pulsed with the curse.The man... he was here. I could feel him.His cold, Harsh voice echoed through the trees. “You can’t run from me, Scarlett. You can’t run from your fate.”I stumbled, falling to the ground as his shadow came over me. I looked up, seeing nothing but darkness, yet feeling his presence all around me. His fingers, cold and sharp, grasped my throat, squeezing the breath from my lungs.“You will have to choose,” he hissed, his voice shouting into my ears like an echo. “And when you do, everything you love will be destroyed.”I tried to scream, but no sound came out. My body was frozen, paralyzed by the choking of the man's hand and the curse.This is a dream. It has to be
Zane’s POVThe first light of dawn had just begun to enter through Scarlett’s window as I carefully slipped out of her bed. My body was reluctant to leave the warmth of her presence, but I needed to think clearly. Last night had been... nothing serious, though, but the pull between us was growing stronger by the day.So I gently closed the door behind me, I leaned against the wall, running a hand through my hair. The kiss... the mate bond... it was all becoming too much I thought, my heart still racing at the memory of her lips on mine.This wasn’t supposed to happen. She was not even supposed to be my mate, I thought, the confusion gnawing at me. How can the goddess pair me with two mates? And they were both having the goddess mark which makes it crazier Dalton moved restlessly in the back of my mind, his presence stronger than ever. “You know she’s the one, Zane. You can’t deny it anymore.”I clenched my jaw, trying to shut him out. The pull to Scarlett was undeniable, but Rhylie
Rhylie’s POVI could feel the deaf silence of the witches’ chamber leaving a cold, unsettling feeling in my stomach. The voice, the one that whispered through the darkness, hadn’t been part of the spell. It was something else, something ancient and far more dangerous than I had anticipated.I took a shaky breath, staring at the altar in front of me, the blinking candlelight. My hands trembled as I gripped the edge of the table, my heart pounding wildly in my chest.“What was that?” I whispered to myself, feeling the pulse of magic still lingering in the air. The ritual had been interrupted, but the dark magic was still moving around me, suffocating, waiting for me to make a decision.I glanced down at the book in front of me, the forbidden spell I had begun still open, the blood from my earlier incantation drying on the page. My mind was racing, fear battling with my desperate need to keep Zane. The voice had been a warning, one I should have heeded, but I couldn’t afford to stop now.
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