Chapter 5. The curse awakens

The moon hung high in the sky, a blood-red orb casting its weird glow over the Blackveil Pack’s territory. The night was thick with an unnatural stillness, and the air felt charged, as if something dark and powerful was stirring just beyond the edges of perception.

Seraphina Vale stood by her window, staring out at the sprawling wilderness. The trees swayed in the wind, their branches whispering to one another in a language only they understood. But for all the quiet, she could sense the unease in the air, the creeping tension that had settled over the pack ever since her arrival. She had tried to ignore it, but it gnawed at her, like a constant undercurrent that refused to be drowned out.

The wolves were restless.

It had started small at first a few growls, some snapping between pack members, but now, it was escalating. More and more wolves were turning wild, their instincts taking over as if something were driving them to madness. The shadows at the edges of the woods seemed darker, as though they were alive, moving just out of sight. The whispers in the night had changed too darker, more sinister, as if something ancient was waking.

Seraphina knew better than to ignore the signs. The curse, the one Dorian had told her about, the one that had bound her to him it was more than just an old tale, more than just an ancient law. It was real, and its influence was spreading, creeping into the very bones of the Blackveil Pack.

She turned away from the window, her gaze falling on the dimly lit chamber around her. The luxurious furnishings, the delicate curtains billowing in the soft night breeze it all seemed so out of place. The Alpha’s chambers were supposed to be a place of power, of control, but right now, they felt like a gilded cage.

Seraphina’s thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock at the door. Her heart skipped in her chest, but she quickly composed herself. She had no reason to be nervous. She had known who it was even before the knock had sounded.

"Come in," she called, her voice steady but soft.

The door creaked open, revealing Dorian Nightbane standing in the doorway. His tall, imposing figure filled the entrance, casting a long shadow across the room. His eyes were dark, his expression unreadable, but there was something in the way he looked at her a hunger, an intensity that she couldn’t quite place.

"I thought I’d find you here," he said, his voice low, almost a growl. "The wolves are restless tonight. More than usual. The pack’s uneasy."

Seraphina nodded, keeping her face neutral. "I’ve felt it too," she admitted. "Something’s not right."

Dorian stepped into the room, his boots making no sound on the stone floor. He moved toward her with the quiet grace of a predator, and for a brief moment, she was reminded of just how dangerous he truly was. The curse that bound them was more than just a contract it was a force that twisted their fates together, and she could feel its weight, pressing down on her every time they were near one another.

She wasn’t sure if it was the curse itself or something else that drew them together, but she couldn’t deny the pull she felt when Dorian was close. It was magnetic, undeniable. And yet, she knew that this attraction this connection wasn’t something she could trust. It was part of the curse. And it was something she would have to learn to control.

Dorian stopped in front of her, his eyes narrowing as he regarded her with a mixture of frustration and something else something darker. "I shouldn’t feel this way," he muttered, almost to himself.

Seraphina raised an eyebrow, her gaze lifting to meet his. "Feel what way?"

Dorian didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he seemed to struggle with his thoughts, as if he were fighting against something deep inside him. "You," he said finally, his voice rough. "There’s something about you. Every time I’m near you, it’s like I can’t breathe. It’s the curse, I know it is, but... it doesn’t make it any easier."

Seraphina’s heart fluttered in her chest. She had known that Dorian felt the bond between them how could he not? But hearing him admit it out loud felt like a challenge. The raw emotion in his voice made her pulse quicken, and for a moment, she wondered if he had ever felt something similar to the way she did, a sense of certainty, of fate closing in around them.

But then the moment passed, and she reminded herself of the stakes. She couldn’t afford to get lost in whatever this was between them. Not when she had a plan. Not when she had to uncover the truth behind the curse, and the darkness that seemed to be growing stronger with each passing day.

"We should get some rest," Seraphina said, breaking the tension. "We’ll need all the strength we can get for what’s coming."

Dorian didn’t argue, but the way his eyes lingered on her made it clear that he wasn’t quite ready to leave. His gaze raked over her, as if memorizing every inch of her, and Seraphina had to force herself not to shiver under the intensity of it.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he stepped back. "Rest well," he said, his voice low and strained. "We’ll deal with the pack’s unrest tomorrow."

With that, he turned and left, closing the door behind him with a quiet click.

Seraphina let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding, her body suddenly feeling heavy with the weight of his presence. But as soon as the door closed, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. The air was thick, too thick, and the shadows at the edges of the room seemed to stretch toward her, like hands reaching out from the darkness.

Her instincts screamed at her to leave the room, to get as far away from this cursed place as possible. But her feet remained planted to the ground, her breath shallow as she watched the shadows dance across the walls.

And then, just as suddenly as the feeling had come, it was gone. The room was quiet again, save for the soft rustle of the curtains in the breeze. But Seraphina couldn’t shake the unease that settled deep in her chest.

Something was coming. Something was already here.

Later that night, as Seraphina lay in her bed, the events of the evening continued to play out in her mind. Dorian’s words echoed in her ears, his admission of the curse, the strange pull that seemed to bind them together. But there was something else, something more pressing.

The wolves. The restlessness. The shadows.

She sat up in bed, her body rigid as she strained to listen. The house was eerily silent, the only sound the occasional creak of wood or the whisper of wind through the trees. But just as she was about to lie back down, she heard it a sound, soft at first, like the whisper of a breeze, but growing louder by the second.

Footsteps.

Seraphina’s heart skipped a beat as she pushed herself up, her instincts screaming at her to get out of bed. She moved quickly, slipping into the shadows of her chamber, her senses alert. Whoever it was, they were close too close.

The door to her room creaked open, the figure standing in the doorway outlined by the pale moonlight. But it wasn’t Dorian. It wasn’t anyone she recognized.

The figure stepped into the room, their movements fluid, unnatural. And before Seraphina could react, they lunged at her, a flash of silver gleaming in the dim light.

She barely had time to summon her magic before the rogue was on her. But she was quick faster than he expected and she twisted, flinging her power at him. A force of wind slammed into his chest, sending him crashing back against the wall.

He growled, his eyes wild, but he didn’t retreat. Instead, he surged forward again, a snarl escaping his lips as he reached for her throat.

This wasn’t just an attack. It was an attempt to kill her.

Seraphina raised her hand, ready to strike again, but before she could unleash her magic, the door to her chamber burst open, and Dorian stormed in, his eyes streaking with irritation. He didn’t even hesitate. With a single swipe, the rogue was thrown back, crashing into the far wall with a sickening thud.

"Stay back," Dorian roared, his voice low and dangerous as he stepped in front of Seraphina, his body a shield. "This is my pack’s territory. You will not harm her."

The rogue frowned at him, but there was fear in his eyes now. He had underestimated the Alpha.

Seraphina stood frozen, her heart pounding in her chest. She had barely survived that attack. And now, the question burned in her mind: Who had sent him?

The answer would come later. For now, there was only one thing she was sure of. The curse was waking and with it, the darkness that threatened to consume them all.