The Forbidden Pull

Sofia stood on the balcony of Damien’s penthouse, the city lights stretching endlessly before her like scattered stars. A soft breeze kissed her skin, but her heightened senses turned it into something electric—every sound, every scent, every flicker of movement seemed sharper than it ever had before.

She wasn’t sure when the changes started, but they were undeniable now. She could hear Damien moving inside the penthouse, his quiet footsteps on the hardwood floor like distant thunder to her newly attuned ears. She could smell him—earthy, masculine, and distinctly Damien—even though he was nowhere near her. Her pulse quickened, the pull she felt toward him growing stronger, almost magnetic.

A soft voice broke through her thoughts. “You’re quiet tonight.”

She turned to find Damien leaning against the glass door, his silhouette sharp and commanding in the moonlight. His shirt was unbuttoned at the collar, his sleeves rolled up, revealing the tattoos that crawled up his forearm like dark secrets. He looked effortlessly dangerous, and she hated how much she wanted him.

Sofia tried to force a casual smile. “Just... thinking.”

He stepped closer, the intensity of his gaze sending a shiver through her. “About what?”

She hesitated, the words caught in her throat. She had been thinking about him—about how this was supposed to be a simple contract marriage.

A cold, calculated arrangement meant to hurt Jake and solve both of their problems. She wasn’t supposed to care. But somewhere between his sharp wit, his protective nature, and the way he looked at her like she was the only thing in the world that mattered, she had started to fall.

But that wasn’t all. Lately, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something deeper was happening to her. Something tied to Damien, to his curse, to everything she didn’t yet understand.

Before she could answer, Damien’s phone buzzed on the counter inside. He shot her a look that said he didn’t want to leave, but after a moment’s hesitation, he turned and went to answer it.

Sofia watched him disappear into the shadows of the penthouse, her heart twisting. That pull—that undeniable, irresistible connection between them—was driving her mad.

The moment was broken when she stepped back inside and found herself face-to-face with Jake.

He was standing in the penthouse, leaning casually against the kitchen counter as if he belonged there. Her breath caught, her senses immediately going into overdrive. She could smell the faint whiff of alcohol on him, hear the slightly elevated rhythm of his heartbeat, and feel the weight of his gaze as it lingered on her.

“What the hell are you doing here?” she demanded, her voice low and sharp.

Jake smirked, pushing off the counter. “Relax. I just wanted to talk.”

“How did you even get in?”

“Damien doesn’t have the best security. You’d think a man like him would’ve invested in better locks,” Jake said with a shrug, his tone mocking.

Her anger flared. “You can’t just break in here!”

Jake’s face hardened, his easy smile replaced with something colder. “I’m trying to save you, Sofia. From him.”

She folded her arms, refusing to let him intimidate her. “Save me? Don’t make me laugh. The only person I need saving from is you.”

Jake stepped closer, his voice dropping to a low whisper. “You don’t know what he really is. What he’s really planning.”

“I know exactly what he is,” Sofia shot back, her chin lifting defiantly.

“And I’d rather be with him than spend another second with someone like you.”

Jake’s expression darkened.

“You think he loves you? You think any of this is real? Sofia, open your eyes. He’s using you. You’re part of some sick plan to break his curse, and when it’s done, you’ll mean nothing to him.”

The words hit her like a slap, but she refused to let Jake see her falter. “You’re lying,” she said through gritted teeth.

Jake leaned in, his voice dripping with venom. “Am I? Or is he just feeding you what you want to hear so you’ll play your role?”

Before she could respond, the low growl of a wolf echoed through the penthouse. Sofia turned to see Damien standing in the doorway, his golden eyes glowing with barely restrained fury.

“Get out,” Damien growled, his voice dangerously calm.

Jake smirked, clearly unfazed. “Oh, look who decided to join us. Don’t worry, Blackwood. I was just leaving.” He glanced at Sofia, his smile turning cruel. “Think about what I said.”

Damien stepped forward, his entire body taut with tension, but Sofia placed a hand on his chest. “Let him go,” she whispered.

Jake gave her one last lingering look before disappearing into the night.

The door clicked shut, and the tension in the room didn’t fade. Damien’s hands flexed at his sides, his wolf barely contained. “What the hell was he doing here?”

“He said he wanted to talk,” Sofia said, her voice quieter now.

Damien turned to her, his eyes narrowing. “And what did he say?”

Sofia hesitated, the memory of Jake’s words weighing heavily on her. “He... he said you’re using me. That I’m just part of your plan to break the curse.”

Damien’s jaw clenched, his eyes darkening. “And you believed him?”

Her frustration boiled over.

“How am I supposed to know what to believe, Damien? You’ve been keeping things from me since the day we met!”

He stepped closer, his voice low and rough. “I kept things from you to protect you, Sofia. Not to manipulate you.”

“Then tell me the truth,” she demanded, her voice shaking. “All of it. No more half-truths. No more lies.”

Damien’s chest rose and fell with the force of his breathing. For a moment, he looked at her as if he were at war with himself. Finally, he spoke.

“The curse... it doesn’t just affect me,” he said quietly. “It’s tied to you, too.”

Sofia’s breath caught. “What do you mean?”

“You’re more than just some bystander, Sofia. The curse... it draws in someone connected to it. Someone destined to either save me or destroy me.” His voice dropped lower. “You’re not just part of my life. You’re part of the curse.”

The room felt like it was spinning, the weight of his words pressing down on her. She stared at him, her heart pounding.

“And you didn’t tell me this sooner?” she whispered, her voice trembling.

“I couldn’t,” Damien said, his eyes pleading. “I didn’t want to scare you away.”

Sofia took a step back, her mind reeling. Everything she thought she knew—about Damien, about their relationship, about herself—was unraveling. And yet, the pull she felt toward him didn’t weaken. If anything, it grew stronger, like an invisible force tying her to him.

“Damien,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “What are we going to do?”

He stepped closer, his hand brushing her cheek. “We’ll figure it out,” he said softly. “Together,we can beat this.”

And despite everything, despite the lies, the danger, and the curse, Sofia found herself believing him.And they made sure, to resolve their differences before going to bed