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Chapter 9
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2024-12-31 01:29:20
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The Curse Within Chapter 10
MARCUS' POVThe morning sunlight streaming through the windows didn’t bring peace. If anything, it made everything worse. I sat at my desk, my fingers tapping against the polished wood as the memories of that night replayed in my mind, sharper with every loop. I couldn’t escape them—couldn’t escape him.That boy. My godson. My best friend’s son.I clenched my jaw, feeling the familiar wave of anger rise in me. No matter how I tried to rationalize it, the outcome was always the same: the boy was dead, and Sofia was to blame.But what no one knew—what no one could ever know—was why I’d been there that night, chasing after him, my heart racing with panic and desperation.It had all started earlier that day. Thorne called me into his study with a look that told me something was wrong before he even opened his mouth.“Marcus,” he’d said, his tone colder than usual. “We have a problem.”Those four words hit me like a punch to the gut. When Thorne had a problem, it wasn’t something small or
Last Updated : 2024-12-31The Curse Within Chapter 11
Alaric’s POVI leaned against the doorframe of my bedroom, arms crossed, trying to shake off the restlessness that had plagued me since yesterday. Sofia had been all I could think about, her image burned into my mind like a brand. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her—her soft curves, her delicate features, the way her skin glowed under the dim light of her room.Luka wasn’t helping.“She’s our mate,” he growled in the back of my mind, his voice full of longing and impatience. “We should claim her.”I ran a hand through my hair, groaning. He was relentless, constantly pushing me toward her, and if I was honest, I didn’t need much convincing. She was stunning, the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen.But now wasn’t the time. She was still reeling from everything that had happened, and throwing her into the deep end of our bond would only scare her off. Luka didn’t understand that, but I did.For now, I needed distance.I’d sent the maids out earlier to pick up a few things for her and
Last Updated : 2024-12-31The Curse Within Chapter 12
Sofia's POVBeing in Alaric’s room felt like stepping into another world. The moment I crossed the threshold I was surrounded by his scent a blend of pine and something rich and musky that made my head spin. It was warm and masculine yet somehow comforting all at once. The space itself was surprisingly tidy with dark furniture and a large bed covered in neatly arranged black sheets. A faint chill lingered in the air but it wasn’t the cold that made me shiver.It was him.Alaric.The way he looked as he stood in front of me shirtless with sweatpants hanging low on his hips his abs on full display. The sharp definition of his torso the way the muscles rippled with every small movement—it was almost too much to handle. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest each beat loud and insistent as heat pooled low in my belly.I tried not to stare but my gaze betrayed me lingering on the v-line that disappeared beneath the waistband of his pants. God help me he was beautiful. Every inch of him
Last Updated : 2024-12-31The Curse Within Chapter 13
Alaric's POVBeing in the same room as Sofia was torture, plain and simple. Every time she moved, every time she spoke, it was like a spark ignited something deep within me that refused to be extinguished. The scent of her, the way she looked at me with those wide, curious eyes—it drove me to the brink.I wanted her.No, that wasn’t quite it. I needed her.The urge to close the distance between us, to pull her into my arms, to press her soft body against mine—it was overwhelming. Luka, my wolf, wasn’t helping either. He was clawing at the edges of my mind, growling and pacing, his desire for our mate as wild and untamed as my own."Take her now," Luka urged. "Make her ours. She’s right there. She belongs to us."I clenched my fists, forcing him back. "No, Luka. Not now. Not like this. She’s not ready."But the longer she stayed, the harder it became to resist. My body burned with need, my thoughts clouded by images of her beneath me, crying out my name. It wasn’t just lust—it was the
Last Updated : 2024-12-31The Curse Within Chapter 14
Sofia's POVAfter the whirlwind of emotions in Alaric’s room, I felt like I needed to clear my head. I couldn’t believe the way my body reacted to him. Every time I closed my eyes, I could see the way his muscles flexed as he cleaned my wound, the intensity in his gaze when he spoke to me. My heart raced just thinking about it.How was it possible to feel this way about someone I barely knew? Alaric was... captivating. I found myself wishing he had leaned in, kissed me, claimed me in a way that made no sense but felt entirely natural. Shaking my head, I forced myself to stop.I needed a distraction.After pulling myself together, I decided a shower might help. As the warm water cascaded over me, I tried to push the thoughts of Alaric out of my mind, but they lingered, wrapping around me like a second skin.Once I was dressed and ready, I figured a walk might help. Alaric had mentioned I’d be going away later, and the idea of spending more time cooped up in my room didn’t sit well wit
Last Updated : 2024-12-31The Curse Within Chapter 15
Brylon's POVI burst through the doors of the sanatorium, Sofia limp in my arms. Lyra, our pack’s healer, looked up from her desk, her sharp eyes immediately narrowing on us. She rushed over, her usual calm demeanor replaced by concern.“What happened?” she asked as I carefully laid Sofia down on one of the beds.“I found her in the garden,” I said, stepping back to give her room. “She was on the ground in pain, crying out like she was being torn apart from the inside. Then she passed out.”Lyra wasted no time. Her hands moved with precision as she checked Sofia’s pulse and temperature, leaned in to examine her eyes, and pressed a stethoscope to her chest.“She seems stable for now,” Lyra muttered, frowning. “Her vitals are normal, but this kind of pain isn’t normal for a human. Did she say anything before passing out?”“No,” I replied. “Just screams and then silence.”Lyra leaned back, crossing her arms. “There’s something about this... Her symptoms remind me of how wolves behave jus
Last Updated : 2024-12-31The Curse Within Chapter 16
Alaric’s POVI can’t stop pacing the room. The weight of the situation presses down on me, suffocating me. Sofia doesn’t know, not yet. She doesn’t know the full extent of what’s happening to her, and I’m torn. She’s my mate, my human mate, and now she’s about to be thrust into this supernatural world, a world she never asked for, never believed in. But now, she’s one of us, whether she wants it or not.It’s a lot to process, I know. I’ve had time to adjust to the idea, but for Sofia, everything is going to change in the blink of an eye. And that shift, it’s coming tonight. She’s not going to be ready for it. None of us were, not at first, but we had a pack, a family, to help us through it. She’s alone in this, except for me.I can feel Luka pacing in my chest, his energy restless, like he knows something is about to happen. He can feel the pull of the bond between us, too, but he’s not the one I’m worried about. It’s Sofia. I’ve never felt this helpless in my life. How do I explain t
Last Updated : 2024-12-31The Curse Within Chapter 17
(Alaric's POV)I leave her room, but my mind doesn’t. Every step away from her feels like a betrayal, but I know I need time to think. How do I tell her? How do I prepare her for what’s coming without breaking her?I find myself back in the pack house’s common room, pacing again. The familiar scent of wood smoke and the faint murmur of packmates in the distance do nothing to calm me. I can still feel her fear, her confusion, and it tears at me.Brylon finds me there, his arms crossed, his expression hard to read. "You’re running out of time, Alaric," he says, his tone low but firm."I know," I snap, my voice sharper than I intended. I exhale slowly, trying to rein in my frustration. "But she’s not ready. How am I supposed to tell her that her life as she knows it is over? That something inside her has changed forever?"Brylon steps closer, his eyes narrowing. "You tell her because she deserves to know. Because if you don’t, she’ll face it unprepared, and that could break her. You thin
Last Updated : 2024-12-31
Latest chapter
The Curse Within Chapter 34
SOFIA'S POVThe forest stretched endlessly before us, a mix of tall trees and dense shadows, the kind of wilderness that had always felt like home and a threat all at once. The air was crisp, the faint scent of pine and earth grounding me as I leaned against a moss-covered tree, trying to catch my breath.Alaric stood a few feet away, his sharp gaze scanning the treetops. Even now, with the tension in the pack house lingering between us, he exuded confidence, strength. I envied it. Where he looked sure of every step he took, I felt like I was teetering on the edge of collapse.The meeting in the council chamber had left me raw, my nerves stretched thin from the judgmental stares and veiled comments. It wasn’t just that they didn’t accept me—it was that they didn’t want to. I wasn’t blind to the way they looked at me, as though I was an unwelcome guest in a place I didn’t deserve to be.Alaric turned, his golden eyes locking onto mine. “Are you okay?”I nodded quickly, though the answe
The Curse Within Chapter 33
ALARIC'S POVThe morning broke quietly, the kind of stillness that almost felt deceptive. The pack house always held a hum of activity, but today, it was muted, the tension so thick it clung to the walls like fog. I stood at the window of the east wing, watching the forest come alive under the pale light, trying to clear my thoughts. Sofia was still asleep behind me, her breathing soft and steady.Last night had been a test for both of us. For her, it had been the start of a battle I knew she wasn’t ready for, and for me, it was a reminder of just how fragile the balance of this pack was. Bringing Sofia here wasn’t just a declaration of love; it was a challenge to every rule, every unspoken law that had governed my people for generations.I heard her stir, a faint rustle of fabric as she turned in bed. I didn’t move, giving her a moment to wake fully. When she finally spoke, her voice was quiet, hesitant.“Did you sleep?”“Some,” I lied, turning to face her. She sat up, her hair a wi
The Curse Within Chapter 32
Sofia's POVThe walls of the pack house loomed high around me, suffocating in their grandeur. I had always thought I’d loved old architecture, but now I felt like the building itself was judging me. Its age and strength mirrored the people inside—a pack tied together by centuries of loyalty, tradition, and unwavering belief in their Alpha. I didn’t belong here.Every hallway seemed to stretch longer than the last, lined with ornate wooden carvings and tapestries depicting wolves in various stages of shifting, hunting, or standing beneath full moons. They felt like stories of a world I was supposed to be part of now, yet I didn’t understand.Alaric walked ahead of me, speaking with Braylon in hushed tones. His broad shoulders radiated confidence and command, and I found myself envying how effortlessly he carried the weight of so many expectations. Even though the tension in the air was thick, he moved like a storm—a force of nature, unstoppable.Braylon glanced back at me, his dark eye
The Curse Within Chapter 31
ALARIC'S POVThe morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a soft golden glow across the room. I watched Sofia stir beside me, her breathing even, her features calm for the first time since this chaos began. She looked fragile, yet there was an undeniable strength in her, a quiet resilience that stirred something primal within me. My mate. The word still sent ripples of emotion through me—protectiveness, desire, and something deeper I wasn’t ready to name.Last night had been unexpected. Sofia had given herself to me, not just physically but emotionally, as if surrendering her walls piece by piece. But as much as it felt like progress, I knew her fear of returning to the pack house lingered like a dark cloud. Her guilt over what happened with Thorne’s son weighed heavily on her, and no matter how many times I assured her it wasn’t her fault, I could see the doubt in her eyes.I rose quietly, careful not to wake her, and made my way to the window. The forest stretched end
The Curse Within Chapter 30
Sofia’s POVThe walk back to the house was quiet, but it wasn’t the kind of quiet that begged to be filled. It was the kind that hummed with tension, every step charged with the energy of what we’d just shared at the lake. My skin still tingled where Alaric had touched me, every glance he sent my way igniting a fire I couldn’t extinguish.By the time we reached the house, my pulse was racing. Inside, the air felt heavier, intimate. It wrapped around us as we climbed the stairs, the wood creaking softly beneath our feet. He paused at my door, his hand on the frame, his lips pressed into a thin line as he looked at me.“Goodnight, Sofia,” he said softly, his voice low and rough.The words hung in the air between us, but I couldn’t let him go. Not now. Not when every fiber of my being screamed for him.“Alaric,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.His eyes darkened, his grip tightening on the doorframe. “What is it?”“Stay,” I said, my cheeks heating as the word left my lips.He fro
The Curse Within Chapter 28
Alaric’s POVThe sunlight danced on the surface of the lake, reflecting golden ripples that seemed to stretch forever. The air smelled of pine and water, a clean scent that usually calmed my wolf. But not today. Today, every instinct in me was tuned to the woman floating in front of me, her laughter a sound I wanted to bottle and keep for eternity.Sofia.The bond thrummed between us, an electric pull that was impossible to ignore. Her scent was intoxicating—a mix of wildflowers and something uniquely hers. It was driving me insane, the way she looked at me, the way her body moved in the water with effortless grace.I swam closer, unable to resist, the tension in my chest growing with every stroke. She didn’t notice at first, her eyes closed as she floated, her lips slightly parted as though she was whispering secrets to the sky. The sight of her like this—unguarded, peaceful—hit me harder than I expected.She turned her head, her blue eyes meeting mine, and I saw her breath hitch.“Y
The Curse Within Chapter 27
Sofia’s POVThe sun filtered through the lace curtains of the lakehouse as I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection. The bikini Alaric had handed me fit perfectly, hugging my body in a way that made me feel both exposed and oddly confident. My hair hung loose over my shoulders, still damp from my shower, and I could see faint traces of my wolf in my reflection,the heightened sharpness in my eyes, the faint flush of power beneath my skin.I couldn’t stop thinking about the kiss we’d shared earlier. The memory of it burned in my mind, pulling at me in a way I didn’t fully understand. It wasn’t just desire—though that was certainly part of it. It was something deeper, something primal.A knock at the door startled me.“You ready?” Alaric’s voice called through the wood, deep and steady, though I caught the faint edge of impatience.I took a deep breath, steeling myself. “Yeah, I’ll be right out.”When I stepped into the hall, he was waiting for me. He’d changed into swim
The Curse Within Chapter 26
ALARIC’S POVI closed Sofia’s door quietly behind me, but the sound of my own heartbeat roared louder than any click or creak of wood. My chest rose and fell with every shaky breath, the remnants of that kiss still clinging to my lips.“Damn it,” I muttered under my breath, scrubbing a hand over my face as I descended the stairs.That kiss.It was everything. A wildfire that sparked the moment our lips met, spreading through my veins and leaving nothing but heat and hunger in its wake. Her taste, her scent, the way her soft gasp had escaped into my mouth—it was intoxicating. It had taken everything I had to pull away, to not give in to the primal urge to claim her right there and then.“You’re a fool,” Luka growled in the back of my mind. My wolf had been unrelenting since I left the room, his restless energy clawing at me.“I’m not a fool,” I snapped back, heading toward my room.“You kissed her, got her all worked up, and then you left,” Luka said, his tone dripping with frustration
The Curse Within Chapter 25
SOFIA'S POVThe door clicked shut behind Alaric, leaving me alone in the room with the lingering scent of breakfast and… him. My legs felt like jelly, my lips still tingling from the kiss we’d shared. I pressed a hand to my chest, trying to steady my erratic heartbeat, but it was no use.That kiss was unlike anything I’d ever experienced. It wasn’t just passion, though that was undeniable. It was deeper, pulling at something inside me I didn’t know existed until last night when my entire world changed.I’d never felt like this before. Never. I’d had lovers, casual relationships, even moments of fleeting chemistry. But this? This was different. Overwhelming. Dangerous.“It’s the mate bond,” the familiar voice echoed in my mind.I rolled my eyes instinctively, even though I knew my wolf, the voice of reason—or chaos, depending on her mood—could hear my every thought. “Not you too,” I muttered, flopping back onto the bed.“Yes, me too,” she said with a soft laugh. “You’re acting like thi
