Nikita's POVAs I slowly opened my eyes, the world around me was a blur—fuzzy and disorienting. My head felt heavy, and my body, though no longer in pain, felt strange. Like I had just woken from something long and overwhelming, but I couldn’t remember what. My heart raced as I tried to piece together the events of yesterday, but they came in flashes—bits and pieces that made no sense.I turned my head, looking around my room. Everything seemed the same—quiet, untouched—but there was something off about the stillness. I felt... different.Then, like a whisper in the back of my mind, I could still feel him. His hands. On my skin. A warmth lingered there, almost like a memory. But that couldn’t have been real. It couldn’t have. If it had been, then Rykor... he would be dead. I would have killed him.The confusion overwhelmed me, and I looked over to the chair near my bed. Empty. No sign of him. I let out a slow breath, trying to calm the storm rising in my chest. It was nothing but a d
Nikita's POVThe air was thick with the sounds of training, the sharp clang of swords and the grunts of exertion filling the clearing. Rykor stood at the front, demonstrating a series of moves to my pack. His voice was steady and strong as he gave instructions, his movements sharp and confident. I leaned against a nearby tree, arms crossed over my chest, watching him work with my pack. His focus was unwavering, but little did he know I was about to make it a little harder for him to stay that way.A mischievous grin curled up on my lips as I allowed my mind to wander. I let the memory of last night creep back into my thoughts, teasing the edges of my mind. I watched Rykor carefully, keeping my face stoic as I began to think of him.I could feel him—his presence, his warmth—even from where I stood. A small part of me relished the power I now had. He couldn’t focus. He couldn’t escape me.It wasn’t long before I saw his expression shift. His eyes flickered toward me, and just like that,
Rykor's POVWhen I finally returned to my kingdom, all I could think about was the chaos swirling in my head. Nikita’s presence, the pull between us, and the frustration of never being able to touch her when I wanted to—it was all too much. I needed to get away, clear my mind, and stop feeling like I was suffocating in my own thoughts. I headed straight for my room, throwing off my jacket and stripping down, needing a cold shower to shake off the heat of the day.The cold water hit my skin, and for a moment, it was the only thing that made sense. The chill didn’t dull the aching desire I felt for Nikita, but it gave me some brief clarity. I stood there, eyes closed, trying to fight the overwhelming emotions that were crashing into me from all sides.I wanted her. I wanted to hold her, feel her skin against mine, or just hold her hand, like a normal mates would do. But the curse, the bond, and everything about her—everything I had promised her I’d be okay with—was all a lie. It was nev
Nikita's POVIt had been three weeks since I had last seen Rykor. Part of me wondered if what I had done was too much—if I had pushed him too far and ruined whatever bond we had started to build. The other part of me, the one that always tried to protect itself, told me that it was for the best. I couldn’t afford to let myself feel too much, to let myself want someone I couldn’t have.Everything in my pack was going well. The training was becoming routine, and the members were starting to show real progress, thanks to Iian’s leadership. It was strange seeing them grow so quickly. They no longer looked at me with the same fear in their eyes. There was a hesitance, sure, but it was different. They had started to come to me more to ask for help and guidance. I was still getting used to the idea of treating people with kindness, and more than once, I had to remind myself to soften my words and to stop being so cold toward them. But it was working. Slowly, I could feel the walls I had bui
Nikita's POV“I came to you because I am worried about my alpha and how your relationship is affecting him.”I could feel the anger stirring inside me, tightening my chest. “There is no relationship between us,” I replied, my voice as cold as the distance I’d built between us.Thorne didn’t flinch. “Whether you choose to accept it or not, there is one. The bond you share with him is there, and for the past three weeks, he’s spent all his time travelling, trying to find a way to break this curse of yours. I fear it’s driving him insane.”His words hit me harder than I wanted them to. The knot in my chest tightened, but I refused to let him see it. “I did not ask him to do this,” I said, turning away to mask the flicker of emotion threatening to betray me. “So I don’t see how it is my problem.”I started to walk away, but Thorne’s voice stopped me in my tracks. “My mate died,” he said, the pain in his voice unmistakable. “When I first found out she was dying from an illness with no cure
Rykor's POV:The past three weeks had been an endless cycle of travel, research, and frustration. I had scoured every corner, seeking out any knowledge, any solution that could break Nikita’s curse. Every step, every turn, led to nothing but failure. My mind was exhausted, my body weary, but I couldn’t stop. I couldn’t give up. Not when it came to her.I’d visited places where others had been cursed before, hoping for a miracle. But everywhere I went, the result was the same—the cursed person had died, sometimes within months, sometimes within years. The curse, no matter how it manifested, always claimed its victim.The most recent place I’d visited was a vampire clan, a group of immortals. If anyone could beat this curse, it would be them. One of their members had been cursed after massacring a clan of witches. As the vampire took the last witch’s life, she cast the curse upon him. That had happened over a hundred years ago.I arrived at their clan, weary but determined. The village
Nikita’s POV:I had been sitting in his room for hours, the weight of time pressing on me as I waited. I wasn’t sure what I expected, but part of me hoped he would return and be able to give me some kind of answer, some solution to this pain I was causing him. But now, as I stood up and paced the room, I felt the creeping feeling that I might be wasting my time. I was about to leave when I felt him—his presence drawing near.He was coming.I stopped in my tracks, standing by the window, trying to steady myself. When the door finally opened, I saw him.Rykor.But he didn’t look like himself. His face was drawn, the exhaustion in his eyes clearer than ever. He looked... older. The fire that had once burned in him seemed dimmer, and my heart ached for him. The guilt, the weight of knowing I was the cause of his pain, twisted inside me."Nikita," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "What are you doing here?"I stood there for a moment, the words in my mouth heavy. "I was worried ab
Nikita's POV:As I made my way back to the palace, I felt something shift inside me. The walk felt longer than normal; the air around me seemed thick, pressing down on my chest. My head throbbed with an intensity that was like no other headache I had ever had, and a weakness washed over me, leaving me with the unsettling feeling that something was very wrong.I tried to shake it off, but the feeling didn’t go away. I felt dizzy, my legs heavy with each step, as though the weight of my own body had become unbearable. Something was happening to me, and I knew what it was.As I entered the palace, I was greeted by Iian, who immediately fell into his usual routine, handing me a report on the pack.“Alpha Nikita,” he began, his voice steady as always. “The training sessions are going well. The pack has been more disciplined than ever today, thanks to Rykor’s guidance. They’re learning fast. More members have joined. I’ve had a few of the more experienced wolves help train the younger ones,
Nikitas Pov"Speak, then," I replied, crossing my arms defensively.His eyes, clouded with the weight of countless past grievances, met mine. I could see something akin to desperation—a vulnerability mirrored in an elder, a man traditionally emblematic of unshakeable resolve. There was a bottomless depth of weariness in his gaze that resonated with the part of me that understood the burden all too well."I'd much rather do this somewhere else," the Elder finally said, casting an uncomfortable glance around the grand but claustrophobic hall. His voice was low, carrying an urgency that piqued my curiosity despite myself.It was risky to leave the safety of the hall, yet inexplicably, I nodded, gesturing for him to follow through the labyrinthine corridors that led to my father's office. The walls bore silent witness to secrets long since buried—a skewed juxtaposition of the legacy I carried and the decisions I had to forge along the way.Stepping into the office felt like entering a tim
Nikitas PovI lay in bed, pretending to be asleep as the night slowly dragged on. Rykor sat in the chair beside me, his presence a silent sentinel against the darkness that threatened to consume me. There was a safety in his vigil, a protective weave of silent strength that should have been comforting. Yet, for the first time, I wished he would leave. I craved solitude, space to let the tears flow without witness, to crumble quietly without judgment. My soul ached with the desire to submit to my pain and reveal the true extent of my brokenness, but that would never be possible—not with Rykor here, steadfast and unyielding. I couldn’t share this weakness with him, for it would mean admitting defeat against the vile man who had dared to touch me.The memory of last night lingered like a shadow, clinging to my thoughts with cruel tenacity. I had always been aware of the world's darkness, but nothing had prepared me for the soul-deep violation the man forced upon me. As the first light of
The room was filled with a heavy silence, the weight of despair hanging in the air like a dense fog. Nikita now seemed like a shadow of herself, wrapped tightly in her own arms, as if trying to protect her fragile soul from further harm. Her vulnerability was achingly palpable, a stark contrast to the fierce leader she was known to be."Nikita," I whispered gently, not daring to reach out and touch her, though my heart ached to provide comfort. "I’m here."Her shoulders quivered, but she didn’t lift her head. The room fell into a deep hush as if echoing her unspoken pain. I stayed there, a silent sentinel by her side, my own heart breaking at the sight of her suffering.Words would be hollow, echoes in the wind, unable to banish the shadows that had wrapped themselves around her heart. So I just sat there praying that being there would be enough.Slowly, her tear-streaked eyes met mine, each glance like a sharp blade slicing through the emotional barricade that had built up around my
Rykors PovThe air was thick with a potent cocktail of fear and rage, and I had liked it momentarily as if the world knew something pivotal was about to transpire. I forced myself to focus, my senses sharpening like the instinctual keenness of a wolf in the hunt. The path to Nikita's kingdom stretched before me, each step purposeful and laden with an urgency that threatened to consume me.I couldn't let another day pass. The decision I had mulled over grew more resolute with every heartbeat, becoming a fire that was now wild and consuming in its intensity. The moon hung low, a sentinel watching over my advance. Its light illuminated the entrance to Nikita's grand palace.As I entered, I met Iian, emerging from the hall. Fatigue etched itself into the lines of his face, yet his smile remained steadfast and warm. "Alpha Rykor, good to see you," he greeted, strength lacing his voice. His eyes, though tired, still carried the patience and empathy of a trusted Beta he had shown himself to
Nikitas povMy heart clenched, even as I fought to maintain a semblance of control. A silhouette shifted in the corner of the room, separating itself from the shadows like a spectre called forth by some dark incantation. I held my ground as the figure coalesced into a man—a predator cloaked in darkness, his eyes gleaming with a malevolent purpose.With measured calm, I swung my legs out of bed, the cold floor grounding me against the tumult within. Standing, I faced him, embodying the deadly power that pulsed beneath my skin. I could unravel him instantly, but it was the excitement that throbbed within my curse that I feared. It yearned for connection, hungered for an end.The man stepped into the moonlight streaming through the window, his face poisonously serene. "All you had to do was give it to me," he drawled, his voice a sickly sweet melody that turned the air sour. "Perhaps you would've had a few more days on this pathetic earth, free from your curse, able to touch that patheti
Nikitas povThe dim warmth of my room was barely comforting against the chill that wrapped around my bones like a shroud. Weakness coursed through me, and every step felt like a battle of its own. My limbs trembled as though they fought a hidden adversary, an unseen force gnawing at the edges of my composure.Reaching my sanctuary, I leaned heavily against the door, drawing a shaky breath to regain some semblance of control. My gaze fell to the new marks on my skin—unmistakable evidence of the path I walked. They were dark, curling with an unsettling elegance across my forearms, yet these marks brought no pain. Instead, an uncanny tranquillity washed over me, a juxtaposition to the chaos I expected.Still, the memory of him lingered— the way my curse had filled with so much excitement the closer I got to him; the look in his eyes told me everything I needed to know. He was pure evil, wanting the curse for reasons I would never understand, and I wasn't sure I wanted to. It scared me h
Nikitas povThe dim light of early morning cast long shadows through the tall windows of my father’s office, and I sat alone at his desk, confronting the silence with an iron will. Exhaustion gnawed at the edges of my mind, a persistent ache growing stronger with each sleepless night spent grappling with the relentless curse within me. It had become a separate entity, living beneath my skin, whispering insidious thoughts of surrender and relief in the quiet moments between each breath. But none of that would deter me from my chosen path. I would not let it win; this curse died with me, even if that meant going through this pain for years.A soft knock interrupted the grim silence of the room. “Come in,” I managed, my voice barely above a weary whisper.The door creaked open, and disappointment flickered across my heart as I saw Iian step inside. How I wished it was Rykor—his presence was something I had craved since we last parted. Yet I reminded myself repeatedly that I had made peac
Rykor's POVThe air in the palace was thick with a heavy silence, broken only by the faint, haunting echo of my footfalls against the cold, stone floor. My heart felt heavy like it was trying to anchor me to the ground, pulling me into the depths of despair that threatened to swallow me whole. Returning to the palace hadn't been my intention, But where else was I meant to go? I couldn't run and hide forever.As I stepped through the ornate doors, the echo of voices pulled me from my thoughts. Up ahead, down the dimly lit corridor, I noticed Thorne leaning against the wall, his expression unreadable. I hesitated, torn between approaching or slipping by unnoticed. Thorne had always been more than a beta to me; he was a confidante, a brother in arms, yet a weight of unspoken words lay heavily between us.Just as I was about to pass, his voice cut through the silence, sharp and pointed. "You're being selfish, Rykor. If you truly loved her, you'd be there, helping and supporting her, not r
Rykors pov My fists pounded against the unrelenting rock, the sharp scent of my blood mixing with the brisk night air. Each strike jolted through me, a painful reminder of my grief, yet I embraced the pain willingly. Sweat and dirt smeared my skin, marking the gruelling hours I'd spent lost in an emotional storm of anger and sadness. My body ached for rest, but I couldn't listen to its demands. All I could see was Nikita's lifeless image haunting my thoughts.As the first light of dawn mingled with the night, her voice—impossibly real—whispered behind me. “Rykor.”I froze, my fists still clenched, caught in a moment of disbelief. Was this my mind's cruel trick? My arms fell, weighed down by exhaustion and an unwillingness to face what might be another figment of my delirium.She approached, the familiar sound of her footsteps almost comforting. Yet I couldn't turn around, fearful of the pain of seeing her again. If she was merely a ghost, I didn't want to know.“How did you find me?”