Rykors povSitting in the dim, damp confines of my cell, time slipped through my fingers like sand. Time was irrelevant when faced with the fury and heartbreak swirling within my chest. Nikita's absence, like a deep wound, bled memories that taunted me. I knew that I would lose her one day, but not so soon and not like this. All I could see as I sat there was her lifeless face staring up at me.A faint chuckle roused me from my thoughts, echoing maliciously off the stone. Across the cell, Yuri sat, his smirk unyielding—a viper basking in the poison of his own making. My promise whispered in the confines of solitude echoed fiercely in my mind: if death were to be my fate, I would drag Yuri down with me. I would kill him with my own hands and enjoy watching the life drain from him.Footsteps interrupted the silence, slow and deliberate, pounding a rhythm that resonated with authority. I remained motionless, eyes on the ground, refusing to acknowledge the weight of my reality. I couldn'
Nikitas PovThe howl of the wind seemed to mirror the chaos within me as I stepped into the carriage, leaving Rykor and Iian behind. I needed to unravel the storm in my head before I could trust myself to speak with them. The voices were becoming more distinct, their sinister whispers no longer a distant melody but an impending threat. My body ached with exhaustion, the curse gnawing at every fibre of my being. The carriage jostled forward, and I desperately clung to the fragile sense of control I had left. As the carriage came to a stop, the solemn silhouette of my home loomed in the dying light. Yet there, standing with an air of impatience and concern, were Rykor and Iian. The sight of their unwavering loyalty tugged at my chest as I stepped out to face them. Rykor pierced through the silence first. "Are you going to fill me in, or are you just pretending like you didn’t rise from the dead?"His words were like biting winter air, and I struggled to maintain my composure, honesty
Nikitas PovThe moon hung heavy and full outside the window, casting a ghostly light over the faces that now watched me with a mix of shock and horror. Rykor was the first to speak, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade. “Nikita, please just tell us what’s going on.”My heart pounded against my ribcage, a desperate drum trying to keep time against the tide of chaos threatening to overtake me. I took a breath, steadying the tremor in my hands, and when I spoke, the words felt like stones sinking into the abyss. “As you all know, I died...”I forced myself to continue. “...But when I did, I saw my mother. She told me the only way I could truly die was by the hand of my curse. It has to run its course.”Rykor’s face twisted with pain at my words, and my eyes darted away from his, finding refuge in the shadows of the dim room. I knew I had to stay strong. “The death the curse will give me,” I continued, my voice barely above a whisper, “will be slow and painful. I know I dese
Nikitas povI did not sleep at all that night. The curse coursed through me, relentless and merciless. The voice in my head was eager to drive me towards more death to pass on the curse to the other so it could keep living. But I resisted, pushing it down and trying my best to ignore it. I had no idea how to pass this curse on, and I did not wish it on anyone else. My wound from Yuri's throbbed painfully, refusing to heal completely. Black blood still seeped from it, a constant reminder of his cruelty and how there was no escaping my fate.Determined to not change the course of my fate, but speed it along. I rose at dawn, ready to seek out answers and, hopefully, find a quicker end to my suffering. As I descended the stairs, I caught a glimpse of Iian in the hall, engaged in conversation with other pack members. I approached them, and they immediately acknowledged me with the respect of an alpha, bowing slightly before dispersing, leaving me alone with Iian."How are you feeling this
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?”
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
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
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 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?”