19
Mason's POV
The sharp scent of shattered wood and old magic still lingered in the air. I stared at the broken heirloom, its fractured pieces glinting on the floor like sharp teeth. Bethany stood frozen across from me, pale and wide-eyed. She looked like a rabbit cornered by a wolf.
Good. She should be afraid. She had no idea what she'd done.
I dragged a hand through my hair, trying to steady my breathing. The rage simmering inside me threatened to spill over, but I couldn't let it. Not yet. The Grant curse wasn't a bedtime story; it was real. A living, breathing nightmare that had stalked my family for centuries. And now, thanks to her, it was awake.
"You have no idea what you've done," I said coldly.
Bethany flinched but didn't look away. "It was an accident."
"That doesn't matter." My voice was flat, each word heavy with warning.
Her eyes flicked to the shattered relic, the tension in her shoulders making her seem smaller. "I'll pay for it. Whatever it costs."
I laughed. A hollow, humorless sound. "You really really think money can replace that?" I gestured to the ruins on the floor. "I told you before. That heirloom was centuries old. Crafted by witches and bound in blood magic. Money won't undo what you've unleashed."
Her face drained of color, and her lips parted as though she wanted to argue, but no words came out.
"Then… what do you want from me?" she finally asked, her voice cracking.
Exactly what I was waiting for.
I stepped closer, savoring the way she tensed.
"There's only one way to fix this."
Her throat bobbed as she swallowed hard. "You're going to work for me. For this family."
She blinked, her brows furrowing in confusion. "Work for you? Doing what?"
I leaned in, lowering my voice so only she could hear. "Whatever I say."
Her mouth dropped open in disbelief. "You're joking."
"Does it look like I'm joking?"
"No," she said slowly, shaking her head. "No way. I'm not some servant you can order around."
"You don't have a choice," I said sharply, letting some of the heat I was holding back seep into my tone.
Bethany's glare flickered to life, fire dancing behind her fear. "Or what?"
I smirked, folding my arms. "Or the curse won't just ruin me. It'll ruin everyone around me. Including you."
Her breath hitched, but she masked it quickly. "You're bluffing."
I chuckled, the sound dark and deliberate. "You think this is a game? That curse doesn't care who it destroys. It eats through bloodlines, friends, lovers. You're tangled up in this now, sweetheart, whether you like it or not."
Her eyes darted around the room, her mind clearly racing for an escape. "There has to be another way."
"There isn't," I said curtly.
Silence stretched between us, thick and suffocating.
"You can't force me," she said, her tone defiant despite the tremor in her voice.
"Oh, but I can."
I took a step back, straightening my cuffs as though I hadn't just delivered a threat. "Either you repay the debt you owe, or you can take your chances with the curse."
Her jaw tightened, her knuckles white as she clenched her fists at her sides.
"What exactly would working for you mean?"
A slow smile spread across my face. "You'll be my personal assistant. You'll answer to me, handle tasks I give you, and stay close. Very close."
Her disgust was immediate, and she recoiled like I'd slapped her. "You want me to be your secretary?"
"No, I want you under my control. Where I can keep an eye on you."
"You're insane," she spat.
"No, I'm practical." I crossed my arms, watching her unravel like a threadbare tapestry. "You're lucky I'm offering this. If my family knew what you did, they'd rip you apart before the curse had the chance."
Her face twisted in a mixture of anger and disbelief. "This is blackmail."
I shrugged, indifferent. "Call it what you want. But it's your best option."
Bethany was silent for a long moment, staring at me like she was weighing her options.
Finally, through gritted teeth, she said, "Fine."
My brow lifted. "Fine?"
"I'll work for you. But only until I figure out how to fix this."
I chuckled, the sound low and mocking. "Whatever helps you sleep at night."
Her eyes flashed with defiance, and she crossed her arms. "When do I start?"
"Now."
Bethany glared at me, her fury so palpable I could almost feel its heat. "Unbelievable."
I moved past her, pulling open the office door. "Welcome to the family business."
She didn't move, her feet rooted to the spot as she seethed silently.
"Oh, and Bethany?" I called over my shoulder.
She turned halfway, her face a mixture of irritation and exhaustion.
"Don't make me regret this."
Her eyes narrowed into slits. "Trust me. The feeling's mutual."
I watched her storm out, the door slamming shut behind her.
I stared at the closed door and then glared at Adrian who seemed rooted to the spot for a few more seconds before meeting my eyes briefly and walked out.
I sat at the head of the table, picking up the relic and just as I used my other hand to text one of my most trusted pack members.
I turned the shattered relic over in my hands. Each jagged piece seemed to hum with dormant power, reminding me of what had been unleashed.
I didn't trust Bethany. Not yet. She was too stubborn, too unpredictable. And now, she was bound to this family in a way she could never fully understand.
I had warned her about the curse, but I hadn't told her everything. The truth was, the curse wasn't just a force of destruction. It was intelligent. It knew how to manipulate, how to turn people against each other. And now that it had been awakened, it wouldn't rest until it had consumed everything in its path.
Bethany thought she could fix this, but she had no idea what she was up against.
A soft knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts.
"Come in," I said, my voice echoing in the quiet room.
Mateo stepped inside, his expression grim. "We've got a problem."
"Another one?" I muttered, setting the relic down.
"It's about Bethany," he said carefully.
I leaned back in my chair, gesturing for him to continue.
"She's asking questions," Mateo said. "About the curse. About your… arrangements with her."
Of course, she was.
"Let her," I said, my tone dismissive. "She won't find anything useful."
Mateo hesitated, his unease evident. "Are you sure about that? She's not stupid, Mason."
I smirked. "No, she's not. But she's in over her head. Let her dig. It'll only make her realize how much she needs me."
Mateo didn't look convinced, but he nodded. "And if she tries to back out?"
"She won't," I said firmly.
Because if she did, I'd make sure the curse was the least of her worries.