Rhylie's POV
Something felt wrong. I felt disturbed by the Rumors that had been going around, Zane had found a new mate. A new mate? No, it couldn't be. I was his mate, his only mate, and I wasn't going to let that change.
I paced restlessly around my chamber, the walls closing in around me as my thoughts and heart raced. If it was true, if she was really his mate,then the bond must already be forming. I couldn't let that happen. I had to act, and quickly. If Zane started feeling connected to her, it would ruin everything I had worked for. Everything I had planned.
And again she wasn't just any mate. She carried the goddess mark, The Moon Goddess had no right to bind her to him, not when I was so close to achieving my goals. She wasn't supposed to be here. No way
I could feel the drumming of my heart. No, I couldn't allow them to grow close. Not now. Not when I had almost gotten close to my goal, definitely not now.
Scarlett pov
I barely slept that night. The deal with Zane was heavily on my mind, but what I wanted more was
revenge, it was stronger than the fear that I felt inside me. My thoughts kept going back to Rand and
Cassie, how they had betrayed me, how they had stolen everything from me. It was impossible to let go of the anger that burning inside me.
I lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, the blinking light from the window casting shadows on the
walls. The silence of the Black Blood Pack's could be felt even inside the room and around me, but inside, my thoughts were anything but quiet. My hand drifted to my stomach,where my child should have been. The pain of that loss was a constant reminder of why I couldn't let this go.
Eventually, I rose from bed and paced the room. Luisa, my wolf, stirred restlessly within me, her anger was exactly like mine. She longed for vengeance just as much as I did. I had made a deal with Zane, but I knew that nothing would truly calm the storm inside me until Rand and Cassie paid for what they had done.
Dawn broke slowly, the sky outside my window was a deep shade of blue, definitely different from what I felt within, i hadn't realized how much time had passed. The deal was made, and there was no going back now. Zane would help me, but the curse I had no idea on how I was supposed to break it, but I will help them, in as much as I get what I wanted in return.
I couldn't stay in this room any longer. I needed answers, and needed to understand what the curse was all about. I couldn't trust these people yet, I needed to understand what I had gotten myself into.
The witches were already awake by the time I arrived at their chamber. The air inside was thick with the scent of herbs and magic, and I could feel the power through the walls, in the very. Celine, Seraphina, and Lunaria were seated around a low table, their expressions unreadable as they worked silently.
They barely glanced up as I entered, but I felt their attention on me all the same.
"Celine," I said, my voice steady despite the panic l inside me. "I need to know more about the curse. I need to understand exactly what we're dealing with."
Celine raised her head, her eyes sharp and knowing. "You've come to the right place, Scarlett. But
understand this, breaking the curse won't be simple. You carry the mark of the goddess, but that mark comes with responsibilities and consequences you may not be prepared for."
I stepped closer, the impact of her words settling on me. "I don't care about the consequences. I need to know how to break it."
Lunaria spoke up then, her voice soft but filled with warning. "This curse is tied to Alpha Zane, yes, but it's older than him. Darker. It was placed upon his bloodline by a powerful witch, one whose magic is deeply rooted in the earth. To break the curse, you'll need to tap into the same power, dark magic."
"Dark magic?" I repeated, my stomach twisting. "But I'm not a witch. I have no power like that."
Celine's gaze didn't move. "The mark on your wrist is more than just a sign of the goddess's favor. It's a connection to that power. Whether you know it or not, Scarlett, you are more than what you think you are, but using that power comes at a cost."
I looked down at the mark on my wrist, the crescent moon glowing not too bright against my skin. This mark had changed everything, tied me to a destiny I hadn't asked for. But I couldn't be afraid of it now. I needed it if I was going to survive all of these, and if I was going to really get my revenge.
"What cost?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Celine's expression softened, but her eyes remained serious. "Once you tap into that magic, there will be no going back. It will change you, Scarlett. The darkness will become part of you, just as it became part of the curse. And it will not let you go easily."
A chilling feeling ran through my body, but I shrugged my shoulders, pushing the fear aside. "I'l do whatever it takes."
The witches exchanged glances, and for a moment, I thought they might refuse to help me, moreover isn't this what they wanted from me . But then Celine nodded.
"Very well," she said. "But remember this, when you walk the path of dark magic, you must always be aware of the line between control and trouble. Lose control, and the darkness will consume you."
I nodded, understanding everything she said. But I couldn't afford to be afraid. The path ahead was dangerous, but I had no other choice.