Scarlett's POV
The man who stepped from the shadows carried an air of authority so thick it weighed on the air around him. His tall frame, Filled in darkness, made the night seem colder, more harsh The eyes that met mine were as black as the night, void of warmth but full of something I couldn't explain
"I've been waiting for you," he said again, his voice weirdly calm.
A shiver ran through my spine, but I got myself ready There was no way in hell I'd show weakness to this stranger, whoever or whatever he was. I clenched the stone tighter in my hand, feeling its power Move through me.
"Well, isn't that flattering," I said, forcing a smirk. "Sorry, I'm late. Traffic in the woods is a nightmare."
He didn't react; he just stared at me with those pitch-black eyes. "You think this is a game?" His voice was barely above a whisper, yet it carried enough echo to send a shake through the ground under us. "You are standing at the heart of the curse, and yet, you jest."
My heart raced, but I wasn't about to let him know that. "Yeah, it's how I deal with creepy strangers who lurk in the woods. Got a problem with that?"
His smile was cold, sharp like a blade. "Your defiance will not protect you from what's coming."
"Spare me the ominous prophecy," I shot back, stepping toward the ancient tree that was filled with dark energy. "I've had enough of those to last me a lifetime."
But even as I spoke, I couldn't help but feel the heavy sense of foreboding. The tree's power felt alive, and the darkness surrounding it seemed to reach for me like claws waiting to drag me under. Luisa growled in the back of my mind, her unease mirroring my own.
"Be careful, Scarlett," she warned.
I ignored her, keeping my eyes locked on the man before me. "You know what this is, don't you?" I asked, gesturing to the tree. "This curse... it's tied to me, isn't it?"
"More than you realize," he said, his gaze never leaving mine. "You are bound to this place, to its power. The mark on your wrist "
"Yeah, yeah, the mark of the goddess," I interrupted. "Everyone keeps telling me how special it is, but so far, all it's done is cause me trouble."
His eyes darkened more. "That mark is the key to unlocking the curse... or becoming its next victim."
I clenched my fists, resisting the urge to punch the smug look off his face. "Care to be more specific?"
"Soon," he said, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "You will have to make a choice. One that will either save you... or destroy everything you hold dear."
Before I could respond, the ground beneath us shook violently. I stumbled back, my heart pounding as dark smoke of energy erupted from the earth, wrapping themselves around the tree like serpents. The air grew thick with magic, and I could feel it deep, dangerous, and terrifying.
The man stepped closer, his eyes gleaming with an unnatural light. "The heart of the curse has awoken. It will not rest until its power is claimed."
I swallowed hard, my mind racing. "And who's supposed to claim it? Me?"
"Perhaps," he said, a dark smile playing on his lips. "Or perhaps it will consume you first."
The shadows around the tree stretched toward me like living creatures, and I knew I had to step back. My wolf, Luisa, growled again, more insistent this time.
"Get away from the tree, Scarlett, she warned. There's something wrong here"
I could feel it too, something ancient and dangerous, hidden under the tree But I wasn't about to back down. Not now. Not when I was so close to answers.
"And what about you?" I asked, keeping my voice steady despite the fear creeping in. "Are you just going to stand there and watch?"
His smile widened, but it wasn't a comforting one. "I've already played my part. The rest is up to you."
With those annoying words, he took a step back, his form dissolving into the shadows until he was gone, leaving me alone in this forest with the cursed tree.
I glanced down at the stone in my hand. It had gone completely cold, its magic spent. Whatever had led me here had done its job but what now?
I took a deep breath, my gaze drifting back to the tree. The dark energy still moved around it, like a heartbeat that shouldn't exist. I had come here looking for answers, but now that I was standing at the heart of the curse, I wasn't sure I wanted them.
But I wasn't leaving without trying.
Gritting my teeth, I reached out and touched the bark of the tree again, bracing myself for whatever was coming.
Zane's POV
I could feel her.
Scarlett's presence moved through me like Adrenaline, pulling me closer with every step I took through the forest. I urged my wolf, Dalton, who was restless, his instincts driving me forward faster.
"Go!" I urged, his growl vibrating through my mind. "She is in danger."
He ran faster, I could feel his paws burning as he sprinted through the dense forest. The bond between Scarlett and me had grown stronger than I expected, and I couldn't ignore the gnawing sense of fear that gripped me. She was at the heart of the curse alone, and whatever awaited her, there was not something good.
As I neared the path, I felt it, a surge of dark power that made the hairs on my neck stand on edge. The air was thick with magic, and I could sense the danger surrounding her.
"Scarlett!" I called, my voice echoing through the trees.
I broke through the final line of trees just in time to see her standing before the ancient tree, her body tense, her eyes locked on a tall, shadowed figure. My heart pounded in my chest as I recognized the darkness swirling around the figure, the same darkness that had plagued my family for generations.
"Zane, stop!" Scarlett's voice was sharp, and I froze in place, my eyes glazed as I took in the scene before me.
The man turned toward me, his expression unreadable. "The alpha arrives."
"Who are you?" I demanded, stepping forward, my body filled with the need to protect Scarlett. "What do you want with her?"
The man smiled, cold and dangerous. "I want nothing. It is the curse that wants her."
I felt a snarl rise in my throat, but Scarlett's voice cut through the tension. "Zane, don't. He's... he's tied to the curse. He knows things."
I turned to her, my eyes searching hers. "What has he told you?"
Her jaw clenched. "That I'm more connected to this curse than we thought. And that I have to make some kind of choice."
The man stepped back, his form beginning to blur with the shadows. "The time will come soon enough. Until then, Alpha, keep your mate close. You may find her slipping away."
With those parting words, he vanished into the darkness, leaving us alone in the forest. The dark energy surrounding the tree was still beating, but the immediate danger had passed.
I turned to Scarlett, my chest tight with both relief and frustration. "What the hell was that?"
She let out a long breath, her gaze hard as steel. "I don't know, but whatever this is... it's bigger than just your pack, Zane. It's bigger than us, I don't think I can do this."
I could feel Dalton pacing restlessly in my mind, but I pushed him back, my focus solely on her. "You're not facing this alone. Whatever this curse is, whatever choice you have to make. We'll face it together."
She snorted, though there was no humor in it. "Yeah, because having a brooding alpha breathing down my neck is exactly what I need right now."
I stepped closer, my voice low and firm. "You don't have a choice. We're bound, Scarlett. Whether you like it or not, this is as much my fight as it is yours. And we made a deal".
Her eyes met mine, fierce and unyielding. "Just don't get in my way, Zane. I've got enough enemies as it is."
Before I could respond, the ground under us trembled again, the dark energy around the tree increasing Scarlett tensed beside me, her hand instinctively going to the stone in her palm.
"Let's get out of here," she muttered, her voice tight with fear.
I nodded, though my mind was still spinning with unanswered questions. Whatever had just happened, it was only the beginning.
As we turned to leave, I caught a glimpse of movement in the distance, someone watching from the shadows, but I didn't have the time to check who or what it was. I needed to make sure Scarlett and I left here alive.