As Lila stood in the moonlit clearing, gazing at the wolf that had been Alexander, her heart raced. Her chest weighed heavily with the discovery of the curse and the weight of his words. Werewolves had always seemed to her like tales, stories to frighten kids around campfires. However, the tangible proof that they were all too real was right in front of her.
And so was their relationship.
The wolf just stared at her for a long time, his golden eyes shining with such intensity that she thought he could see right into her soul. Uncertain of what to say or do, Lila stood motionless. Was she meant to run? Was she meant to feel afraid?
However, all she experienced was an intense, unexplainable attraction to him. Even in this hideous guise, she seemed to recognize him from deep within. The wolf acknowledged her careful approach by dipping his head, seemingly to draw her nearer.
"Alexander?" she said in a tremulous murmur. She had no idea why she had said that. She should have been afraid of him because he suddenly had a primal quality, but she couldn't help but be pulled to him.
The wolf's body stiffened a little, and he moved back before she could blink. The enormous creature vanished in an instant, to be replaced by Alexander's towering, commanding presence in front of her, his eyes darkened but yet brimming with an unsaid comprehension.
Lila stepped back, breathing rapidly. She was unsure about her feelings. She had just witnessed a transformation in him that was so unadulterated and primordial. It was as though a barrier had collapsed between them, exposing a reality she had been too scared to face.
Alexander moved closer, his voice low. His eyes never left hers as he questioned, "Do you understand now?"
Lila swallowed hard, attempting to regain her composure. She nodded, but the feelings churning within her were too complicated to describe. "I'm at a loss for words."
"I have nothing to say," he said quietly. "With the exception that it's real. This tie between us, this curse—it's genuine. And there's no turning back now that you've witnessed it for yourself.
His words weighed heavily on her chest, like lead. She had never desired this, had never envisioned that her existence would bring her into contact with supernatural powers and a dark realm. Yet there she was, in the midst of a forest, having seen a metamorphosis that defied reason.
She sensed that her reality was changing, exploding, and exposing realities that she wasn't prepared to confront.
With an almost audible voice, she questioned, "But why me?" Why did I get picked to lift this curse? I'm simply I am nothing. I have no idea what this even implies.
The distance between them was nearly nonexistent as Alexander's gaze softened and he moved closer. For an instant, it seemed as though nothing else mattered because of his overwhelming presence.
His voice was soft but authoritative as he replied, "Lila, you're not just nobody." "Everything may be changed by you. For centuries, my family has been carrying the curse, and I have witnessed the deaths of every woman I have ever loved. It is an unbreakable bond. However, you hesitated, as though he was trying to find the appropriate words. "You're unique. I can't quite put my finger on it, but there's something about you that speaks to me. You are the only one who can end this loop as if our destinies are intertwined.
Lila had a mixture of bewilderment and incredulity. "How am I going to break it? I do not know werewolves or curses. Even whether I want to get involved in this is up in the air.
Alexander stated in a low voice, "I know you didn't ask for this." However, it has already started. Didn't you sense it? The tug between us. The bond is that. And it's there whether you like it or not.
The truth of what he said made Lila's chest constrict. There was no denying the link. She sensed it—the heat, the pull, the way her heart seemed to race whenever he was close. She was afraid of the power that was pulling at her, but she was unable to articulate it.
He added in a calmer tone, "I'm not asking you to jump into this blindly." However, you must comprehend the significance of this. It's not just me who bears the curse. It impacts my people, my entire pack. The repercussions will affect everything if it isn't broken. Everything that matters to you
Lila's thoughts were racing. This was the most perilous thing she had ever wanted to be involved with. Now, though, it was more than simply her. It went beyond the world she was familiar with. She couldn't ignore it; it was about something more significant.
Lila became aware that the stakes were higher than she had thought as the surrounding woodland appeared to grow darker.
She stared up at him and finally replied, "I need to know more," her voice steadied. "I must comprehend everything if I'm going to accomplish this. I need to understand this curse completely, including how it began, how it operates, and how I can break it.
Alexander gave a solemn nod. "I'll tell you all about it. However, be aware that it won't be simple to overcome this curse. We will have adversaries. Additionally, we will face unanticipated difficulties.
"Enemies?" With a sinking gut, Lila echoed. "Who? What?
His jaw tightened as he paused. "There is still a rival pack out there that cursed my lineage. They wish for this curse to persist. They want us to keep it intact. And they will do everything in their power to prevent that from occurring.
Lila's heart fell. She was unaware that she had already stepped into a realm far more sinister than she had ever dreamed. She had already committed herself to a centuries-old battle just by being in Alexander's presence.
In an attempt to regain her composure, she inhaled deeply. She stated, "I'm not afraid of them," but she wasn't sure if she meant what she was saying. "I don't want to give up."
Her pulse raced when Alexander smiled—a rare, almost tender smile. "All right. I will require your strength.
For the first time, Lila wasn't sure whether the feeling that swept through her was dread or hope as the air between them changed once more. She had just stepped into an unfamiliar world. However, she had a feeling that this was the start of something that would completely alter her life.