Lila woke up with a start the following morning. Her mind was racing, and the weird visions she'd had all night held on to her like a mist. Among the shattered pictures, Alexander was the one that caught the eye. His eyes were everywhere, those sharp golden eyes. They had haunted her thoughts, invaded her nightmares, and now hung in the back of her mind as the sunshine filtered through the curtains.
She looked around and rubbed her eyes. The room was still immaculate and unaltered, which stood in sharp contrast to the confusion roiling inside her head. The significance of the previous evening—the relationship, the metamorphosis, and the discovery of the curse—was too much to take in at once. She hoped she could at least temporarily put everything aside, even though she hadn't anticipated feeling normal again when she woke up.
However, this could not be ignored. She was no longer merely a passive witness of this universe. She had a hand in it. She participated in it.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a gentle knock on the door.
"Lila?"
It was the calm, quiet voice of Alexander.
She inhaled deeply before getting up and moving in the direction of the entrance. She didn't know what to anticipate. She was bewildered, unsure, and a little scared after the previous night, yet she couldn't help but feel drawn to him. Even if she didn't fully comprehend it, the relationship was indisputable.
He was standing there, as calm as ever, when Lila answered the door. His often piercing gaze had softened, and his dark hair was a bit disheveled. Even though he was dressed simply in dark jeans and a black shirt, his presence carried a tremendous weight. He was a man of authority, even in the stillness of the morning.
Alexander replied in a soft voice with a hint of something more, "I know you probably want some time to process everything." But I need to talk to you about something. It's crucial.
Lila swallowed hard and nodded. More determined than she felt, she answered, "I need to know everything." "You promised to explain. Okay, I'm prepared.
He looked at her for a long time, as though assessing her determination. At last, he took a little step back and motioned for her to follow. "Come on. You have to meet this person.
The mention of another person made her heart skip a beat. Another person? She was unaware that there were others—aside from Alexander, of course—involved in this curse. Lila wondered what kind of universe she had entered as he guided her through the mansion's twisting hallways. Although the mansion was lavish and a stunning blend of frightening modernism and old-world charm, it didn't feel like home. It had the feel of a cage.
At the extreme end of the corridor, they arrived at a chamber with a large wooden door that was unexpectedly modest in comparison to the rest of the mansion's opulence. After knocking again and getting no answer, Alexander opened it.
There was a woman inside, sitting by a raging fireplace. She had a dominating presence that rivaled Alexander's, was tall, had sharp features, and dark brown hair that fell loosely about her shoulders. Her look was unreadable, and she wore a modest yet exquisite black dress.
Alexander turned to her and murmured, "Lila." Isolde is here. For as long as I can remember, she has been a part of my life.
Lila looked from one to the other, seeing the familiarity of their interactions. She felt a knot in her stomach from the unexpressed connection between them. "And just who is she?"
A faint smile curled Isolde's lips, but it stopped short of her eyes. "I have extensive knowledge of curses. and werewolves. She looked from Lila to Alexander and back again. "And I am aware that you have been selected to assist in lifting his curse."
Lila stepped back, now warier. "What does 'selected' mean to you? I didn't request this.
Although Alexander's face softened, his eyes still had an almost aloof quality. "Lila, you have the power to shatter it. Unless you assist us, the curse will not be lifted.
With her heels tapping sharply on the marble floor, Isolde rose up and approached her. We've spent a lot of time searching for someone just like you. Someone who has not been corrupted by the curse and is not constrained by the lineage. And when we discovered you... Her eyes narrowed as she hesitated. Let's just say that we weren't expecting this at all. Fate operates in peculiar ways.
A chilly shiver went through Lila. Fate? She no longer had faith in fate. However, it was difficult to deny the idea that everything that had happened to her, including the odd pull she felt toward Alexander, was not a coincidence given the way Alexander and Isolde communicated.
"What specifically are you looking for from me?" Lila inquired, trying to be calm as she spoke, but her voice was shaking.
Isolde grinned. The smile wasn't consoling. "You must sever the bond for us. The key is you. But in order to achieve that, you must comprehend the full scope of the curse and its implications for you, Alexander, and his pack. This is not an easy task.
Lila glanced to Alexander, who had a stoic countenance but a glint of vulnerability in his eyes. She had never seen that side of him before—the side that needed her, the side that wasn't simply an Alpha.
Trying to muster the last of her strength, she answered, "Then tell me what I need to do." "I must be aware of my obstacles if I are to assist. I must learn about the origins of this curse and the consequences of breaking it.
Isolde and Alexander looked at one other, and they had a quiet chat. Alexander nodded at last, his jaw tensing.
He murmured softly, "Everything has a cost, Lila." "You must confront the adversary who cast this curse in order to lift it. My bloodline was cursed by the enemy pack. the one that has spent years pursuing us. They are strong and will do whatever it takes to keep us under the curse.
A beat skipped in Lila's heart. Breaking a curse wasn't the only goal here. It was a matter of survival.
"And what are you expecting me to accomplish?" With a shaky but resolute voice, Lila asked. "I'm just an ordinary girl." I have no knowledge of combating wolves or curses.
Isolde grinned, but it wasn't comforting at all. "Lila, you don't have to do it by yourself. However, you must be ready. We will impart the necessary knowledge to you. You already have a connection to this universe that you don't fully comprehend.
As Lila processed what they had said, her thoughts were racing. She had never committed to this much. It seems that there was no way out of the perilous environment she had been plunged into.
"Are you prepared to assist us?" Alexander questioned in a low voice, his words bearing down on her.
Lila paused, her spine tingling with apprehension. However, she knew in her heart that there was no going back now. She was already in this battle, whether she was prepared or not, and their relationship was genuine.
She nodded, breathing steadily. "I'll take any necessary action. However, you must make me a pledge.
"What is that?" Alexander's eyes were serious as he asked.
"That nothing bad will happen to me."
Something flickered across his eyes, almost like agony, for the smallest instant. However, it vanished as swiftly as it appeared.
"Lila, I will not allow anything to happen to you. I swear.
Consequently, they sealed their dooms.