Finn's POV
The forest whispered to me, the ancient trees groaning under the weight of the secrets they held. The northern border of Lucas's territory loomed just ahead, marked by towering pines and the scent of his pack's patrols. Weak, all of them. Their strength was a shadow of what it had once been, eroded by the curse that still gnawed at the edges of their existence.
I crouched low, my fingers tracing the jagged scars on my arm—the witch's mark, a constant reminder of the power I now wielded. The rogues gathered behind me shifted restlessly, their low growls filling the air with tension. They were hungry for blood, for vengeance.
Good. They would get their chance soon enough.
"Are you sure about this?" The voice came from my left—Marcel, my most trusted ally. His amber eyes glinted in the faint moonlight, his expression skeptical.
I stood slowly, brushing the dirt from my hands. "Doubts, Marcel? Now?"
He huffed, crossing his arms. "I don't doubt your plan. I doubt her."
Ah, yes. The witch. The source of my newfound power and the architect of Lucas's downfall. She had promised me victory, whispered sweet assurances into my ear. But even I knew better than to trust someone who thrived on manipulation and chaos.
"I don't need her to win," I said, my voice cold. "I need her to weaken him. And she's done that beautifully."
Marcel frowned, his gaze shifting toward the border. "Lucas isn't as weak as you think. And the girl—"
"Aria," I interrupted, the name rolling off my tongue with an edge of bitterness. "She's the key, Marcel. Without her, Lucas is nothing. With her, he's dangerous. That's why we need to strike now."
Marcel didn't respond, but the flicker of doubt in his eyes remained. I ignored it, focusing instead on the task at hand.
"She's starting to remember," I continued, more to myself than to him. "The bond, the power—it's all coming back to her. If we don't act quickly, Lucas will figure out how to undo the curse, and then…"
Marcel's jaw tightened. "Then we lose everything."
"Exactly."
I turned back to the rogues, their glowing eyes and ragged forms blending into the shadows of the forest. They were a motley crew, each one more desperate and vicious than the last. But desperation was a powerful motivator, and I would use it to my advantage.
"We move at dawn," I announced, my voice cutting through the murmurs. "Lucas thinks he can keep her safe, but he's wrong. She belongs to me now."
The rogues howled in agreement, their bloodlust palpable.
Marcel stepped closer, lowering his voice. "And what happens when you have her? What's the plan then?"
I smirked, my fingers brushing the hilt of the dagger at my side—a blade imbued with the witch's magic, its power humming against my skin.
"When I have her," I said, my tone dark, "I'll do what Lucas was too weak to do. I'll break her."
Marcel's eyes narrowed, but he didn't argue. He knew better than to question me when I was this close to victory.
The bond between Aria and Lucas was strong, yes. But bonds could be severed. And once I had Aria in my grasp, I would ensure that Lucas felt every ounce of pain I had endured.
The wind shifted, carrying the faintest hint of her scent—soft and alluring, like the promise of something just out of reach. My wolf stirred, restless and eager.
Soon.
Very soon.
The witch was waiting for me when I returned to the makeshift camp we had set up deeper in the woods. She sat by the fire, her pale hands moving in intricate patterns over a small cauldron that bubbled with an ominous black liquid.
"You're late," she said without looking up, her voice as smooth as silk.
"Plans take time," I replied curtly, sitting across from her.
She finally lifted her gaze, her piercing green eyes locking onto mine. "Time is something you don't have, Finn. The girl grows stronger with each passing day. If Lucas discovers the truth—"
"He won't," I snapped, cutting her off. "I won't let him."
The witch arched a delicate brow, her expression both amused and patronizing. "You underestimate him at your peril. The bond between mates is not easily broken."
"Then give me something to ensure it *is* broken," I demanded, leaning forward.
She smiled, a slow, sinister curve of her lips. "Ah, but I already have."
She reached into the folds of her cloak and pulled out a small, glass orb. Inside, a swirling mist of red and black danced like a living thing.
"What is it?" I asked, though I could feel its power from where I sat.
"A curse of my own design," she said, holding it up to the firelight. "Unleash this on the girl, and it will sever her bond to Lucas. Permanently."
I stared at the orb, my mind racing. With this, I could end Lucas's hold on her. I could make her mine, mold her into whatever I needed her to be.
But there was a price. There was always a price.
"And what do you get out of this?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.
The witch's smile widened. "Oh, Finn. What I want is far beyond your understanding. But suffice it to say, our goals align—for now."
I didn't trust her, not entirely. But I didn't have a choice.
"Fine," I said, taking the orb from her. Its surface was cold against my skin, but the power within it burned like fire. "I'll use it. But if you betray me—"
The witch laughed, the sound low and chilling. "You're in no position to threaten me, Finn. Remember that."
I clenched my jaw, shoving the orb into my pocket as I stood. "This better work."
"Oh, it will," she said, her voice dripping with certainty. "But be warned—once the bond is severed, the girl's power will awaken fully. And when it does… well, let's just say you'll have more to worry about than Lucas."
Her words lingered in my mind as I walked away, the weight of the orb a constant reminde
r of what was at stake.
The endgame was in sight. And I would stop at nothing to win.