Chapter 41 Desperate

• THE ORACLE'S WORDS still hung in the air like a cold mist, heavy with their terrifying truth. Selene had to become the very thing she feared, the raw, untamed power of her cursed lineage, just to have a chance at breaking free. And Waldemarl, the strong, controlling Alpha, had to let go completely, trusting her with his very life when every instinct would scream for him to fight. The Blood Moon, that fiery orb in the sky, was now just a few hours away, its crimson glow already painting the dusty air outside the hidden cavern. Inside, the ancient stones seemed to hum with a mix of dread, a desperate kind of hope, and a fear so deep it settled in their bones.
• Selene turned from the Oracle, her eyes finding Waldemarl's. His face was a hard mask, showing all the worry and raw understanding of what she'd just heard. He knew, just like she did, that his willingness to give up control, to trust her fully even when his deepest wolf instincts would scream no, was just as important as her own fight against the curse.
• "She's telling the truth, isn't she?" Waldemarl's voice was low, rough, filled with a new, chilling dread. "This isn't just about trying to control your power, Selene. It's about letting it run wild, completely, like a storm, and then somehow pulling it back. And for that... I have to let my guard down all the way. I have to truly believe that you won't… that you won't take everything from me in that moment." His eyes, which usually held such confidence, were wide with a fear he couldn't hide, a fear that made him seem younger, more vulnerable.