Chapter 8

• Chapter 8: The Revealed Curse
• ARIA POV
• Except for the gentle rustling of pages as I flipped them, the library was silent. In front of me, rows of old books extended indefinitely, and the air was heavy with the smell of old parchment. I had been here for hours, reading materials on the history, mythology, and curses of werewolves. My stomach churned more and more as I dug deeper.
• The relationship between mates. It was a gift from the Moon Goddess herself and had been venerated for ages. However, it had a darker side that was little discussed. As I read the same phrase a third time, my fingers shook and the words burned into my brain:
• "The soul is severed when the relationship is severed. Those who reject the cord of fate will either go insane or die.
• The chair creaked under me as I leaned back. As like it had read the incriminating words too, the small mate mark on my neck blazed.
• Death or madness.
• Had Darius been affected by that? Had he been driven to the verge of madness by my rejection? Or did he not fully comprehend the extent of this curse?
• I felt like I was being choked by the weight of the realization. There had always been a complex web of treachery and unsolved mysteries surrounding my demise in the previous existence. Now, however, the threads were starting to come loose, and what was below was far more horrifying than I had thought.
• I was startled out of my reverie by a quiet squeak. I stiffened, looking toward the door.
• "Aria."
• Even though Killian's voice was kind, it had a tinge that made my skin tingle. His look was impenetrable as he stood at the doorway.
• He remarked, "You've been here all day," and entered. His eyes darted to the stack of books around me. "Looking into a particular topic?"
• I paused, feeling my heart rate increase. Strong, powerful, and secretive, Killian had always been a mystery. And now that I was carrying the burden of what I had discovered, mistrust started to grow.
• I closed the book in front of me and cautiously said, "I needed answers." Concerning the mate connection. Concerning the curse.
• Killian's jaw tensed, and for a split second, a black, transient flicker appeared in his eyes.
• His tone was steady as he said, "And did you find what you were looking for?"
• I looked at him, looking for signs of weakness. "A portion of it. Enough to understand that it is not only unpleasant but also harmful to reject the link. Even deadly.
• Killian nodded slowly while maintaining a deliberately bland demeanor. "That's accurate. However, you were already aware that the bond was a serious issue, were you not?
• The chair scraped the floor as I got up. I looked him in the eye and said, "What I didn't know is that there's more to this curse than anyone lets on." The craziness. the fatalities. Everything is interconnected. Additionally, I believe it has been manipulated by someone.
• I briefly believed I detected a glimmer of shame as his eyes clouded. "You're on a risky course, Aria. The truth might sometimes do more damage than good.
• The tension between us crackled as I took a step closer. "Killian, you're concealing something. Don't assume I haven't seen how you consistently appear to know more than you should or how you avoid answering certain questions.
• Killian made a tiny line with his lips. His voice was low as he added, "I've only ever tried to protect you." "You have no idea what you're up against. The forces at work here are greater than both you and me.
• "Then explain what I'm facing to me!" My annoyance boiled over and I lost my temper. "Stop keeping secrets if you truly care about keeping me safe."
• Killian was silent for a minute. I could see the struggle going on behind his eyes as he looked directly into mine.
• When he finally responded, "I can't," his voice was hardly audible above a whisper.
• I felt sick to my stomach. Can't? Or won't you?
• Before he could respond, the room suddenly became cold, putting out the candles and leaving us in the dark.
• "What the—" I started, but a voice interrupted me, reverberating with a foreboding edge across the room.
• "Ariana, you shouldn't have come this far."
• The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end as I froze. Even though the voice was strange, it had an uncanny familiarity to it—a voice I should recognize but couldn't.
• Killian moved ahead of me, his body stiff. With his Alpha power resonating across the room, he said, "Show yourself."
• A man, shrouded in darkness, emerged from the shadows. The energy they emanated felt oppressive, pushing like a big weight over my chest, even though their face was hidden.
• The apparition stated in a mocking tone, "You dig into things you don't understand." "The bond between mates." The curse. Do you believe that a few texts may reveal millennia of magic?
• "Who are you?" With a voice more steady than I felt, I demanded.
• The figure laughed, but it was a chilly, unhumorous laugh. "Little wolf, you are here because of me. The rationale for your second opportunity. and the cause of your remorse.
• Killian snarled, his posture defensive. "If you believe you can intimidate her—"
• “In danger?” The figure's piercing chuckle sliced through the atmosphere. "No, Alpha. I don't have to make threats. She's doomed already.
• A wave of icy energy rushed at us, and Killian pulled me along with him as he moved quicker than I could blink. Shadows twisted and writhed, their tendrils reaching for me, as the place exploded into mayhem.
• "Ariana, run!" With desperation in his voice, Killian yelled.
• However, I was immobile. The figure's words, "I am the reason you'll regret it," stuck in my head, keeping my feet planted firmly in place.
• Then, as swiftly as it had started, the shadows moved away, and the room was quiet.
• Killian's face became white as he faced me. "Are you in pain?"
• With my head still spinning, I shook my head. "Who was that—what was it?"
• Killian paused, looking down at the ground. At last, he replied, "The curse." It's more than a myth. It is living.
• The weight of his words weighed heavily on me, causing my breath to catch.
• "Alive?" As the enormity of it set me, I muttered.
• Killian grimaced as he nodded. "And it's on its way to you."