Chapter 10 The Curse's Second Stage

• Zephyr's POV:
• As Yvette walked away, I felt the tension leave my body. I slumped against the wall, struggling to catch my breath.
• I could feel the blood vessels on the left side of my face start to rise under my skin, and the decay of my flesh began to spread. This terrible curse happened every month, and I had learned to endure it, but this time it felt different.
• "Alpha!" Tim Jurgen, my Beta, rushed toward me.
• Something felt off—my blood was surging downward, and an image of Caitlyn's delicate figure flickered in my mind.
• Tim came closer, looking concerned and ready to assist, but I shoved him back awkwardly. "Where's the blood?"
• "I've already called for it. The blood is on the way and should be here soon," Tim hesitated before continuing. "But … Alpha, are you—"
• I could feel the curse advancing. Blood rushed through me, and my manhood reacted with the unmistakable scent of hormones filling the air. I closed my eyes in pain. "It's the second stage of the curse ..."
• Just like before, when the curse couldn't be relieved for too long, I needed to mate with a virgin with special blood to ease the agony.
• Tim turned pale as he realized what was happening. He quickly grabbed his phone. "I'll call Ms. Yarwood. She's your girlfriend and your blood donor. Once you're done, maybe you won't even need any blood."
• "No!" I cut him off sharply before he could dial.
• I already had Yvette. I couldn't risk another mistake to make another woman get pregnant again.
• Veins pulsed on my forehead, and my chest rose and fell with strained breaths. I felt my face cold and terrifying, my eyes a mix of fire and ice. "Get someone for the blood. That's all I need. I'll deal with everything else."
• I need more blood. Blood would help slow the second stage, though it meant I would have to endure this torment longer.
• "Alpha ..." Tim seemed unsure, but I didn't give him a chance to argue. I hurled the phone at the wall, shattering it. "Hurry!"
• Tim dared not say anything more. He glanced at me and then at the door, uncertainty in his eyes, but he sprinted down the corridor.
• I slid down the wall, my hands resting on the cold floor, teeth gritted as I fought against the searing pain that burned through me. Each breath was a battle.
• In the distance, I could hear Caitlyn pounding on the door, the one Tim had locked her behind.
• "Zephyr, let me out! I swear, it wasn't me. I didn't try to hurt her!
• "Open the door! I can explain!
• "Please, it's too dark in here ... "
• Her cries echoed in my mind, each one feeding into the anger and longing that churned inside me. My hatred for her mixed with something else—love? The cursed blood in my veins pulsed wildly, responding to the sound of her voice.
• Her every plea was like an invitation I couldn't resist. My last shred of control broke.
• In an instant, my transformation was complete. My eyes turned red, my hair lengthened into a mane, and my teeth grew sharper. As a wolf, I charged into the room.
• The door flew open. Caitlyn was caught off guard and stumbled backward.
• I was faster, catching her in mid-fall and pulling her against me.
• In the darkness, she clung to me, trembling. "Zephyr, it's so dark in here. I'm scared. Please, can you turn on the lights?"
• Lights? I couldn't do that.
• The beast inside me had almost taken over, but I refused to let her see the worst of me. I couldn't allow it.
• My voice sounded icy and distant, "Turn on the lights? I don't want to see your disgusting face.
• "Caitlyn, do you remember what I said five years ago when you left me and the Windwood Pack? Since you enjoyed playing with men so much, I'm back now. Let's play!"
• The last shred of my rationality snapped. I heard the tearing sound as my wolf ripped apart her dress.
• Trapped in my body, I was screaming. Caitlyn, why didn't you fight back? Why didn't you transform and stop me, bite me—anything!
• But instead, all I heard was her weak, trembling voice. "Please, Zephyr. Don't do this ... Please ... "