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He lifted me to the throne room and carefully placed me on his work table. I thought he wanted to consummate, but instead, he reached for my hip.

A perfectly drawn black rose petal tattoo emerged. He smiled—the rose tattoo meant I was getting over the fear of him. He leaned in and stole a kiss, his tongue testing every corner of my lips, and I couldn't help but kiss back, rekindling the crush I once had.

For the first time, I saw his smile. He was blindfolded, but he acted as if he could see everything happening. He stood a little far off as he unbuttoned his shirt and turned his back to me.

“I want you to check slowly on my back for the snake tattoo,” he spoke.

“Do not leave out any small detail,” he added.

I looked carefully at the snake tattoo, which was very huge, covering his back—but not as before. It was different this time; the color wasn't purely dark but a little faded.

“It's faded,” I spoke, not understanding what was going on.

For the first time, he smiled, leaning to give me a surprised kiss. His smile was warming and welcoming but still fearsome. Lifting me up while jumping excitedly, he placed me softly on the table, walking around out of excitement.

“For every rose petal that comes out from my skin and goes to yours, it serves as your protection,” he started, pointing at his arm where one of his rose petal tattoos had disappeared.

“The tattoos are your immunity against my curse,” he said, his face brightening up, though his eyes were still blindfolded.

“How are you able to see?” I finally asked.

“I don't need eyes to have perfect vision, my dear Luna. I have something more powerful for that,” he spoke, and I didn't want to ruin his good mood by asking more questions.

I reached out to his blindfold as the distance closed between us. Although he was taller than me, I climbed up the table. He knew what I was about to do, and he held my hands to stop me.

“Don't!” he whispered, finally his soft side coming out.

“I want to see,” I said stubbornly.

“Please don't be scared,” he softly spoke. As I opened his blindfold, he turned towards me, his eyes still closed, while I waited eagerly to finally see him as who he is—

Not the feared Alpha or my curse—but just Kade.

“Open your eyes,” I said, holding his head and kneeling on the table to match his height.

He slowly opened his eyes, and I stared right through them. It scared me, but I had to overcome the fear. He reached to my hip to check the tattoo, only to find two rose tattoos.

“Thank you,” he whispered, leaning forward for a kiss, but then sadness filled his face.

“How did you get the curse?” I asked, and that was enough to return him to his bad mood.

“You're not ready to hear that yet,” he whispered, lifting me up and taking me outside, not smiling at anyone, and placed me at the all-prepared table with all kinds of foods.

“I didn't get the chance to welcome you properly,” he spoke, ushering me to the seat.

When his men approached, he quickly reached for a blindfold in his pocket, fitted it to his eyes, adjusted his suit, and sat at the table like the Alpha he really was. For some minutes, I forgot the giggles in the throne room.

I had to find out about the curse that I am under. To defeat something, I had to find the source. After dinner, I took advantage of the distracted Alpha and snuck into his throne room, trying to find something.

“What you're looking for, you won't find it here,” an old voice cracked. I turned in fear, but he smiled, walking towards me.

“Pardon me, we haven't met. I'm Kael, the family doctor!” he stated, going to sit down in his chair.

“To be the first out of the six to survive, I'm sure you have so many questions,” he started, reaching for his pocket to remove a cigar.

“You know about the curse, don't you?” I asked, my hands trembling in fear.

“His father was a very reckless man. He thought he could have a way with everyone, until one day he committed the unthinkable with a forbidden creature in the land—and he was the product of that cursed night,” he spoke, as realization hit me that no one had ever spoken about his parents.

“What about the prophecy?” My curiosity got the best of me again.

“It's said that a half-breed that he truly loves will be the one who would break the curse. And since you survived the unthinkable, everyone in the pack sees you as the one,” he spoke, turning off his cigar.

“Were there no half-breeds before?” I asked.

“There were—in fact, all of them were. But there's something special about you,” he said as he stood up.

“Were the rest not special?” I asked, but he just chuckled and left.

But I refused to believe that I could be something more—or even special. I just wanted to fight for my life, not to save anyone.

“Have you examined her?” the Alpha asked worryingly.

“She’s perfectly okay,” Kael assured.

“When are you planning on telling her the truth?” Kael asked, and the question got all of my attention as I peeped through the door to see them converse.

“She’s not ready. She might run away—and I need her,” Kade spoke possessively.

“Don’t lie to me, Kade. She’s just like a weapon to you, just like the rest,” Kael spoke, angering the Alpha, who in turn held him by the neck and pinned him against the wall, raising him up.

“This will be the last time you involve yourself in my business. That I respect you doesn’t mean I wouldn’t mind slitting your throat and using you instead!” he threatened, his voice sending chills down my spine like I was the one being threatened.

“She deserves to know the truth,” the doctor said, walking out and leaving Kade speechless as he walked around in silence.