chapter 5

Jessica’s POV

The Seer's voice echoed through the battlefield, cutting through the tension like a sharp knife.

"You've broken the sacred laws, Alpha Darius."

Darius's smug smile flickered just for a second but I saw it.

I saw the fear hiding beneath his cold, hard stare.

The Seer stepped forward, her silver eyes glowing brighter under the full moon.

"The Moon Goddess does not favor traitors," she said again, her voice carrying power that made every wolf bow their heads in respect.

Everyone... except Darius.

His lips twitched, but I could see the tension in his jaw.

"I'm no traitor," he said smoothly, his voice calm... but there was something in his tone.

Something... nervous.

The Seer ignored him, her glowing eyes turning toward me.

"You," she said, her voice softer now, but still holding that ancient power.

I froze. Her gaze locked onto mine like she could see straight into my soul straight into every fear, every secret, every piece of me I tried to hide.

"Jessica Mitland..." she murmured.

I swallowed hard, my heart pounding.

"I-I didn't do anything..." The Seer shook her head slowly.

"You carry the Lunar Shadow... a curse older than this pack itself."

Whispers rippled through the crowd.

Cursed wolf. Lunar Shadow. Abomination.

I clenched my fists, my eyes stinging with unshed tears.

I already knew what I was.

I didn’t need them to remind me.

"But the curse is not what makes you dangerous," the Seer continued, her glowing eyes narrowing. "It's the choice you must make."

My breath caught. Choice?

What choice? I glanced at Ryan, who was still lying weak on the ground, his blood soaking into the dirt.

Then at Darius the brother who hated me... but whose mate bond still tugged at my heart no matter how much I fought it.

"You must choose between them," the Seer said softly, her voice wrapping around me like a spell.

"One mate will give you love... but the other will give you power."

My heart stopped. What kind of choice was that?

I didn't want power. I just wanted Ryan.

I just wanted to be free from this curse... free from Darius... free from the mate bond that was slowly tearing me apart.

"Choose wisely, Jessica Mitland." The Seer's voice grew softer, but her silver eyes burned into mine like she was carving the words into my soul.

"For the wrong choice... will destroy everything."

After the Seer's Prophecy

The crowd was dead silent.

Even the night itself felt like it was holding its breath.

I felt every single eye in the pack on me.

Waiting. Watching.Judging.

I looked at Ryan, my heart aching at the sight of him bleeding on the ground.

He had risked everything for me.

He had lost his wolf because of me.

How could I ever choose anyone else?

But then... I felt it. That invisible pull.

The mate bond. It tugged at my chest pulling me toward Darius.

I hated him. I hated everything about him.

But the bond didn't matter. It whispered to me...

He is your mate. He is your other half.

He can make you whole.

I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to fight it off.

No. I didn't want him.

I wanted Ryan.

I forced myself to step back toward Ryan toward the wolf who had always protected me.

But the moment I moved, Darius's deep voice wrapped around me like a chain.

"You can't fight it, Jessica."

I froze.

His voice was low, smooth like silk wrapped around poison.

"You feel it too, don't you?" he whispered, stepping closer.

My heart hammered in my chest.

"Shut up."

His lips curved into that smug, wicked smile.

"You belong to me."

I clenched my fists, trying to block out his voice.

"You hate me," I snapped.

"And yet... you're still mine."

My breath caught.

The crowd was watching every single word like it was some kind of twisted mating ceremony.

Ryan groaned weakly behind me.

I dropped to my knees beside him, pressing my hands against his bloody chest.

"Stay with me," I whispered, tears burning behind my eyes.

"I won't leave you."

Ryan's hazel eyes fluttered open, locking onto mine.

"You don't... have to choose him," he croaked.

But the bond...

It was there. Pulling. Tears.

Darius's voice was a dark whisper behind me.

"You can fight it all you want, little wolf... but you'll always come back to me."

I snapped.

Before I even knew what I was doing, I stood up and whirled toward him, rage burning through my veins.

"You want me?" I hissed.

Darius's smirk deepened, his brown eyes darkening.

"I've always wanted you."

My heart slammed against my ribs.

The mate bond crackled between us hot, wild, uncontrollable.

I hated him.

I hated him more than anyone in this entire pack.

But when I stepped forward close enough that his breath brushed against my lips

My traitorous heart betrayed me.

I grabbed the front of his shirt and kissed him.

Gasps echoed through the clearing.

Darius's body went still like he hadn't expected it.

But then...

He kissed me back.

Hard.Hungry. Possessive.

His fingers tangled in my hair, pulling me closer until I could feel the heat radiating off his body.

The mate bond snapped tight around us pulling me deeper, making my head spin.

For one horrible, dizzying moment...

I forgot everything.

I forgot Ryan was bleeding behind me.

I forgot to watch the pack.

I forgot that I hated this man.

All I could feel was the bond that maddening, burning needed to claim and be claimed.

When I finally ripped myself away, my heart was racing.

Darius's brown eyes were glowing faintly like he had just won something.

"You feel it now, don't you?" he murmured, his lips brushing against my ear.

I staggered back, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand.

"You bastard..." He chuckled softly.

"You belong to me now."

I heard the faint growl behind me before I even turned.

Ryan. His hazel eyes were wide filled with pain...

And betrayal. He had seen everything.