1

I collapsed against the bed, the black magic curse burning through my veins like liquid fire. My wolf, Zoe, who had been my constant companion since birth, was growing weaker by the second.

"Zoe? Can you hear me?" I called out desperately in my mind, but there was only silence where her warm presence used to be.

My three-year-old daughter Emma was crying, trying to comfort me as she saw the pain etched across my face.

"Mommy, what's wrong? Emma's scared."

I wanted to hug her, but I couldn't move. The curse was spreading, and I could feel my connection to my wolf slipping away entirely.

In desperation, I tried to reach Alexander through our mate bond. "Alexander, please... I need you." But the bond remained silent. Without Zoe's strength, I couldn't establish the psychic link.

Emma, my clever little pup, seemed to sense how dire the situation was. She ran to get my phone without me having to ask.

"Emma will call Daddy, Mommy. Emma knows how!"

Her small fingers trembled as she tried to unlock the phone, but the password screen defeated her.

"Mommy, Emma can't open it. Can you help? Emma wants to call Daddy to save you."

With the last of my strength, I managed to unlock the phone. Sarah, my foster sister, had taught Emma how to use speed dial to reach Alexander in emergencies. The irony wasn't lost on me - Sarah, who now had Alexander's complete attention, had once pretended to care about my daughter.

The phone rang for what felt like eternity before he finally answered.

"Isabella, haven't I told you not to bother me unless it's important? I'm busy."

Alexander's impatient voice came through the speaker, making Emma flinch.

She looked at me, growing weaker by the moment, then spoke timidly into the phone.

"Daddy, Mommy's really sick. The bad magic hurt her. Can you come save her?"

Hearing Emma's voice, Alexander paused, then let out a cold laugh.

"Isabella, you're really something now, using such a small child. Are you even human anymore?"

His scornful words felt like daggers in my chest. The curse pulsed stronger, and I could feel Zoe's presence growing fainter and fainter.

Emma didn't understand what Alexander meant. She just kept crying.

"Daddy, Mommy's dying. Her wolf won't answer her. Please come save Mommy, please?"

But Alexander was completely enraged now.

"You're just like your mother, both liars. If she wants to die, then let her die."

As Alexander was about to hang up, a sweet female voice came through the phone.

"Alpha Alex, come cut the cake! It's almost midnight!"

Alexander lowered his voice, speaking tenderly to the woman.

"I'll be right there, Sarah."

My already breaking heart finally shattered completely.

So that's why he was angry at Emma and me for disturbing him. He was celebrating my foster sister Sarah's birthday while I lay dying from a curse meant for him.

Emma stared at the ended call, lost and helpless.

I wanted so badly to reach out and pat her little head, to tell her everything would be okay. But I had no strength left. Zoe was completely silent now.

My consciousness was fading, and memories flashed before my eyes like old photographs.

I guess this is it. This is how I die.

From the assassination attempt to today, it had only been two short months. My life had barely begun before it came to an end.