Chapter 6

Scarlett’s POV

The cold air was harsh on my skin as I pushed through the thick forest, the small stone the witches had given me clutched tightly in my palm. Every step forward was so unsure and uncertain as if the weight of the curse was pressing down on me. The stone grew warmer in my hand, a sign that I was on the right path, exactly what they had said.

But it wasn’t just the stone that was on my mind but the fact that they said the dark magic was going to be dangerous, I couldn't help but wonder if it was the right thing to help them, I have lost a child, almost did lose my life but still I owe them for keeping me alive and granting me a new identity, so maybe yeah it did worth the effort, and then there was someone on my mind.

Zane was on my mind.

His presence was just in my thoughts, pulling at the bond that tied us together. The mate bond. A bond I never asked for, never wanted. Yet every time I thought of him, I felt a strange pull deep within me. The memory of his touch sent shivers down my spine, but I couldn’t let it distract me. Not now. Not when I was so close to what I wanted, revenge.

The path through the forest grew narrower, and the trees seemed to close in on me. The stone in my hand got hotter, guiding me toward something hidden deep in the woods. The witches had said this stone would lead me to the heart of the curse, but I had no idea what I was walking into.

A sudden snap of a twig behind me jolted me from my thoughts. I turned around, my heart pounding. The forest was very quiet, the only sound was the soft rustling of leaves in the wind. Checked the trees, searching for any sign of movement. Was it an animal? Or something more dangerous?

I tightened my grip on the stone, ready for whatever might come. But nothing happened. After a few scary moments, I turned back and continued walking, my senses on high alert. I couldn’t afford to be careless, not with having no idea where I was going, but following a stone that was given to me.

I went deeper into the forest, the trees grew thicker, their branches spread out looking like shadows on the ground. The stone in my hand was now almost too hot to hold, its magic increasing to its peak, I think.

I stopped at the edge of a clear path, trying to catch my breath. In the center of where I stood a massive, ancient tree, its gnarled branches reaching out like claws. I could feel the dark energy coming from it, making the hairs on the back of my neck stand on

This was it. The heart of the curse.

I took a careful step forward, my eyes locked on the tree. There was something dark and dangerous about it, something that made my wolf stir uneasily within me. Luisa growled softly in the back of my mind, sensing the same danger I did.

"Be careful," she warned, her voice low and full of fear.

I approached the tree slowly, every instinct in my body telling me to turn back, but I couldn’t. I had to see this through. The stone in my hand heated one last time before going cold as if it had done its job and no longer had a purpose.

I reached out, my fingers brushing against the rough bark of the tree. A jolt of energy shot through me, and I gasped, pulling my hand back. The dark energy surrounding the tree seemed to breathe, almost as if it was alive, waiting for something or someone.

Suddenly, the ground beneath my feet began to shake, and I stumbled back, my heart racing. The air grew thick with magic, and I felt a presence watching me, though I couldn’t see anyone.

Before I could react, a voice cut through the air.

"So, this is the chosen one."

I turned around, my heart pounding in my chest. A figure stepped out from the shadows, tall and commanding, with eyes as dark as the night. His presence radiated power, and I just knew I had to take a step back, my body on edge.

"Who are you?" I asked, trying to keep my voice from showing how scared I was.

The man smiled, though there was no warmth in it. "I’m the one who’s been waiting for you, Scarlett."

*****

Zane’s POV

I could feel her.

Even from a distance, the bond between Scarlett and me was growing stronger, pulling at me like… I just couldn't describe it. It was as if I could sense her every move, her every breath. And right now, something wasn’t right.

She had left the pack grounds earlier, heading into the forest alone. I had let her go, thinking she needed time to think, to process everything that had happened. But now, I regret it. The feeling gnawing at me wasn’t just concern, it was fear.

"She’s in danger," Dalton growled in the back of my mind, pacing restlessly. "We need to go to her".

I clenched my fists, fighting the urge to shift and run after her. But I couldn’t be reckless. I needed to stay focused. If Scarlett was heading toward the heart of the curse, she wouldn’t be alone. The dark forces surrounding the curse would stop at nothing to keep her from breaking it.

And then there was Rhylie.

I glanced toward her chambers, my jaw tightening. She had been acting strange ever since Scarlett arrived, just like what she said when she came to me earlier, and I couldn’t help but feel that she was hiding something from me. The witches had said Scarlett was the key to breaking the curse, but Rhylie was my mate too. She carried the mark of the goddess, just like Scarlett. How could I have two mates?

'Only one is real," Dalton growled. You know it. You’ve always known.". Dalton repeated the same words that he had said earlier, this time I just had to block him.

I pushed away the thought that Rhylie was not who I thought she was, I was not ready to face the truth, that's if there's any truth at all but right now, Scarlett was in danger, and I couldn’t let her face it alone. I had to find her before it was too late.

*****

Rhylie’s POV

I watched from the shadows as Zane left his chambers, his expression cold. He was going after her. Of course, he was.

Scarlett.

Her name was like poison on my tongue, burning with each letter. She was ruining everything, taking him away from me, weakening the bond I had spent years building.

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. I couldn’t let this happen. Zane was mine, and I would not let Scarlett take him from me.

The witches had said Scarlett was the one who could break the curse, but I knew better. I had spent years preparing for this moment, weaving my magic into every corner of the pack, ensuring that I was the one destined to save them, at least that was what I made them think, But now, Scarlett was here, and everything was falling apart.

I moved to the mirror, my reflection staring back at me with cold eyes. The mark on my wrist glowed faintly, a reminder of the magic I had used to bind myself to Zane. But it wasn’t real. It had never been real.

I had created it, just like I had created this entire lie.

"She won’t win," I whispered, my voice trembling with rage. "I’ll make sure of it."

I turned away from the mirror, my mind racing with thoughts of how to stop Scarlett. She was heading toward the heart of the curse, but she had no idea what she was walking into. The dark forces protecting the curse would destroy her if she wasn’t careful.

And if they didn’t, I would.