Se connecter*THE NEXT DAY* Mona’s POV: I woke to light. Bright, blinding light. Streaming through the infirmary windows. I groaned, throwing an arm over my face. Everything seemed to hurt. Badly. My arms, legs, chest, head..even my bones ached. Felt like I’d been hit by a huge truck and left for dead. Everything felt heavy, like l'd been sleeping for years. "Rise and shine, sleepyhead!” The voice cut through the stillness—sharp, loud, cheerful, and entirely too loud for whatever hour it was. "K-keisha?” I blinked. She turned from the window—curtains now open behind her, light spilling in— and faced me. “Finally, bitch. I was starting to think you'd sleep forever." “Oh dear goddess.” I pulled the blanket up over my head. "Everyone's been worried sick." She crossed the room and perched on the edge of my cot, her eyes scanning my body like she was looking for damage.”How are you feeling?" "Like I got trampled by a herd of horses." I dragged the blanket down, squinting ag
Sebastian’s POV: "I missed you t-" I didn't let her finish before I pressed my mouth to hers. I kissed her, really kissed her. Goddess, she was warm. Soft. Alive. Her breath filled my mouth. Her pulse fluttering under my palm. She was here. She was real. She was mine. I was still savoring it when— "Alpha?" I pulled away from her lips instantly when I heard it, my heart hammering as I spun around. Doctor Ridge was standing in the doorway, his mouth hanging open, his eyes wide. "D-Doctor Ridge." | cleared my throat, stepping back. "I—" "I'm so sorry, Alpha." He bowed quickly, his face flushing. "I didn't mean to interrupt. I was just—I heard-" "It's fine." My gaze darted from him to Mona-her cheeks flushed, her eyes wide—and back. "I just... I just needed to know if she was breathing." "Really Sebastian?" Marcus growled from within. "Breathing? That’s the best you could come up with?” Oh, fuck me. I was pathetic. This whole situation was pathetic. "Uhm.
Mona’s POV: "But what he doesn't know-" she turned to face me fully, and the smile deepened, “—is that you hold the key to breaking it." "What?" My brows knitted. Wait. Wait. Wait. That couldn’t actually be possible, could it? But Sebastian said— "You're a healer, Mona." The Goddess's hand came to rest on my shoulder, light as air, warm as sunlight. "Your powers are life. They are light. They are the very opposite of the curse's darkness." The revelation hit me like a blow. I couldn’t even form a response. My gaze slowly drifting away the goddess back to the cot—to my own pale body, still and small, with Sebastian and the doctor bent over it like mourners. "When you heal, you break. When you give life, you destroy death." The goddess continued. "The blood oath was sealed with darkness. A curse meant to kill anyone Sebastian claimed. But you Mona, you are not just anyone. You are light.” I turned back to face her, shaking my head slowly, my brows drawn tight.
I leaned in. Her pulse hammered under my lips-fast, frantic, mine. I could smell her want thick in the air, could feel the heat of her skin against my mouth. The bond pulled tight in my chest. Marcus was howling, clawing, begging. Now. Now. Now. My teeth grazed the curve of her neck. Right where a mark would go. Right where she'd wear me for the rest of her life. Goddess, I knew the consequences. I knew the consequences of what I was about to do but damn, I couldn’t help myself. Her sweet smell was unraveling me, intoxicating me, and I just wanted all of it. All of her. She didn’t pull away. Instead, she arched into me. And that was it. That was the end of whatever thread of control l'd been holding onto. I pressed my teeth down—just enough to dimple the skin, just enough to taste the first hint of her—and something in me broke open. MINE The word wasn't a thought. It was a fact. Deeper than want. Older than reason. She was mine. Sh
Sebastian’s POV: I leaned in. Her pulse hammered under my lips-fast, frantic, mine. I could smell her want thick in the air, could feel the heat of her skin against my mouth. The bond pulled tight in my chest. Marcus was howling, clawing, begging. Now. Now. Now. My teeth grazed the curve of her neck. Right where a mark would go. Right where she'd wear me for the rest of her life. Goddess, I knew the consequences. I knew the consequences of what I was about to do but damn, I couldn’t help myself. Her sweet smell was unraveling me, intoxicating me, and I just wanted all of it. All of her. She didn’t pull away. Instead, she arched into me. And that was it. That was the end of whatever thread of control l'd been holding onto. I pressed my teeth down—just enough to dimple the skin, just enough to taste the first hint of her—and something in me broke open. MINE The word wasn't a thought. It was a fact. Deeper than want. Older than reason. She was mine. She'd
Mona’s POV: My wolf? How was that even possible? I stared at the wolf. At Kiara. At the creature who was supposedly mine. She was enormous—larger than any wolf I'd ever seen. Her fur was silver, shimmering like moonlight on water. Her eyes were the same blue as mine. And this was supposed to be mine? All mine? "I don't..” I whispered. "I don’t understand. My mother said..she said I was past the age to shift.That it would never happen so how..” Before I could finish, Kiara lowered her head. Not in fear. But In reverence. In submission. My gaze darted from the wolf back to the starlight woman behind me, waiting—hoping—for her to tell me what to do. “Go on, Mona.”She smiled, stretching out her hand want toward me. An invitation. “Meet her.” I swallowed. Hard. Then turned back to Kiara and reached out. My fingers brushed her fur-soft, warm, alive.She leaned into my touch, her eyes closing, a low growl of pleasure rumbling through her. The sound vibrated u







