LOGINNoahI stood in the hallway, my back pressed against the closed door, my heart pounding so hard I could barely breathe.Behind me, I could hear Adrian's voice, weak and desperate, calling my name over and over. Each cry felt like a knife twisting in my chest."Noah! Please! Come back!"I pressed my hand against my mouth, trying to stifle the sob that threatened to escape. Tears streamed down my face, hot and relentless. I wanted to go back. I wanted to run into his arms and let him hold me and pretend everything was going to be okay.But I couldn't.Because if I went back, I would lose my resolve. And if I lost my resolve, I would lose everything. Adrian would die. The curse would continue. And I would never be free.I pushed myself off the door and walked down the corridor, my legs trembling beneath me. The baby shifted inside me, a small movement that felt like a plea."I know," I whispered. "I know you're scared. I'm scared too."I made it to my room and collapsed on the bed, my bo
AdrianI woke to the feeling of someone holding my hand.My eyes fluttered open, heavy and unfocused. The room was dim, lit only by a single candle on the table beside me. Everything was blurry at first, shapes and shadows blending together.Then I saw him.Noah was sitting in the chair beside my bed, his hand wrapped around mine. His head was bowed, his eyes closed. He looked exhausted, pale, broken. Dark circles hung beneath his eyes like bruises. His face was gaunt, hollowed out.He looked like he hadn't slept in days.I tried to speak, but my throat was dry. I coughed weakly, and Noah's eyes snapped open."Adrian." His voice was soft, tired. "You're awake."I tried to sit up, but my body wouldn't obey. I was so weak. So impossibly weak."How long?" I rasped."Two days." Noah's hand tightened around mine. "You've been unconscious for two days."Two days. I had lost two days of my life. Two days of watching Noah suffer. Two days of being useless."You should be resting," I said. "No
NoahThe knock came just after midnight.I was sitting on the edge of my bed, the ceremonial blade hidden beneath my pillow, my hands trembling. I had been waiting for this moment, dreading it. My heart pounded so hard I could hear it in my ears."Come in."The door opened, and Elias stepped inside. His face was hard, his eyes burning with barely contained fury. He crossed the room in three quick strides and stood in front of me, his presence filling the small space."Elena told me everything." His voice was low and dangerous. "You're planning to do the ritual tonight. Alone."I looked away, unable to meet his gaze. "She shouldn't have told you.""She had to." Elias grabbed my chin and forced me to look at him. "You were going to sacrifice yourself without telling anyone. Without giving anyone a chance to stop you."I pulled away, my body shaking. "It's my choice.""It's not just your choice!" His voice rose, echoing off the stone walls. "You're carrying a child! My child! Adrian's ch
NoahThe ritual chamber was cold and dark.I stood in the center of the room, my hand pressed against my stomach, staring at the symbols carved into the stone floor. They were ancient, faded with time, but still powerful. I could feel the magic humming beneath my feet, waiting to be awakened. The air was thick with dust and the faint smell of old blood. It made my stomach churn.Elena had prepared everything. The candles, the herbs, the ceremonial blade. It was all laid out on the altar, waiting for me.Waiting for my blood.I walked to the altar and picked up the blade. It was cold and sharp, glinting in the candlelight. The edge was honed to a razor's sharpness, designed to draw blood with the slightest pressure. I stared at it for a long moment, my heart pounding in my chest."Are you sure about this?"I turned. Elena stood in the doorway, her face pale, her eyes filled with worry. She had been watching me, waiting for the right moment to speak. I could see the conflict in her expr
NoahI was halfway to the ritual chamber when I heard the shouting.It came from the war room, urgent and panicked. I recognized Adrian's guards, their voices sharp with fear. My heart seized in my chest.I turned and ran.The war room doors were open. Guards crowded the entrance, their faces pale. I pushed through them, my body aching with the movement.Adrian was on the floor.His body was sprawled across the cold stone, his face grey, his breathing shallow. His eyes were closed, his lips blue. He looked dead."Adrian!" I dropped to my knees beside him. "Adrian, wake up!"He didn't move.I pressed my hand against his chest. His heart was beating, but it was weak, irregular. Like it was struggling to keep going."What happened?" I demanded.One of the guards stepped forward, his voice shaking. "He collapsed. He was talking, and then he just... fell."I looked at Adrian's pale face, at the dark circles under his eyes. The curse was killing him. It was eating him alive, and I had waste
NoahI was in my room, gathering the scrolls Elena had given me, when the door burst open.Elias stood in the doorway, his chest heaving, his eyes wild. He had clearly been running. His hair was disheveled, his clothes rumpled. He looked like a man who had just learned the world was ending."Noah." His voice was breathless. "Elena told me. You can't do this."I didn't look up. I just kept gathering the scrolls, rolling them carefully, tucking them under my arm."Elena shouldn't have told you.""Of course she should have." Elias crossed the room and grabbed my arm. "You're planning to perform the ritual. You're planning to sacrifice yourself."I pulled my arm away. "I'm planning to break the curse.""By killing yourself!""Maybe." I met his eyes. "But at least the curse will end. At least everyone will be free."Elias stared at me, his face pale. "Noah, please. Listen to me.""I've listened to you before." My voice was flat. "I listened to you when you told me you would protect me. I l
Noah~Something slammed into my side hard enough to drag me out of whatever unconscious state I had fallen into, and the pain that followed wasn’t normal. It spread through my body like something was eating at me from the inside. I sucked in a breath as my eyes snapped open, only for another kick
Noah~PRESENT I ran.I could hear their laughter and see their mocking stares as they said all sorts of cruel things about me.“How dare he call the Lycan King his mate?”“The abomination thought he had a chance.”“Talk about audacity.”I got to the entrance of the hall where the ceremony was held
Noah~I opened my eyes to see Tyrene standing above me with tears in her eyes and the ugliest expression I had seen in a while. “You have such an ugly cry face.”“Noahhhh!!” She said, wiping her snot filled face as she moved closer to me but I quickly put my hand in between us. “Ty, I'm not in pa
Noah~“I reject you. I, Adrian Laurent, reject this you as my mate and request to the goddess that the mate bond be destroyed.” A crushing pain engulfed my chest and sweat poured down my back as everyone else stared at me with pure mockery in their eyes. I could hear their words,“Flithy.”“Cursed







