All Chapters of THE CURSED ONE : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

After the morning jog, Laura and Shiela were summoned to the armory. The early dawn casting a silver glow over the barrack, swords were distributed.Enforcer Fay’s voice cut through the cold morning air:“ Sword combat. Precision and speed determine the victor.”Laura stood in front of her opponent. Shiela. She gripped the hilt of the sword tightly.“Ready?” Shiela asked smirking. Though her eyes betrayed a hint of nervousness.The duel began,Laura moved with unrelenting fluidity, each swing measured, each parry precise. The air seemed to part for her sword.Clang ClangShiela and Laura’s sword pressed against each other. Pushing the other to fall back. Laura pushed harder. Shiela fell backwards. Laura felt bad because the push was quite hard.Shiela stood up and ran towards Laura. This time she wasn’t fighting against her friend but an opponent. Shiela swung her sword high in the air as she lunged at Laura. The force pushing Laura backwards. CLANG! Due to pressure the metallic swor

They stepped into the chill morning air. Something had changed. They were late for the jog, so it was logged. After the punishment jog which was twice what they’d normally do. They had their combat classes, then the gym, then they freshened up and had breakfast. It was time for the days class. Healing Arts. It was taught by Sandy a sharp eyed woman with hands stained from decades of herbal mixing. “Every warrior must know how to heal themselves and others. Today we learn herbs of restoration: Star blossom, fire leaf and melith root.” She walked to the board. She demonstrated how to crush melith root into a thick slave that could seal wounds and dull pain. “Star blossom…grows only where death has passed.” She explained while holding up a delicate white flower. “It revives strength but cannot mend spirit. That work must be done on your own.” The words echoed in Laura’s mind long after the lesson was over. ——— Since it was the weekend they had the rest of the day to themselve

The heavy iron gates opened“Bella” walks through them like a ghost slipping through a ward. She doesn’t look around. She doesn’t need to. She’s already studied the estate from the satellite images, blueprints. Every window. Every exit. Every blind spot.The guards follow her at a distance not to close. Something about the way she walks warns them—a coiled stillness, like a wolf in borrowed skin.Inside the mansion is cooler than expected, marble floors, modern glass and baroque excess all blend together in a jarring mixture of taste and threat. A grand staircase spirals upward like a ribcage. The Air smells like cigars, blood and expensive cologne.Footstep echoes from the upper floor.———There he is.Victor Rensik. Dressed in a sharp suit tailored over a frame too muscled for a man his age. Mid 50’s. Silver streaks in his dark hair, and his eyes are the pale blue of something that shouldn’t walk in daylight. He walks down the steps, glass of liquor in hand,not smiling but app

The door creaked softly as Laura stepped out. The hall smelled faintly of cologne and gun oil,a mix that had become too familiar. Victor Rensik waited at the end of the hallway,leaning against the doorway like a predator at rest. His tailored suit clung to his frame like an armor,a lit cigar glowed between his fingers. When he saw Laura his lips curved in that half smile that never quite reached his eyes. “You ready?” He asked Laura nodded “You think they’ll talk?”Victor shrugged “They’ll talk or they bleed.”—————— They got into the black sleek SUV and drove in silence. The hum of the car blending with the crackle of encrypted radio channels. Outside, the city passed in flickers of shadows and neons. A playground for criminals and kings. At a warehouse in the city’s outskirts,guarded by armed men in sleeved vests and mirrored shades,they pulled up. Inside the air was thick smoke, tension and testosterone. Three men stood waiting, Each one looked like a different brand of

The gravel crunched beneath her boots as she stepped down from the transport, the familiar grey skies of the barracks hanging low above her. Dust settled around her ankles, and the chill in the wind was oddly comforting. It was the kind of cold that said “you’re home.”A uniformed guard approached, saluting sharply before gesturing.“Cadet Laura. Enforcer Fay is expecting you, please follow me.”Without a word Laura followed, adjusting the strap of her satchel as they walked, her body weak but her eyes sharp as ever. Every hallway and passing face felt different now, like she wasn’t just walking back to the barracks–she was walking back to the edge. They had reached Enforcer Fay’s office. The guard knocked once before the door opened. Inside, Alpha Damian stood in the middle of Enforcer Fay and Frok, the atmosphere was serious. Damian’s eyes locked on Laura’s “She’s safe…. She made it.” He thought in relief.Damian’s Wolf, Arthur purred deep within. Damian’s muscle tensed alw