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《By the Curse of Fire》全部章節：第 1 章 - 第 10 章

10 章節

Prologue

Hushed voices slip through the dark like smoke beneath a door. Whispered urgency. A tremor of fear woven between each word. The sound pulls at me from somewhere deep, somewhere I don’t recognize but somehow know.I lie still beneath my blankets, barely breathing.The hallway light spills in through the crack of my bedroom door, thin and pale, doing nothing to chase away the heavy darkness pressing against the walls. The air feels wrong. Thick. Suffocating.A sharp crash shatters the quiet.A man shouts.Glass breaks.I yank the blanket over my head and scramble backward until my spine hits the wall. My eyes sting, but I don’t dare cry. If I cry, they’ll hear me. If they hear me—Another crash. Closer this time.The whispers are gone. Now, only raised voices. Struggling. Something heavy slams into the floor. The house groans as if it feels pain.And then—The smell.Smoke.It creeps in slowly at first, curling beneath my door like a living thing. My chest tightens. My heart pounds so

Chapter 1

Vaelora POV The nightmares are starting to feel more real. More vivid. They disturb me in ways I can’t explain. My alarm has been going off for the last five minutes, but I don’t bother to reach over and hit snooze. It’s move-in day. My first year of college. And I’m not sure I’m as ready as I thought I was going to be. It’s nearly five hours away—five hours from everything I’ve ever known. From my friends. From my family. From home. The University of Maine in Presque Isle was the only college in the state that offered a homeopathy course. That’s how I justified it. I’ll be majoring in the medical field—if I make it through college, anyway. “Vaelora, we gotta get a move on, sweetheart.” “Yeah, Mom, I’m up,” I groan, dragging myself out of bed. It’s going to be a long day. I find her downstairs at the breakfast bar, nibbling toast, already dressed in her paint-stained work jeans and a flannel rolled up to the elbows. She looks like she always does—steady. Capable. Safe.

Chapter 2

Two Weeks Later Sawyers POV The annual territory meeting is tomorrow—and I’m not looking forward to it. I haven’t seen Sebastian, my twin brother, since the last one. He stays on his side of the territory. I stay on mine. It’s easier that way. He’ll show up with that booming playboy ego and his subtle snide remarks. Asshole. When we became the Alphas of Acadia Moon, we split the territory in half. I haven’t forgiven him. I don’t plan to. I take a slow swig of whiskey, savoring the spicy sweetness as it burns down my throat. The warmth doesn’t thaw the dread settling heavy in my chest. He’ll only be here two days. Two days too many—but manageable. Then he’ll slink back to Acadia Woods. A soft knock hits my office door. I smell her sickly sweet perfume before she speaks. “It’s Savannah, Mr. Ashford. I have a few documents that need your signature regarding tomorrow’s meeting.” “Enter.” The door opens slowly. Savannah steps in wearing a tight red skirt suit, the deep V of her

Chapter 3

Vaelora’s POV It’s been two weeks since starting college. Two weeks of introductions—to classes and to people. Two weeks of learning how to coexist with a roommate who is exactly the kind of girl who bullied me in high school. Two weeks of missing home. Don’t get me wrong—she’s been nice. But she has that social queen-bee energy. Party girl. Tight skirts. Layers of makeup. And booze. Lots of booze. She’s cornered me into going to a party with her tonight—off campus, at some football scholarship quarterback’s house. One thousand percent not my scene. I’ve never even had a drink before. It’s Saturday. I usually keep Saturdays free for catching up on work and spending probably too many hours in the garden. But today we’re hosting some kind of political meeting at the hotel, and it needs to be set up. I managed to land a job at a local hotel doing housekeeping and event work. Mostly housekeeping. It’s surprisingly busy for such a small city—one of the only decent hot

Chapter 4

Sebastian’s POVIt’s been four years since I’ve been back to Acadia Moon.The place I grew up. Home.Even if I’m not allowed back at the pack house, it still feels good to be here. Safe. Familiar.I wind down from my run, strolling lazily through town. The air is warm and clean, a light August breeze shuffling my long blond hair around until strands catch in the stubble along my jaw. It’s nearly shoulder length now. Time for a trim.The town bustles with people running morning errands, shop doors opening, laughter drifting through the streets.I check my watch. 8:45 a.m.The meeting starts at ten.I turn toward the hotel. If I show up looking like a sweaty hood-rat, Sawyer will never let me hear the end of it. No need to hand him ammunition.————————————————————————————When I step into the hotel lobby, my senses snag on something.Smoky vanilla. Lavender.It was faint yesterday when I checked in. Now it’s stronger.It unsettles me — not in a bad way. Just… sharp. Electric.I brush it

Chapter 5

Sawyer’s POV The ride from the pack house to the hotel is dreadful. The thought of seeing Sebastian’s smug face twists something ugly inside me. When we pull up to the entrance, my unease deepens. I sigh and pray to the Moon Goddess that today passes with minimal mental anguish. I open the door — and instantly know my prayers have gone unanswered. Her scent hits me. Smoky vanilla and lavender. Intoxicating. It wraps around me like a second skin. I can feel her. Oh, Goddess… no. A mate. My grip tightens on my briefcase. It must be a she-wolf who came with Sebastian. My inner wolf claws for control. On the inside, everything screams to run to her. Find her. Claim her. Mark her. On the outside, I shift uncomfortably, forcing composure. I drag a hand through my tightly manicured hair and make myself move forward. I hope she doesn’t cause a scene. I don’t want to be forced to appear accepting in front of everyone. I’m not even sure I want a mate again. Not afte

Chapter 6

Vaelora’s POVI feel frazzled and distracted as I fold the scattered piles of laundry in the small back room. My hands move automatically, but my mind is nowhere near the towels.A strange feeling has settled over me.Those men upstairs — twins, without a doubt — left me shaken in a way I can’t explain. They were familiar. Beautiful in a Greek-god sort of way. Dangerous.A warmth pools low in my stomach. Foreign. Heavy.And beneath it… a pull.An overwhelming need to go back upstairs to them claws at my composure. I have to physically steady my breathing.Who are they?Where do I know them from?Why did my body react the way it did to the one who caught me?Sebastian.That’s what the other one called him.When he grabbed me to keep me from falling, I almost leaned closer. Almost pressed into him.I have never wanted to be that close to a man before. Especially not one I had just met.“Lori? Mario asked me to find you. The big meeting upstairs is almost over.”Donna leans into the door

Chapter 7

Sawyer’s POVEverything runs smoothly when I return to the pack house — exactly as it should.It brings me no comfort.My mind won’t slow. A mate. Here. In my territory.She had to have moved her while I was away. There’s no other explanation. I would have sensed her. I would have known.Her face hasn’t left my mind since I saw her.Her voice echoes in the quiet.Her scent feels burned into my nostrils.Footsteps approach from behind me.“Welcome home, Alpha,” Agnes says warmly.I turn and nod. “How were things?”“Minor rogue disturbances along the borders. Nothing we couldn’t handle.”Agnes is the old Gamma, Cyrus’s mate. Cyrus still assists when needed. My current Gamma, Blaine, held command while I was in Bangor on business. Though a Gamma’s role is to lead the warriors, Blaine handles leadership seamlessly in my absence.“You seem troubled, sir.”“I’m fine. Just tired. Have my supper sent to my room.”I head upstairs but end up in the library instead. There has to be something

Authors Note

Hello all! I am currently in the processes of fine tuning the next two chapters to get them released. Thank you all so much for your patience with the delay, as we had a recent death in the family that has been hard to coordinate in the after math. Next chapters coming soon! Stay tuned! (:

Chapter 8

Chapter 8Vaelora’s POVI can hear the music as Sierra navigates her shiny little Audi up the long dirt road long before the house comes into view.Nervous sweat makes the already-too-tight crop top Sierra, my roommate, loaned me cling to my skin. The latex-like fabric is itchy and suffocating.The black fabric makes my skin look even paler. The ripped jeans hug every curve.Definitely not my style."So," Sierra says, checking her lipstick in the visor mirror as we continue down the dirt drive, "rule number one: stay near me. Rule number two: don't leave with anyone. Rule number three: say no to drugs—especially from strangers."I nod instead of admitting I'd rather turn around and go home.As we pull up, my anxiety spikes. The house is huge—bigger than anything I've ever seen up close. Richer than anything I'm used to.I don't want to be here.Inside, the party swallows us whole.It's muggy and far too hot. The air hangs thick, making the crowded room feel even smaller.Loud music p

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