MATED TO THE MONSTROUS CURSED LYCAN

pte

's

ject you a

deeply I almost didn't feel it at first. I just stood there, sta

my wolf, h

me, her voice shaking with fury. Let me out

trying to break free. Her anger lit a fire under m

begged he

rrored mine. The bond wasn't just between Derek and me, it w

d in the eyes, and there wasn't

d the symbol of our bond for years. The one I was promised to. Trained for.

te to touch him, to feel something real. Vivi

back like I was some diseas

herself. My wolf...fierce and proud

w it was suppo

ike a kiss on the skin. Where legends lived in the air, and whispers of prophecies flowed like water. A

I was

nd piercing blue eyes. A sign.

sion, a girl with a glowing crescent mark at the back of her neck, born to b

der moonlight like a living flame. Even the witches backed off for years after I was born. I became the sy

ha. Cold. Ruth

d Alpha, strong and cruel in a way that made my knees tremble. My parents had introduced m

ed face, eyes dark like a thunderstorm, and lips that could both bless

dn't see the savior. He pinned me to the

whispered then. "And I wi

ver forgotten them either. He never saw us, she gr

d the burden of everyone's hope. I endured bruises, sleepless nights, weapons training, mental discipline, pain... en

t would be worth it, because one da

day nev

ceremony. The day he was meant to acknowledge me. T

entire pack and said those

g to face the gathered elders and seers. "She and he

The crowd stirred like a rising storm. Vivi

again, eyes wide. "Look at me! Look at my hair, my e

r whole life has been a lie. A trick. Elders,

doing this? You know I've trained

e crowd

ped out from

gi

looked exac

s. For a heartbeat, I thought I was looking into a mirror... but

froze i

isn't po

bled b

ispered. "No

ike a rising tide. Head

s just li

glowi

the rea

d it

rd, his voice boomi

. This is who the Moon Goddess sent. T

welling in my eyes. "You'

n screamed. Don't

l decide," so

ring th

he ground. Ancient, blindfolded, but powerful, his presence hushed the noise in

now," he said. "Raise your

dn't want to do it. I didn't want the truth t

l did t

ence swept th

sps. Audi

glowed

ch br

. flic

But weak

n wailed inside me, grief-st

the sound was swallowed

s the

eceive

ia

it me in the chest. I fell to my knees

ed. Stones. Words

ak

t o

ved the wh

somethin

sharp and primal. My visi

surged

my wolf coming to the surface. My fingernails cracked and lengthened into claws, sharp

went silen

rowd

ked away

face faltered, j

shift

.stop