Her Curse, Their Claim

d across her back in blinding waves of silver light. Every time she blinked, she saw flashes of other lives. Blood. Fire. Passion. Betrayal. Kisses that could destroy kingdoms. The faces of the

d. The mark had been a gift. But her indecision had turned it into a curse. She gasped as the memory snapped back. The boys were still staring. Waiting. Judging. Hurting. "I remembered," she said. "Everything." "And?" Kael asked gently. "I broke all of you. Before." Silence. Then Talon's voice, raw and too honest: "Then give us a different ending this time." "I don't know how. I don't know who to choose." Rhys stood. "Then maybe we should choose for you." He stormed out. They left her alone in the observatory for a time. But eventually, they came back. One by one. • Kael brought her fire blossoms, the kind that bloomed once every blood moon. "You don't have to decide tonight," he said, brushing her hand. "I'll wait lifetimes if I have to." • Talon came next, smirking like he wasn't dying inside. "You always loved my charm first," he whispered, then paused. "But I want you to choose me for who I am when I'm not charming." • Elias didn't speak much. He simply sat beside her, letting the silence hold them both. Then finally: "I won't ask you to love me again. But I will always protect your soul." • Rhys didn't return. Not yet. But his scent lingered in the air - like stormclouds and regret. That night, Seren woke to whispers in the dark. A hooded figure stood at the edge of her bed. "Four Alphas. One Heart. The moon will break, and so will the bond." "Who are you?" she demanded. "The one who cursed you. The one who loved you first. The one who wants you back." And then he was gone. It was nearly midnight when the glass dome cracked. Not from magic. From lightning. The sky outside had turned savage, clouds bruised purple and silver, wind howling like a wild thing trying to get in. And with it, Rhys returned. He burst through the observatory's arched doorway, soaked in rain, eyes glowing the color of a full moon at war. "You really remembered it all?" he asked, voice low, shaking. Seren rose slowly from the bench. "Yes." "Then tell me. Tell me who you loved most." She froze. "Rhys-" "Don't lie to me," he said, stepping forward, fists clenched at his sides. "Back then, it was me. I felt it. I died for it." Seren's breath hitched. "You think I wanted to love all of you?" she snapped suddenly, her own voice rising. "Do you think it was easy? That watching each of you die - for me - wasn't the worst thing I've ever lived through?" Lightning flashed again