“The ring he gave to that witch?” Sarah’s face contorted with fury. “I’ll kill her myself-”
“No.” I squeezed her hand. “Just promise me about the letters. He needs to understand what he’s done. Promise me you’ll send them.”
She clutched the box to her chest, tears streaming down her face. “I promise. But Scarlett… I can’t just let you die.”
I hugged her tightly, memorizing the feeling of her friendship. “You’ve been the best friend anyone could ask for. Thank you for everything.”
After she left, still protesting, I walked through the house that had been my home. Every photo, every memento, every trace of my life with Lucian went into the fireplace.
I watched our wedding portrait burn, remembering how happy I’d been that day. The Lucian in the photo smiled at me, his eyes full of promises he never meant to keep.
The curse surged again, making me stumble. Suddenly, the house felt wrong – tainted by lies and betrayal. The walls seemed to close in, suffocating me with memories of false happiness.
Through my blurring vision, I saw a figure in the distance. Young Lucian from six years ago, standing in the rain.
Memories attacked me, and I remembered the stormy day when we were imprisoned together in the cave, and I was just healing from a stab wound from a silver dagger. The rain was heavy and spread into the cave, and we were soaked to the bone and shivering. Lucien wrapped his coat around my shoulders and held me close in his arms, using his strength to help keep me warm.
“I’ll always protect you,” he’d promised, his young face so earnest. “No matter what happens, no matter who tries to hurt you, I’ll be there.”
“Even though I don’t have a wolf?” I’d asked, voicing my deepest fear.
“You don’t need a wolf,” he’d said fiercely. “Your heart is stronger than any wolf’s. And one day, when I’m Alpha, I’ll make you my Luna. We’ll show everyone that true strength comes from the heart, not from what we can shift into.”
Then, he kissed me for the first time.
The apparition of young Lucian stared at me now, his eyes sad. “Don’t forgive him,” he whispered. “Don’t let him forget what he’s thrown away.”
Bobby’s whine pulled me back to reality. Yes – there was one more place I needed to be.
Each step was agony as Bobby and I made our way to the cave. Our cave. The place where Lucian had first promised to protect me, to love me, to make me his Luna.
The old stone walls welcomed me like an old friend. I sank to the ground, my strength finally giving out.
Bobby curled against me, his warmth offering comfort as darkness crept into my vision. The curse’s poison had reached my heart.
“I’m sorry, little one,” I whispered to Bobby. “I’m leaving, you’ll find a new owner.”
The curse gave one final surge, and everything went black.
When I opened my eyes again, I was standing over my own body—in the state of the soul. Bobby was still there, whining and nudging my lifeless form, trying to wake me.
Immediately, it seemed that something had bound me. A flash of white light passed, and an invisible chain pulled me directly to Lucian’s side.
I could feel him moving through the house, finally noticing something was wrong. My spirit followed, watching as panic slowly crept into his expression.
“Mary!” he called to our servant. “Where’s Scarlett? Has anyone seen her today?”
The maid wrung her hands nervously. “No, Alpha. Not since this morning.”
I watched as worry crept into his expression. Good. Let him worry. Let him search.
I may have died, but my revenge was just beginning.
