ge of the cliff, his eyes locked on Selene as she stood a few feet away, her posture tense but resolute. The winds howled through

healed. His pack had come to rely on him more than ever, and he had buried his pain under the weight of responsibility.

stan said again, his voice hoarse wit

l. She stepped forward, but not close enough to bridge the gap that lay bet

pered, her voice raw, laden with regret.

ion. "I get that they're a threat, but there's more going on he

aw and undeniable. The air between them shimmered with the echo of

e faltered, as though the words she n

ain calm. He had waited so long for this moment-too long to

right words. "I thought I was protecting you by leaving. I didn't want you to be dragged into this. B

ed as he tried to process her admission. A curse. What kind of curse could m

locked on hers, his voice in

tled with herself. The storm clouds above them rolled in, the sky darke

ent, and it's unstable. My wolf is... unpredictable. Sometimes, I can't control her. And when I couldn't hold it in any longer, I le

he had never thought one would affect Selene. His wolf howled in fury, the primal side of him refusin

l. "I could have helped you, Selene. We could have figured it out together. But

ght I was protecting you. But I see now that I was wrong. I never should h

rashed down on him in a tidal wave. But beneath it all, there was a flicker of hope. The woman stan

d, his voice low but firm. "You left the pac

ge that. But I'm here now, Tristan. I need your help. The curse is growing stronger, a

. "What do you mean? Are they

rse at bay, but the more I tried to suppress it, the more dangerous it became. The rogues are drawn to the

e. "Then we'll stop them. We'll stop this curse and

s though ashamed to show such vulnerability. "I've been alone f

el that way, to be so isolated. He had always believed in their bond, in the

n said, his voice firm, filled with the weight of his pro

ng for any sign of doubt. But there was none. Tristan

g herself to believe in the possibility of redemption. "I don't know

despite the years of pain and loneliness, he still felt the pull of their bo

ene," he said, his voice softe

t first, then quickly picking up speed. But in that moment, with Selene standing before him, the

d. They stood there, locked in the bond they had on