with activity, it felt heavy, weighed down by unspoken fears. The curse still lingered in the back of her mind, gnawing at her every waking moment. Tristan

hem safe, but the question that haunted her

hts when she could feel it coiling inside her, threatening to rise to the surface. The power of the curse was a living thing, one that had been with her

ts were

she felt the change begin-her skin prickling, her muscles tightening, her senses sharpening. Every inch of her body screamed to shift, to release the power that

he held o

dense forest that surrounded their home. The moonlight illuminated her silhouette, casting shadows that se

is voice carrying the weight

s-a flicker of fear, of doubt-that he hadn't seen before. For a moment, she

can keep it inside," she admit

med in his chest, a constant reminder of what they had shared, of what was a

aid, his voice firm. "We'

t know if there is a way, Tristan. I've tried everything. The

admission, the fear that gripped her heart. And, in that moment, he understood. He knew what it was like to feel

slightly. "I don't know what will happen if I le

er arm, grounding her. "You're not alone in this. What

ightly. "But what if I hurt you? What if

ning on hers. "We'll find a way to stop it. We'll f

ed to believe him. She wanted to trust that they could overcome this, but dee

night, sharp and primal. The sound sent a shiver down Selene's spine. It

ing as he turned toward the door. "Stay here," he comma

restless, eager. Without thinking, she grabbed her jacket and follo

howls had stopped, replaced by the rustling of leaves and the crackle of distant twi

eyes scanning the dark woods, h

ck rise, her body instinctively preparing for whatever danger was lurking nearby. She had been

beat as a figure emerged from the darkness-a lone wolf, its fur dark and matted, its eyes g

er his breath, his gaze fixed

. She resisted the temptation, though the power of the curse thrummed in her veins, fighting

ce steady despite the rising panic ins

s movements fast and vicious. Tristan was the first to react, shifting into his wolf form with a fl

mplete, she was on the rogue, her fangs sinking deep into its side. The rogue howled in pain, but Selen

the darkness inside her, the power of the curse, urging her to destroy the threat, to dominate it co

hrough the fog of her

was t

through the rogue's throat, silencing its strug

rogue, panting heavily. The blood-soaked ground beneath her felt unrea

hing felt off. The darkness was stronger now, coiling inside her, demanding rele

ng, but there was something else-something that

dy trembling. "I can't," she whispered, the

ween her and Tristan flared, sharp and electric, but it wasn't enough to anchor he

ce frantic. But the words barely left

the sound of Tristan's v

u're okay.

iousness. She was lying on the bed, wrapped in blankets, but her body felt hea

e whispered,

brushing her hair away from her

y of the rogue and the battle came r

s gently gripping hers. "It's okay.

had grown stronger, and the fear that it would take over was