18

18

Bethany's POV

I remained seated on the chair, staring at the ceiling and wondering how I never knew that Adrian was Mason's uncle. How could I not have seen the resemblance, how could I not have scented it?

Oh God. I rubbed my face as the words kept repeating in my head, drowning me in quilt and shame. How was I going to explain to my mother that I never ever knew that Adrian and Mason were related before I slept with him? How was I going to explain to mom that I even slept with another man before properly breaking off my engagement with Mason?

Adrian is Mason's uncle.

The words echoed in my skull, each repetition hitting harder than the last. My pulse hammered in my ears as I got up from the bench and was walking away while I wondered what was going on in the office with Mason and Adrian.

I couldn't breathe. My head felt dizzy and I didn't even know where exactly I was going until I entered Mason's conference room.

"Oh shit," I murmured, turning around to leave the office as I realized I wasn't where I was supposed to be. My heel caught the edge of the plush rug, and my shoulder slammed into a tall wooden display case against the wall.

*Crash!*

The sound of shattering glass jolted me out of my daze.

I froze.

Slowly, I turned to look at the damage.

The glass door of the cabinet hung crooked on its hinges, shards littering the floor. Inside, a dark wooden box lay cracked open, its contents—a small, intricately carved wolf figurine—broken into jagged pieces.

Oh no. I took a step back, my eyes widening just as the door of the conference room pushed open quickly and Mason came in, Adrian behind him.

Mason's eyes went straight to the broken pieces on the floor and his expression twisted into something cold and dangerous.

"Do you have any idea what you just did?" he hissed, his voice low and venomous.

"I—I didn't mean to—"

"That," he growled, pointing to the shattered remains, "was an heirloom. A Grant relic passed down for generations."

I backed away instinctively, my chest tightening.

"I'm sorry. It was an accident, I swear."

Mason's eyes darkened, and for the first time, I saw something far more threatening than his usual arrogance.

This was something primal.

Predatory.

"You don't understand," he snarled, stepping toward me. "That wasn't just some decoration. It was a seal. A safeguard."

"A… what?" My voice cracked.

Mason's lips curled.

"Every alpha in this family has guarded that relic for centuries. It held back the Grant curse."

Curse?

I blinked, struggling to comprehend.

"This isn't funny, Mason," I snapped.

"Does it look like I'm joking?" His voice dropped, almost a growl.

I shifted, feeling suffocate by everything. U shifted my eyes to Adrian and he was just staring at the broken pieces with what seemed like a ghostly look.

A cold shiver raced down my spine.

"What curse?" I asked, barely above a whisper.

Mason stared at the broken relic, fury radiating from him.

"Our bloodline was cursed centuries ago by a rival pack. A witch's punishment for betrayal."

My stomach twisted.

"This relic"—he gestured sharply—"was the binding force keeping that curse dormant. You've broken it."

I swallowed hard, my mouth dry.

"What does that mean?"

Mason's eyes snapped to mine, gleaming with something between rage and fear.

"It means the curse is free."

Silence pressed in.

I shook my head slowly.

"This can't be real. You're messing with me."

His laugh was humorless.

"Do I look like I'm joking? This isn't some fairy tale, Bethany. You think being a werewolf is the only thing dark about this family?"

I felt the blood drain from my face.

"You're insane."

"Am I?" Mason stepped closer, forcing me to retreat.

"There are rules in this family, traditions for a reason. That heirloom was sacred. And you"—he jabbed a finger at me—"destroyed it."

My breath came in shallow gasps.

"It was an accident—"

"That doesn't matter!" Mason roared.

His sudden outburst made me flinch.

"The curse doesn't care about intent."

I shook my head, trying to make sense of this.

"What… what kind of curse?" I asked, hating how small my voice sounded.

Mason's chest rose and fell rapidly.

"Our bloodline was doomed to destroy itself. Greed, betrayal, madness. That's why the alpha's heir was always protected, why certain… measures were taken."

Measures?

My mind spun.

"And now?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

His expression darkened.

"Now, it starts again."

I stumbled back, my knees weak.

This couldn't be real.

This wasn't happening.

"I—I can fix it. I'll pay for it, I'll—"

Mason barked a cold laugh.

"Pay for it? Do you think money fixes curses, Bethany?"

I flinched at his mocking tone.

His eyes narrowed.

"No, but you're going to fix it."

I froze.

"What?"

"You broke it. You fix it."

"I—I don't know how—"

"That's not my problem." His voice was like ice.

Panic clawed at my throat.

"What if I can't?"

Mason leaned in close, his breath hot against my cheek.

"Then I'll make sure you suffer for it."

His words hit me like a slap.

I stared at him, heart pounding.

He couldn't be serious.

But the look in his eyes told me he was. Dead serious.

The room spun again, and I had to grip the edge of his desk to stay upright.

My mind raced. I had to get out of here. I had to find out if any of this was real.

And if it was…

I was in more danger than I ever realized.

From Mason.

From his family.

And maybe even from Adrian.

I took another shaky breath just as Mason's cold voice cut through the silence.

"Don't even think about running."

I lifted my eyes to his, glaring despite the terror bubbling inside me.

"I'm not afraid of you."

His smirk returned.

"Maybe not yet," his voice held the promise of all the things he'd do to me if I tried to run. I shouldn't be afraid.

But I was.

God, I was terrified.