THE CURSE THAT BINDS THEM

Chapter 7

Ezekiel stood at the edge of the forest, his gaze fixed on the horizon where the first light of dawn touched the earth. The weight of the night still clung to him, and the thoughts that had haunted him for weeks now churned in his mind like an unrelenting storm. The curse—the one that tied him to Lucia—was growing harder to ignore, but the consequences of acknowledging it were far more dangerous than he'd ever allowed himself to consider.

He could feel her. Her presence, her pulse, her every breath, as though their worlds were already intertwined, even though she had no idea. It was a constant ache inside of him, a pull he couldn't escape, no matter how far he tried to run from it. Every time they crossed paths, every time she smiled at him, the bond only grew stronger, more undeniable.

But he couldn't let her know. Not yet. Not when the curse still had a grip on their fates. The wolf inside of him wanted nothing more than to claim her, to hold her close, to protect her from everything that threatened her, including the truth of what she was becoming a part of. But the curse wasn't just a matter of bloodlines—it was a legacy of destruction, a tie that could unravel everything, and Ezekiel had sworn long ago that he would never drag another person into that dark history.

He ran a hand through his disheveled hair, frustration building in his chest. The fact that she didn't even know what she was getting into only made it harder. He'd tried to keep his distance, to remain cold, to shut down any desire to be near her, but there was only so much one could do when fate had other plans.

Lucia, with her warmth, her light—everything that he wasn't. She deserved to be free of the darkness he carried. She deserved to live her life without fear, without the shadow of an ancient curse hanging over her head.

But then, there was the moment when she had looked at him in that alley, eyes full of confusion and curiosity. Her presence had ignited something within him that he couldn't deny. Even when he was pushing her away, even when he tried to remain distant, her energy—the way she seemed to resonate with the world around her—called to him in a way no one ever had. She was more than just an outsider in this world. She was something else. He could feel it in his bones.

He couldn't allow her to be dragged into this mess, not if he could help it.

But what if it was already too late?

The wind shifted, bringing the familiar scent of earth and pine. Ezekiel inhaled deeply, the smell of the forest grounding him. He needed clarity. He needed time to think, to figure out how to deal with what was coming. But there was one thing that was becoming clearer than ever—the truth about his feelings for her, the way his heart raced whenever she was near, the way his instincts screamed at him to protect her, even from herself.

Ezekiel clenched his fists, anger rising up in him. He was running out of time.

The prophecy was coming. And no matter how hard he tried to fight it, the curse was already tying them together. The moment Lucia discovered the truth, there would be no turning back. She would either accept her fate or it would tear them both apart.

His wolf growled deep inside him, sensing the closeness of what was to come. The bond between them was growing stronger with every passing day, and the longer he fought it, the more dangerous it would become.

"Ezekiel," a voice called out from the shadows. A man stepped forward, his face partially obscured by the darkness. Ezekiel's heart skipped a beat. He recognized the man immediately—one of the other bloodline protectors. A part of the old order that had been tasked with keeping the curse contained. But this wasn't a friendly meeting.

"What is it?" Ezekiel's voice was low, controlled, though his heart was pounding in his chest.

"The time is coming," the man said, his eyes scanning the empty street before locking onto Ezekiel's gaze. "You know what has to be done."

Ezekiel didn't respond immediately, his mind racing. He knew exactly what the man meant. The prophecy was clear, and they both knew that Lucia was the key to everything. But the question lingered in the air: Was she ready? Was he ready?

"You know what the curse demands," the man continued, his voice growing darker. "The bloodline must be severed before it's too late. You've let this drag on too long."

Ezekiel clenched his jaw, his fists trembling at his sides. "I'm not going to hurt her."

The man's laugh was cold, hollow. "You don't have a choice. Neither of you does. The curse is already in motion. The bloodline is awakening. You can't stop it."

Ezekiel's stomach twisted. The weight of the prophecy was crushing him. The curse tied to their bloodline wasn't just a story—it was a living, breathing thing. And the more time he spent near Lucia, the more the curse seemed to grow stronger.

He couldn't let them have her. He wouldn't.

With a final glance at the man, Ezekiel turned on his heel and walked away. His heart raced, and his mind was consumed with one thought: He had to get to Lucia before anyone else did. There was no turning back now.