Chapter 10

Anthony mind-linked Miles, instantly relaying Kathy's location; he shifted into his brown wolf form, the other men already patrolling the grounds as he took off at a run toward the area, the sounds of his paws pounding on the ground echoing in the stillness. Noticing another wolf snarling at her car, he ordered the wolf to leave, assuring it that the female posed no danger. Miles shifted back, donned shorts, and approached Kathy's car, tapping on the window to startle her.

Miles said to Kathy, "I hope I didn't scare you."

"No, you didn't," Kathy insisted. "Why are you shirtless and shoeless?"

I was jogging in the woods. Miles said, "Let me in, and I'll drive you to Anthony's house."

"You want to drive my car," Kathy asked, her eyes narrowed in suspicion.

Miles said, "Yes, I know driving must be exhausting."

"Please, go ahead," she responded affirmatively.

Kathy unlocked the car and slid into the passenger seat. Miles got in, closed the door, and started driving while still talking to Anthony on his phone.

“Anthony, Miles is in the car. We will be there soon,”

“See you when you get here,” said Anthony

Kathy hung up and put her phone in her bag, but just as she did, it rang—her father. She switched it off. She doesn't want anything to do with them. Since her clothes are at the penthouse, she won't have anything to wear if she spends the night at his. As Miles drove, Kathy eyed him, wanting to question him and get the truth. Although he'll probably tell Anthony, asking is harmless.

“Miles if I ask you something. Will you tell me the truth?”

“The Truth?”

"Indeed, the truth. Tell me everything you know about Anthony. My father and his new family are unaware that I know the supernatural is real.”

The car screeched as Miles hit the brakes, the sudden stop sending Kathy's head towards the dashboard; luckily, her hand was there to break her fall. Miles turned his head, his eyes wide with disbelief, as if Kathy had sprouted a second head.

"How did you know about us?" Miles asked, his eyes narrowed in disbelief.

I can't honestly say my mother. In high school, my friend Roxy shifted into her wolf form, and I was shocked. I promised never to tell anyone. I didn't see Roxy again until I returned to school, and I asked everyone if they had seen her. I'd heard she'd either run away with her boyfriend or been sent away by her parents after getting pregnant. After that, I never made another friend. After graduating high school, I went to her house, only to find it empty. A neighbor informed me they'd moved out of state.” Kathy explained.

“You say her name is Roxy? Do you know that last name?” asked Miles

“Um…she told me it was Crestwing,” said Kathy

“I’ll give finding her my best effort. Although Mr. Thompson was not blind since birth, he was poisoned by an evil witch whom he had promised to marry. This witch had a crush on him when they were young and manipulated him into a false commitment to marry her when they were older. Betrayed, she used forbidden magic, a spell of blindness, to punish him, defying her coven's rules. He tried seeking aid from various healers, but none were able to help him, as the spell cast by the witch prevented anyone, even from different covens, from touching him.”

Kathy was saddened as she listened to Miles driving towards Anthony's house, realizing that a childhood crush was still impacting his life. Love is blind. She's aware that some girls might go to extremes to win a guy's affection, but it rarely works, often leading to obsessive behaviors like sending gifts, or even waiting outside his home. There are times when it is very creepy. Kathy is hoping someone has helped him break the curse.

Anthony sits comfortably on his couch, a sturdy yet inviting piece of furniture that anchors the room. The space around him exudes a quiet charm, with walls adorned in soft, muted tones that foster an atmosphere of peace. A lamp with a warm amber glow rests on a side table nearby, casting gentle light across the room and adding a cozy dimension to the evening.

The couch itself tells a story—a plush haven of relaxation, its cushions slightly worn from years of use, yet still brimming with comfort. Anthony leans back, his posture casual and unhurried, as though the couch has memorized the contours of his frame.

The room is a reflection of Anthony's personality: shelves brimming with well-loved novels, an array of photographs capturing cherished memories.

It is a picture of calm—Anthony, the couch, the room, Here, in this tranquil corner, time seems to pause, allowing Anthony to stay suspended in the simplicity and serenity of his thoughts. He's waiting at home for Kathy to arrive. He recalled Maria, a childhood friend who'd harbored a serious crush, proposing marriage someday. At that time.

(Flashback)

Maria waits for Anthony in the woods, hoping he will come and fulfill their childhood promise of marriage. Anthony rejects Maria to search for his true love.

“Anthony, I missed you. Did you tell your parents about me?”

"That's why I came here to talk to you about that," Anthony explained.

“I want to find my mate, I know we made a promise together, but I think it’s the best if we didn’t see each other again,”

“So, you're just going to reject me? You know I love you, right?” Sadness Maria.

“My apologies, but I don't have those feelings for you,” Said Anthony.

With anger, Maria cast her spell.

"Grant them sight of only night,

A world of black, no glint of light!"

"World unseen, eyes now keen, to darkness lean!"

"Let the shadows claim their eyes,

And banish light beneath the skies!"

Anthony's vision faded to black, the world dissolved into an inky void, and he stumbled. He looked around, his heart pounding in his chest, even with his wolf securely locked away in the back of his mind.

“No, you will never get your vision again, only your mate can break my curse if she loves though your blindness,”

Maria disappears, leaving Anthony by himself in the wood.”

(Flashback end)

He's still furious, but luckily his wolf is free, and they can communicate again. Maria says only his mate can break the curse through love, restoring his sight—a long journey ahead.