Chapter 44

Chapter 44
SHANE

I sat across from Connor in his office, my head pounding as I tried to articulate the frustration twisting in my gut. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t shake the feeling of emptiness that gnawed at me. 

The bond with Harley was supposed to fix this, to fill the void and reignite the strength I’d lost. But instead, it seemed to leave me even more vulnerable, more powerless.

“I’m not getting stronger, Connor,” I said, my voice low and tense. “If anything, I feel weaker than before. This was a mistake. I should’ve stayed away from her… from Harley.”

Connor’s eyes were sympathetic but steady, unwavering. “Shane, that’s the curse talking. Mating with Harley was never a mistake. She’s your mate; she’s part of you. This has to be some interference from Roy or whoever set this curse on you.”

“But that’s just it,” I replied, clenching my fists. “If the bond can’t fix it, then what’s the point? She’s human, Connor. What if all I’ve done is pull her into my world only to make her vulnerable too? Maybe she’d be safer if I had just… let her live her life without me.”

Connor leaned forward, his expression intense. “Shane, don’t even start down that path. Harley accepted you; she accepted the bond. You can’t back out now just because it’s hard. We’ll figure out what’s happening.”

I nodded, but doubt continued to coil in my chest. I hated feeling this way, feeling… incomplete, like half of me was fading. Before I could respond, Connor’s phone buzzed, interrupting our conversation. He glanced at the screen, eyebrows raised.

“It’s Jasper,” he said, sounding surprised. He answered quickly, “Hey, Jasper. What’s up?”

There was a pause, and I could faintly hear Jasper’s voice on the other end, though I couldn’t make out the words. Connor’s face darkened as he listened, and he nodded. “Alright. We’ll be there.”

“What’s going on?” I asked, standing up as Connor hung up.

“I don’t know,” he replied, his voice serious. “But he said we need to get over to the restaurant. Now.”

Without another word, we left the office, tension thickening in the air as we made our way to Jasper’s restaurant. My mind raced with possibilities, each one darker than the last. Jasper wasn’t one to call us over for no reason, especially not in the middle of the day. Something was wrong, and I could feel the unease creeping up my spine.

When we entered the restaurant, the bell above the door chimed, but the place was quieter than usual. Jasper stood near the counter, his expression tense, and beside him was a woman I’d never expected to see. Morgana. A powerful witch I knew only by reputation—and not a good one.

The moment I saw her, a growl rose in my throat, and I could feel Connor tensing beside me, his own instincts flaring. Witches and wolves were rarely allies, and Morgana wasn’t exactly known for her… amicable personality.

“Chill,” Jasper said quickly, holding up a hand. “She’s on our side. Just hear her out.”

I clenched my fists, glaring at Morgana. “What is she doing here?”

Morgana smirked, her gaze sharp and mocking. “Well, well… look who’s in such a rush to get rid of me. Feeling a little… weak, are we, Shane?”

A surge of anger flared up, and I took a step toward her, forcing myself to stay calm. “How do you know anything about my power?” I asked through gritted teeth.

She gave a small laugh, her eyes gleaming with amusement. “Remember who I am, Shane. I’m a witch. It’s my job to know things—especially when it comes to those who are weakened. Your energy is practically broadcasting it to anyone who’s sensitive enough to pick it up.”

Connor growled softly beside me, and I felt his frustration mirror my own. “So why are you here, then?” I demanded. “If you know I’m weakened, what do you want?”

She tilted her head, a sly smile playing on her lips. “You’re asking the wrong question. The real question is, what do you want? Isn’t it to get back your power? To reclaim the strength you once had?”

I clenched my fists, my frustration simmering beneath the surface. “If you know anything about that, then say it plainly. Enough of this witch trickery. What’s your angle?”

Morgana leaned back slightly, as if enjoying my irritation. “I’m here to help you, Shane. I know why you’re losing your strength, why the bond with your mate isn’t restoring you like it should.”

Her words sent a jolt of hope through me, despite the lingering suspicion. “And what exactly do you know about it?”

She smiled, a slow, calculating look. “You’re bound by a curse. Not just any curse—this is powerful, layered magic, designed to suppress your abilities, to keep you from reaching your full potential. It was crafted carefully, with intent. But with my help, I could… unravel it.”

Jasper, who had been watching in silence, gave me a quick nod, as if encouraging me to listen. I looked back at Morgana, feeling the weight of her words sink in.

“So you can break it?” I asked cautiously, not fully trusting her.

“Yes,” she replied smoothly, her expression unreadable. “But breaking a curse like this requires more than just a spell or a potion. I’ll need… access. Something only you can give me.”

I narrowed my eyes. “What do you mean by ‘access’?”

Morgana’s gaze didn’t waver. “I need to enter your ancestral grounds, the heart of your pack’s power. There’s something there I need, something I’ve been searching for.”

Connor immediately shook his head. “That’s not an option. The ancestral grounds are sacred. We can’t just let a witch walk in there.”

Morgana’s eyes flickered with amusement. “Sacred, perhaps. But it’s the only way. You have two options, Shane. You can either trust me and let me do what I do best, or you can continue wandering around, weak, helpless, waiting for someone like Roy to put you out of your misery.”

A growl rumbled low in my throat, my hands clenching. She was playing with fire, and she knew it. “I don’t trust witches, Morgana,” I replied coldly. “I know you always want something in return. This isn’t just about helping me.”

Morgana’s lips curved into a smirk. “Of course it isn’t. But our goals align, don’t they? You want your power back, and I want something that will help me in my own pursuits. We don’t have to trust each other; we just have to make a deal.”

I shook my head, struggling to keep my frustration in check. “No. I’ll figure out my power on my own—with my mate.”

At that, Morgana’s smirk faltered, replaced by a look of surprise. “Your mate?” she repeated, her gaze narrowing. “And who, exactly, is this mate of yours?”

Connor stepped forward, a hint of protectiveness in his stance. “That’s none of your business.”

But I held up a hand, silencing him. I met Morgana’s gaze head-on. “My mate is Harley. She’s human.”

For the first time, Morgana’s confident demeanor slipped, her eyes widening in genuine shock. “A human?” she whispered, as if the idea was absurd. “You’re telling me that an alpha werewolf like you has… bonded with a human?”

“Yes,” I replied, my voice steady. “She’s my mate, and that’s all that matters. I don’t need to sacrifice my family’s sacred grounds for your so-called help.”

Morgana recovered quickly, her eyes narrowing as she scrutinized me. “You’re making a grave mistake, Shane. A human mate cannot possibly be enough to strengthen you, to break a curse this powerful. You need something more, something ancient and magical to restore your full strength.”

I shook my head, my resolve hardening. “I don’t care. I won’t betray my pack’s trust or let you into the grounds. If I’m going to restore my strength, I’ll do it my way, with Harley by my side.”

Morgana watched me, her expression unreadable, a mixture of frustration and intrigue. She tilted her head slightly, her voice dropping to a dangerous, almost taunting tone. “You’re choosing love over power. Noble, but foolish. Remember this moment, Shane, when you’re left vulnerable, unable to protect her… or yourself.”

Jasper moved protectively closer to me, his eyes hard as he glared at Morgana. “That’s enough. If you’re not here to help on our terms, then get out.”

Morgana smirked, but there was a hint of resignation in her eyes as she took a step back, her gaze lingering on me. “Very well,” she said, her voice cool. “But remember, Shane, curses don’t lift themselves. I’ll be here when you’re ready to make a real decision.”

Without another word, she turned and left, her silhouette disappearing into the shadows beyond the restaurant. The tension in the air lingered long after she was gone, a reminder of the uneasy choice I had just made.

Connor placed a hand on my shoulder, his voice quiet but firm. “You made the right call, Shane. We don’t need her… not at the cost she was asking.”

But as I stared at the door Morgana had just walked through, I couldn’t shake the doubt creeping into my mind. I’d chosen Harley, chosen to keep her as my mate without compromising my family’s legacy. But a small, insistent voice whispered that I might not be strong enough to protect her, that Morgana’s warning would come to pass.

I pushed the doubt away, steeling myself. I’d find a way. Somehow, with Harley by my side, I’d find a way to break the curse without losing everything I stood for.