Chapter 38 38
Scarlett’s POV
The witches’ chamber was dim; their candles made shadows on the stone walls. The air was thick with the scent of herbs and something ancient, something powerful. I had come here for answers, and I wasn’t leaving until I got them.
The eldest witch sat at the head of the room, her silver hair flowing over her shoulders like a veil of moonlight. Her sharp eyes followed my every movement, and the younger witches remained silent, watching with unsettling stillness.
I stood tall, swallowing the doubt building in my chest. “You’ve kept things from me,” I said, my voice Calm “About the curse. About my connection to it. I want the truth.”
The eldest witch gave a small smile, though it lacked warmth. “The truth is a heavy burden, Scarlett. Are you sure you’re ready to carry it?”
“I don’t have a choice,” I replied, holding her gaze. “ I need to know what’s happening.”
The witches exchanged glances, their eyes gleaming in the candlelight. The eldest witch leaned forward slightly, her voice low and powerful. “You are marked by the goddess, Scarlett. That much is clear. But the curse oh, it is older than you. Older than this pack. Your arrival has awakened it.”
I swallowed hard. “What does that mean for me? For Zane?”
The eldest witch’s eyes darkened. “ It means that your bond with Zane is more than just fate. It is tied to the curse. A bond that can either break the curse... or strengthen it.”
I felt my heart race. This was what I feared. “And Rhylie?” I asked, my voice already filled with frustration. “She’s his first mate and also has the goddess mark. Where does she fit into this?”
The witch’s gaze changed, and for a moment, I noticed a younger witch shift in her seat. The eldest witch’s expression remained unreadable. “Rhylie’s connection to Zane is... complicated. But that is not our concern, it's up to the goddess”.
I frowned, my instincts telling me there was more to this story, but I pushed it aside for now. “Then tell me about the curse. How do I break it?”
The eldest witch sighed softly, her gaze hardening. “The curse was born from betrayal, Scarlett. Only through betrayal can it be undone”
I clenched my fists at my sides, the mention of betrayal fueling my anger.
Rand and Cassie.
Their betrayal had been what had me here.. Now, it seemed I was tied to something far greater than I could have imagined. But I wasn’t going to let it consume me not without a fight, I can't die twice at the hands of my so-called mates, first now Zane
“And what is this sacrifice you keep talking about?” I demanded. “What price do I have to pay?”
The eldest witch hesitated, “ Breaking the curse will require a sacrifice of your soul, Scarlett. It has already touched you and awakened something inside you. If you do not control it, it will consume you,”
Her words hit me hard, and I swallowed the rising fear. There was no turning back now.
“Thank you,” I said tightly, turning toward the door.
“Be careful, Scarlett,” the eldest witch warned. “The curse will test you in ways you cannot yet imagine.”
I didn’t respond. I had come here for answers, but what I had learned left me with even more questions and a growing sense of danger.
Rhylie’s POV
I watched her leave the witches’ chamber from a shadowed corner of the courtyard, my heart burning with rage. That cursed idiot thought she could come into my pack, into Zane’s life, and take everything I had worked for?
She was wrong.
The bond between Zane and me had been made with careful planning and powerful spells, No one knew the extent of my connection to Zane. Not even Zane himself. But I had the upper hand. I had always had the upper hand.
My sister, Kiana, the youngest of the witches, had been feeding me information about Scarlett’s every move. Thanks to her, I knew everything that went on between Scarlett and the witches.
As soon as Scarlett was out of sight, I made my way toward the witches’ chambers, slipping inside quietly. My sister was waiting, seated in the corner of the room, her eyes following me as I entered.
“What did you hear?” I asked quietly, not wanting to raise suspicion.
“Scarlett is seeking answers about the curse,” she whispered, her voice calm. “ But the witches didn’t tell her everything. They’re holding back.”
I frowned, my frustration building. “Why?”
“She’s too powerful already. The curse is tied to her in ways that even the witches don’t fully understand. They don’t want to risk unleashing it.”
I clenched my fists. Scarlett wasn’t just a threat to my bond with Zane, she was a threat to everything. I wouldn’t let her ruin what I had built; I needed the powers from the curse; it's what I had worked for all my life.
“Keep feeding me information,” I said coldly. “I need to know everything. And if she makes one wrong move... I’ll take care of her myself.”
My sister nodded, her eyes gleaming with understanding. I turned on my heel and left the room, my mind racing with possibilities. Scarlett thought she was clever, thought she could play this game. But she had no idea what I was capable of.
Scarlett’s POV
I had barely reached my chambers when I felt her presence. Rhylie. I turned slowly, my mind rushing and trying to be calm, as I faced her. She stood a few feet away, her dark eyes burning with fury. Her lips were twisted into a sneer, and I knew she wasn’t here to play nice.
“Well, if it isn’t the first mate,” I said, crossing my arms. “What do you want, Rhylie? I don’t have time for whatever game you’re trying to play.”
Her sneer deepened, and she stepped closer, her voice low and dangerous. “You think you can just walk into my life, into my pack, and take what’s mine?”
I raised an eyebrow, unbothered by her anger. “Zane isn’t yours alone, Rhylie. The mate bond ”
“Don’t you dare talk to me about the mate bond!” she snapped, her voice rising. “The goddess made me his first mate, and I have a history that you couldn’t possibly understand. You’re nothing but a distraction.”
I smirked, feeling the heated argument between us grow. “ Really? If I’m just a distraction why are you so worked up? You are also his mate. Didn’t You just say you have a history with Zane blah blah or wait … oh no, you must also know as well as I do that whatever bond you think you have with him is fading. And soon, it’ll be gone, right?”
Her eyes flashed with anger, and for a moment, I saw her hand twitch at her side, as if she were barely restraining herself. “You have no idea who you’re dealing with, Scarlett.”
I stepped closer, my voice low and firm. “And you have no idea what I’m capable of. You might have Zane fooled, but you don’t fool me. Not for a second.”
Rhylie’s expression darkened her rage in full fury. The air between us filled with tension. Her eyes glared as she took one deliberate step closer. For a moment, I saw her mask slip the mask of the sweet, perfect mate she tried to play with. Now, all I saw was a woman who felt her control slipping, and it terrified her.
“You think you’re so clever, don’t you?” Rhylie spat, her voice dripping with venom. “But you don’t know how far I’m willing to go to protect what’s mine.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Zane isn’t yours alone he's mine also. And he never will be yours alone, the moon goddess made him my mate, so who knows she's about to you, if there's any word like that “ I said enjoying this, not like I was starting to feel anything for Zane but the mate bond was messing with me, so I couldn't help but fight for dominance.
Her lips curled into a snarl, and for a moment, her composure swayed completely. “How dare you. Don’t deserve him; I heard your first mate cheated on you; that's because he saw how not so important you are,” she hissed, taking another step toward me. “You are nothing but trash. You don’t belong here.”
Her words cut through the air; it hit hard, but I wasn’t intimidated. Instead, I held my ground, staring her down. “If that’s what you believe, then prove it because, unfortunately for you, I'm here to stay.” I wasn't sure of the last part I said but I knew it was going to piss her off more
Rhylie’s expression darkened, and before I could react, she raised her hand as if to slap me. But just as she was about to hit me, someone grabbed her wrist, stopping her in her tracks.
I froze, my heart pounding as I turned to see who had intervened.