The Moonstone Curse

A Promise in the Darkness

Zeke POV

A loud thud slices through the stillness of the night, yanking me out of my slumber and dragging me back to consciousness. An all-too-familiar sinister laugh echoes down the corridor outside my room, sending a jolt of adrenaline coursing through my veins. I kick off the blanket and stride across the room toward the door that separates our quarters, every sense on high alert.

In the dim light, my gaze falls on the crumpled form on the bed, tangled up in torn silk and dried blood. The ceremonial dress she had on earlier is in ruins, revealing a mess of bruises and wounds that make my gut clench. She's unconscious, her breathing shallow and unsteady. I step closer, my heart doing this weird twist in my chest, something between worry and... I don't even know what, the emotion is too foreign, something I have never felt before.

Carefully, I reach out and lift her from the bed. She whimpers, her body tensing in protest but she’s too weak to stop me. She's so damn fragile, it's like holding a wisp of air. I cradle her against me, being careful not to jostle her injuries.

With utmost care, I hold her against my chest, her head resting against my shoulder. I take her into my master bathroom, my free hand twists the shower knobs, setting the water temperature to a soothing warmth. As the steam begins to rise, I adjust my hold on her, mindful of her injuries, and step into the welcoming cascade of water with her still nestled against me, both of us still fully clothed.

The shock of the water pulls her from unconsciousness, her sharp gasp filling the space between us as she instinctively prepares to fight. Her muscles tremble with exhaustion, but she tries to stand. I hold her steady, anchoring her to me as the water cascades over us.

Slowly, her breathing evens out, and those honey-brown eyes flutter open. For a moment, it's like time just stops as we lock eyes. She relaxes against me, this unspoken understanding passing between us. As I rinse the blood stains from her hair my fingers lightly brush over her skin, and a jolt of electricity spirals right into my heart.

I used to think I could ignore the fated bond between us. That keeping my distance would make it fade away. But that's bullshit. The more I try to keep my distance, the harder it gets. It's like being trapped in a storm, torn between two paths, knowing both will lead to ruin. Either I let her in, or I push her further away—both choices lead to destruction.

I want to promise her I’ll protect her, that nothing like this will happen again, but I can’t. Reality is a b***h, and the truth is, the only way to keep her safe is to keep her at arm’s length. So, I bite back the broken promises, focusing instead on squeezing some soap into her hair, working it through the blood and grime.

“Thank you.” Her voice is so small, so broken, that it barely reaches me through the sound of the shower.

Her gaze drifts over my face, lingering on my busted lip, and a frown creases her brow. "I shouldn’t have hit you," she whispers, guilt shadowing her eyes. She pulls away slightly, her feet finding their own footing. “I couldn’t let you… force yourself on me.”

Her words hit like a slap, reigniting her fire, but it flickers out just as quickly as it flared.

“The twins were right," her voice cracks, and a tear slips down her cheek. "If I had just accepted this fate with you, your father wouldn’t have retaliated." The sorrow in her voice cuts deeper than I expected, leaving scars on both of us.

Rage flares in me, sharp and blinding. "What did he do to you?" I grind out, trying to keep my voice steady, but the anger boils beneath my skin.

Tears pour freely down her cheeks now, and she clutches my arms, her fingers digging in like she’s holding on for dear life. "He... he r***d me," she sobs, her words like a knife twisting in my chest.

The air leaves my lungs in a rush as the realization crashes over me—he bred her himself. She was meant to remain untainted, and no one had the right to steal that from her. She is the god damn daughter of an Alpha- A f*****g princess.

My Mate.

"Did he succeed?" The question hangs heavy in the air until she finally nods, her tears falling more profusely. I had thought that by walking away from her in anger, my father would give me time to cool down, giving us another day to concoct a plan of escape. But he didn't.

I wipe the tears from her cheeks, trying to stay gentle, but the fury inside me is like wildfire, consuming every rational thought. My wolf claws at the surface, feeding on my anger, threatening to take control. I loosen my grip just as my wolf bursts forward with a growl that echoes off the tile walls.

He sets her down gently before his rage erupts, his fist slamming into the shower wall until his knuckles bleed, crimson streaks mixing with the water.

He spins, eyes blazing, but instead of directing his fury at her, he steps forward, his voice a low, feral growl. “Mine,” he snarls, his eyes wild as he corners her. For a moment, I fear what he might do, but then, he cradles her face, softer than I thought possible, repeating the claim. “You’re mine, little wolf.”

I brace for her fear, but instead, something in her shifts, the fear draining from her eyes as she meets his gaze head-on. “I’m yours,” she replies softly, the words gentle despite the pain.

Her acceptance is enough to calm the storm, and I force my wolf back down, leaning my forehead against the wall above her as I try to catch my breath. The wild urge to destroy, to burn everything to the ground, simmers beneath the surface, but for now, it’s under control.

“We’ve got a problem.” I link my cousins, nodding for Livia to grab some towels.

***

I stroke my thumb over her knuckles while she sleeps, our fingers laced together, her delicate hand in mine. Bursts of electricity surge from me to her, our energies intertwining and amplifying. It's a subtle pleasure that not only soothes my nerves but also stirs my curiosity. For the first time since discovering her kneeling in my room, I embrace our bond, reveling in the energy exchange between our souls. It's incredible, something that could easily become an addiction.

Up in the mountains, there’s an ancient pack known as the Ivory Eclipse—a pack forgotten by time, their ways steeped in tradition, untouched by the world we live in now. They’ve held onto the old ways, the ways the rest of us abandoned when the Goddess died.

The twins and I visit them a few times a year, learning the ancient traditions our pack forsook long ago. I’ve learned a lot over the years, but now I wish I’d paid more attention when they spoke of mates. My wolf did something to her tonight—calmed her, soothed her pain. I don’t know how, but I need to understand it.

She’s my mate. The other half of my soul. And I’ll protect her, no matter the cost. He will never touch her again. The only way I can ensure that is to get her far away from here—far away from me.

But as much as I want to protect her, the truth is, I can’t be the one to stay by her side. Not with the blood that runs through my veins. Not with the monster I’ve inherited. I was born into darkness, raised in cruelty, and no matter how much I try to fight it, that darkness clings to me like a second skin. Livia deserves better than that—better than me.

She deserves to choose her own fate, not be forced into this twisted life by some ancient bond neither of us had any say in. My father wants her for her bloodline, to breed power into our pack, to strip her of any choice or freedom. But if I do what needs to be done, if I sever this bond between us, she might have a chance at something different. Something real.

I tighten my grip on her hand as she sleeps, my chest aching with the weight of what I know I have to do. Her fingers twitch in response, like she can feel my turmoil even in her unconscious state. It’s strange, this connection between us. My soul wants to keep her and my wolf rages within me to claim what is his. But we can’t.

But taking her there means one thing—I’ll have to let her go.

I glance down at her peaceful expression, my heart twisting in my chest. The thought of rejecting her feels like tearing myself apart from the inside out, but I know it’s the only way. If I don’t, my father will find her, and he’ll never stop until he’s bled her dry. Her life will be one of captivity, forced breeding, and misery. I won’t condemn her to that fate.

I’ll take her to the mountains, and then I’ll reject her.

She’ll be free to find someone else. Someone who can give her the kind of love she deserves—love that’s real, not born out of a bond neither of us asked for. She’ll be able to choose her own life, her own mate, someone who doesn’t carry the weight of an entire pack’s sins on his shoulders. Someone who won’t be forced to breed her for her bloodline.

The pain of that thought rips through me, but I push it down. This isn’t about me. It’s about her. I’ve already failed her once by letting my father get to her. I won’t fail her again.

She stirs beside me, her brow furrowing slightly as she moves closer, her hand tightening in mine. The pull between us is undeniable, an invisible force drawing me to her, demanding that I stay. But I can’t. I can’t let my feelings get in the way of what needs to be done.

For her sake, I have to be strong enough to do the right thing.

I press my lips to her forehead, a soft, lingering kiss that’s both a goodbye and a promise. I’ll protect her. I’ll get her to safety. But after that, she’ll be free.

Free of me. Free of this cursed bond.

“Rest while you can, little wolf,” I whisper, my voice thick with emotion. “Because tomorrow, everything changes.”