Cursed Bond (The lycan's redemption)

chapter 9&10

CURSE BOND

{ . . . His Human mate . . . }

Chapter

Written by Ekene favour

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“Because he's mine!”

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The world around Ethan literally froze. His breath seized as the echo of his own voice rang in his head. Realization hit him like a cold shock, his nerves turning ice-cold, eyes widening to their limit.

He is mine.

Oh, Mother of Christ! He did not just say that… How the f**k did those words spill out?

Becca’s shocked expression said it all. He had said it. It wasn’t just in his head. In fact, he had yelled it.

"What the hell?" Becca muttered, her face paled.

Ethan staggered back and immediately bolted from the place, moving in a hurry until he found an empty corner. Finally, spotting one, he leaned against the wall, eyes still wide in disbelief as he slowly slid down into a crouch, his face pale.

"He is mine?" he mumbled, his brows furrowing in disbelief. How in the motherfucking world had those words slipped out all of a sudden?

Even the anger he had felt when Becca spoke about Ethan baffled him. And the worst part? He had actually meant every word when he blurted it out.

He is mine.

Ethan threaded his fingers through his hair, biting down on his lip as he lowered his gaze to the floor, his mind in turmoil.

No. This can’t be right.

This. Cannot. Be. Right.

____

Martin waited at the admin block, pacing in the small space. He glanced at his wristwatch, wondering when Ethan was going to show up. It had been an hour since he had texted him to come over, but he hadn’t.

He hadn’t been in his right mind since that scene played out before him. He needed answers. Perhaps confessing his feelings to Ethan might fix everything. Pretending he only wanted to be his friend was suffocating, and it was slowly driving him to the limit.

What Xander said bothered him too. If Lucian was that dangerous, then why was Ethan with him? Did… he love Lucian?

A figure stepped into the space. Thinking it was Ethan, Martin quickly snapped his gaze toward the direction—only for his face to fall at the sight of someone else.

Lucian.

The man’s face was expressionless, but his gaze was sharp, his hands tucked into his pockets.

Martin’s jaw clenched as he rose to his feet, approaching Lucian with a cold glare. “What are you doing here?”

Lucian snorted. “Looks like you haven’t slept a wink, Martin. Did I trigger you that much?”

Martin’s eyes flashed with anger, but he forced himself to stay in control. He scoffed. “Let me guess. You hacked Ethan’s phone, stalked him, and figured out I asked him to come?”

“Not a bad thing to do,” Lucian murmured. “As long as he’s mine, I’ll do whatever I want.”

“He’s not a piece of property,” Martin snapped. “Does he even know how cruel you are? You literally just exposed him when you could have just said it yourself. Just wait until he knows everything.”

Lucian let out a low, dark chuckle, stepping forward and closing the distance between them. “Do you really think I’ll give a f**k if you tell him? He’ll be mad, yeah. But he’s wrapped around my finger. You’ll never understand how deep our relationship goes, Martin… you might just get yourself into trouble.”

Martin glared at him, the anger in his chest doubling. “You’re an unbelievably cold psycho.”

Lucian grinned. “Tell me something I don’t know.”

“He deserves better. Someone who actually cares about him,” Martin muttered, his voice shaking with rage. “Not some manipulative bastard who just wants to control him.”

“Control?” Lucian barked out a laugh, his eyes flashing with amusement. “You don’t understand a damn thing, Martin. I don’t control Ethan—I own him. Mind, body, and soul.” His voice dropped to a whisper. “And you know the best part?”

Lucian stepped even closer, their noses nearly touching as his larger frame loomed over Martin.

“He wants it.” Lucian’s voice was taunting, his aura suffocating, sending a creeping sense of fear through Martin’s system.

“You saw it that night, didn’t you?” Lucian continued. “The raw hunger in his voice, wanting me to do more. Does he look like someone who’s being controlled?”

Martin's stomach twisted as Lucian’s words sank in.

Lucian could tell Martin wasn’t the type to lose at something he wanted.

He had seen people like him—those who would do anything to win. Just to win. But Martin had chosen the wrong thing to chase.

The mate of a devil like Lucian.

When Martin remained silent, still glaring at empty space, Lucian took a step back casually, as if the conversation had suddenly bored him.

“Stay away from Ethan,” he said, his voice cutting sharper, edged with primal danger and sincerity. He leaned in again and whispered, “You don’t want to see the dark side of me.”

With a small smirk, he stepped away. “Goodbye, Martin.”

After he left, Martin’s fists clenched hard at his sides, his breath heavy and ragged with anger.

**********

HOSPITAL

“I need to leave,” Twilight said to the man lounging in the chair across from her. He simply stared at her blankly, as though he hadn’t heard a word.

“Didn’t you hear me? I said I need to leave!” she snapped, but Eric remained silent. Sighing, Twilight reached to remove the IV drip connected to her arm.

“Don't you dare,” Eric warned, stopping her.

Twilight shut her eyes in frustration, then snapped a cold glare at him. “You can’t keep me here. I need to be somewhere.”

“Yes, I can,” he countered. “Your classes are free until Monday, and you’ve been admitted for three days. That’s how long you’ll stay.”

“But I need to study—”

“I already had one of my men bring your things,” Eric cut in.

Twilight’s nose flared with anger. “You can’t keep me here. You have no right. This is kidnapping!”

“Mate-napping, you mean,” Eric smirked. “Do you even realize how much danger you were putting yourself in? You have a broken rib you refused to treat, several bruises, and you're malnourished. If I hadn’t followed you home, it would’ve gotten worse. And it would have been way worse if that motherfûcker had hit you like he always does!” His voice rose in anger.

“You don’t understand…” Twilight’s voice cracked.

“Understand what, Twilight? That you agreed to let your boss and his clients use you—for money?”

“Stop!” Twilight snapped.

Eric scoffed, looking away and mumbling something under his breath.

“You don’t know anything about me, so you have no right to judge,” she whispered.

“Then tell me,” Eric said, sitting up and leaning forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Tell me everything and help me understand.”

Tears burned in Twilight’s eyes, but she lowered her gaze, unwilling to let him see her cry. “This won’t work,” she shook her head lightly. “I never thought I'd be given a mate. I don’t even know much about the werewolf world, but they are cruel.”

Eric’s sharp gaze softened.

Twilight inhaled deeply, staring at the floor as she spoke. “We are exiled wolves… rogues, forced to hide among humans. Entering any pack means death. I’ve been an outcast since the day I was born—banished alongside my parents for something that wasn’t even their fault.”

Her voice trembled, but she forced herself to continue. “My mother was a healer. A gifted one. She dedicated her life to saving others. But one day, the Alpha’s son fell ill—some strange sickness no one had seen before. She did everything she could to save him, but in the end… he died.”

Eric remained silent, his intense gaze fixed on her.

“The pack turned on her instantly. They blamed her, called her a murderer, a disgrace. And since she was pregnant at the time, they waited—waited for her to give birth before deciding her fate. My father was stripped of his title as Gamma. He lost everything. And he hated her for it.”

Twilight let out a humorless laugh, shaking her head. “When I was born, I turned out to be an Omega. A rank so low, it only made things worse. My father was furious. He accused my mother of infidelity, convinced that no child of his could be so weak. He called me a curse. A disgrace.”

A bitter lump formed in her throat, but she swallowed it down. “We were exiled. Banished from the pack, forced to fend for ourselves. My father never forgave her. And he never forgave me.”

Twilight blinked rapidly as tears burned the corners of her eyes. “I was five when my mother died. Heart disease, they said. But I think it was the weight of everything—of the guilt, the shame, the exile. She never even got to see me grow up.”

She exhaled shakily, gripping the blanket tighter. “After that, it was just me and my father. At first, he felt guilty about my mother's death and took care of me, but as the years passed… something in him changed. He began to resent me again. Blamed me for everything. And eventually, he made sure I knew just how much he wished I had never been born.”

Eric clenched his jaw, his hands curling into fists. He rose from his chair and sat beside her on the hospital bed.

Reaching forward, he gently swept a strand of hair from her forehead, tucking it behind her ear. His warm hand cupped her face, wiping away the tears that fell from her eyes.

“You're with me now,” he whispered. “I won't let anyone hurt you. Alright?”

Twilight stared at him, uncertain of what to say.

“You did nothing wrong,” he continued. “I'll find a way to fix everything. You just need to trust me.”

Twilight bit down on her lower lip. She wanted to trust him, but another part of her held back—afraid. Afraid that if she dared to hope, she’d only be dragged back into the werewolf world her father had warned her about.

“I can’t,” she sniffed, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. “I don’t want to drag you into my misery.”

All her life, she had been pretending—finding ways to protect herself. That included acting like a b*tch to impress Becca and wanting to go out with Martin, just so she’d have someone to protect her and give her connections. She knew it was wrong, but she refused to be bullied after the hell her father had put her through.

Then Eric did something surprising. He shifted closer and pulled her into an embrace.

Twilight instantly felt her nerves relax. Her heart raced at his scent and the warmth that surrounded her.

Slowly, his hand began stroking her hair, gentle and soothing, melting away the tension in her body. She sobbed lightly, and he let her—allowing her tears to soak his shirt.

Her eyes felt heavy, darkness creeping in, and soon, she fell asleep in his arms. He held her close.

But the moment was cut short when Eric’s phone rang. He broke the hug to check the caller ID. The name Auntie flashed on the screen.

“Just a moment,” he said to Twilight, who nodded with a small smile.

She felt… better. And she couldn’t believe she was actually considering falling for his charm.

Who wouldn’t? He was classic, kind, and devastatingly handsome.

Twilight shook her head. Damn. The mate bond is starting to drive me nuts.

“Hello, Auntie,” Eric answered, walking a few paces away.

“There’s a punishment for breaking the curse bond,” Morgana’s voice came through the line, urgent and serious.

Eric’s expression hardened, sensing the weight of her words.

“What is it?” he asked, his voice deadly calm.

************

For the next few days, crazy didn’t quite describe what Ethan was feeling.

Those words haunted him.

~He's mine.~

They echoed in his head whenever Lucian was near.

Sharing the guest bathroom became unbearable—Ethan would avoid eye contact, finish up quickly, and leave to stay with his mother at the hospital. Before eight, he’d return to the penthouse, eat dinner as fast as possible, then lock himself in his room until morning.

Lucian, on the other hand, was slowly reaching his limit. Ethan could feel it. But the closer he drifted toward Lucian, the stronger the possessiveness within him grew.

Lucian could have easily punished Ethan for his behavior, but he seemed busy—so busy, in fact, that Ethan couldn’t help but wonder what kind of job he was involved in.

As for Martin, there were no calls, no texts, and no sightings of him. Perhaps Martin had finally decided to stop bothering him.

Ethan sighed. He had finally made a friend for the first time… and now he’d lost him. Maybe he really was cursed to be alone forever.

—

Monday arrived, marking the first day of exams. Ethan got to school two hours early, only to find Eric waiting for him. There was a serious edge to Eric’s expression, making Ethan narrow his eyes.

“Hey, Ethan. We need to talk,” Eric said.

At a nearby coffee shop, Ethan declined when Eric offered to order him a drink. His mind buzzed with questions. He had been unable to reach Eric—he didn’t have his contact or address—but now that he was right in front of him, Ethan’s patience was wearing thin.

Eric spoke first. “I hope you don’t mind meeting here. I know your exam starts soon…”

Ethan shook his head. “Oh, it’s fine. I actually wanted to see you too, so I’m really glad you’re here.”

Eric blinked, concern crossing his face. “You wanted to see me? Why? I hope Lucian isn’t hurting you.”

“No.” Ethan shook his head, sitting upright and leaning forward. “It’s me,” he said in a hushed voice. “Is this how the mating bond works? I feel like I’m going insane around him. My heart races like crazy, my body heats up, my skin turns red, and my mind fills with… things.” He hesitated before continuing. “I think something is wrong with me. The bond is messing with my head, and right now… he’s ringing in it.”

Eric blinked. “That’s…”

Ethan cut him off. “And oh, not too long ago, I experienced something called a rut. What the f**k does that even mean?” His voice edged with frustration.

Eric’s expression softened, the worry in his eyes giving way to amusement. “You had a rut?”

Ethan lowered his gaze, embarrassed. “That’s not funny, Eric… I had to use the restroom to… you know.” Heat crept up his face.

“Relax. Wow, I never thought a human would actually experience that.”

“Well, it happened, and I need to know what the hell it means.”

Eric exhaled, then leaned forward. “Alright, listen carefully. A rut is something Lycans and werewolves go through—it’s an intense, primal need for their mate. Usually, it only happens to us, but since you’re bonded to Lucian, your body is reacting to him, even though you’re human.”

Ethan’s face twisted in disbelief. “I can’t believe this.”

“Me neither. But, Ethan…” Eric’s voice turned serious. “Maybe you should consider accepting things as they are.”

Ethan blinked in confusion. “What do you mean? Like… accept Lucian? Be with him forever?”

Eric pressed his lips together. “I know this is probably too much to ask, but… the bond cannot be rejected.”

“But it can be broken with a spell. I heard it’ll be ready in almost a month—”

“Ethan.” Eric cut him off, and Ethan’s mouth snapped shut. “Look, I’ll do anything—anything at all. Just say the word. But all you have to do is accept Lucian. The man hides his true, good intentions because of his past. He’s cold and ruthless, I know, but he cares about you.”

Ethan didn’t understand the desperation in Eric’s voice, but the thought of accepting the feelings creeping in for Lucian was overwhelming. He didn’t want to think about it.

“You’ve seen the signs, haven’t you?” Eric added. “He cares.”

Ethan sighed, recalling the surprising things Lucian had done—things that, against his will, had made his heart flutter.

“I don’t know…”

Eric inhaled sharply. “He has a cruel past—one that broke him beyond repair. But only his mate can fix him. Lucian needs you, Ethan, more than anything. I’ve never seen him care about someone the way he does with you… He’s changing. And soon, you’ll see the best part of him.”

Ethan swallowed hard. He couldn’t believe he was actually considering this. His mind wandered, imagining what life with Lucian might be like…

But he realized he knew nothing about this man.

"What is it that happened in the past that broke him?" Ethan asked curiously.

"I can't tell you Ethan. Lucian will be the one to explain it all."

Ethan shook his head. Lucina would never. The man was like a closed book.

"I don't know, Mr. Eric. It feels like you're asking too much."

"How about you take him out?" Eric suggested, and Ethan's eyes widened. "Like on a date. Show him some… kind of romance."

"I'm inexperienced myself," Ethan admitted. He had never date and even Lucian doesn't seem like someone who would agree to such.

Eric shook his head. "It's not that hard. Don't worry, I'll teach you a few tricks—how to get his attention."

Ethan bit his lower lip, Eric was Lucian's Bestfriend anyway. Perhaps the cold man listen to Eric.

"I… I… uhm… I'll think about it," Ethan said hesitantly. "But I can't promise my answer will be positive."

Eric nodded, then suddenly remembered something. "Right… your father."

Ethan looked up, startled.

"I got some information about what happened to him. About his arrest."

Seeing the way Ethan tensed, Eric realized the topic was sensitive, so he quickly added, "Do you mind if I look into his case? Judging by your character, I don't believe your father is the kind of man who would take someone's life."

Eric's words hit Ethan hard, and tears burned in his eyes.

"You can?"

Eric nodded. "Of course. I've got men who can investigate the case all over again." He stretched out a hand, extending his pinky finger. "Pinky promise—I’ll get your father out of prison if he’s innocent."

A small smile spread across Ethan's lips, and he hooked his pinky finger around Eric’s. His heart swelled with gratitude.

"Thanks, Mr. Eric," he mumbled.

He wouldn’t ask for anything else. Deep down, Ethan knew his father was innocent.

Moments later, they stepped out of the shop. Ethan waved at Eric before walking away.

Eric, however, felt his expression darken. His face turned serious as he recalled his aunt Morgana’s words:

'If the cursed bond between Lucian and Ethan is broken, Lucian will not be freed—he will suffer. A slow, agonizing death…'

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