Verveville's Curse

Chapter9

Willow’s pov

I was floating in what seemed like a mist but it was oddly satisfying, almost like it was playing with me, engulfing me

Then I felt it, the warmth, then soft whispering in my ears and faint voices, and these images but they were floating away. Then the ache came in my head, and the feeling of emptiness joined.

I gasped as I fluttered my eyes open, the ceiling was pale with carved stones, smooth and ancient. The smell of ash and something herbal lingered in the air. I tried to juggle up my memory as I sat up slowly, my limbs were heavy like I hadn't used them in days.

Where was I?

I felt the blanket, fur, and so soft, it felt unfamiliar. The room was spacious and beautiful like it had taken time to be decorated. Lines of fur covered the middle part of the ancient walls, roses and lilies rested in crystal vases along the windows. Amber torches were fixed at the corners of the room

Nothing looked familiar, nothing felt familiar

I searched my mind for a name, a place or a memory..

Nothing

I turned my head and noticed a tall mirror standing in the far corner, lined in dark silver. I stared.

The girl looking back at me wasn’t someone I knew.

Long white hair fell over my shoulders in soft waves, wild and tangled. My skin was pale, ghostly even, with a faint scar cutting across my collarbone. My eyes... they looked haunteand tired. My lips parted slightly as I raised a hand to my cheek.

I gripped the edge of the bed “Hel..Hello?”

I called out, voice hoarse.

I heard footsteps, my heart jumped and then the door opened

A man entered

Tall, and broad shouldered. His presence hit the room like a smell that couldn't be ignored. He wore dark clothes, black cloak, leather bracers, fitted pants that hugged his long, powerful legs. His raven-black hair fell slightly past his jaw, tousled in a way that looked careless but still..somehow perfect. His skin was golden-olive, sun-kissed, and his jaw was dusted with the shadow of a beard. Sharp lines, Extraordinarily proportioned

And his eyes.

They were the kind of eyes you don’t forget. A piercing shade of brown, rimmed with gold. They met mine and held, Unflinching and Steady.

My breath caught.

He was beautiful. In a dangerous, untouchable sort of way.

The kind of beautiful that made your heart forget how to beat for a moment.

I was staring.. hard

He didn’t speak right away. He took a single step into the room, closing the door behind him with a quiet click. Then he looked at me,really looked and though his face was unreadable, something in his gaze softened, not pity, not concern.

Something quieter.

Something I didn’t know how to name.

He approached me slowly, like one might approach a wild creature.

“You’re awake,” he said.

I nodded, throat dry. “Where am I?”

“You’re safe,” he replied.

“That doesn’t answer my question.”

He studied me for a moment. Then he spoke “You were injured,Badly. We found you at the edge of the old borderlands. You’ve been unconscious for days.”

I blinked. “We?”

“My people. I’m Kael.” he paused. “The Alpha.”

Alpha.

The word echoed through me like a bell, sharp, but meaningless.

“I… I don’t remember anything,” I whispered.

“That’s expected,” he said softly. “Your body is recovering. Your mind will take time.”

“What’s my name?” I asked him.

He hesitated, just for a single moment.

“We’ve been calling you Lylah.”

Lylah

It didn’t feel wrong.

But it didn’t feel like anything.

I sank back against the headboard, trying to slow my breathing.

He watched me for a long moment. Not approaching, not pushing.

Then he said, “You’re safe here, Lylah. I give you my word.”

And though I didn’t know why but I wanted to believe him

I sighed and took a slow breath. “What is this place?”

Kael looked around the room, as if remembering its name himself. “My kingdom. Aetheria. We are the Moon Pack.”

Aetheria… werewolves.

I blinked at him. “Am I… a werewolf?”

He raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable. “No. Not that I’m aware of.”

He reached out, paused, then brushed his fingers near the scar at my collarbone, not quite touching it, it felt like he was debating to. His hand twitched as if he had to force it away.

“You must be hungry,” he murmured. “I’ll send Kaida to bring you something. She’ll help you get cleaned up.” He said, heading out

“Who’s Kaida?”

He paused in the doorway, his voice softer than before. “My sister.”

I clutched the blanket tighter. “Are you… leaving me?”

He turned, and this time, his eyes were gentle. “I’ll always be here, Lylah.”

Then he was gone.

The door closed behind him with a soft thud, leaving behind the faint trail of his scent, woody, leather, and something darker I couldn’t name. I sat in the bed still, staring after him.

Lylah.

That was supposed to be my name now.

I repeated it silently, rolling it across my thoughts.

The silence settled again, thick as the fur blanket around me. I heard nothing but the slow crackle of a fire somewhere in the walls.

Then, another knock, it was softer this time.

Before I could speak, the door eased open and a woman stepped in.

She was… radiant.

Not in a loud or obvious way, but in the way the moon shines without asking permission. Her silver-white hair flowed freely, long and curling near the ends.

Her skin glowed with an effortless sparkle , like it had been kissed by sunset . Her eyes were almond-shaped and silver-gray, framed by thick lashes. When she smiled, it was like warmth slipped into the room, quiet and genuine like i could wrap my arms and remain in the embrace forever.

She felt like peace