CURSED TO BE HIS MATE

chapter 8

“I said release me!” the voice commanded again.

It was getting too strong for me to hold, but I didn’t understand what it was, not even knowing how to get it out.

Kade walked toward me, but I rushed to the room and locked myself in.

“Open up,” he asked, but his patience couldn’t wait. He banged the door ferociously like a mad person.

I got scared and quickly opened the door, then ran from him straight to the bathroom.

“I… I’m sorry,” I said, my voice shaking, afraid of him.

“Come out here!” he commanded, but I couldn’t.

“I’m giving you three seconds!” he ordered.

Though shaking, I had to oblige. When I came out, I saw he wasn’t furious—just disappointed. I expected a slap from him, but instead, he reached out for my hands.

“I’m not the kind to apologize nor the one to admit my wrongs, but I apologize for hurting you,” he said.

I raised my eyes in shock at what was coming out of his mouth. I didn’t expect that from him.

“Will you take it?” he commanded. Even though he was rough, I liked his way of apologizing.

And since Tasha wasn’t here, it was my chance to take advantage of this.

“What are you thinking of?” he asked, noticing my absent-mindedness.

“Nothing. Please show me your snake tattoo one more time,” I asked.

“That’s what you want in exchange for your forgiveness?” he asked, smirking.

“Not at all. Forgiveness is not bought but earned,” I spoke softly, but he just brushed it off.

“Can I see it?” I asked again.

He let out a deep breath before turning. He unbuttoned his shirt and turned, leaving me no option but to struggle to climb the bed. His eyes were in the mirror, fixed on me.

I quickly removed the potion without him noticing. The tattoo was darker than before, and his eyes were so dark that even the blindfold couldn’t cover them.

I applied it to the eyes as instructed, and that’s when the puzzle solved itself. The snake’s eyes represented Luca’s eyes, while the snake was a representation of Luca’s curse. How could I not have pieced this together before?

For a Lycan, he had many personalities to deal with. I came down, wanting him to notice me, but his expression didn’t change.

“Are you happy now?” he asked, turning to look at me. I couldn’t speak, just nodded. He lifted me down, kissed me on the forehead, and left. I could guess he was going to Tasha.

My reflection in the mirror scared me—it was me, but not me. My dark side stared at me. Scared, I moved closer to the mirror. She did exactly what I did and looked at me—but it wasn’t me.

I had blonde hair. She had dark hair. Her thigh tattoo was fully revealed. She wore warrior clothes, but I didn’t know how to fight. She held a sword dripping blood, her dark makeup contrasting my light one.

“Who are you?” I asked, looking at her.

But her lips moved like mine. She had no world apart from mine.

“Do not be deceived by his words. Next time, when I say release me, you do!!” the voice rang in my head.

My head hurt from the shouting, so I moved—but she didn’t. She was the one speaking to me.

“Who are you?” I asked again.

“I’m someone who’s out to protect you,” she said.

“What do you mean?” I was confused.

“I’m the part Kade makes when you get a tattoo,” she said.

“You’re… you’re—” I was too startled to speak.

“The cursed version of you,” she said.

Before I could ask any questions, there was a knock at the door, and she disappeared—leaving only my reflection.

“Come in,” I said, adjusting my hair to avoid being noticed.

“My Luna, the Alpha said you should get ready for hunting,” she said.

My heart froze for a second. My father never trained me to hunt, and my wolf hadn’t come to me yet. What was I going to do? He’d see me as less of a wolf if I didn’t meet his expectations.

“Tell him I’m coming,” I said, and she left.

I walked all around the room, thinking of what to do—not getting any answer.

“Let’s go,” she said again.

“No!” I objected again.

“I’ll do this my way,” I said.

“Good luck with that,” she said mockingly.

I walked downstairs and to the gate. I found him standing tall, his black-golden fur shining—twice the size of a normal werewolf. But the shiver of his dark aura could be felt even from a distance.

“Not prepared, I see?” he said.

“Race you to the river!” he said cheerfully.

“Please come to me,” I spoke softly.

“Release me,” she said again.

“No,” I said.

I tried all the techniques, but she didn’t come—until the moonlight hit me completely. Then she came. I’d never been so strong or bold. It was painful, but I couldn’t let anyone see. I quickly fled into the forest and, without control of my body, made a kill.

The taste of the deer’s blood felt like the quenching of hunger and thirst. After the kill, I went numb—not knowing what to do. I fell to the ground. Then he came. I saw Kade from a distance, looking at me.

He had realized—and it was no longer my secret to keep.

I woke up in my bed, all cleaned up and on Kade’s chest, who was fast asleep. I looked around, my head heavy, not allowing me to see properly. I wished I could tell my papa what happened. He’d be so proud.

I stealthily got up, hoping to walk away from him and hide my secret.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked. For a person who was dead asleep, he looked pretty awake to me.

“I didn’t think it was important,” I said.

“Liar,” she whispered in my head. I tried brushing off her voice.

“You have to release me at one point,” she said again, but I shook my head.

“Well, it was. How am I going to have a Luna whose wolf just came to her?” he asked, and I knew he was right.

“Sorry, I didn’t realize,” I said.

“You always keep on apologizing. Aren’t you tired?” she said again. This time, my facial expressions changed.

“For how long has she been talking to you?” Kade asked, pretending not to understand.

“For how long?” he asked again.

“Morning,” I said, speaking the truth. For a moment, she was silent.

Kade quickly rushed to check my thigh, and to my surprise, the rose tattoo had been fully drawn. He checked his arm, and it was fully gone—only the remaining one on his left hand.

“Control it. That’s not a human—it’s a curse manifested into you. Direct it,” he whispered.

“How?” I asked.