Elis
The human girl, Lily, was a paradox, a mixture of naivety, boldness, and pure foolishness. She had no idea what she was risking and no clue what kind of monster she was offering her kindness to. Yet, the more she cared for me, the more my heat surged, and Tika, my wolf, grew wild and restless, clawing at my control. I had never felt him like this before, not during past surges of the curse. He wasn't just restless, he was longing, aching and desperate. And to my horror, so was I.
I had never wanted anyone, not like this. The curse had seen to that. No mate, no connection, no future. All I ever had was just pain, isolation and loss. But Lily? There was something different about her. Her presence broke through barriers I didn't even know existed, igniting emotions I didn't know I was capable of. It terrified me.
I didn't trust myself, and I didn't trust the curse. Every mate in my bloodline had suffered horribly and been destroyed by this affliction. I cared for Lily too much to let her share their fate. I couldn't let her get too close. She was human, fragile and breakable. My world was anything but safe.
When she stubbornly insisted that I follow her home, I was stunned. No one had ever dared to defy me in my state before. I should have refused her, growled at her to leave and never return. But when she extended her hand, her palm open in invitation, Tika let out a low, guttural growl and my control slipped.
Her scent wrapped around me, intoxicating, calming, and maddening all at once. Lavender, wild rose, mixed with that thing….spice or herb that I couldn't place. It was a scent that called to me and more potent than the full moon itself. Tika couldn't hold still, his howls echoing in my mind and urging me to take her hand.
I hesitated, staring at her small, delicate palm. I knew the moment I touched her, I'd be lost. But I couldn't stop myself. Slowly, reluctantly, I moved my hand forward, my fingers brushing against hers.
The moment our palms met, it was like lightning. A jolt of raw energy shot through me, igniting every nerve and every cell. My wolf stilled and his restlessness was replaced by an unrelenting pull toward her. The connection was unlike anything I'd ever known, as though the curse itself had fractured, letting something pure seep through.
Lily gasped softly, but she didn't pull away. Instead, she tightened her grip, her touch grounding me in a way I didn't know I needed.
I stared into her eyes, unable to look away. "You don't know what you're doing," I murmured, my voice rough with the strain of holding Tika back.
Her expression softened, her gaze steady. "Maybe not," she said, her voice laced with quiet determination. "But I know I'm not leaving you to suffer alone."
In that moment, I realized two things. First, this human girl was as brave as she was reckless. And second, I was already in too deep. There was no escaping her now.
Her grip on my hand propelled me forward as we moved through the woods together. To my surprise, the pain that had been tearing through me eased with every step, as if her touch alone had the power to soothe the torment within. I found myself able to walk on my own, though the bond of her hand in mine felt like an anchor, pulling me toward safety.
When the cottage came into view, I stopped in my tracks. A strange energy emanated from the small house, a sensation that prickled against my skin and stirred something deep within me. My wolf growled faintly, wary yet intrigued.
"Come on," Lily urged, her voice soft yet insistent. She tugged lightly at my hand, her determination unwavering. "We're almost there."
Reluctantly, I let her guide me forward, my steps cautious as I crossed the threshold into her world.
The inside of the cottage was a stark contrast to its humble exterior. It was surprisingly spacious, with a warm, inviting aura that enveloped me the moment I entered. A cozy fire crackled in the stone fireplace, casting a soft glow over a sitting area furnished with worn leather chairs and a sturdy wooden coffee table. The scent of herbs and something sweet lingered in the air, calming and oddly familiar.
Down a narrow hallway, I glimpsed several doors, likely leading to bedrooms or storage. My senses flared briefly, trying to read the space, but I was too drained to focus.
Lily guided me to the largest sofa, her movements gentle yet firm. "Sit here," she instructed, her voice carrying a note of concern.
I sank into the cushions, the weight of my exhaustion pulling me down. She knelt beside me, her fingers brushing against my skin as she examined my torn and bloodied shirt. The fabric was barely hanging on, shredded during my failed shift. Without a word, she helped me remove it, her touch careful but electrifying. I flinched, not from pain but from the raw intensity of our connection.
"You'll feel better soon," she murmured, more to herself than to me, as she fussed over me.
I leaned back, my eyes drifting shut as her presence wrapped around me like a balm. The heat inside me raged on, but it was no longer the unbearable torment of the curse, it was something else entirely, something primal, needy and dangerous.
Minutes later, she returned with a steaming cup of herbal tea. She crouched beside me again, coaxing me to drink. "Here," she said softly, tilting the cup to my lips. "This will help."
The liquid was bitter with a hint of sweetness, its warmth spreading through me like a slow burn. It wasn't enough to quench the fire raging within, but it dulled the edges, allowing a brief moment of clarity.
I glanced at her, my vision hazy, and muttered, "Why are you doing this?"
Her eyes met mine, steady and resolute. "Because someone has to."
Her simple answer struck something deep within me. She didn't understand the risk she was taking, the danger I posed to her, yet she stayed.
The heat and exhaustion finally overtook me, pulling me under. As the world blurred into darkness, her scent lingered, a soothing anchor in the chaos.
For the first time in years, I didn't dream of pain or fire. Instead, I dreamt of lavender and wild roses.
I must have slept for an hour or two, though it felt like an eternity lost in a haze. When I awoke, I was struck by an eerie stillness within me. The pain, the relentless torment I had endured for years, was gone or perhaps not gone but suppressed by something far stronger, something primal and consuming.
The heat surged within me like a storm, more potent than anything I had ever experienced. It was raw and overwhelming, coursing through my veins and burning in my chest. I could smell it; my own pheromones, sharp and potent, filling the room like a warning and an invitation all at once.
I opened my eyes, my senses sharp and hyper-aware, and there she was. Lily sat beside me, her delicate form perched on the edge of the sofa. Her hands were folded in her lap, but her gaze was fixed entirely on me.
There was something in her eyes, a mix of curiosity, concern, and an unspoken emotion that made my heart lurch. I couldn't look away, and for a moment, it felt as though time had stilled.
Our eyes locked, a silent connection sparking between us. Her presence felt like a balm to my restless wolf, soothing yet stirring it in equal measure. I wondered, could she sense it? Could she perceive the inferno raging within me, the undeniable pull, the chaos of my heat?
I shifted slightly, the movement drawing her attention to the taut tension in my body. Her cheeks flushed, and she averted her gaze for a fleeting second before returning to meet mine, bold and unyielding.
"Are you feeling better?" she asked, her voice soft yet steady, as if she were trying to calm a wild animal.
I couldn't find the words to answer her immediately. How could I explain that her presence alone had somehow stilled the curse's torment? That the heat threatening to consume me wasn't just mine anymore, it was tied to her and drawn to her?
Instead, I nodded, my voice caught somewhere in my throat. "I... I feel different."
Her brow furrowed slightly, and she tilted her head, studying me with an intensity that sent shivers through me. "Different how?"
I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. "Like... like the pain is gone. But something else..." I trailed off, unsure how to put the storm of emotions into words.
Lily leaned in slightly, her proximity intensifying the haze in my mind. She was so close now, close enough that her scent; lavender, wild roses and something uniquely her, wrapped around me, tethering me to her in a way I couldn't resist.
And in that moment, as her eyes searched mine, I realized one thing with startling clarity. Whatever this connection was, whatever this pull between us meant, I could no longer ignore it.