Chapter 17: Into the Wolf’s Den (Ariana’s POV)
I hadn‘ t stepped foot near Scott‘ s territory in months, not since I left the Shadowstone pack behind. Yet here I was, standing at the edge of the woods, my heart pounding as if it were trying to claw its way out of my chest.
The forest stretched out before me,
familiar and yet foreign. The scent of pine and damp earth mingled with the distant rustle of leaves, and for a moment, I hesitated.
The diary weighed heavily in my satchel, a reminder of the answers I sought.
Althea‘ s words echoed in my mind: “The curse and the cursor will share one vessel.”
I needed answers, and I knew I wouldn’t find them in the safety of my pack.
Getting into Shadowstone territory and
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Chapter 17: Into the Wolf’s Den (Ariana’s POV)
check their history books without drawing attention was harder than I anticipated. I had reached out to Elias, a senior member of the pack council, someone I trusted–or at least hoped I could trust.
He hesitated, his sharp eyes scanning the area before nodding. “Follow me. I’ll give you access to the library, but you must leave before Scott finds out.”
The mention of Scott‘ s name made my stomach twist. I wasn‘ t ready to face him, not yet.
The library smelled of aged parchment and leather. Elias handed me a key to the restricted archives.
“Start there,” he said, his voice a whisper. “But be quick. Scott’s been on edge since…”
He trailed off, his expression darkening.
“Since what?” I asked.
Elias shook his head. “You‘ ll find out
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Chapter 17: Into the Wolf’s Den (Ariana’s POV)
soon enough.”
With that, he left, leaving me alone among the towering shelves.
I dug through the archives, my fingers trembling as I pulled out books and scrolls that looked promising. Each page was a puzzle piece, fragments of history that hinted at the curse‘ s origins but never fully explained it.
Then, I heard it–a familiar voice.
I pressed myself against the nearest shelf, peeking through the gaps in the books.
“Any news?” he asked, his voice sharp.
“No, Alpha,” the Beta replied. “We‘ ve searched the outskirts, but there’s no sign of her.”
Her? My heart skipped a beat. Was he talking about me?
Scott ran a hand through his hair, his frustration palpable. “Ariana’s out there somewhere. I can feel it.”
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Chapter 17: Into the Wolf’s Den (Ariana’s POV)
I pressed a hand to my chest, steadying the erratic beat of my heart.
“Alpha,” the Beta said cautiously, “there’s been a rogue attack near the southern border. Winona… she was caught in it.”
Scott stiffened, his eyes narrowing. “Is she alive?”
“Barely. The healers are working on her now, but they’re not sure she’ll make it.”
Scott didn’t respond and just turned to
leave.
I returned to the books, flipping through pages of ancient texts and handwritten notes. Finally, I found something that made my blood run cold.
*The curse was bound not just to the bloodline but to the choices of its bearer. Redemption and ruin walk hand in hand, and the vessel must choose the path
forward.*
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Chapter 17: Into the Wolf’s Den (Ariana’s POV)
The words echoed in my mind, a chilling reminder of the weight I carried.
I closed the book, my thoughts racing. I couldn’t let fear paralyze me. Scott’s legacy, the curse, my child–everything was connected, and I had to untangle it before it was too late.
As I left the library, the diary tucked safely in my satchel, I couldn’t shake the image of Scott‘ s face from my mind. He had looked… haunted.
I didn’t know if it was because of me or because of Winona‘ s injuries, but something told me our paths would cross again soon.
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