Ronan's POV
Elara is hit by the bullet.
No, I struck Elara. The blood magic bullet screams past as I slam into her, knocking her sideways. It punches through the wall, leaving a smoking hole that glows silver, just inches from her heart.
In a tangle of limbs, we fall to the ground. The bond mark on my chest erupts with heat, pleading with me to keep her safe and never allow her to suffer harm.
It's too late. Just by being here, I've already caused her pain.
"You missed," I growl at Cassius.
My old friend, my former Beta, chuckles. "Did I? Ronan, look at her. Take a close look.
I look down. Elara's face is pale and her eyes are wide with shock. She's not staring at me, though. She's examining her hands.
They are radiant. Like liquid moonlight, faint silver light follows her veins as it pulses beneath her skin. I can see the bond mark on her chest through her ripped dress because it burns so brightly.
She murmurs, "What's happening to me?"
With his gold eyes shining, Cassius circles us like a predator. "The bond is moving more quickly. It typically takes three weeks for a person to begin changing. But little flower, you're more than just a human? Your blood is Moon Blessed. Ancient ancestry. To survive the bond, your body is currently attempting to transform into a werewolf.
I growl, "Stop talking and fight," and I stand up, pushing Elara behind me.
"Why hurry? You're dying already." Cassius points to my injuries. The wounds from the arrows are still not completely healed. My frost magic is erratic and flickering. "Those arrows contained three distinct poisons. Silver dust, wolfsbane, and a unique curse that prevents healing. You've spent hours running and fighting. How much longer are you able to endure?
He is correct. The curse is consuming me, and I can feel my body shutting down. Each breath is more difficult than the last.
But if I pass away before protecting Elara, I'll be damned.
"Get out of here," I whisper to her. "You run when I move. Don't turn around.
"Are you insane?" She doesn't even flinch when she grabs my frozen, frost-covered arm. "I'm not leaving you."
"You barely know me—"
"You're dying to protect me!" Her voice breaks. "Even at a party, Marcus wouldn't stand up for me. You're exposing yourself to gunfire. I'm not running, then.
There's a crack in my frozen chest. This unachievable, obstinate person who ought to despise me for bringing her into this nightmare is opting to remain.
Cassius gives a slow clap. "How heartwarming. The cursed Alpha located a new mate to murder. Ronan, tell her. Inform her of the others.
"Shut up," I growl.
"In thirty years, three partners. Within weeks of bonding, they were all dead. Cassius smiles cruelly. "Sarah lived for nineteen days. Michelle lived to be sixteen. Before the frost curse depleted her, poor Catherine only had eleven days. He concentrates on Elara. "You'll rank fourth. Eight days remain until New Year's Eve. You probably won't last that long at all."
Elara's grip tightens around my arm. "Is that true?"
I am unable to deceive her. Not with the connection between us screaming honesty. "Yes."
"Then we break the curse," she says plainly.
Cassius chuckles. "Cute. Adorable, but stupid. It is impossible to lift the curse. Numerous witches made an attempt. Everyone was unsuccessful. Ronan, didn't your mom try? She made an effort to keep your father alive. Observe how that turned out.
My veins explode with fire; my rage is so intense that it fights with my frost. "Don't you dare speak about her."
"The truth hurts?" Cassius casually loads his gun and takes out another blood magic bullet. "The woman from the flower shop, Grace Winters. The last of the Moon Blessed line, Grace Ashvale, is another name for her. Thirty years ago, she attempted to lift your father's curse. Failed, passed away. She left behind a daughter and told her bedtime tales about noble wolves. Once more, he targets Elara. "A daughter who just repeated her mother's fatal mistake."
The world is tilted.
Grace, the mother of Elara. She was... Is the Moon Blessed? Did she attempt to save my dad?
Elara breathes, "You're lying," but her voice falters.
"Mom passed away three years ago from 'mysterious illness'?" Cassius has a poisonous smile. "That was a backlash of curses. The magic gradually killed her since she was unable to break it. agonizingly. History is now repeating itself. You'll attempt to rescue the cursed Alpha. You're going to fail. You're going to die. I'll defeat the Northern Pack."
"Why are you doing this?" I insist. "We shared a brotherhood. I had faith in you.
"You trusted wrong." Old rage twists Cassius's face. "Ronan, you killed my sister. You put her to death for a single error because you were so preoccupied with pack law and doing what was "right." She developed feelings for a human. That's all. And in front of the entire pack, you tore out her throat."
The recollection strikes me like a blow to the body. "She disobeyed our highest law. She was going to reveal us.
"She was twenty years old!" Cassius gives a roar. "She was in love, naive, and young. However, you, the ideal Alpha, were unable to be merciful. So I planned your demise for thirty years. The witch who cursed you was employed by me. I ensured that all of your mates perished before they could assist. I've been gradually poisoning you, weakening, chilling, and isolating you." He smiles again. "And now I'll kill you using the human you're trying to save."
He shoots.
I'm moving too slowly this time.
The bond bursts when the bullet strikes my shoulder. Not only does the silver magic harm me, but it also attempts to break the bond between Elara and me. We both perish if it succeeds.
I fall to my knees, my body erupting in uncontrollable frost. Everything freezes as the ice moves up the walls and across the floor. I'm becoming uncontrollable.
"Ronan!" Elara falls next to me and puts her hands on my face. "Remain with me. You dare not perish.
I can feel the warmth coursing through the connection despite the pain. Her coziness. Her veins' silver glow intensifies, and rather than the bond disintegrating, it's... retaliating?
"Impossible," Cassius murmurs.
The Moon of Elara The bond is being shielded by blessed blood. Her body is attempting to save both of us.
However, it's burning her from the inside out. Through the connection, I can sense her suffering—like she's simultaneously being frozen and set on fire.
"Stop," I exclaim. "You'll kill yourself—"
"Then we die together." She touches my shoulder bullet wound with her glowing palm. "My mother made an unsuccessful attempt to save your father. I'm not my mother, though. You're not your father, either. We are not the same. We're—
Silver light dissolves the bullet.
On both of our chests, the curse mark is as bright as the sun.
Power explodes outward; it's not Moon Blessed magic or werewolf magic, but something else entirely. Something that causes Cassius to stagger back and look shocked.
He exhales, "What are you?"
Elara opens her eyes. They are no longer brown. They are made of silver. Similar to mine.
"I'm Elara Winters," she declares in a voice that is too strong for a human. Grace's daughter. The Moon Blessed bloodline's keeper. And you just committed a grave error."
She gets up and pulls me along with her. Something both lovely and terrifying is created when the frost and the fire swirling around us combine.
Three more shots are fired by Cassius.
They freeze in midair as Elara raises her hand.
"My turn," she declares.
Her body then begins to change.
Bones fracture. The shop was on fire when she let out a scream. The change that is scheduled to take place in eight more days is actually taking place at this very moment.
And I'm powerless to stop it.