Page 13 of His Spellbound Mate

Neville finally gave in to the urge that had been gnawing at him since he had last seen her. He drove out of the compound and into town. Once there, he found a dark alley, removed his clothes and shifted into his wolf form, holding his bundled clothes in his mouth. Beginning at the town’s archives, he followed her scent to what seemed to be her cottage outside of town. His heart pounded in his chest, torn between the desire to confront her and the need to understand what was going on. He couldn’t ignore the pull he felt toward her, but he couldn’t afford to let his guard down, either.

Neville shifted back into his human form, pulling on his clothes before approaching her home. He moved silently, his footsteps barely making a sound as he slipped inside her home through a back door that led into her kitchen. He smelled the remnants of her dinner as well as lavender and vanilla from the candles that were burning.

He found Tamzyn in a small room off the kitchen, hunched over a table, her brow furrowed in concentration as she pored over an old, leather-bound book. The room was lined with shelves containing books and objects that were foreign to him. Neville couldn’t imagine their use. From the beams in the ceiling, various plants and herbs were hanging to dry. She was so focused that she didn’t notice him at first, giving Neville a moment to observe her in silence.

Her hair fell in loose waves around her face as she studied the pages before her. There was something almost vulnerable about her in that moment, and Neville felt a strange, protective instinct flare up within him. But he couldn’t afford to let that distract him.

"What are you doing, Tamzyn?" Neville’s voice cut through the silence like a knife, and Tamzyn’s head snapped up, her eyes widening in shock.

She was on her feet in an instant, her body tensed and ready for a fight. "Neville," she breathed, her voice laced with surprise and suspicion. "What are you doing here?"

"I asked first," Neville replied, his tone cool and controlled.

“I live here. Don’t you have to be invited into someone’s home?”

“That’s an old wives’ tale about vampires, but I don’t think it’s true. You’ve been sneaking around in the town’s archives. What are you up to? What are you hiding?"

Tamzyn’s eyes narrowed, and for a moment, Neville thought she might lash out at him. But then her shoulders slumped, and she let out a weary sigh.

"I’m not hiding anything," she said quietly. "I’m trying to find answers. Answers that might save both of us."

Neville took a step closer, his gaze locked on hers. "What do you mean?"

Tamzyn hesitated, her gaze flicking to the book on the table. "There’s a prophecy," she said finally. "One that speaks of a great darkness rising in Silver Ridge. A darkness that can only be stopped by a powerful witch and an alpha wolf-shifter."

Neville’s breath caught in his throat. "And you think that’s us?"

Tamzyn met his gaze, her eyes filled with a mixture of fear and determination. "Do you see anyone else who fits that description? All I know is that something is happening in Silver Ridge, something bigger than either of us. There’s a darkness in the woods, something ancient and powerful, and it’s growing stronger every day."

Neville felt a chill run down his spine as her words sank in. The pieces were starting to come together, but the picture they painted was terrifying. "And you think this prophecy is real?"

Tamzyn nodded slowly. "I do. I’ve seen the signs, Neville. The dark magic in the woods, the shadow creatures that attacked me…”

“Shadow creatures? Some kind of something attacking you?” he growled.

“It’s fine. I can take care of myself. But I’ve had visions. All of it points to something bigger. Something that’s coming for all of us."

Neville’s mind raced as he tried to process everything she was saying. He had never believed in prophecies or fate, but the evidence was impossible to ignore. The curse that had been laid upon him, the rogue wolf-shifter—it was all connected, and it all pointed to a single, terrifying conclusion.

"This is far more in your realm of experience than mine. What do we do?" Neville asked, his voice low and serious.

Tamzyn’s eyes locked with his. "We work together. Whatever this darkness is, I think you and I are the only ones who can stop it. But we need to find out more, and we need to do it fast."

Neville nodded, his heart pounding with the weight of their task. He still didn’t fully trust Tamzyn, but he knew he didn’t have a choice. They were linked by something bigger than themselves, something that could determine the fate of everyone in Silver Ridge.

As they stood there, staring at each other in the dim light of the cottage, Neville felt a strange sense of acceptance settle over him. He didn’t know what the future held, but for the first time in a long time, he didn’t feel so alone.

They were in this together, whether they liked it or not.

And the darkness was coming.

Chapter Eight

Neville

Neville had always prided himself on his ability to remain calm under pressure. As alpha of the Silver Ridge pack, it was a necessity. He wanted her where he could ensure her safety. As he stood in front of Tamzyn, his every attempt to convince her to come with him to the safety of the compound met with resistance; his patience was wearing thin.

"I’m not going to let you stay here alone," Neville insisted, trying to keep his tone measured. "It’s too dangerous."

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