Page 19 of Christmas with a Cursed Werewolf

Is this the threat the Council fears? Dark magic at work?

Tell me, Ronan, Gage's thoughts carry a cruel amusement, does she know what you really are? What you let happen to save your precious brother?

"Don't listen to him, Ronan." Briar's voice slices through the chaos of Gage's taunts, anchoring me amidst the mental turmoil. She seems inexplicably aware of the psychological battle swirling around us. "Whatever he’s saying—whatever this is about—it doesn't matter."

But it does matter.

Because Gage's words confirm my worst fears. Rurik isn't just out there somewhere—he's actively working against us. Against me. The brother I sacrificed everything to save is still orchestrating my destruction.

Wait… You can hear me?The thought slips past my mental shields, a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness.

"Yes," she replies, her eyes locked on mine. "I might not have understood it at first, but I do now."

This unspoken bond reveals itself with each moment we share, underscoring the sacred link between us. She's my mate.

A howl splits the night—reinforcements from Gage's pack approaching from the west. The sound snaps me back to the immediate danger.

Briar. I have to protect Briar.

Rakan, get her out of here.

Not without you, my second replies, even as he fights off another attacker. His loyalty burns bright in my mind, so different from the twisted bond I shared with Rurik.

Gage chooses that moment to strike, his massive form hurtling toward me with supernatural speed. We collide in a fury of fangs and claws, snow flying around us.

His strength is wrong—enhanced by something that makes my curse recoil. Each bite feels like ice in my veins.

Did you really think you could keep her safe? His thoughts rip through my mind as we grapple. The curse will take everything, Ronan. Just like it was meant to. Just like Rurik planned.

The words ignite something in me—rage, yes, but also a desperate need to prove him wrong. To prove myself wrong. Because I sent Briar away to protect her, and look where that got us. My noble sacrifice accomplished nothing except leaving her vulnerable.

A blast of pure cold energy suddenly cuts through the battle. The rogue wolves scatter as Angelic materializes between the trees, her platinum hair glowing in the moonlight. The temperature plummets further, frost spreading across the ground in intricate patterns.

"Enough." Angelic’s voice carries supernatural authority. Even Gage takes a step back, his massive form radiating wariness.

I stay crouched protectively in front of Briar, blood from my wounds staining the snow crimson. Every instinct screams to get her to safety, but moving means taking my eyes off Gage. Histhoughts still press against my mind, taunting with hints about Rurik's plans.

This isn't over, Ronan, Gage projects before backing away.The curse will break you. All of you.And then your castle will be ours.His pack melts into the shadows, leaving only their wrong-scented trail in the snow.

The moment they're gone, I shift back to my human form, my body protesting against the sudden change. An ache spreads through my muscles, and I brace myself against the pain.

Briar stumbles forward as I turn to face her, instinctively reaching for my wounded shoulder, concern etched across her features.

"Don't," I growl, stepping back to create distance between us. The curse writhes beneath my skin, making it hard to think through the pain and the lingering rage that pulses through me. "This is exactly why I told you to leave."

Her voice trembles slightly, yet her eyes remain locked onto mine with a fierce determination. "If I had left, they would have attacked anyway. And you would have faced them alone."

"Better alone than watching you die!" The words tear from my throat, raw and desperate, laden with feelings I can no longer contain. "The curse is killing everything it touches. The castle, the staff, the very magic in these walls. And now Rurik—" I break off, the realization of his betrayal burning like poison in my chest.

"The curse isn't killing everything," Angelic interjects, her otherworldly presence a sharp reminder of the larger threats at play. "It's dying itself. And taking you all with it."

Rakan moves closer to us, his human form a stark contrast to the intense emotions swirling around. I can feel his loyalty pulsing through our pack bond, stronger than ever after the fight. But beneath that loyalty lies a current of concern—hesenses it too, the way the magic is failing around us at an alarming rate.

"What do you mean, dying?" Briar asks, and something in her voice makes my wolf stir restlessly. She sounds too interested, too invested. Even now, she's trying to understand rather than run.

"The curse was never meant to be permanent." Angelic's green eyes fix on me with uncomfortable intensity. "It was meant to contain a specific threat. To protect the supernatural world from Rurik's experiments. But you, Ronan—you've turned it into a prison. Not just for yourself, but for everyone connected to this place."

"I didn't have a choice," I snarl, but the words taste like lies.

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