Page 21 of Christmas with a Cursed Werewolf

Ronan's arms tighten around me briefly before he sets me on my feet in Frostspire Keep's entrance hall. The warmth of his touch lingers even as he steps back, his expression guarded once more. Blood from his wounds stains the snow we've tracked in, a stark reminder of the fight with Gage's wolves.

"You should rest," he says gruffly, though his eyes never leave my face. The silver gleam from his wolf form hasn't fully faded, making his gaze more intense than ever. "It's been a long night."

"No." The word comes out stronger than I expect, strengthened perhaps by the castle's magic that swirls around us, responding to our proximity. "We need to talk about what happened out there. About what Angelic said?—"

"There's nothing to discuss." He turns away, but I catch a flash of pain in his expression. "The curse is getting stronger. You saw what happened out there, what Rurik's influence—" He breaks off, jaw tightening. "You need to leave. It's too risky."

"I'm not leaving." I step closer, and the magic pulses between us like a living thing. "The curse isn't getting stronger because of me. It's getting stronger because you keep fighting this—fighting us."

The nearest candles flare suddenly, casting wild shadows across the walls. Ronan's hands clench at his sides, and I can feel the curse writhing beneath his skin, reaching for the magic that pulses between us.

"You don't understand what you're risking." His voice drops lower, dangerous. "What happened in the forest—that was just the beginning. And you..." He breaks off, turning away. "I won't watch you die because of my mistakes."

"Look at me." When he doesn't move, I close the distance between us, my heart racing as I reach for his arm.

The second we touch, a surge of energy sparks within me, firing every sensory thread to life. The atmosphere seems to vibrate with unmet tension, our inexplicable bond exerting a gravitational force that inevitably pulls me deeper into him.

Each moment stretches, thickening the air around us until it feels charged with fate.

"Ronan, please. Just look at me." My voice is softer now, almost breathless. I can feel the intensity of his gaze even when he refuses to meet it directly, but there's acknowledgement in his stance—an awareness that shifts the very atmosphere between us.

I stand here, caught between fear and longing, a thought tugs at the back of my mind.

I drove across the country to a castle in the middle of nowhere, answering a mysterious email invitation that vanished like smoke.

I’m living in a magical castle that’s dying, its very essence tied to a curse, and yet... I've never felt more alive, more present, than I do in this moment. I’ve never felt like I belonged with anyone or anywhere more than here, with him.

And like the magic that has us bound together, all the worries and doubts that swirl around me recede. In the depths ofuncertainty, I find my purpose rising like a flame, illuminating the path I’m determined to take.

I’m willing to fight for this—the Keep, for the magic that connects us, and for Ronan's heart.

Then everything we've kept buried rises to the surface.

The encounter in the forest flashes through my mind—the raw edges of danger and desire colliding. Our kisses, filled with urgency and longing, had hinted at something deeper, something powerful that neither of us dared to fully acknowledge.

Right here, in this enchanting yet perilous castle, my heart beats in sync with the pulsing magic that surrounds us, telling me this is where I belong.

But Ronan still tries to distance himself, a barrier I refuse to accept any longer. I step closer, invading the space between us, my resolve hardening. I won’t let him push me away again.

Ronan stands before me, naked and magnificent in the flickering firelight. His broad shoulders and chiseled torso are sculpted with lean muscle, each sinew and ridge casting intricate shadows that dance across his skin.

My gaze traces the hard planes of his abdomen, my breath catching at the sight of the defined V that points to his…. And I jerk my gaze higher as heat blooms in my cheeks. My eyes travel upward, taking in the smattering of dark hair across his chest that narrows into a trail leading down from his navel.

His powerful thighs flex as he shifts his weight, and I can't help but admire the way his body moves with an almost feral grace. The raw power emanating from him. My pulse quickens when our eyes meet, his stormy gaze holding me captive with an intensity that sends a shiver down my spine. I feel exposed, as if he can see straight through to the deepest parts of my soul—and the longing I fight to contain.

I swallow hard, my mouth suddenly dry as desire coils low in my belly. I've never seen a man so ruggedly beautiful, his raw masculinity both intimidating and intoxicating. The urge to reach out and trace the hard lines of his body with my fingertips is nearly overwhelming, and I clench my fists at my sides to keep from giving in to the temptation.

My heart pounds against my ribs as I struggle to maintain my composure, even as every nerve ending in my body screams for me to close the distance between us.

He turns slowly, and the raw emotion in his eyes steals my breath. Pain, fear, longing—it's all there, burning beneath the silver. The curse pulses visibly now, making the air shimmer around us like heat waves rising from summer pavement.

"The magic responds to us," I tell him softly. "You must feel it. Every time we're together, every time we touch—the castle comes alive. Even Angelic saw it."

"That's what makes it dangerous." His hand comes up to cup my face, the touch so gentle it makes my heart ache. "The curse feeds on that connection. Uses it. And when it finally breaks?—"

"Then we’ll deal with it together." I lean into his touch, sensing the tension that ripples through him. "I need you to stop resisting. Stop pushing us away."

The magic surges between us, warm and alive. Unlike the cold grip of the curse, this energy feels right—like coming home after a long journey. Ronan's thumb traces my cheekbone, and I watch his control slip further with each passing second.

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