Page 33 of Christmas with a Cursed Werewolf

"I'm not going anywhere."

His kiss is achingly gentle, a contrast to the desperate passion we shared earlier. This is about connection, about two souls finally finding their home in each other. When he pulls back, his thumb traces my lower lip.

"I never thought..." He swallows hard. "After taking on the curse, I convinced myself I didn't deserve this. Didn't deserve you."

"You deserve everything." I cup his face in my hands, pouring all my certainty into the words. "And I'm going to spend however long it takes proving it to you."

The smile that breaks across his face is like sunrise after endless night. He rolls us so I'm beneath him, his weight grounding me as his forehead touches mine. The castle's magic swirls around us, responding to our joy.

"My brave, beautiful mate," he breathes. "How did I find you?"

"You didn't." I wind my arms around his neck, drawing him closer. "We found each other."

His answering kiss tastes of promise and possibility. Of walls finally broken and hearts finally whole. Of a future worth fighting for, no matter what comes next.

The mark on my neck pulses with shared emotion, binding us together in ways that transcend mere words. In his arms, in this moment, I'm exactly where I'm meant to be.

Home at last.

Ronan's kiss deepens, igniting a spark that travels through me, setting my soul alight. I can feel my heart racing, matching the rhythm of his lips against mine, each movement ebbing and flowing like a tide. Our breaths mingle, filling the space between us with the sweet taste of desire.

As we break apart, breathless, I gaze into his eyes, seeing the reflection of everything we’ve built together. The reality of our love washes over me, and I know that this moment is just the beginning.

“You’ve changed everything,” I whisper, my voice trembling with emotion.

Ronan smiles, the corners of his mouth lifting in a way that makes my heart flutter. “And you’ve made me believe in something more,” he replies, his voice steady.

In this sacred space, beneath the weight of the universe, I realize that together, we can face whatever darkness lies ahead. Our love has transformed us, awakened a power that binds our souls together.

“Forever,” I promise, pressing my lips to his once more, sealing the vow with a kiss.

A knock at the door interrupts us. Alistair enters, his usual composure slightly ruffled. "My apologies, but..." He holds out an envelope, his hand trembling slightly. "This just arrived."

The envelope pulses with dark magic. Ronan takes it, his expression hardening as he breaks the seal. I read over his shoulder, my heart pounding.

Brother,

Did you think I wouldn't notice the change in the Keep? Your little witch has accomplished what I thought impossible—she's awakened the Arcanum. How convenient for me.

Prepare yourself. I'm coming to claim what should have been mine all along.

Rurik

The letter bursts into black flame, crumbling to ash in Ronan's hands. But neither of us flinch. We're beyond fear now.

"Let him come."

The Final Battle

RONAN

The midnight air crackles with tension as I stand at Frostspire Keep's highest window, watching fog roll across the grounds like a ghostly tide. Beside me, Briar's hand finds mine, her touch sending warmth through our mate bond that fights against the curse's perpetual chill.

"He's coming," she whispers, her green eyes fixed on the darkness beyond our protective wards. The protection charms she crafted flutter in an unfelt wind, their magic pulsing in time with her heartbeat.

"I know." My fingers tighten around hers as I sense Rurik's approach through the pack bond that even the curse couldn't fully sever. My brother's presence feels wrong now—twisted and dark in ways that make my wolf bristle.

Rakan's howl splits the night—a warning that echoes through the castle's ancient stones. Through our connection, I feel his urgency.They're breaching the outer wards.

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