Chapter 5 Strange woman

"She's coming, cousin."

Luca's words echoed in my mind like a curse she is coming who is coming?.

Even as I lay in the infirmary bed, my shoulder aching and my abdomen wrapped tight to protect the life inside me, I couldn't shake it.

She's coming.

Who?

I watched Dante from across the room. He hadn't slept. He barely spoke. He stood like a statue near the window, staring into the forest beyond the pack house like he expected a ghost to rise from the shadows.

"Dante," I said softly.what wrong?have been watching you for a while now,you seems worried, remember who you are the promise to be brave,

He turned, eyes dark and hollow.

"We need to talk."

He came to me immediately, dragging a chair closer to the bed. "About Luca?"

"About everything." My voice was steadier than I felt. "You're keeping something from me."

He didn't deny it.

"There's... someone," he admitted. "A woman from my past. Long before I met you."

My stomach clenched. "A mate?"

"No. Not officially." His jaw tightened. "Her name was Serafina. She was obsessed with me. Claimed the Moon Goddess made us for each other. But she was... unstable."

I frowned. "What happened?"

"She wanted power. My title. My bloodline. She thought if she got pregnant, I'd be forced to choose her as Luna."

"What did you do?"

"I rejected her. Publicly. Brutally. I didn't know she was a witch."

My heart skipped. "A witch?"

He nodded grimly. "She cursed me, Amara. She said every woman I loved would suffer. My first mate died in childbirth. Then my mother fell sick out of nowhere. No healer could save her."that is the reason why I rejected you,so you can be safe,Amara I didn't denied you to help myself I did everything because of you

"And you thought it was happening again-with me."you taught she will hurt me like the way she did to others.

He looked broken. "I thought if I rejected you, I could save you. But the curse didn't lift. And now you're carrying my child.which makes it harder,which will make the enemies come looked for you

A chill ran down my spine. "Or is Luca working with her,Do you think Luca's working with her?"

"I don't know." He ran a hand through his hair. "But if she's really coming back..."

"We need to find her first.we have to defeats her and defend ourselves from anything,and I can see you are brave and strong than before which makes it easy to strike

A knock came at the door.

Mateo stepped in, his face grim. How are you doing Amara and hope you are recovering fast,yes I am Mateo thank you I said faking a smile.dante Amara I came here for something important We found something. In Luca's quarters.

He handed Dante a velvet pouch. Inside was a small vial of black liquid and a piece of parchment scrawled with symbols I didn't recognize.

"What is it?" I asked.

"A blood charm," Dante said. "Dark magic. It's how Luca knew about the baby. He used my blood-probably stole it during a training injury."

My skin crawled. "So Serafina is helping him."

"Or controlling him," Mateo added. "Either way, she's involved."

Dante growled low, a dangerous sound. "We need to bring in the witches' council. If she's broken the exile terms, they'll want her back."

"I'll make the call," Mateo said, turning to leave. But before he could reach the door, a gust of wind slammed it shut with unnatural force.

The room went cold.

The lights flickered.

And then-

A voice, disembodied and eerie, whispered through the air.

"Too late, Alpha."

The lights went out completely.

Dante moved instantly, shielding me with his body.

Mateo swore and reached for his blade.

A flash of lightning lit the room.

And standing at the foot of my bed... was her.

Serafina.

She was beautiful. In the kind of way that made your skin crawl. Hair like spilled ink, eyes glowing violet, lips red as blood.

"You always were so dramatic, Dante," she purred.

He snarled, stepping in front of me. "How did you get in?"

"Oh, please. A few broken wards and a blood oath. You made it too easy."

Her gaze shifted to me, slow and mocking. "And this must be the little mate who took what was mine."

"She was never yours," Dante growled.

Serafina smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "You thought rejecting her would save her? Foolish. The curse lives in you now, not her."

I froze. "What does that mean?"

Serafina tilted her head. "It means your child will carry it. And when he's born... he'll die."

"No!" I gasped.

Dante launched forward, claws out-but she vanished before he touched her, dissolving into black smoke.

The lights flickered back on.

She was gone.

The only thing left was the echo of her laughter-and the lingering cold of her presence.

I clutched my belly, my heartbeat wild. "She said the baby would die."

Mateo was already dialing on his comm. "I'm getting the High Witch Council on the line. Now."

Dante sank beside me, his hands shaking. "We have to break the curse."

"How?" I whispered.

"There's one way," he said. "But it's dangerous."

"Tell me."

He hesitated. "The curse was bound with blood. To break it, we need the original caster's heart."

I blinked. "You mean..."

He nodded. "We have to kill Serafina."

I stared at him, my chest tight.

"I'll do whatever it takes to protect our child," he said fiercely. "Even if it means killing the woman who cursed me."

I took his hand, the bond between us pulsing stronger than ever.

"We'll do it together," I said. "She won't win."

He leaned in, pressing his forehead to mine.

But before we could breathe-another call came through.

Mateo answered it. His face turned pale.

"What is it?" Dante asked.

Mateo looked up, voice shaking.

"She already struck. The eastern village... it's gone. Everyone's dead."

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