Amara's POV
Chosen by what? By whom?
The words wouldn't stop echoing in my mind, not even as the wind howled through the cracked windows of the Moon Temple. The ancient stone trembled beneath my bare feet. The ruins had once been sacred. Now they felt like a forgotten grave.
I remember this place, Mira whispered as she stepped through the crumbling archway, her fingers tracing an old glyph etched into the stone. This is where the veil first broke.
Rahel stood beside me, tense, silent, watching her with narrowed eyes. He hadn't spoken much since we ran. Since the council turned against me.
You don't know what you've done, Mira, he said sharply. Bringing her here this temple is cursed.
Mira turned, her eyes dark. So is she.
That hurt more than it should have. Then why are you helping me?
Because cursed doesn't mean evil, she said. And chosen doesn't mean saved.
I swallowed hard, my gaze dropping to the mark on my wrist. The black symbol had begun to shimmer faintly, almost like it pulsed with something alive. I covered it quickly.
What is it? I asked. What does it mean?
Mira hesitated.
Tell her, Rahel said. No more riddles.
Mira exhaled. The mark is divine. It's not from this world. It appeared only once before on the wrist of the goddess herself.
My breath caught. You mean it…
Yes, she said. You're her echo.
I laughed, but it came out cracked. That's insane. I'm not a goddess.
No. You're her wrath.
Rahel stepped forward. Explain.
Mira's hands moved fast, conjuring a flickering illusion of fire and shadows. Thousands of years ago, when the wolves and vampires broke the sacred pact and waged war, the goddess tried to stop them. They killed her consort. In her grief, she cursed both races. One would burn. One would forget. She vanished… but left behind a promise.
Her voice lowered, trembling.
She said: 'I will return. In flesh or flame. In mercy or ruin. And the cursed will kneel or fall.'
Silence.
That prophecy… Rahel whispered, voice strained. It's forbidden.
Mira nodded. Because it's already happening. The mark. The visions. The powers waking in you both. Amara is the return.
I took a step back. No. I'm not her.
Mira didn't flinch. You're what's left of her. Her vengeance lives in you.
Rahel suddenly staggered, clutching his head. No no, not again
Rahel! I rushed to him.
He dropped to his knees, breathing ragged, fingers curled like claws. His eyes flickered silver then black.
Get away from him! Mira shouted.
He's not shifting, he's breaking! I yelled. Help him!
I can't stop this. It's inside him… it's waking.
Rahel growled, loud and violent. I see it, her face… her fire… He slammed his fists into the stone, cracking it. I killed her, I loved her, I burned her…!
I froze. What are you saying?
He looked at me, and for one horrible second, I didn't see Rahel.
I saw a different man. Ancient. Covered in blood.
I was there, he choked. In the first war. I watched her die.
No. You're not that old…
I'm cursed too, Amara. You're not the only one that returned.
Everything blurred. The wind whipped harder, tearing through the ruins like a scream.
You knew this? I turned to Mira.
She nodded slowly. He's the other half of the curse. He bears the blood. You bear the fire.
I backed away, chest heaving. Then what are we? Weapons?
You're balance, Mira said. Or destruction.
Rahel's breathing slowed, but he was shaking. His voice was raw. I don't want to love you, Amara.
My heart cracked. Why not?
Because the last time I did… the world burned.
We stood in the wreckage of prophecy and memory, and still, I wanted to reach for him.
I stepped closer. Maybe that's what they're afraid of. That love like ours I pressed my hand to his chest, might break the curse instead of feeding it.
He closed his eyes, leaning into my touch for just a second.
Our lips nearly met.
But then he pulled back, flinching. Don't.
Tears stung my eyes. Why?
Because if I lose control again, and you're near… I won't just hurt you. I'll destroy you.
I turned away, hurt, angry, scared. So what, we just run forever? Let them hunt us?
I don't know, he whispered. But I won't risk you.
Suddenly, the mark on my wrist seared like fire.
I gasped and looked down my skin glowing, the black ink twisting, spreading like vines up my forearm.
Amara, Mira said quietly, stepping forward. It's growing.
I shook my head. What does that mean?
She looked at me, truly afraid for the first time. It means… it's waking.
Before I could respond, a voice echoed through the temple.
Found them.
We turned.
A group of shadows stepped into the light wolves. Armed. Angry.
We warned you, Rahel, one snarled. Hide her, and you'll fall with her.
Rahel stepped in front of me, growling. Stay back.
She lived, another spat. She's the Second Curse. She'll end us all.
I couldn't breathe.
Their leader raised a blade etched with runes. Step aside.
Rahel's body shifted halfway fur, claws, fangs.
I said, he growled, voice like thunder, touch her… and I'll show you what real monsters look like.
But before anyone moved, another voice echoed from the shadows.
You don't know who you are, Amara, Mira whispered.
I turned, heart thudding.
But I do.
And suddenly… I wasn't afraid.
I was ready.
Rahel's breathing hitched. He stood at the far end of the ruined altar chamber, fists clenched so tightly his claws had pierced his palms. Ready for what, Amara? he asked, voice rough with restraint.
I took a step toward him. The air between us crackled like the moment before a storm. For whatever this is, I said. For the truth. For you.
You don't know what you're saying. He turned, his back to me now. Shoulders trembling. The truth will ruin you.
Then ruin me, I said, louder now. Because I'd rather be broken by truth than chained by lies.
He laughed bitterly. You say that now. But you haven't seen me lose control. You haven't seen what I become.
I crossed the space between us slowly. I've seen worse than monsters. I've lived worse. You think your claws and blood scare me?
He spun around, eyes glowing red. It's not me I'm scared of, Amara. It's what you do to me.
The silence that followed was sharp, trembling.
He took a shaky breath. I feel something growing every time I look at you. Not just desire something ancient. Something… bound. Like the curse inside me recognizes something in you. And it wants out.
My voice was a whisper. Then let it out.
His gaze dropped to my wrist. The mark there wasn't just pulsing now it was shifting. Curling, stretching, like it was alive under my skin.
Gods, he muttered. It's spreading.
I looked down. A branch of golden ink had crept from the original mark, trailing up my arm like a burning vine. I didn't flinch. I didn't scream. Because for once, I understood something:
This curse wasn't punishment, It was transformation.
Rahel stepped back like I'd burned him. You… you're changing.
So are you, I said quietly.
Then, something rippled in the stone around us. A gust of wind. Whispering voices. A voice in my head, not mine…chanting words I couldn't understand.
Rahel dropped to his knees, groaning in pain. It's starting, he gasped. She's waking…
Who? I asked, rushing to him.
The goddess, he hissed. She's breathing through you.
And suddenly, I wasn't afraid.
I was power.