Book 1 – The Lycan’s Curse Second chances

Alastair felt a sudden, sharp, unbearable pain pierce through him, and he collapsed to the ground, sending everyone into a panic.

“Giuseppe, step back!” Aliyah yelled, her voice slicing through the chaos. Giuseppe instinctively kept his distance from her, sensing the urgency in her tone. Aliyah’s eyes widened in horror. “Brenth killed himself, he drank gasoline infused with wolfsbane!”

“Alastair!” Blaze exclaimed as he lifted Alastair’s unconscious body. Alastair stirred slightly, regaining a fragile sense of consciousness, but he felt weak and dizzy, barely awake and unresponsive.

“The pull is still stronger because Brenth hasn’t accepted the rejection yet,” Rio muttered, his brow furrowed with concern.

“You need to heal Brenth!” Kai commanded urgently. Rio nodded, rushing to Brenth’s house  as fast as the lightning. He bit his finger, few drops of blood fall into Brenth’s mouth. In an instant, Brenth jolted back to consciousness.

“Why?”.his voice barely a whisper.

“Stupid imprint pull. Just accept his rejection already,” Rio demanded, frustration etched on his face. Brenth shook his head defiantly.

“I’ll make him suffer too,” he retorted, a twisted smile creeping onto his lips.

“Just accept his rejection already!” Rio urged once more. Brenth stood up, looking at him with a blank stare. Rio grasped Brenth’s arms, shaking him gently. “You have a choice, you still have a chance to console yourself. You can live and change your fate,” Rio said nonchalantly, though his eyes betrayed his seriousness.

Tears welled up in Brenth’s eyes. “I can’t; I’ll suffer for the rest of my life,” he lamented. “I’ve done horrible things; I can’t live with this guilt and conscience.”

“It’s not your fault, you’ve been used and abused!” Rio insisted. Brenth let out a heavy sigh.

“I want to kill this monster inside me!” he yelled, anguish coloring his words as he turned away.

“You are not a monster, Brenth, they are just making you believe that you are one!” Rio yelled. Brenth paused, turning to face Rio.

“How do I ever forgive myself?!” he cried out, the desperation in his voice echoing through the air.

“Just do it,” Rio urged. Brenth screamed as a dark aura emanated from his body—the very darkness that had stolen his identity, transforming him into a monstrous creature. The aura consumed him, but then, like tiny glowing particles, the dark energy evaporated. Brenth could hardly believe it as a smile broke across his face for the first time in his life. He glanced down at his hands. Rio smiled, too. Suddenly, Brenth shifted into a sleek black wolf. Rio watched in delight as Brenth bounded around on all fours, wagging his tail and leaping with happiness. He had finally been freed from the Lycan curse. In a flash, he shifted back to his human form.

“How the hell did that happen?!” Brenth exclaimed, disbelief etched on his features as he realized he could no longer feel the dark energy.

“I don’t know either,”

“Thank you.” In that moment, Brenth felt a happiness he had never experienced before, he felt free. Rio nodded.

Rio made his way back to the manor, where Alastair had already regained full consciousness.

“Hey, I brought you a present,” Rio announced as Alastair’s gaze landed on the man accompanying him. After a brief exchange, Rio quickly disappeared, leaving just the two of them in the dimly lit living room. They stood silently, staring at each other for almost ten minutes, unable to find the words to break the tension. Brenth cautiously approached Alastair, who took a step back, caught off guard. Brenth raised his hands and opened his palms.  Alastair hesitated, feeling unsure of what to do next. He had never felt this profound tranquility so close to Brenth, a blissful sensation that enveloped him. Without thinking, Alastair raised his own palms. Brenth pressed his hands against Alastair’s, and suddenly, an aura surrounded them, a shimmering connection-a mixture of their auras that bound them together. Alastair felt an overwhelming attraction, a magnetic pull that Brenth mirrored. Alastair gently brushed his fingers against Brenth’s hand, and as the aura faded, so too did the burdens they had carried inside.

“Hey,” Brenth whispered.

“Hey,” Alastair replied in unknowing looks. Brenth leaned in closer. Finally, Brenth pressed his lips against Alastair’s, the kiss so tender and sweet. Alastair felt as if his world tilted, the kiss left him weak and vulnerable. But just as quickly, Brenth pulled away, Alastair pulled him again for a kiss.

“Hey, calm down,” Brenth chuckled softly.

“What did you do to me this time? Why are you making me fall in love?” Alastair whispered, disbelief lacing his tone.

“The imprint bond is complete, we are one in soul, in body, and in heart,” Brenth said, his voice filled with sincerity.

“This is so wrong,” Alastair muttered, though his heart betrayed him, a smile creeping onto his lips.

“Oh, do you still hate me? It’s too late now,” Brenth teased, his grin infectious.

Alastair caressed Brenth’s face, feeling the warmth radiate between them. “Do we have a choice? I…”

Brenth raised an eyebrow.

“I’m sorry if I hurt you,” Alastair finally said, the words spilling from his heart. He had longed to say it before, and now he finally found the courage. Brenth gently ran his fingers through Alastair’s hair.

“Me too.”

They shared another kiss, a deeper connection forming as they held each each other’s hands. The pull of the imprint bond was unconditional, a timeless force that bound them together.

Eddie and Gelle were still fighting, two against one, as Alastra assisted him. They continuously attacked Eddie, delivering punches and kicks. Eddie executed a summersault, quickly evading their relentless assaults. He knew they would fight for eternity if he didn’t do something soon. A fear gripped him—what if Alastra died too? In a final act of desperation, he held their foreheads and yelled, trying to break free from the barrier inside and the curse that had controlled them since then. It was a powerful force, and Eddie failed, just like before. He was beaten unconscious, collapsing to the ground.

Suddenly, Aliyah, Rio, and Giuseppe appeared. Giuseppe held their foreheads, draining them unconscious to the ground, but the effort took its toll; he too fell to the ground, overwhelmed by exhaustion. Finally, Aliyah could access their minds. She restored Alastra’s memories and did the same for Gelle.

Alastra stood up, horror etched across her face as she watched the man before her.

“Asmodeus?” Alastra asked in disbelief. Gelle stood, surveying the unfamiliar surroundings around him. Eddie rose and turned to Alastra, a smile gracing his lips.

“Amadeus, not Asmodeus. I still love you, Alastra, but I can’t break the bond of imprint,” Eddie muttered. Gelle looked at Eddie apologetically. “There are forces in this world that we cannot stop, no matter how strong or powerful we are. That’s just the course of fate.”

“I’m sorry,” Gelle said, and Eddie shook his head.

“Buddy, it’s not your fault,” Eddie retorted. They shook each other’s hands, and Eddie said goodbye to them once more before disappearing.

“Someone wants to see you, Alastra,” Aliyah said, smiling at her.

“Go, go!” Gelle urged.

Meanwhile, Alastair and Brenth were sitting close to each other, with Alastair unwilling to let Brenth leave his side for even a minute.

“This imprint bond is really stupid, you know? Why can’t we just have a black girl with a big booty?” Alastair muttered, and Brenth hummed in response.

“I want a Latina one,” Brenth said with a laugh.

“So, you and Claire had a relationship before me?” Alastair prompted, curiosity piqued.

“A sexual relationship,” Brenth replied dismissively.

“Then go to your Claire!” Alastair stood up, frustration evident.

“What’s wrong with you? You ask, and I answer truthfully. You’re unbelievable!” Brenth exclaimed, pulling him back to the couch.

“Am I jealous? Really?” Alastair asked himself in disbelief.

“Yes, you are,” Brenth said, pulling him into a hug again.

Rio cleared his throat, startling them both.

“Someone wants to see you,” Rio said to Alastair.

Alastair rushed toward Alastra and embraced her tightly.

“I’m sorry,” Alastra whispered, and he shook his head.

“It’s not your fault, Mother,” Alastair said reassuringly.

“You have your father’s nose, I loved squeezing it way back then. Can I squeeze yours too?” Alastra chuckled, and Alastair quickly covered his nose.

“Mother, leave my nose alone!” Alastair whined.

A young girl rushed toward Alastra.

“Who is she?” he prompted, his eyes wide with curiosity.

“Your younger sister,” Alastra replied, her smile widening.

Alastair’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You mean this creature is my younger sister?!”

“Watch your words now, kid,” Alastra chuckled, amusement dancing in her eyes.

Alastair knelt and hugged his younger sister. “You are a naughty girl. What is your name?”

“Esther,” the young girl said, wrapping her arms around Alastair.

“I know you’ve met your younger brother too,” Alastra prompted.

“My younger brother?” Alastair asked, his curiosity growing.

“Yes, the one we trapped in the astral plane,” Aliyah said. Alastair waved his hands in disbelief.

“Why didn’t you tell me earlier?!” Alastair exclaimed. “Anthony! Get your ass in here!” he commanded.

The night came, and Alastair was still clinging to his mother.

“Can I take care of Esther for you, Mother?” Alastair finally asked her. She nodded.

“Absolutely,” she replied wholeheartedly.

“This imprint pull is the most stupid thing that exists in the supernatural world.” Alastra hummed in agreement.

“Did you find one yet?” she prompted. “Is she beautiful, just like me?”

“He,” Alastair replied shortly. Alastra’s brows furrowed.

“He is a man?” she asked sharply in disbelief. Alastair nodded.

“Yes.”

“Did you reject him?”

“Not totally.”

“What is your plan?”

“To learn how to love him more.”

Alastra smiled and kissed Alastair’s temple.

“I’m so proud of you,” Alastra muttered, and Alastair scoffed.

“Because I have a dude mate?” he said, shaking his head.

“No, I mean, you did accept him as your mate.”

“The mating bond is complete, he used that against me. What can I do? So I decided to just accept him without a doubt,” he said nonchalantly but eventually smiled.

“Without a doubt. I see,” Alastra teased Alastair.

“And he is Brenth,” he said, shaking his head. Alastra raised her brow.

“Well, that’s very unfortunate, but I am so happy for you.”

“Very unfortunate,” he agreed, chuckling.

“It is what it is.”