"Your fated mate has a curse on him, Erica," Jasper said, his voice dripping with mock sympathy. "And it seems he's been keeping it from you. Quite the shock, isn't it?" I stared at him, my mind racing. What could he possibly be referring to? And why would Liam keep such a thing from me? Fury and betrayal coursed through my veins, mixing with the lingering lust and confusion that Jasper had so expertly cultivated.
Jasper's expression shifted, the amusement draining from his face as he grew serious.
"I know the sorcerer who placed the curse on Liam and the pack," he revealed, his voice low and dangerous. My heart skipped a beat at his words; it was one thing to hear about the curse, but knowing Jasper had connections to its source made my blood run cold.
"Here's the deal," Jasper continued, his eyes gleaming with cruel delight. "If you agree to willingly be my mate, I'll have the curse removed from Liam." My breath hitched in my throat, the weight of his proposition settling heavily on my chest. How could I possibly choose between my own freedom and the safety of Liam and the Silver Stone pack? Jasper leaned in closer, his breath hot against my ear.
"Is that not a good present, Erica? Would it not make me a worthy king, to have you as my queen by my side?"
I couldn't find the words to respond, my mind reeling from the shock of it all. Had Liam really been hiding so much from me? Betrayal and anger seethed beneath my skin, stinging like a thousand tiny needles. Jasper chuckled darkly, pulling back to study my face.
"You can think on it, my dear," he said, his tone dripping with condescension. "But I expect an answer by the end of tomorrow." With that, he stood up and left the room, leaving me alone with my whirling thoughts and the storm of emotions raging inside me. The door clicked shut, echoing through the empty space like a death knell.
Chapter 23
Liam
ThecitrusscentofErica lingered in the air, teasing me as I opened my eyes. The familiar aroma brought back a flood of memories, our bodies entwined, breathless whispers, and soft kisses shared in the moonlight. My heart clenched at the thought of her absence, her scent slowly fading away like a candle's flame on the brink of extinction. Another night spent in the room she once occupied, and yet the scent was the only way I could sleep, fear for her safety otherwise keeping me tethered to consciousness. Determined to bring her back into my arms, I glanced at the clock and groaned. It was already 10am. My father hadn't woken me, and while it irked me, I understood why. The recon team was due back today, and I needed to be there for the rescue planning. With renewed resolve, I dragged myself out of bed and took a quick shower, letting the water wash over me as if it could cleanse the worry from my soul.
I stepped out of the room, eager to head down to the conference room, but my mother intercepted me, her arms crossed and a stern expression on her face. She insisted that I eat something, refusing to take no for an answer. Despite my impatience, I relented and accepted the bacon sandwich she thrust into my hands.
"Alright, Mum," I grumbled, taking a bacon sandwich to appease her. "I'll eat, but I need to go now."
"Fine, just make sure you finish that," she warned, giving me a pointed look. As I made my way towards the conference room, my thoughts swirled with a mixture of longing and fear. Goddess, I missed her so much. The fact that she was missing, possibly in danger, fuelled the fire inside me. I had to find her, protect her, and never let her go again. The anger simmered beneath the surface, threatening to boil over at any moment.
I entered the conference room, my heart pounding in my chest, feeling a strange mix of anticipation and dread. My mother trailed behind me, holding another sandwich like a peace offering. My father, Gregg, Damon, Jacob, and Gideon were already seated around the table, their attention focused on a phone call.
"Hold on Hall," my father said as he noticed me. "Liam has just come in." I recognised Wes Hall's voice on the other end of the line, the werewolf heading up the recon team to find Erica. Gregg shifted his chair, making room for me to sit next to my father. My mother handed him the second sandwich with a stern look before leaving the room. As I started to speak, my father glanced out the full-length window connecting the conference room to the offices. He chuckled, shaking his head.
"Sorry, Liam, but you're not allowed to speak until you take a bite of that sandwich," he said, nodding toward my mother outside the window. Her hands were on her hips, her gaze unyielding. Rolling my eyes, I took a bite from the sandwich, earning another disapproving look from her.
"Alright," I mumbled through my mouthful, swallowing quickly. "What's happening? Any news on Erica?" The mention of her name sent a pang through my heart, intensifying the swirl of emotions inside me. The fear for her safety, the anger at her abductors, and the overwhelming need to protect her all fuelled my determination to bring her home.
"Let's get back to it, Hall," my father said, nodding at me to continue listening. With a nod from my father, I finally allowed myself to speak.
"What happened? Did anyone see Erica?"
"Slow down, Liam," my father said, his voice steady despite the storm brewing in his eyes. "Wes, catch him up on everything."
"Alright," Wes hesitated for a moment before diving into the details. "Yesterday, there was an incident with Jasper and Erica. He finally went to see her and... things got ugly." I gripped the edge of the table, my knuckles turning white as fear and fury coursed through me.
"What did he do to her?" I growled.
"Jasper started torturing her, Liam," Wes replied, his voice thick with anger. "There was also another incident involving a guard, and we found out that Heidi Matthews has joined the Shadow Night pack."
"Damn it!" I slammed my hand on the table, unable to contain my frustration. My heart ached at the thought of what Erica had been forced to endure. I couldn't breathe, my chest constricting with each word Wes spoke. All I wanted was to have her back in my arms, safe from harm.
"Did anyone step in? Stop him?" I asked, trying to cling to any shred of hope.
“Actually yes,” Wes admitted, but I could tell from his tone that I wouldn’t like what I was going to hear.
“What is it Wes?” I asked bracing myself for something awful.
“Well, it was Felix Blackwood that stopped Jasper,” Wes said and my father growled at the name. I knew that he and Felix Blackwood had a history. A history that caused all this mess. Felix had been infatuated with my mother and had been angry when she and my father had met and realised they were fated mates. Felix’s jealousy was the reason why there was a death sentence hanging over my head, and the reason why his son, Jasper, seemed dead set on making my life a misery.
“Felix ordered everyone out of the room and then he and Jasper disappeared. When they came back out Jasper was talking about caring for his queen,” Wes said.
"Wait, what?" I blurted out, my heart pounding in my chest as Wes's words sank in. "You're saying Jasper thinks of Erica as his queen now?"
