"Her body rejected the mark, Liam," the doctor explained, glancing at my father. "It's rare, but it does happen in some cases."
"Rejected the mark?" I echoed, feeling a cold shiver down my spine. This was all my fault, wasn't it? If only I hadn't... I clenched my fists, trying to keep my anger in check.
"Enough, Liam," my father warned, glaring at me pointedly. It was clear he blamed me for this, and honestly, so did I.
"Thank you, Doctor," my mother said softly, stepping forward to show him out.
The door clicked shut as the doctor left, and my father's glare remained fixed on me. I felt the weight of his disappointment, heavy and suffocating.
"Son," he began, his voice low and strained, "it's the curse that's causing this. Chances are, the same thing would have happened with Jessica."
"Maybe," I murmured, clenching my fists at my sides. "But there's also a spell on Erica that's stopping her from shifting." Damon, who had been silent until now, chimed in.
"It could be a combination of the two, Liam. We can't know for sure."
"How do we deal with this?" I asked, my voice cracking. The frustration and desperation threatened to consume me. "If Erica can't shift, then how do I complete the curse?"
"Maybe you should take Erica's advice," Damon suggested, his face etched with concern. My father raised an eyebrow, curiosity flickering in his eyes. "What advice?"
"Erica said I should complete the bond with another woman," I admitted, the words tasting bitter on my lips. "But I'd rather die than do that." For a moment, silence hung in the air like a pall. My father studied me intently, no doubt weighing his options. The tension was palpable, and I found it difficult to breathe, let alone think.
"Listen, Liam," my father said finally, his voice soft but firm. "I understand how much you love Erica, but you need to consider the pack, too. Are you willing to risk their lives, as well as your own, for one person?" His words stung like a slap to my face, my anger flaring up like a wildfire. "I don't want anyone else, Dad!" I shouted, my heart pounding in my chest. "I can't just abandon Erica when she needs me most!"
"Of course not," my father said, his expression softening. "But we need to find a way to help her without jeopardising the pack."
The weight of my father's words settled heavily on my chest, making it hard to breathe. Fifteen hundred lives hanging in the balance, and I was the one responsible for them all. As Alpha heir, their welfare was my priority, but how could I choose between my pack and the woman I loved? My mother appeared in the doorway with a steely glint in her eyes.
"We move to plan B," she announced firmly.
"Plan B?" Damon asked, his brow furrowing.
"We cut the pack," I explained, swallowing the lump in my throat. "We tell them about the curse and find them new homes."
"But Liam," my father interjected, concern etching lines onto his face. "Many pack members leaving at once will put me out of commission. The breaking of pack bonds will be painful, but over a thousand at once will be hell."
"Then pass the pack to me first," I said resolutely. My heart raced as I considered the enormity of what I was proposing. "If I'm refusing to complete the bond with another woman, then I'll take the pain of the pack leaving." For a moment, my father stared at me, searching my eyes for any sign of doubt or hesitation. But there was none to be found. I had made my decision, and I would stand by it, no matter the cost.
"That's my Alpha," he murmured, a hint of pride creeping into his voice.
The evening had grown late, and the house was silent except for the soft ticking of a nearby clock. My parents had retreated to their bedroom, leaving Damon and me to pore over the information Audrey had sent our way. The weight of my decision hung heavily on my shoulders, like an oppressive fog that refused to dissipate.
"Any word from Audrey yet?" I asked Damon, unable to keep the impatience from creeping into my voice. My fingers drummed against the table's surface, betraying my anxiety.
"Nothing yet," he replied, his voice weary but steady. "I gave her all the details on Erica's spell, so she's trying to figure out how it factors into everything."
"Hopefully, she can find something useful." I sighed, feeling a growing sense of frustration and desperation.
It wasn't long before Damon's phone rang, shattering the silence hanging in the air. His expression darkened as he listened to Audrey's words, and I clenched my fists, bracing myself for whatever news she had to share.
"Alright, thanks, Audrey," Damon said finally, ending the call and setting his phone down on the table. His eyes met mine, and I saw a storm of emotions lurking within their depths, fear, uncertainty, concern.
"It doesn't look good, Liam."
"What does she think?" I demanded, trying to shove the panic back down my throat.
"Apparently, Erica is the key to your curse, since it was her mother who made the alteration," he explained, his voice tinged with disbelief. "Audrey believes that if you don't complete the bond with Erica, the curse won't break."
"Damn it!" I slammed my fist on the table, feeling anger surge through me like wildfire. "This whole thing is spiralling out of control. All I want is to protect my pack and be with the woman I love, but it seems like the universe is conspiring against us."
