THE ROMANCE
WREN'S POV
The warm water surrounded us, and the scent of wild pine and soap filled the air. Alpha Hunter leaned back in the tub, his eyes half-closed as I gently rubbed his back with the sponge.
He looked at me and gave a small smile. “Thank you, Wren… for helping me with my bath.”
I shook my head softly and signed, "We're mates. It's okay."
He stared at me for a long moment, then spoke again, voice low. “Are you really okay… being mated to a cursed alpha like me?”
I froze for a second.
Cursed? He thought he was cursed?
I touched my throat and signed slowly, “I’m cursed too. That’s why I can’t speak.”
His golden eyes flickered with something… sadness, maybe. Pain. Maybe even hope.
“You too?” he whispered.
I nodded.
He took a deep breath and said, “My curse… it’s turning me into a beast. My wolf, Fenris, he's taking more control over me every day. Sometimes, I feel like I’m not me anymore.”
I looked at him. This man… this alpha. The one they all feared.
He didn’t feel like a monster to me.
He felt gentle. Kind.
I touched my chest and thought to myself, I can’t imagine someone so kind being the beast people call him.
Then he turned to face me, serious now. “I know this sounds crazy, Wren… but I think you’re the key. You’re the key to breaking my curse.”
My eyes widened.
“Maybe,” he added, “when we’re bonded… maybe your curse will break too.”
Could it be possible?
Could my voice come back?
Could I be normal again?
My heart started racing. I wanted to believe it. I wanted to hope. For the first time in so long, I felt something real.
But Alpha Hunter wasn’t finished.
He smiled again, softer this time. “But before we talk about bonding… I want to know you better. Do you have any hobbies?”
I nodded and began signing.
I mimicked turning something with my hand. Stirring. Mixing.
He tilted his head. “Cooking?”
I smiled.
He grinned. “What are you cooking? Looks like you’re beating something… eggs?”
I took his hand and showed him how to turn his fingers like I do when whisking eggs.
He laughed, a deep sound that made my chest feel light.
“You’ve turned my fingers into a fork!” he said, chuckling.
I covered my mouth, laughing without a sound. He stared at me, surprised.
“You can still laugh even though you can’t speak?” he said gently. “I like your laugh. I want to hear it more often.”
His words made my heart flutter.
He was so kind.
And I…
I was so soft around him.
Then he leaned forward, brushing my wet hair over my shoulder.
“Turn around,” he said. “Let me wash your back too.”
I turned slowly, my cheeks warm even though we were already in the hot water.
I’ve never felt like this before, I thought. I feel strange… but it feels so good.
His hand moved gently, slowly and careful,
But just as I closed my eyes, I let myself relax…
The next morning, the sunlight streamed through the large windows. I blinked slowly, my body still sore but warm under the soft blanket.
Memories of last night came flooding back.
The way he held me.
The way he looked at me like I was something precious.
He’s so handsome, I thought, turning to the empty side of the bed. And so kind. I want to prove to him that he should keep me around.
I slid out of bed quietly and tiptoed to the kitchen, brushing my fingers over the smooth marble counter. I opened the fridge and stared inside.
What should I make Hunter?
I wanted it to be something special. Something that would make him smile. I want to impress him.
Just as I was pulling out some eggs and vegetables, a voice cut through the room sharply.
“You’re the new Luna?”
I turned quickly and saw a woman leaning against the doorway.
She was tall, with glowing brown skin, straight jet-black hair, and lips painted red like blood.
Her eyes looked me up and down.
“Can’t say I’m impressed,” she said coolly. “Why would he choose you over me?”
She’s interested in Hunter too, I thought, swallowing hard.
She’s gorgeous…
She took a step forward, crossing her arms. “What makes you think you’re good enough for our Alpha?”
Before I could even react or sign anything, a deep voice cut in from behind her.
“She’s good enough… if I say she’s good enough.”
We both turned.
Alpha Hunter.
Bella quickly lowered her gaze. “Alpha, I was just…”
“Leaving?” His voice was sharp, like a knife. “Good. And don’t let me catch you with her again.”
Bella hesitated, then stormed out of the kitchen without another word. I could still feel the heat of her judgment lingering in the air.
I stared at the floor.
Even strangers know I’m not good enough for him, I thought.
I need to show him… that I can earn my keep.
I turned and reached up to the top cabinet, trying to grab a pan. My fingers barely touched it before I felt someone behind me.
“What do you need?” Hunter asked softly.
Before I could answer, he reached over me, easily pulling it down and handing it to me.
Then he took my hand and led me to the dining room.
“Wait here,” he said.
A few minutes later, he returned, with a table full of food.
Different kinds. Sweet. Spicy. Toasted. Baked. Meat. Fruits. Pastries.
My eyes widened.
I looked at him, confused.
He gave a small smile.
“I didn’t know which one you’d like… so I ordered a lot so you can pick.”
I tilted my head. Why?
He sat beside me and said gently, “Because you deserve it.”
My chest tightened.
He didn’t see me as broken.
He didn’t care that I couldn’t speak.
To him, I was enough.
BELLA’S POV
I slammed my glass on the table.
“What does she even have that I don’t?” I growled.
Ivy and Acacia sat across from me, sipping their drinks like they weren’t watching my entire world crumble.
“She’s mute, Bella,” Ivy said with a smirk. “Too bad about losing out on Luna.”
Acacia laughed. “Yeah, I still can’t believe Alpha Hunter chose some random quiet girl over you.”
“She’s not even a warrior. Not even pack blood,” I hissed. “And yet he acts like she’s gold. Won’t even let me breathe the same air as her.”
Ivy leaned forward, eyes glinting. “So what now?”
I narrowed my eyes.
“We get rid of her.”
WREN’S POV
Alpha Hunter gently brushed his thumb across my cheek and smiled.
“I’ve got some work to do,” he said. “But… we’ll go over wedding plans later, okay?”
He kissed my forehead.
“See you later, beautiful.”
I blushed as he left the estate, my heart fluttering in my chest. Wedding. The word echoed in my mind like a sweet melody.
I stayed inside, humming quietly as I cleaned up the kitchen table. Then, a knock.
I walked to the door.
Two girls stood there, smiling sweetly.
“Alpha Hunter said we should come and get you,” one of them said.
“Wedding prep, you know,” the other added.
He did say we were going to talk about the wedding later, I thought. Maybe he sent them to help.
“The Silver Pack has a tradition,” the taller girl said as we walked. “Every future Luna must take a bath in one of our sacred springs to purify herself before forming the mating bond.”
Like the spring from last night?
“It’s really important to our people,” the shorter one said. “It bonds Luna to her mate’s pack.”
I smiled and nodded. I do want to fit in here, I told myself. And they seem so nice.
We walked deeper into the woods, and the air became cooler, quieter.
Suddenly, one of them asked, “You can’t talk, right? Like… no voice at all? No way to call for help?”
I stopped in my tracks.
Something about the way she said it made my stomach twist.
But she quickly smiled. “Just confirming. Sorry, we’re just curious!”
I hesitated… then nodded.
We kept walking.
They led me to a hidden spring, much larger than the one I’d seen before. The water was dark and still.
“Go ahead,” one of them said. “You need to get in.”
I shook my head quickly, stepping back.
The water looks deep… too deep. I pointed to my chest and shook my hands. I can’t swim.
They looked at each other.
“Oh,” one of them said, pretending to frown. “Too bad.”
Before I could react…
They shoved me.
My feet slipped.
My hands reached out.
Splash.
The cold water swallowed me whole.
I kicked, thrashed, but the weight of my clothes pulled me down.
I couldn’t scream.
I couldn’t breathe.