Chapter 9

Bruce positioned himself at his study window, staring up at the low moon in the sky. His expression was neutral, showing no signs of the internal conflict he was experiencing. The curse had taken care of that, so he should not be experiencing anything at all. Still, though...

A gentle tap on the door snapped him out of his reverie. With no emotion in his voice, he yelled, "Enter."

Bruce noticed it as soon as Amelia entered the room—that odd, unexplainable feeling that seemed to come with her every time. He felt an inexplicable warmth in his chest and tingling along his skin.

With a hint of uncertainty in her voice, Amelia said, "I hope I am not disturbing you."

Bruce looked up at her, fighting to keep his expression neutral. Not at all. Do you require anything at all?"

Bruce had learned to associate Amelia's fidgeting with the hem of her shirt as a sign of nervousness. "I just wanted to discuss the events that transpired during the Rite of Unity. Since then, things have changed, have not they?

Not the same. Bruce heard the word echo in his head. Indeed, something had changed, but he was not entirely sure how or why. Since the Rite, the strange feelings he felt around Amelia had only grown stronger, harder to ignore every day.

In a cautiously neutral tone, Bruce said, "I am not sure what you mean."

Amelia inched forward, her azure eyes scouring his visage. "I know you feel it too, Bruce. This relationship that we have. Is not it more than just the mate bond?

Something flickered in Bruce's chest; was it panic? Expectation? He was not certain. He was deeply unsettled by these phantom emotions, which were growing more frequent and intense.

"Amelia, whatever you think you are feeling, it is not real," he said in a quiet, measured tone. That is not possible. You are aware of the curse.

The curse. Between them, the words hung heavy in the air. Bruce had run afoul of a formidable witch many years before Amelia had entered his life. She had cursed him in her rage to live an emotionless life, destined to lead his pack as an inhumanly efficient machine.

Bruce had come to terms with his fate for years. He would led the pack with icy reason and uncompromising devotion, never letting himself get attached or feel the warmth of real friendship. Although it had been a solitary life, he had become used to it.

Up until Amelia.

Something had changed in his life as soon as she would entered it, supposedly as part of their arranged marriage. It had started out mildly, with his heart rate slightly quickening whenever she walked into a room and an odd desire to seek her out. However, over time, these feelings had become more intense and persistent.

He was brought back to the present by Amelia's voice. I am aware of the curse, Bruce. But what if—what if it is becoming weaker in some way? What happens if our relationship outlasts the witch's sorcery?

Bruce stepped back and shook his head. That is not feasible. The witch stated unequivocally that the curse cannot be broken."

"And yet, it is undeniable that something is taking place," Amelia insisted, drawing nearer. Bruce, I have seen it. The way you occasionally glance at me as though I am not around. The way your hand lingers on mine after we meet. These are not the deeds of a heartless person."

Bruce could feel his carefully built walls starting to fall apart. The heat in his chest grew stronger, catching fire and igniting throughout his body. He desired to extend his hand and embrace Amelia tightly. However, he was restrained by the logical aspect of his mind, which was still affected by the curse.

His voice strained, "Even if what you are saying is true, it does not change anything." Amelia, I can not be the person you want me to be. I am unable to show you the respect and love you merit."

Although Amelia's voice was firm, her eyes glistened with unshed tears as she answered, "Bruce, you have already exceeded my expectations." And I think we can lift this curse together. All we need to do is be open to trying."

Bruce was about to reply when they noticed some noise outside. Growls and shouts reverberated throughout the pack house, becoming more intense by the moment.

Bruce's Alpha tendencies came into play, displacing the turbulent feelings of the situation. He motioned for Amelia to stay where she was, toward the door.

However, Amelia trailed closely behind him, her chin firmly set. "Together, we must face this," she firmly stated. "Mates do things like that."

Bruce briefly experienced an intense desire to grin at her obstinacy. Though the feeling was fleeting, it left him feeling uneasy. These emotional outbursts were happening more often and with greater intensity.

They headed toward the main hall together, where a throng of irate pack members had gathered. Ema stood in the middle of the mayhem, her eyes frenzied with a combination of desperation and triumph.

As soon as she saw Bruce, she exclaimed, "Alpha, I have news that will change everything!"

Bruce took a step forward, his expression again a mask of indifference. "Talk, Ema. What is the deal here?"

Ema glanced back and forth between Bruce and Amelia, a sly grin teasing her lips. "Alpha, I have learned the real story behind your curse. More significantly, I understand how to break it."

Shocked murmurs spread throughout the assembly. Amelia tensed up next to him, her hand instinctively reaching for his. Bruce felt this. He put his fingers through hers without thinking, feeling the strength of her touch.

Bruce demanded, "Explain," his voice resonating with all of his Alpha authority.

Ema grinned more widely. "There is a gap that the witch who cursed you left behind. The only way to lift the curse is to give up a genuine love. The life of a partner for your feelings."

All heads turned to look at Amelia as the hall fell silent. Something dark and primal rose up inside Bruce; feelings he should not have been able to feel, like possessiveness and protectiveness.

Bruce could tell Amelia was terrified, but she said, "You are lying," in a steady voice. "How come anything you say should be believed?"

Ema reached into her bag and withdrew an ancient-looking scroll, raising it high. "I can attest to it. Written by the witch herself, this is the original curse. For those who can read the old language, everything is available here."

With a forward step, Elder Thorne extended his aged hand to grasp the scroll. "Child, let me see that."

Bruce struggled to keep his cool as the Elder reviewed the document. He felt a deep-seated fear that almost overcame him at the thought of giving up Amelia and losing her in order to feel again.

Elder Thorne looked up after what seemed like an eternity, his expression solemn. "The document seems authentic," he uttered slowly. "And the conditions match what Ema said. A mate's selfless life offered in order to lift the curse of emptiness."

The group fell into a frenzy of shouting over each other as they discussed the ramifications of this discovery. Bruce froze, his thoughts racing. He had endured the curse for so long, accepting it as an unchangeable aspect of who he was. It was exciting and terrifying to think that maybe we could break it, feel again.

But as soon as his eyes locked with Amelia's, he knew, beyond the bounds of the curse, that he could never sacrifice her. The idea of a world without Amelia made him feel so much pain that it was literally taking his breath away.

"Enough already!" Bruce's voice broke through the commotion, instantly quieting the pack. "Nothing is changed by this. I refuse to give up my partner in order to lift the curse."

Ema's victorious expression wavered. However, Alpha, are you blind? This is your opportunity to reconcile and take the lead in the group as you were destined to."

Bruce felt Amelia's hand close to his, and he took courage from her unspoken encouragement. "No, Ema, I said. My choice is final."

Bruce turned to Amelia as the pack slowly moved apart and began talking among themselves. Something in him stirred at the look in her eyes, a look of relief, love, and determination.

He gently led her back to his study and said, "We should talk."

Amelia turned to face him when they were alone, her eyes glistening with tears that she had not yet shed. "Bruce, I would do anything for you if this is really what you want." I would sacrifice everything to set you free from this curse."

At her words, Bruce felt something inside of him break. He yanked her into his arms and held her close to his chest without thinking. "Never," he muttered angrily. As for you, Amelia, I would never ask for that. Even with the whole spectrum of emotions, life without you would be meaningless."

Bruce was suddenly very conscious of the feelings that were going through him as he held her. Amelia's quick heartbeat echoed his own, and he could feel the warmth of her body against his and the softness of her hair against his cheek. He was both thrilled and terrified by the depth of feeling that accompanied these physical observations.

Amelia took a small step back and looked up into his face. "Bruce," she murmured, "I believe... The curse may already be waning, in my opinion. The emotions you are experiencing are genuine. They have to be."

For so long, Bruce's existence had been defined by a familiar emptiness, which he wanted to deny. However, as he met Amelia's gaze, he realized he was unable to lie, neither to her nor to himself.

His voice was hardly audible above a whisper as he conceded, "I do not understand how this is possible." "I have endured this curse for a very long time and have come to terms with it. However, things have changed in my life ever since you entered it."

Amelia extended her arm to cup his face with her hands. Bruce, maybe that is it. It is possible that genuine, selfless love is more powerful than all curses. Perhaps you have already started to break the curse because you chose us, me, over the promise of breaking it."

Bruce felt an internal shift as her words took hold. It was as though a dam had collapsed, letting loose a torrent of feelings he had long since forgotten how to label. He was overcome and left speechless by the overwhelming waves of joy, fear, hope, and love that washed over him.

He exhaled, his voice full of emotion, "Amelia." "I think... I think I love you."

Amelia's smile burst onto her face, radiating a joy so pure that it gave Bruce the most exquisite pain in his heart. But then she remembered this wasn't for ever. She frowned and replied, "I don't love you, Bruce."

Bruce attempted to kiss her, but she moved her lips aside. Still, Bruce sensed the last traces of the curse slipping from him. He was aware that difficulties lay ahead, including adjusting to a world of emotions after being cut off from them for so long, handling the pack's reactions to this change in their Alpha, and handling any new plots Ema might come up with.