Cursed Bonds: Her Second Chance

The night was quiet as Landon and I drove home, the hum of the car’s engine a comforting backdrop to the silence between us. The cool breeze brushed against my skin, a peaceful contrast to the warmth of his hand holding mine. I glanced up at him, feeling a pang of happiness mixed with uncertainty. Landon had always been my anchor, but lately, there was something distant in his eyes—a distraction I couldn’t quite pinpoint.

Just as I was about to ask him what was on his mind, his phone rang. He stopped abruptly, pulling his hand away from mine to answer the call.

"Yeah?" His voice was low, tense.

I tried not to listen, but in the confined space of the car, it was impossible to ignore. Whoever was on the other end spoke urgently, their words too muffled for me to make out. But I could see the change in Landon’s demeanor—his knuckles turned white, and a muscle in his jaw ticked.

After a few terse responses, he hung up and pulled the car to an abrupt stop on the side of the road. The suddenness of it made my heart skip a beat.

"Landon, what’s going on?" I asked, my voice trembling slightly.

He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he turned to me, his eyes hard and unreadable. "You need to get out."

I blinked, not sure I’d heard him right. "What? Why?"

"Get out of the car, Emery," he repeated, his tone leaving no room for argument.

A cold wave of shock washed over me. "But... it’s dark, and Mom is still waiting for us!"

His expression didn’t soften. "I don’t have time for this. Get out, now."

I stared at him, disbelief and hurt coursing through me. "Landon, please—"

"Now!" he snapped, cutting me off.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I fumbled with the seatbelt, my hands shaking. I didn’t understand what was happening or why he was doing this. The door creaked as I pushed it open, the cool night air rushing in. I stepped out onto the deserted street, the darkness swallowing me whole.

Before I could say anything else, Landon slammed the door shut and sped off, leaving me standing alone on the side of the road. The sound of the engine faded into the distance, and with it, the last bit of warmth I felt.

This wasn’t the first time he had left me like this, but it hurt more each time. Why did he always have to leave when I needed him most?

Feeling a mixture of anger and sadness, I forced myself to keep walking. The night seemed to grow darker with each step I took, the silence around me becoming oppressive. I tried to push away the nagging thoughts in my mind—the doubts and fears that had been building up for weeks.

Suddenly, a rustling noise broke the silence. I paused my senses on high alert. I scanned the dark alleyways and empty streets but saw nothing. Just as I was about to dismiss it as my imagination, something—or someone—burst out from the shadows.

A powerful figure tackled me to the ground with terrifying speed and force. I gasped; the wind knocked me out of me as I hit the pavement hard. The figure loomed over me, and in the dim light, I could see the crazed eyes of a rogue werewolf. Its snarl sent shivers down my spine, and the stench of blood and sweat filled my nostrils.

I struggled to push the rogue off, but it was too strong, too wild. Its claws raked across my arms, leaving deep, burning gashes. Pain shot through my body, but I couldn’t stop fighting. I kicked and scratched, trying to get away, but it was no use. The rogue was relentless, driven by a madness I couldn’t understand.

“Help!” I screamed, but my voice echoed back at me, swallowed by the darkness.

The rogue’s jaws clamped down on my shoulder, and I cried out in agony. Blood poured from the wound, soaking my clothes. I felt my strength waning, my vision blurring. The pain was unbearable, searing through me like fire, but the worst part was the fear—fear that this was it, that I would die alone on this cold, empty street.

In my final moments, as the rogue’s teeth tore into my flesh, my thoughts turned to Landon. How could he have left me like this? How could he have abandoned me?

Tears mingled with the blood on my face as my life slipped away. I wasn’t ready to die, not like this, not when I had so much left to say, so much left to do. The unfairness of it all consumed me, filling me with a deep, burning rage.

With my last breath, I closed my eyes and prayed—prayed for a second chance, for the strength to fight back, for the opportunity to make things right. I prayed that this wouldn’t be the end, that somehow, some way, I could have another chance at life. But deep down, I knew it was impossible.

I never thought that my death would be so... ordinary. There were no dramatic last words, no flashing of my life before my eyes—just pain, then darkness, and then... nothing. I floated in the abyss, disappointed and bitter. After everything, this was how it ended. A werewolf’s jaws on my throat, blood pooling around me as I gasped for air, and alone.

"How could you let me die like this, Selene? What did I do wrong? You're so cruel!" I cursed the Moon Goddess, my thoughts filled with rage.

The silence of the void was deafening, pressing in on me from all sides. "Is this it?" I screamed into the nothingness. "Is this all I get? It’s not fair!"

Suddenly, a shiver ran through the void, a pulse of light piercing the darkness. I blinked, startled, as the light grew brighter, forming into the shape of a woman. Her silver hair cascaded down her shoulders like moonbeams, her eyes glowing with an otherworldly light. She radiated power, her presence both comforting and terrifying.

"Selene?" I whispered, my voice trembling. I had never seen the Moon Goddess before, but I knew—somehow, I just knew—it was Her.

"You dare curse Me, child?" Her voice was soft, but it echoed in my mind.

I opened my mouth to respond, but the words caught in my throat. What could I possibly say to Her? I was nothing, just a soul adrift in the afterlife. Who was I to demand anything? However, when I recalled the way I died, I was overwhelmed with anger.

"Yes, I did!" I snapped. "You took everything from me! You let me die horribly. Why? Did I deserve that?!"

Selene’s eyes softened, just a fraction, and She floated closer to me. "You suffered greatly, Emery," She said, her tone laced with sorrow I hadn’t expected. "But your suffering was not of My design. Fate weaves a complex tapestry, and not all threads are within My control."

I wanted to argue, to demand more answers, but something in Her gaze stopped me. There was a sadness there, a deep, ancient grief that seemed to span lifetimes.

"You wish for justice, for understanding," She continued, "and I cannot fault you for that. You were wronged, and for that, I am sorry."

To my utter shock, She extended Her hand toward me. "I offer you a chance, Emery. A chance to see the world as it is, to understand the truths that have been hidden from you. You will walk as a soul, unseen and unheard, but you will see everything."

My brows furrowed. A chance? A chance to see what had happened, to find out the truth? I hesitated, but only for a moment. "Yes," I said firmly. "I want to see everything."

Selene nodded, a faint smile touching Her lips. "Then go, child. Learn what you must."

With a wave of Her hand, the darkness dissolved, and suddenly, I was falling—falling back into the world I had just left behind. The sensation was disorienting, but when I opened my eyes, I was floating above the street where I had died. Everything was as it had been—cold, dark, and silent, except now, I was the ghost, weightless, and invisible.

As I stared at my corpse, my thoughts turned immediately to Landon. There was only one person who could make him panic like that.

With a thought, I willed myself toward Allison’s house, my form gliding effortlessly through the air. When I arrived, the house was dark, but I knew they were there. I could feel it—could feel them.

I passed through the front door like a wisp of smoke, the inside of the house quiet and still. But as I moved through the rooms, the silence was broken by soft, muffled sounds. A breathy gasp, a low moan. My heart—or whatever was left of it—clenched painfully as I followed the sounds to the bedroom.

There they were, tangled in the sheets, bodies pressed together in a way that left no room for doubt. Landon’s hands roamed over her skin, his lips on hers, moving with a fervor and desperation that I had never felt from him. My breath caught in my throat, even though I no longer needed to breathe. This was real. It wasn’t some nightmare or a figment of my imagination.

I wanted to scream, to tear them apart, but I was powerless. All I could do was watch as the man I had loved—who I thought had loved me—betrayed me in the worst way possible.

"Thank you for being here," Allison murmured, her voice dripping with coyness.

Landon didn’t respond, but the look in his eyes said it all. There was no hesitation, no regret. Just a dark, twisted desire that made my insides churn.

A sob welled up in my chest, but no sound came out. I had been right to doubt him. He had never truly been mine. And now, here I was, a ghost in the moonlight, forced to witness the cruel truth of my own life.

I backed away, the scene growing fainter as I retreated, unable to bear it any longer. Selene had given me a chance to see, but what was the point? All I had found was more pain, more betrayal.

I had always known that Allison was his previous mate, the one destined to be with him. But she betrayed him, and I was the one who stayed by his side when he was at his lowest.

After everything, how could he still look at her like that? She didn’t deserve his forgiveness, yet here they were, locked in each other's embrace.

Landon and I had been together for years now, and everything was fine until the day Allison returned. Despite being engaged with Landon, we hadn’t marked each other, a fact that gnawed at the back of my mind every time I saw that taunting glint in Allison’s eyes. We were a couple, but we weren’t mates, not truly.

I still remember the day I learned they had broken their bond. A ripple of elation had run through me, so powerful it almost knocked the breath from my lungs. Landon was free. He was no longer tied to the woman who betrayed him, the woman who didn’t understand the treasure she had until she lost it. I thought, naively perhaps, that this was my chance.

I’d admired Landon from afar for so long, even before Allison came into the picture. My admiration turned into love, quiet and unassuming, hidden in the shadow of his bond with her. I knew better than to interfere with fate, so I kept my distance, content with being a supportive friend. But when their bond broke, I saw an opportunity. A chance to step into the light and show him that I could be the one for him.

So, I made my move. I was careful, not wanting to rush him or make him feel pressured. Landon had been through enough. I wanted to be a source of comfort, of stability, something he could rely on. And for a while, it seemed like it was working. We grew closer, our relationship blossoming into something more. But there was always a part of him that was distant, a part of him that I could never fully reach.

And now, seeing them together again, it felt like a cruel joke. The bond they once shared may have been broken, but there was still something between them, something I could never compete with. It wasn’t fair. I had done everything right and played my part perfectly, but it was as if the universe was conspiring against me, constantly pulling them back together no matter how hard I tried to keep them apart.

I tore my gaze away, unable to stomach the sight any longer. The bile of resentment burned at the back of my throat. I wanted to hate Landon for his weakness, for still being drawn to her despite everything she had done. But more than anything, I hated myself. For thinking that I could ever replace the connection they once had, for daring to believe that I could be more to him than just a substitute.

...

I stared at the ceiling, my body still humming from the heat of the moment, trying to process what had just happened. Allison lay beside me, her breathing steady, but I couldn't bring myself to relax. What the hell had I just done?

Suddenly, the shrill ring of my phone cut through the silence, jolting me back to reality. Seeing the caller, I hesitated, my thumb hovering over the screen, but I knew I couldn’t ignore it. I pressed the button and brought the phone to my ear. “Hello?”

“Landon,” her voice was strained, tinged with worry. “Is Emery with you? I was waiting for you two last night but you didn't come.”

My heart sank as I realized that I had forgotten about her. A sense of guilt twisted in my gut, but I tried to compose myself.

“No,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. “Something important cropped up so I had to leave last night”

“Is that so? Emery didn't come home last night, and she’s not answering her phone. I thought maybe she was with you.” Her words were like ice water thrown in my face.

I sat up, the bed suddenly feeling like a trap I needed to escape from. “I’ll look for her,” I hurriedly said, already pulling on my clothes. “I’m sure she’s fine. Maybe she just needed some time alone.”

But the words felt hollow, even as I said them. I had no idea where Emery was or what she was doing. How could I, when I had been so consumed by… this?

“I’m sure she’s okay,” I repeated, trying to reassure both her and myself. “I bet she's with her best friend."

I ended the call, shoving the phone into my pocket as I turned to Allison.

“I have to go,” I said, not bothering to explain as I grabbed my jacket and headed for the door. The guilt was suffocating, pressing down on my chest with every step I took.

Allison sat up, confusion written across her face. “What’s going on?”

“Emery’s missing,” I replied curtly, the words bitter on my tongue. “Her mom can’t find her, so I have to look for her.”

Allison frowned, confusion clouding her features. “Now? Can’t it wait?”

“No,” I snapped, harsher than I intended. “It can’t.”

I saw the hurt flash in her eyes, but I didn’t have time to deal with that now.

Without another word, I left, almost slamming the door behind me.

The air was cool against my skin, but it did nothing to calm the storm brewing inside me.

I drove around aimlessly, searching for her, but she was nowhere to be found. The more I looked, the more I started to believe that she wasn’t in any danger. She was just… angry.

I was overwhelmed with anger and pain, but Landon's voice suddenly made me snap out of my senses. I turned and looked at him. The device was pressed to his ear. There was a tension in his posture, a tightness in his jaw that I recognized all too well.

"I'll look for her," Landon said. His words laced with a desperation that tugged at something deep inside me. He was worried about me. The realization brings a flicker of something close to hope, but it was quickly extinguished by the reality of everything that had happened.

I watched as he ended the call, shoving the phone into his pocket with a sharp exhale. Allison was looking at him in confusion, but Landon just barely glanced at her. Afterward, he hurried away, the door closing behind him with a slam. As I watched him leave, a strange mix of emotions swirled within me.

Suddenly, a low, venomous whisper that cut through the silence like a knife sounded.

“That little bitch,” Allison hissed, her voice dripping with malice. “Always getting in the way. Why couldn’t she just disappear?”

Her words sent a chill down my spine. I turned and looked at her, feeling a surge of anger. Allison’s face was twisted with hatred, her eyes dark and furious as she glared at the spot where Landon stood moments ago.

I knew she hated me—I could sense it in the way she looked at me, the way she always tried to insert herself between Landon and me. But hearing her speak like this, with such open hostility, was something else entirely. It was like a punch to the gut, a reminder of all the reasons I should have walked away from this mess long ago.

But I didn’t. I stayed. I fought for Landon, even when I knew it was a losing battle. And now, I was stuck in this strange situation, listening to the woman who ruined everything curse my name.

I wanted to scream at her, to tell her that her bond with Landon had long been broken and she shouldn't have returned, but I couldn't. My voice was trapped in the same void that kept me here, unable to reach the living world.

All I could do was watch as Allison paced the room, her anger simmering just below the surface. She muttered to herself, her words a jumbled mix of curses and accusations, all aimed at me. It was almost pathetic, how much power she thought she had over this situation.

And yet, despite everything, I felt a pang of pity for her. She was just as trapped as I am, stuck in a cycle of jealousy and resentment that she couldn't break free from. But unlike me, she was still alive. She still had a chance to change, to make things right.

But would she? I didn’t know, and I didn’t think she even knew. As I watched her, a strange sense of detachment washed over me. This wasn’t my fight anymore. I had done all I could, and it wasn’t enough. Landon was out there, searching for me, but it was too late. There was nothing left for him to find.

Sighing, I followed where Landon was and realized that he returned to our house. I saw how his frown deepened. He wasn’t greeted by the usual warmth—no sumptuous meals laid out on the table, no cozy lights filling the rooms. The house was eerily quiet.

Flicking on the hallway light, he called out my name, his voice echoing in the silence. There was no answer.

He hesitated for a moment, anxiety creeping in. Tossing his suit jacket onto a chair, he pulled out his phone and sent me a quick message.

[Emery, stop messing around and come back soon.]

But there was no reply.

His unease growing, Landon dialed my number, but only the automated voice responded, "I'm sorry, the number you dialed..."

He tried again, and again. Each time, the same lifeless response.

Frowning, he ran his fingers over his phone, the weight of realization settling in. It seemed he finally realized that something was wrong.

Landon stared blankly at the documents in front of him, trying to push thoughts of Emery to the back of his mind.

But normalcy was fleeting, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, frowning at the message notification from Allison.

[Someone’s following me, harassing me. Please, Landon, I need you.]

A surge of protective instinct flared within him. Allison might have hurt him in ways he could barely comprehend, but the thought of her in danger sent adrenaline coursing through his veins. She was an omega, after all, and her scent had always been intoxicating to other werewolves, especially those who didn’t know how to control themselves around someone so vulnerable.

He didn’t think twice. He grabbed his keys and bolted out of the office. He had to get there before anything happened.

When he arrived at her apartment complex, he found her huddled near the entrance, her eyes wide with fear, her usually composed demeanor shattered. The sight made his chest tighten. He rushed to her side, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.

“Allison, what happened? Are you okay?”

Before she could answer, a low growl echoed from behind him. Landon spun around, his senses sharpening as he caught sight of the man standing in the shadows. He was tall and broadshouldered, and his eyes were wild with a predatory hunger that made Landon’s inner wolf howl in response, muscles tensing as a protective fury rose within him. “Stay behind me,” he ordered Allison, his voice hard.

The man took a step forward, his gaze fixed on Allison with a possessiveness that made Landon’s hackles rise. “She’s mine,” the stranger snarled, his voice thick with the undertones of a werewolf on the brink of losing control.

“She’s not yours,” Landon shot back, his voice dangerously low. “Back off.”

But the man didn’t back down. Instead, he lunged at Landon, claws outstretched, his eyes gleaming with madness.

Landon met him headon, his wolf roaring to life as he threw himself into the fight. The impact sent them both crashing to the ground, a tangle of limbs and snarls as they wrestled for dominance.

Landon’s fists connected with the man’s jaw, and he heard the sickening crack of bone. But the man was relentless, clawing at Landon’s sides, his movements fueled by a desperation that bordered on madness.

Landon wasn’t sure how long they fought—seconds, minutes, it all blurred together in a haze of pain and adrenaline. But eventually, he managed to pin the man to the ground, his hand clamped around the stranger’s throat, his wolf’s snarls filling the air. “Leave. Now. Before I make you regret it,” Landon growled, his voice thick with the dominance of an alpha.

The man’s eyes flickered with fear, his bravado crumbling under the weight of Landon’s threat. With a choked gasp, he nodded, and Landon released him, watching with a mix of satisfaction and disgust as the man scrambled to his feet and fled into the night.

Breathing heavily, Landon straightened, wiping the blood from his mouth as he turned back to Allison. She was trembling, her eyes wide with shock, and he felt a pang of guilt for not getting there sooner.

“It’s okay,” he said, trying to keep his voice calm. “He’s gone now. You’re safe.”

Allison nodded, but the fear didn’t leave her eyes. She stepped closer, wrapping her arms around herself as if trying to ward off the lingering terror. “Thank you, Landon,” she whispered, her voice shaky. “I didn’t know what to do… I was so scared…”

He felt her lean into him, her small frame trembling against his, and he instinctively wrapped his arms around her, offering what comfort he could. But as he held her, the reality of what he’d done began to sink in. He had rushed to her side without a second thought, putting her safety above everything else, even when Emery’s absence still loomed over him like a dark shadow.

The guilt that had been gnawing at him since last night returned, heavier now, more suffocating. He had betrayed Emery once, and now, in his haste to protect Allison, he was betraying her again. The thought made his stomach churn.

“Landon…” Allison’s voice broke through his thoughts, her hand resting on his chest. She looked up at him, her eyes filled with a mix of gratitude and something else, something that made his heart flutter in his chest. “I knew you’d come. You always do.”

The words should have reassured him, but instead, they only deepened the ache in his chest. He couldn’t keep doing this—teetering on the edge between two women, unable to fully commit to either. He needed to find Emery, to make things right, but as he stood there with Allison, her warmth seeped into him.

“I need to go,” he said abruptly, pulling away from Allison’s embrace. Her eyes widened in surprise, but she didn’t protest as he stepped back. “Just… be careful, okay? Stay inside tonight.”

She nodded, though he could see the confusion and hurt in her gaze. “Okay,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “Thank you, Landon.”

He forced a smile, but it felt hollow, a poor attempt to mask the turmoil inside him. Without another word, he turned and walked away.

Outside, the night was cool, a breeze stirring the leaves and sending shivers down my spine. It wasn’t the cold that bothered me, though. It was the scent. Allison’s scent clung to me, sweet and familiar, but also a reminder of how deep I was getting into something I wasn’t sure I could handle.

I needed to clear my head. I needed to get rid of her scent.

The path to the riverside was wellworn, the ground soft under my boots as I made my way through the trees.

When I reached the water’s edge, I took a deep breath, the scent of the river filling my lungs, washing away the remnants of Allison that clung to me. I knelt and dipped my hands into the cool water, splashing it over my face and neck, scrubbing at my skin as if I could wash away the guilt that had settled there too.

My birthday was coming up soon. I hadn’t given it much thought—birthdays were just another day to me, nothing special. But this year, there was a nagging feeling in the back of my mind that it would be different from before.

Emery...

She’d always been there for my birthday, every single year, without fail. No matter what was going on between us, she’d show up, sometimes with a small gift, with just a smile and a joke, but always there. It was something I’d come to expect, something I’d taken for granted.

However, she had been gone for days now, and I’d been telling myself that she was just angry, that she needed space, that she’d come back when she was ready. But as the days crept closer to my birthday, the certainty that she’d return grew stronger.

"She has to come back," I muttered, my hands clenching into fists in the water. She wouldn’t just disappear forever. Not Emery. She was too stubborn, too loyal to just walk away. And yet, a part of me wondered if this time was different if maybe I had pushed her too far. I had hurt her—I knew that much. But I didn’t want to believe that I had driven her away for good.

"She'll come back", I told myself, trying to ignore the uncertainty gnawing at the edges of my thoughts. "She always does."

That was right. Emery was deeply in love with me, and she wouldn't leave my side no matter what.

...

"You don’t have to do this anymore. I’m not at home to complain about the smell," I whispered bitterly even though he couldn't hear me.

As the evening wind mingled with the gentle rush of the water, Landon’s voice broke the silence, a murmur to the night. "Emery, tomorrow is my birthday. How long are you going to keep this up?"

His words jolted me. Tomorrow is his birthday. Then the gift I’d ordered for him would be arriving soon.

Sighing, I followed him as he went home.

The next day, Landon woke up and patted the side of the bed out of habit, but all he felt was a cold empty bed.

He buried his face in my pillow, breathing in the faint remnants of my scent, clinging to the last traces of me.

Today was the weekend—Landon's birthday.

He got out of bed, determined to make the day special. He bought my favorite foods, the ones we used to share, and headed into the kitchen.

He was sure I would come back today. After all, I never missed his birthday, no matter how angry I was. But Landon, today, you're going to be disappointed.

Later that morning, he received a call from the Jewelry Company.

"Mr. Blackwood, Ms. Hartwell ordered a birthday gift for you a month ago. Please come by to pick it up."

Curious, Landon made his way to the store. They handed him a pair of customized diamond rings and tie clips, each engraved with our initials—LB and EH.

Memories flooded back. When we were just starting our business, and building the pack, the first gift I ever gave him was a simple tie clip. It wasn’t expensive, but Landon cherished it like it was the most valuable thing he owned.

Now, years later, with our success, I had wanted to give him something more luxurious, something that reflected how far we’d come. But Landon betrayed me over again.

He held the gifts in his hands, sitting in silence for what felt like hours. I could almost see the tears welling up in his eyes.

That evening, he prepared a feast of my favorite dishes and uncorked a bottle of champagne he’d been saving. He sent another message to our now onesided conversation. [Emery, I received your gift. I love it. Please come back. I'll explain everything, and I promise this won't happen again.]

Landon waited, his hope slowly giving way to anxiety, then impatience. The food on the table grew cold as the minutes ticked by. Frustrated, he slammed his hands on the table and went straight to the room.

The following day, he went to the office, and the first thing he did was glare at the photo frame on his desk and then turn it face down.

He was angry that I ignored him and didn't celebrate his birthday with him.

"Tsk. Don't make me lose my patience, Emery," he hissed. As his words fell, his secretary entered the office.

"Sir, there's a call from the police station. They need you to identify Ms. Hartwell's body."

Landon scoffed, not believing a word. "What kind of trick is this? Tell Emery to come home once she’s done playing her games. She’s embarrassing herself."

The secretary, visibly shaking, handed him the phone.