•Cursed•

“Are you avoiding me?” she said the moment I reached for the door, trying to slip out before she fully woke.

“No, I’m not,” I replied.

“I can tell that you are. Why are you avoiding me?” she asked again, and this time she climbed down from the bed and walked toward me.

I lifted my eyes to answer her, but something else caught my attention first, Blood.

There was a stain on her dress, and my gaze landed on the bed and landed there was a dark patch on the sheets. She noticed where I was looking, followed my line of sight, and saw it too.

Her cheeks flushed instantly, she he couldn’t look at me anymore.

And the worst part was that it made her look…unbearably beautiful.

My lips curved before I could stop it, it was a strange feeling was strange and unfamiliar to me. I hadn’t smiled genuinely in a long time.

“Uhmm…” she said, awkward, eyes refusing to meet mine. “I… I think you should go, I need to clean this up.”

“It’s okay,” I said, letting go of the door handle and still smiling a little bit.

Her eyes narrowed. “Are you laughing at me?”

She hit her palm against my bicep with her small hands.

“I’m not laughing,” I said. Then the words escaped me, careless and honest.

“You just look pretty when you’re embarrassed.” I regretted the words as quickly as they left my mouth

She went still, staring at me like I said something wrong and I just stared at her, waiting for any reaction of fear or distaste to flash through her expression.

“I didn’t know you could talk like that,” she murmured, genuinely surprised.

“I like being quiet,” I said, feeling heat creep up my cheeks.

“So…” Her head tilted to one side, studying me now, without any embarrassment she felt before.

“Are you leaving?”she finally asked.

“I’ll help you clean up,” I replied, turning toward the bed before she could see the smile again.

I pulled the sheets off and dropped them on the chair, then removed the cover, she came close, trying to help, not sure where to put herself.

“You don’t need to do anything,” I said, glancing down at her white gown with its red stain.

“Go to the washroom and clean up.”

“I don’t have any towels,” she admitted quietly. “To clean up myself.”

I paused, and realized that I hadn’t even thought of that.

For a moment she reminded me of Tiana, my little sister, the one I’d taken care of all her life. It so sad she’s gone now, but at least I got to see her grow old and have a beautiful life.

“I’ll bring them for you,” I said. “Go in and take the dress off.”

I stepped out and signaled a maid, telling her to bring towels and whatever it was women needed during their monthly bleeding. When she returned, I took the bundle from her and handed her the sheets as well.

“Wash these. Dry them.” I said with my usual flat tone, and I saw the feat in her eyes when she nodded and hurried off.

I could hear Ayla moving inside the washroom, and it hit me then, she’d been trapped in this room for days. No wonder her edges felt sharp lately and she kept looking at the door like it was both escape and threat.

Maybe I could take her somewhere else, just for breakfast, to make her feel alive again, and that she was part of this world.

But would that be too forward? Would it look like I was trying to woo her? And Impress her?

I knocked lightly on the half-open washroom door.

“Coming,” she called, and a moment later her hand stretched out from behind the door. Then her face appeared, peeking through with lingering embarrassment.

A mirror opposite the doorway betrayed what she was trying to hide. I caught the shape of her bare back, and her beautiful curves, then something else.

They were marks, the same ones that appeared on her back that night when Elder Mara barged in here and did those things, and even Kael aided. I haven’t spoken to him since then.

“Thank you,” she said quickly, snatching the towel and shutting the door.

I sat back on the chair, staring at the floor like it might give me the answers I need.

Why were those marks there? she wasn’t even a wolf.

She came out not long after, wearing a yellow dress that made her eyes look brighter and her skin look warm against the dark fall of her hair.

“I’m all done,” she said, standing there and looking at me.

For a second, the urge in my chest was almost unbearable. To hold her, kiss her forehead and tell her everything would be fine, we’d figure it out, or I’d die trying.

But instead I asked, “Do you get bored staying here all day?”

She thought about it, then nodded slowly.

“Yes. But it’s better than being out there with everyone staring at me like I’m strange.” She sounded a little bit sad, but I shrugged it off.

I stepped closer, and this time I let my impulses win.

Slowly, I pulled her into my arms, she hesitated for a heartbeat, then hugged me back, breathing against my chest and I rested my jaw against the top of her head.

“I’m sorry I put you in this mess,” I said, I didn’t expect her to answer.

But she did.

“It might not be ideal,” she murmured, “but I wouldn’t rather be anywhere else.”

And I knew she meant it, so I loosened my hold just enough to look at her properly. “Let’s go out for breakfast.”

Her lips twitched, then she gave me a look that tried to be serious and failed.

“I’ll let you take me,” she said, very cheesily.

“Let you?” I asked, completely amused.

“Yes.” She lifted her chin. “I’m the lady here.”

Then she giggled, and at that moment I thought she was extremely beautiful.

“Yes, milady,” I said, and she smiled wider.

And then…I woke up on the chair I’d been sleeping in for days. My throat was dry and my chest felt tight from the strange dream I just had.

Everything about it had felt surreal.