Page 14 of Cursed Magic

Briar lifted her chin.You may believe that, but I don’t. I won’t run.

There had been only a handful of times that Briar had stood her ground. But after losing our entire pack, I’d never imagined this would be one of them.You’re going. End of discussion.

No. I’m not willing. You alpha-willed me earlier to make me leave you behind. You’ll have to take away another of mychoices to make this happen.She clenched her jaw.Something I willneverforgive you for, Ember. I want to make that clear.

My wolf snarled, disliking her talking back to us. If alpha-willing was what it took, then I guessed it was time. I’d rather have her alive to hate me than have to bury her.

I tugged at my wolf, preparing to lose my sister forever.

CHAPTER SIX

Inhaling deeply, I gathered myself and prepared to force Briar to obey me. The warm, animalistic surge of alpha power coursed through my veins, prickling beneath my skin. I set my jaw and locked my focus on my sister, making sure to unleash the full force of my will.

But as I opened my mouth to speak, I froze. The look on her face stopped me cold, and my words died in my throat.

She lifted her chin higher in stubborn determination. Her eyes, usually so warm and full of life, now blazed with a fierce defiance I’d never seen before. There was something more to them—they held a darkness, a mixture of hurt, betrayal, and disgust, that pierced my heart.

At that moment, I saw not only my little sister, but a reflection of myself from over a week ago, standing before Reid Blackwood.

Her look mirrored how I’d felt standing before him the day my world had shattered.

I recalled the mix of emotions that had coursed through me—the hurt, the betrayal, the crushing weight of humiliation. But most of all, I remembered the helplessness and theway he hadn’t seemed to care how I felt. The experience of having my choices stripped away, of being at the mercy of someone else’s decision about my life and future.

Realization crashed over me, taking my breath away. I was about to do to my own sister exactly what Reid had done to me. The very reason I wanted to protect her and get away from everything.

I would have used my power to force her down a path she didn’t want and, more importantly, a path she didn’t agree with in the slightest.

The alpha power drained from me, leaving me hollow and shaken. My legs felt weak, and I collapsed against the back of the driver’s seat, my butt hitting the floorboard.

My chest tightened as I stared at Briar, seeing her not just as my little sister but as a woman who had endured unimaginable trauma and loss. The fierce cut of her features spoke volumes about the strength she’d found within herself.

“Briar, I…” My voice cracked, thick with emotion. I swallowed hard while my eyes burned and grew blurry with unshed tears. “I’m so sorry. I won’t do it. I won’t force you to leave.”

The hard lines of worry eased from her face, and she dropped her chin an inch. But the skin around her eyes remained tight, a reminder of the trust between us that I’d nearly broken but still harmed.

I took a shaky breath, the words tumbling out in a rush. “When Reid rejected me, I didn’t just lose my fated mate. I lost everything I thought my future would be and what our parents wanted for me. My place in the pack, my role as an alpha heir’s mate and future beta, the family I’d dreamed of having… In an instant, it all crumbled, and all of our supposedfriendsstood by and watched it happen. It wasn’tjust Reid who abandoned me; it was everyone we considered a friend who didn’t speak up that day. But the absolute worst part was feeling like I had no control, no say in what happened to me.

“I felt so helpless, so powerless. Like the life I’d expected to have just…vanished before me, with no consideration for my wants and needs. And I almost did the exact same thing to you.”

Her expression softened, and she pursed her lips. “So you understand why I can’t just run away? Why I need to make my own choice about this?”

I nodded, shame and guilt churning in my stomach. “I do understand. I was so focused on protecting you that I almost became the very thing I was trying to shield you from. I’m so sorry, Briar.”

Silence filled the vehicle until Raven snorted. “Well, isn’t that touching? Ember learned she couldn’t trust her friends, so she decided to do the exact same thing to Ryker and the rest of us. Because clearly, the best way to deal with betrayal is to become the betrayer yourself.”

My head jerked back. Her words stung, but I couldn’t deny the truth in them. I had been ready to abandon the very people who risked everything to help us. But the other packs, including Reid’s,hadhelped our pack before that fateful day. “I can’t handle being treated like that again and losing more people I care about.” And worse, if Ryker lost interest in me or found his fated mate… I didn’t want to hang around and witnessthat.

Ryker’s face had relaxed. He was still unconscious, but his heartbeat had strengthened, which meant he was healthier.

Even in sleep, there was a strength to his features—the sharp line of his jaw and the scar that marked his lefteyebrow somehow made him look even more ruggedly handsome. His dark lashes rested against his cheeks, and a lock of his dark hair had fallen across his forehead.

My fingers itched to brush it back. His lips, usually set in a hard line, were softened now. I remembered the way they’d felt on mine when he’d kissed me at the alpha meeting.

My chest warmed.

I shook my head, trying to push those thoughts away. Even if we stayed, I couldn’t get more attached to him. That would be my ultimate downfall.

Raven’s dry laughter startled me.

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