Mated to My Intended's Enemy novel Chapter 223

Chapter 223: Chapter 223 The Curse

Silvano’s POV

The pain hit without warning—white-hot agony lancing through my chest as if a burning blade had been driven into my heart. My knees nearly buckled beneath me as I clutched at the front of my shirt, breath coming in ragged gasps. Around me, the northern border patrol continued their sweep through the forest, unaware that their Alpha was fighting to remain standing.

"Alpha?" Adrian approached with concern etched across his features. "Is everything all right?"

I straightened with effort, forcing my expression to remain neutral despite the fire raging in my chest. "Fine. Continue the patrol. I need a moment."

The pain intensified, radiating outward from my sternum like toxic tendrils spreading through my veins. My wolf howled in agony within me, thrashing against an invisible enemy—this was no ordinary injury.

As the patrol moved ahead, I leaned against an ancient oak, fighting to control my breathing. My phone vibrated in my pocket. With trembling fingers, I pulled it out to see my mother’s name flashing on the screen.

"Mother?" I answered, my voice strained.

"Silvano." Her tone was urgent, lacking its usual warmth. "Where are you?"

"Northern border. What’s—"

"Stay there," she interrupted. "I’m coming to you."

Before I could respond, she ended the call.

Twenty minutes later, I sensed her approach before I saw her—the unique energy signature that came with being part wolf, part something else. Something older.

My mother emerged from the trees with unnatural grace. The moment her eyes met mine, her expression shifted from concern to grim confirmation.

"I felt it," she said simply, reaching for me. "Show me."

I unbuttoned my shirt just enough to reveal the center of my chest. Even I was shocked by what I saw—an intricate web of black lines spreading outward from a central point, like cracks in glass.

"Damn," my mother whispered, pressing her palm against the mark. She closed her eyes, murmuring words in the ancient language of her mother’s people—words too old for even me to understand.

Temporary relief washed over me as cool energy flowed from her touch, pushing back the burning pain. When she opened her eyes again, they shimmered with an otherworldly light before returning to their normal hazel.

"This is witch’s work," she said. "A loneliness curse—one of the cruelest."

"What does it do?" I asked, though the dread pooling in my stomach suggested I already knew.

My mother’s face softened with sympathy. "It feeds on connection, Silvano. The stronger the bond, the more powerful the curse becomes. When you’re near Freya—your true mate—it will activate, attempting to sever your bond permanently."

The implications hit me harder than the initial pain had. "Are you saying I can’t be near my own mate? My daughter?"

"Isabella isn’t affected—the curse specifically targets romantic bonds." She paused, her hand still resting on my chest. "But Freya... yes. Every moment you spend with her, every touch, every emotional connection will strengthen the curse’s hold."

"And the end result?" My voice sounded hollow even to my own ears.

"If left unchecked? The curse will spread to her through your bond, corrupting it from within until it tears apart your connection completely—possibly killing one or both of you in the process."

I closed my eyes, bitter understanding washing over me.

She nodded, moving closer to examine me. "Black threads woven through your normal signature. It’s... unsettling." Her fingers hovered near my chest without touching. "A curse?"

I explained briefly what my mother had told me. Aurora’s expression grew increasingly grave.

"I can help," she offered immediately. "My blessing allows me to sense when the curse is activating. I could... help create distance when needed."

"You mean help push Freya away," I clarified, my wolf growling at the very idea.

Aurora’s eyes flashed with something I couldn’t quite identify. "If that’s what’s needed to save her life, yes." She placed her hand on my shoulder. "Think about it, Silvano. Would you rather lose her temporarily or permanently?"

That night, alone in my bedroom—the room I’d once shared with Freya—I made my decision. For her safety, I would maintain the emotional distance between us. I would be cold when I wanted to be warm, absent when I longed to be present.

But as the weeks passed, watching Freya drift further away proved more painful than I’d anticipated. Seeing her build a life separate from me, watching her smile for others when she only offered me polite formality—it was slowly destroying me.

The day I discovered she’d been working with Johnny Nakamura developing an AI system—work she’d once done for our pack but now pursued independently—something inside me snapped.

"She’s ours," my wolf would snarl within me. "Our mate. Our Luna."

When I saw her at a business function speaking animatedly with Xander, jealousy burned through me like acid. He’s obvious interest in Freya was evident in every glance, every lingering touch on her arm.

That night, I called my mother.

"I need you to come stay with us," I said without greeting.