Grabbing every book from the shelf, I finally slam the pile I'm currently holding down on the desk taking a seat as I start to go through all of them trying to find out about Luka's condition. Drawn images of lycans are in every page as it explains what causes the transformation of these beasts.

My eyes widen from the terrifying images as I scan each and every one on the page. Never did I think something like this existed in this world.

It's been hours of me nonstop researching and educating myself about lycans. Lycans come in many forms as naturally born beasts whom are extremely powerful automatically due to their bloodline or some are cursed by witches whom practice black magic. The readings describe these beasts as uncontrollable and extremely dangerous to society.

However, none of this freaks me out compared to what my eyes scan on the next page. Reports of lycans killing their own mates are all in a timeline down the page which has my heart pounding against my chest. I gasp, seeing images from newspapers of deceased she-wolves completely bitten or dismembered.

Immediately, I close the book not wanting to read any further completely horrified from everything I discovered today. "Luka would never hurt me," I murmur to myself almost trying to convince myself which is the terrifying part. Shaking my head as a way to brush away these awful frightening thoughts. I take in a deep breathe collecting myself. Even after all those readings, no cure was discussed in any of them.

-
-

"Was he born a Lycan?," I ask crossing my arms across my chest.

"He should be telling you this not me," Octavia huffs seeming almost terrified that Luka might just hear her and burst inside again. "Well he isn't going to tell me himself, so you have too," I sternly say.

Octavia huffs knowing I will not stop asking until she gives me what I want, "He was cursed by his own mother, Lodis."

I swear if I wasn't careful right now my eyes would of just fallen out of my sockets by what came out of Octavia's mouth. "Oh my moon!," I breathe shocked, "Why?," I murmur.

"I don't know no one knows besides moon and alpha Luka himself dear"

Suddenly sinister howls echo throughout the entire place. Instantly, I stand up walking towards the window placing my hand on it wishing Luka would just come to me, so he wouldn't have to be out there all alone doing moon knows what. I know how crazy that sounds right now, but surprisingly I am not afraid. I finally understand his late night escapes. My hearts pains for him. What kind of mother would cast such a horrible curse on her own offspring? If only he would just confide in me. Doesn't he know how much I care for him? Does he really not care for me in that way?

"He cares more than you think goddess?," Octavia utters.

"I don't believe that Octavia," I sigh turning around walking back to the dining table to take a seat. "Oh dear, you remind me of goddess Azra so much," she smiles intently watching me. "How so?," I half smile.

"Both so innocent such believers in love," Octavia smiles widely as if she's having a flashback of when my grandmother was alive.

"You know Luka saw you coming? In matter of fact he's known about you all along?," she steers the subject taking a sip of her warm steamy tea.

My heart jumps at the revealing of this that I had no clue about. "What? How?," I lean forward fully invested in hearing about my mate.

"Moon approached him after a few years of alpha Luka roaming the forests midnight after midnight offering him a cure to his curse," Octavia mentions.

"Cure?," I confusedly respond not understanding what this has to do with him knowing about me.

"Moon showed alpha Luka his cure through a vision... and that vision was you. You're the cure to his curse," Octavia explains. I stay silent, not only taking the time to process this new information, but also questioning it.

"If I'm the cure? Why didn't he ever come look for me?"

"Why did he act like he didn't know about me when he first saw me?," I question unsure if I even believe this entire discovery.

"That I don't know. Only he can answer that," Octavia responds.

"That's never going to happen Octavia. He doesn't talk to me nor even makes the time to be near me. He rejected me as his mate. He definitely won't confide in me," I scoff rolling my eyes at her. I have a better chance of finding this information out from Moon than Luka himself.

"Oh goddess, you underestimate the power of the mate bond," Octavia giggles.

I raise a brow unsure on what she means. "A mate can make their other mate do practically anything. You see our mates are our weakness. By the way you have the extra boost. You're a goddess, naturally you can make un-mated wolfs do what you command. Now imagine using your gift on your own mate," she grins winking at me.

"You're suggesting I use my charm on alpha Luka?," I raise taunting brow.

"I won't say another word," Octavia smirks.

I smile at her averting my eyes away from her until another question develops inside of my mind. This time not being about me or Luka.

"What happened to your mate?"

Octavia instantly freezes putting her mug down on the table taking in a deep breathe before looking at me. "He's no longer in this world," she sadly responds.

"I'm so sorry if I would of-"

"It's okay goddess, he wasn't a good wolf anyways. He rejected me since he was in love with another she-wolf," she briefly says cutting me off.

"Wow, I thought the mate bond was-"

"It is hun, but my mate just didn't want me, so he rejected me."

"That must of hurt you like hell. I'm so sorry Octavia. He's a jerk for not wanting such a beautiful kind magical she-wolf like yourself. Shit, your a catch!," I say smiling at her as I sit near her.

"You're such goodness my dear. You will definitely do alpha Luka a great deal of good."

-
-

The entire day consisted of intense training with Octavia. Amazingly, I've picked up so much on my first try which I'm very proud of. Octavia left to her home to fix us up some supper. However, I decided to stay a bit longer to play with what I learned today. The more I'm learning to use and control my powers the more I feel like myself. Almost as if a missing piece of me was missing for so long, but now its being found to fully complete me.

I feel more powerful than I've ever felt before.

I stick my hand into the pond commanding the water to freeze and instantly to my amazement it does. I watch as my ice travels throughout the entire pond until it's fully frozen. I clap, in victory feeling really accomplished.

"Bravo," a familiar deep voice utters from behind me causing me to snap my head towards their direction.

My blue-silvery eyes lock with those crystal-blue ones that I've been waiting for the entire day. Luka stands in front of me clapping his hands, a serious expression plastered on his face.

As always I'm taken back by my mates killer looks. His platinum blonde hair is always so beautifully in place with a playful messy style to it that I love so much. His crystal-blue eyes always takes my breathe away completely every time I look into them. Now that I know a bit more about him. I'm starting to learn to read his eyes that are the windows to his soul. In his eyes, I see such longing and pain swirling from within.

Why haven't I noticed this before? I have no clue, but now I see it clearer than ever.

"You look handsome in that outfit. Black is definitely your color," I say breaking the silence between us taking a few steps towards him.

"Uh thanks," he croakily says.

"Alpha, I know your secret. I'm not afraid," I sternly say intently watching him. He immediately tenses up looking on edge.

"What are you talking about?"

"I know you're the Lycan everyone fears at night"

"Who told you?! Moon?! Octa-"

"Doesn't matter plus I pretty much figured it out two nights ago. Luka, you can talk to me. Why did your mom curse you?," I ask walking up to him now facing him. His entire posture screams anxiety. Is he this afraid about my reaction? I've already told him I'm not afraid, so what's the problem?

"What makes you think I would open up to you?," he scoffs turning around ready to walk away. However, I grab his hand bringing him to a halt. Sparks erupt between the two of us like fireworks. It's been awhile, since we've touched and boy is the mate bond making me vulnerable to him right now.

Instantly, Luka relaxes at my touch cupping my hand which I'm stunned by, but I'm not complaining either. He turns around his seductive crystal-blue eyes piercing through mine. "Because I'm your mate," I softly respond.

Luka takes in a deep breathe then exhales running his free hand through this hair frustratedly. "Luka please stop pushing me away. I need you to show me that you care even if it's a little," I huff.

"Alyja, I-I"

"Please Luka show me something," I murmur bringing his hand up to my face. Suddenly, I feel his hand cup my chin bringing my head up to look at him directly in his eyes. We both look into each other eyes as he starts to lean in placing his lips on mine.

"You're safer without me," Luka murmurs.

"I want to be with you Luka. I'm your mate and you're mine. We were made for one another for a reason. Stop pushing me away," I respond meaning every word.

"You don't understand Alyja. I'll bring nothing, but danger to you... you don't know what I'm capable of when that thing"

"I'm your mate. I know you wouldn't hurt me. I trust you," I reassure as I run my hand behind his hair bringing him more down to me. Our lips are now in sync with one another. Luka wraps his arms around my waist protectively. Electricity runs all over my body wanting more of my mate. The longing I've had for him is almost too overbearing for me to keep ignoring as I throw myself at him wanting him to take full control of me and do whatever he pleases with me.

I don't know when nor how we ended up in my temporary room in Octavia's cabin. All I know is that Luka and I can't keep our hands off one another. Our kisses seem like they've been in the making for a long time. Each kiss being so desperate, yet passionate. However, Luka starts to pulling away from me disconnecting his lips from mine.

"Don't stop," I breathe.

"Not here not this way," Luka replies laying next to me.

I don't protest understanding what he means. He's absolutely right. This place is no place for us to connect. Especially, at someone else's home that probably has no clue about Luka even being here.

"Luka?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm aware of the cure to your you know what... I want to help you," I say turning around to face him.

"Alyja, I really don't want to talk about that right now," Luka huffs.

"Then when? Let me guess never?"

"I-It's just I've always been on my own. I'm used to keeping everything to myself. I like it better that way"

"I understand that I do, but I'm here now. You're no longer alone. You can tell me anything. I promise I'll never judge if that's what you're worried about," my voice cracks becoming utterly vulnerable to him. Only my mate can make me become so needy, I swear.

Luka stays silent absorbing my every word. I know he's battling with himself right now. It must be hard for someone like him to completely break their walls down after being solo for so long. I understand, I must be patient with him, but I need something to work with.

"The cure is you," he murmurs tracing his thumb against my cheek in a caressing way.

"I'm aware of that, but what do I need to do to break this curse off of you?"

Luka smiles running his finger up to the side of my neck making circular motions in a specific area that feels tingly to his touch which is odd to me. "You sure you want to know?," he smirks.

"Uhm yeah," I raise a brow.

"I must mark you"