Kate’s pov
The threat of rogues was over and the sense of victory had the pack was nice to have even though it sometimes didn’t feel real at all.
We were finally at peace, but Dimitri was still worried, and this weight was pressing down on him it was something I could feel it every time he slept.
He dreamed too tossing and turning in bed, he’d be startled awake, from sleep and then spend hours watching me while trying to pretend he wasn’t awake so he didn’t wake me as well.
Dimitri had been strong, resilient, these past few days but he couldn’t fully hide from me, no matter how hard he tried the fact that he wasn’t doing well.
He kept having the dreams, that he never wanted to talk about at any time, it was frustrating but I also couldn’t force him or I didn’t want to.
But when he woke up from sleep for the fourth time in two days, I knew that today though that would have to change.
I lay beside him in the darkness, the night was quiet except for the soft rustling of leaves outside our window and although he looked peaceful Dimitri’s breath was shallow, uneven, as though he was fighting off sleep, or worse-the dreams that haunted him.
“Dimitri,” I whispered, my hand resting on his chest, feeling the erratic beat of his heart beneath my palm.
I patted him harder shaking him until he gasped, he didn’t respond, but I knew he was awake.
He was always awake these nights, ever since the rogue attack had been settled and the pack reintegrated.
Dimitri put in his best efforts so he could fall asleep like a log at night but the nightmares had gotten worse-more frequent, more intense. He thought I didn’t notice but it was impossible not to when they were pulling him further away from me, and I could no longer stand to watch him suffer in silence.
” Dimitri” I called out to him and he turned to face me, his eyes dark with worry
“you need to tell me what’s been happening.” I said and he sighed
” It’s nothing just a bad dream” he muttered
“Tell me what’s going on,” I insisted, my voice firmer this time.
“No more hiding.” I huffed.
Dimitri let out a long, weary sigh, his body tensing under my touch.
“Kate… it’s not something you should have to worry about.”
You have a lot on your plate already.
Don’t do that,” I replied sharply.
“Don’t shut me out. I’m your mate, Dimitri. Whatever it is, we face it together.”
There was a heavy pause, the air thickened with tension between us.
“Please, Dimitri. I can’t help you if you don’t let me in.”
Finally, Dimitri turned to face me, his eyes darkening and troubled, a storm of emotions swirling within them.
Have been having nightmares about that night,
That night it had all began.
The rage…, Dimitri continued, his voice barely a whisper.
And the… the…”The blood of those kids, in my hand.
Dimitri said, his voice breaking.
The curse… is drawing me in, I’m losing control.
The curse… it’s taking over. And I’m scared-scared that one day, I won’t be able to control it anymore.”
” I think I’ve already lost control already”
I grabbed his hand in mine I wasn’t willing for him to be lost.
“We’ll find a way to break this curse,” I promised, my voice steady.
“We’ll do whatever it takes.”
Dimitri shook his head, a bitter smile tugging at his lips.
“I’ve tried, Kate. I’ve searched for answers for years, but… there’s nothing. No cure, no redemption.”
“There has to be something,” I insisted, refusing to believe that all hope was lost.
“The Moon Goddess may have cursed you, but she’s also given us prophecies, guidance. There has to be a way to make amends, to prove that you’re worthy of forgiveness.”
” And if there isn’t? If I’m doomed to live like this forever?”
And one day I lost it all, and I gave Louis no choice than to do what we had promised our people to do when it happens.
It will never come to that, never
“And we’ll face this together,” I said firmly.
“But I won’t give up on you, Dimitri. I won’t give up on us. You are my mate”
His gaze softened, and I saw the man I loved beneath the layers of pain . He reached out, pulling me into his arms, and I held him close, feeling the steady beat of his heart against mine.
“We’ll find a way,” I whispered into his ear, and I felt him relax, like the weight he felt had been freed even if it was just a little.
We scoured ancient texts, consulted with elders, and visited every mystic and healer who might hold the key to breaking the curse in the days that came but when the days turned into weeks, and our search yielded little more than dead ends and false hopes.
Dimitri grew even more despondent as if he couldn’t handle it the searching that inevitably led to no results.
But like the goddess was on our side during one of these long nights, as we sat together in the dim light poring over yet another dusty book, Dimitri suddenly stiffened, his eyes widening in realization.
“The temple,” he murmured, his voice filled with a strange mix of awe and uncertainty.
“What temple?” I asked, leaning closer, sensing that he was onto something.
” Why didn’t I think of this before” he asked
” What are you seeing” I asked looking over his shoulders
“The ancient temple of the Moon Goddess,” he explained.
“It’s said to be hidden deep within the mountains, a place where only those truly devoted to the Goddess can enter. I’ve heard stories… legends, really, that it holds the power to cleanse even the darkest of sins.”
My heart skipped a beat at the possibility.
“Do you think… do you think that’s where we’ll find the cure?”
Dimitri hesitated, then nodded slowly.
“The journey won’t be easy but it’s our best shot.
“I don’t care about the dangers,” I said, determination flooding my veins.
“If there’s even a chance that we can break this curse, we have to try.”
Dimitri looked at me, his expression torn between worry and fear.
A sliver of hope slid in between but he pushed it far behind
“Kate… if we do this, there’s no turning back. The temple… it’s a place of judgment. If the Moon Goddess deems me unworthy, the curse could become permanent. Or worse.” he muttered
” I could become destroyed, leave you without a mate ” he mumbled and I sighed , reached out, cupping his face in my hands, forcing him to meet my gaze.
“You are worthy, Dimitri. I believe in you. And I believe in us. We’ll face whatever comes together, just like we always have.”
” Now where is this temple and how do we get there.”