The Judgement card often indicates that you need to make a life-changing decision. A decision that requires a blend of intuition and intellect. You may be at a crossroads, aware that any choice you make will bring a significant change with long-lasting effects.

"Foolish girl! This is not what I made you for. You're doing everything wrong."

Those words still echoed inside Emma's mind when she returned to her human form that morning.

"What the…" She stood up, confused and still covered in blood. This time it felt different though. There was no pain or discomfort. This time, she didn't feel so exhausted or even depressed.

Emma walked to the lake and as the water cleaned all that blood covering her body, she felt in peace. She felt energized.

While she walked back to the manor, she noticed the other members of the pack starting to come back to their human forms too. None of them looked so bad as she did every time she locked herself in the basement, restrained by chains and drowsy from the sedatives.

"Mountebank," she heard a familiar voice calling for her. Addison was standing right behind her, with her clothes torn and her body partially covered in blood too.

"Morning, Addison," Emma had never seen her boss in such a messy state. She was always well-dressed, with perfect make-up and hair.

"So? How are you feeling?"

"I'm… I'm okay. Yeah, for the first time in two years I… I don't feel like crap. I feel strong and powerful. It feels… great ."

"I told you," the woman patted her on the back. "You can't change it for now, but you can make it better."

"I suppose I'll finally admit you're right," Emma let out a small laugh. "Now I finally understand why the Hackett's were so sick of being trapped in cages."

That was a sensitive subject. Being a leader, Addison still blamed herself for failing to find out about the werewolves in Hackett's Quarry and help them properly. Her expression became serious and she was in silence for a moment, before asking:

"Did you know them well? Silas and the Hackett's?"

"I only saw Silas when he bit me. I don't even know what he looked like as a human. But Mr. H and his kids were good people."

"And you never suspected anything before that night?"

"I spoke to Kaylee mostly, she'd show up to watch some of my acting activities sometimes. But no, she was a sweet girl."

Addison took Emma to another space in the property, a graveyard for the late members of the pack. There was some kind of chapel in the center, not connected to any specific religion, but where anyone could enter to say their prayers or communicate with their deceased loved ones. They walked to a small altar where candles could be lit up.

"Would you mind doing it?" Addison asked. She had separated four candles with names carved in them - Silas, Chris, Kaylee and Caleb. "You… You were the closest to them. You have a connection to that place and their souls."

"Of course," Emma lit the candles and, in silence, she said a small goodbye to them. Wishing them to be in peace wherever they were.

As they returned to the manor together, she noticed Addison still felt a little bit tense, upset. She nudged her slightly, attempting to cheer her up.

"Hey, what happened there… it wasn't your fault. There was no way to know. They were pretty secretive about it."

"Maybe, but at least I got to save one of them. You ."

Emma opened a small grateful smile.

"Yeah, you did."

Sarah saw her through the manor's window and came running in her direction, wrapping her arms around her neck.

"You're back! I was starting to feel worried."

Emma retributed her mate's embrace, pulling her even closer to her body.

"Sorry, had some extra werewolf business to take care of."

"So, how was it?" The blonde wanted to know later, when both of them were sitting on a table outside, having breakfast.

"It was… surprisingly good?" Emma told. "My body is not even sore and I don't feel any tired. I feel great."

"What about the transformation?"

"It was still painful, but not much like when I'm in the basement. I also transformed faster, it didn't last too long."

Even if Emma struggled to accept it, she knew it was how it was supposed to be. This is what her werewolf form needed - freedom, wildness and the company of a pack. She wasn't willing to give up on breaking the curse, but while she couldn't find a manner, that's how she wanted it to be. Every Full Moon.

October, 2023

Over one month had passed since Aurelia made that doomed prediction through her tarot cards. However, Emma was sure she had chosen the right path - everything in her life was going very well. She was exactly where she always wanted to be.

Her acting classes started by September and she was loving every second of it. Addison was very supportive, keeping her salary even if she was only working part-time during those three months.

Aurelia also attempted a second ritual to break her curse, but like the first one it didn't work. Emma didn't feel so frustrated this time. Transforming in the company of Addison and the rest of the pack during the Full Moon was becoming an interesting experience.

There was only one problem though - Eliza had been tormenting her girlfriend. There were two occasions where Sarah was in danger again. One where an unexplainable fire started in her apartment in the middle of the night. And another, where she felt like someone had pushed her down the stairs while she was in college.

"Soon this hospital will have a wing with my name on it," the blonde joked, while they waited for the results of a CT Scan. She didn't appear to have any injuries, but the doctors still thought she'd better be examined.

"There's something I need to tell you," Emma was angry and frustrated. If there wasn't a manner to break her curse, there should be a manner to at least banish Eliza's spirit for good. "I believe this is my fault somehow."

She told Sarah about The Hag Of Hackett's Quarry and how she was attempting to use her to get revenge for Silas' death.

"I believe she's trying to hurt you to trigger a dark side of me. A side that would eventually lose control over my werewolf form and hurt people."

"This isn't your fault," Sarah assured. "Is there any way to stop her? Like… send her to the light or something?"

"Aurelia has been helping me with that, trying to contact her and doing banishing rituals. In the meantime, there's only one thing I can do to keep you protected."

She explained about the claiming procedure. The one to make their mating bond stronger and permanent. Sarah would gain some protection against Eliza, as well as the advantage of being able to heal using Emma's blood in case she got injured. But there were other responsibilities, other effects too.

"It's… uh… like I said, permanent ," Emma said. "We'd be bonded for life. Or at least as long as I'm a werewolf."

"It sounds like a big decision, huh?" Sarah placed her hand over hers. She nodded in agreement. "I don't think we should do it immediately, by impulse. If it's meant to happen, it'll be on the right time."

They decided to wait a little longer. They wanted such a special moment to be something they both wanted, not a desperate measure they were forced to take.

But then, one night, when they were leaving a photography exhibition, a driver lost control of his car, almost hitting them on the sidewalk. Using her werewolf skills, Emma was able to throw herself in front of Sarah, absorbing all the impact. The man swore he had seen a stranger sitting on the backseat.

"Are you sure you don't wanna go to the ER?" Sarah asked when they were finally back home. "It looks really bad."

Emma had never been happier to be a werewolf. In a few hours her broken bones and other minor injuries would be fully healed. The accident would've been very serious, if she was still human.

"Yeah…" she moaned. It would be hard to explain to doctors how all her injuries had mysteriously disappeared in a few hours. "I'll be just fine by tomorrow."

"It was Eliza again, right? I mean, there's no way someone is attracting so many 'accidents' as I am."

"Probably, the driver said he saw a person sitting on his backseat."

They were in silence for a moment, pondering about their options. Emma was the first one to speak.

"We have to do this, Sarah," she spoke, decided. "I'm glad you're okay. But if I hadn't been fast enough, or if I wasn't there…"

"So, all you have to do is to bite me…" Sarah pointed to the spot between her neck and shoulder, "right here?"

"It's a little more specific," Emma told. "It needs to be done… uh… during sex."

"Oh. And then, Eliza won't be able to attack us again?"

"Not really, it'll only enhance our connection and make me able to protect you better. Even save your life, in case it gets too ugly."

Sarah sighed and pressed her forehead against Emma's.

"I don't want you to make this decision only because of me, okay?" The blonde gently stroked her hair. "I can find another way to protect myself. My grandma is into this spiritual stuff, maybe she can help."

"I won't be able to forgive myself if something happens to you, because of me. It's not even fair."

It wasn't just another regular night. It'd be the night where Emma would claim her mate and make their bond permanent. She wanted it to be special, not only because they were both nervous, but because it was an important event in their relationship.

She found a hotel with SPA service and got them a room. They spent the whole day there, getting relaxed and preparing themselves for the great moment. After dinner, they were just sitting on the bed, too embarrassed and nervous to do anything at all.

"Okay… do you want me to start or…"

"Sure! Go ahead. Uh… kiss me. That's a start."

Sarah grabbed Emma's face, pulling her for the most awkward kiss they ever shared.

"We shouldn't be so tense," she spoke when they parted. "It's not like we're making a baby or anything."

"Okay, now you definitely killed the mood," Emma broke into a laugh and playfully hit her girlfriend with a pillow.

"What are we going to do now? Wait until we actually feel horny enough?"

"What if it takes like… days ? We need to get there faster. Suggestions?"

"Well…" Sarah grabbed the TV controller. "We could rent a porn movie."

"Sounds good," Emma looked at their options on the TV, helping the blonde to choose the title that sounded more spicy.

"So, what's your fantasy? Sophisticated cougar, sassy pizza deliverer, BDSM…"

"Just pick one. That one, a… uh… naughty version of Mean Girls."

"Nice one, Emma," Sarah grinned, excited. "I always wanted Regina George to step on me!"

A few minutes later, things became very confusing.

"How are they even doing that ?!" Emma pointed to the screen. "I mean, is it even possible?"

"I don't know. Would you like to try?"

"No way. I don't wanna visit that hospital again tonight. And how would we even explain your injuries?"

Sarah wouldn't stop laughing at the possibility. She was barely breathing. Emma turned off the television. There was no way anything would happen that night, especially after that movie.

"I love your laughter, you know?" She spoke a while later, while she was resting her head on her girlfriend's chest. "It's like, my favorite sound in the world. Even when I'm having the worst of the days it still never fails to make me smile."

"Nobody ever complimented my laughter before," Sarah's hand playfully caressed her hair. "Know what I love about you, beside this wonderful eye color? Your determination. Most people when they face an obstacle, they'll just give up. But not you. You keep fighting to get what you want, even when the odds are against you."

"I'm glad you see me that way. And know that what I'm determined to do right now is to keep you safe."

"This is how I know everything will be okay."

Emma pressed her lips against Sarah's, carefully slipping her tongue into her mouth and deepening the kiss. The blonde's hand caressed her hair, her nails dragging on her scalp in a teasing manner.

And that was the spark they needed to ignite that fire.

"Let's do this together," Sarah suggested while they got undressed. "Got it?"

Emma nodded, placing kisses all over her jawline and neck, while her hand explored Sarah's body, touching her where she wanted it the most. The blonde returned the favor, touching her the same way. They moved together, driving each other into bliss.

Once she sensed Sarah was close to her climax, Emma applied a quick kiss on her collarbone, searching for the exact spot where she should bite her. She started slowly, opening her mouth a little and letting her teeth graze on her mate's soft skin.

"Can I?" Emma knew she had found the exact spot because she felt her canines elongating and getting sharper, even though they were far from the next Full Moon.

"Yes, do it."

Sarah closed her eyes as the sensation of pleasure Emma was providing her with her hand got mixed with the pain of having her flesh torn by her werewolf teeth.

In the beginning Emma could feel she was tense, scared even. She bit her lower lip, trying to resist the pain. And then, she did the unexpected. Her mouth descended to Emma's collarbone too, finding the same location she was biting and grabbing it between her teeth as strong as she could with her fully human nature. The sensation was a little bit painful, but also extremely pleasurable. She closed her eyes, enjoying every second of it.

Emma woke up in the earliest hours of the morning, before the first rays of light even showed their colors. She carefully traced the bite mark on Sarah's neck. It had stopped bleeding, but it still looked painful and deep enough to leave a small scar. A scar that would always remind them of their connection, their commitment.

The bite mark on her own collarbone was still sore, but mostly healed. She wasn't sure the mark would stay, but she hoped it did. She wanted to carry that little signal of their bond with her too.

The blonde started to move against her, looking like she was starting to wake up too.

"Are you awake already?" She asked, her voice sounding distant and drowsy.

"Yeah," Emma pressed a kiss on the back of her shoulder. "I was checking the bite mark. Are you okay? Does it hurt too much?"

Sarah turned around to face her, the corners of her mouth curling up in a smile.

"No, I even like when you touch it. I feel… this tingling and warm sensation all over my body."

"Really? Touch mine, I want to feel it too."

As her fingertips brushed Emma's bite mark, she felt it. A pleasant sensation that irradiated through every inch of her body. She smiled.

"It's good, isn't it?"

"Best damn feeling in the world."

Emma didn't notice any major changes in her relationship with Sarah, except for feeling their connection in a stronger manner. She was able to sense exactly where she was and if she was safe. They decided to keep their now permanent bond a secret, not telling anyone yet.

No other incidents involving Eliza happened after Sarah was claimed. Her nightmares also stopped. Instead, Emma started having them. The same dream every night. She was being chased in the woods. It could only be during a Full Moon night, as she was able to see even in the dark. But she wasn't in her werewolf form, she could tell.

There was someone by her side. Jacob. He was helping her to escape. And she could sense a strong smell of blood, but it wasn't hers. He was the one bleeding from an injury on his shoulder.

"Jacob!" She yelled.

"Just… keep… going… Em…" he spoke, between pants.

Then, Emma heard a loud thud followed by an intense burning sensation on her side. She looked down, noticing her shirt was starting to be soaked in blood too. She attempted to turn around to see who her attackers were. But then, everything faded to black.

Since becoming a werewolf and dropping college, Emma's visits to her parents' house became more spaced. Sometimes, she'd spend weeks without seeing them and in consequence, her younger sister, Olivia. That morning when she woke up, trembling and anxious after the nightmare, she noticed a call on her cell phone. Her mother had an important conference to attend in Florida. And her father was in Boston for an important case. Somebody would have to take care of her sister and Emma definitely took the opportunity to spend some extra time with the girl.

"It'll be like the old times again," the 12 year old girl grinned, excited. "We'll order pizza, eat tons of ice cream and then stay up until late watching horror movies."

"Uhh… sure. But on the weekend, right?" Emma placed her bag in her old bedroom. She'd be staying in her parents' house for a week. "I mean, you need to wake up early for school. And so do I."

"Bummer! I forgot."

But they did have fun every night when Emma got home from work. They'd play video games, watch movies and TV shows, record videos together and eat all kinds of food Emma knew her parents would disapprove of.

"So, when are you planning to introduce me to your girlfriend?" Olivia asked while Emma painted her nails one night.

"How do you…" It was obvious the girl watched all her videos and checked her social media. She was rarely around. That was the only way Olivia found to be part of her life. "Well, if you promise you'll behave, I can ask her to come here for our girls' night on the weekend. She loves horror movies too."

And so she did. On the weekend, Sarah went there to help her to provide her little sister a quality time. Having two younger sisters too, she was very good at it.

"It's too cold outside, but we can set up our camp here."

"Cool! I always wanted to do that, but mom never lets me."

Emma observed as her girlfriend helped Olivia to set up a camping tent in the living room. She also made a special selection of movies that she knew the girl could possibly like. She grabbed Sarah's camera, taking a picture of that lovely moment.

They had an amazing night. Emma ordered them tacos, they watched movies and shared horror stories.

"One year later, they returned to the lodge on Blackwood Mountain, invited by…"

A loud noise in the garage put Emma on alert mode. Sarah and Olivia didn't appear to have listened. They were too immersed in that story about a creature named Wendigo, that Sarah read on the internet and swore to be real.

"Did you hear that?" Emma asked. Sarah paused the story she was telling.

"Haha very funny, she's trying to scare us," her sister teased. "Continue, Sarah. I want to know how it ended."

"I'm not, okay?" Emma angered. She was still detecting something. A presence in the house. "Stay here with Sarah, I'm going to check."

Once Emma reached the kitchen, she activated all the werewolf abilities she was now able to control. She carefully opened the door, moving stealthily in the dark.

"Emma…" a voice called her name, raising shivers on her spine.

She focused on what she had been learning from Addison and soon her eyes were able to see in the dark. She spotted a silhouette moving in the shadows and as she got ready to attack…

"What is going on?"

The lights suddenly went on, making her eyes hurt.

"There's no one here," Olivia approached. "What happened, Em?"

"I told you to stay with Sarah."

"Emma, I'm so sorry," Sarah also arrived at the garage, holding a kitchen knife. "She came running… and I stopped by the kitchen to get a knife."

Emma glared at her sister in disapproval.

"You were taking too long, I was worried. Oh my god…" the girl touched her face. "Your eyes!"

Sarah's eyes widened in shock, revealing what was going on. Emma had no time to turn off her werewolf side. Her eyes should still be yellow.

"Uh… what?!" Sarah tried to fix the situation while Emma recomposed herself. "There's nothing wrong with her eyes, Olivia."

"They were yellow! I saw it."

"Huh?!" Emma faked a small smile. "Are you nuts? Look, they're completely normal."

The girl looked again, noticing her eyes were back to the normal color.

"But I saw it."

"You're seeing things, kid."

They went back to the living room, but Emma couldn't get rid of the stress. She didn't want her family to find out about her werewolf side, especially her sister. At least not yet.

She took a long time to be able to sleep. And when she did, she had that same nightmare where she was being chased in the woods and eventually getting shot. However, this time she was able to see the exact reason why she was being chased.

Right after coming back to her human form, she noticed she was covered in blood. Not her own blood, that soaked her entire body everytime she transformed back. It was somebody else's.

She looked at the side, confirming her worst fears. A mangled body only a few steps away.

"N-No… please…" she approached slowly, her eyes recognizing exactly who she had mauled to death. Her sister.

November, 2023

Sarah was the only person to know about Emma's nightmares. Due to their strong connection, it became impossible to hide it from her. She immediately detected how troubled and desperate Emma felt, since that last terrifying vision.

"Don't you think this is a little bit strange?" She spoke one morning, when they were having breakfast together. Emma couldn't sleep for the third night in a row. She didn't want to fall asleep and watch that gruesome scene again, as it started to repeat every night.

"I mean, you wouldn't transform in the presence of your sister. You haven't even done it in front of me yet, even when you know you wouldn't attack me."

"I don't know, Sarah," she sighed weary, fiddling with her cup nervously. "What if it's an unexpected circumstance? What if she just shows up, wherever I am and it happens?"

"I think Eliza is doing it to torture you, since that night you got stressed because your sister saw your eyes. She couldn't use me again after you claimed me, so she found a new manner to be a pain in the ass. You should talk to Aurelia, ask her opinion on this."

"We're not telling Aurelia about it, okay? I… I don't want anybody to know."

Her performance dropped during classes and at work too. Addison also seemed to notice she was going through something, as she was easily distracted and her hands were shaking most of the time.

"Are you going to tell me what's going on or I'm going to have to find out by myself?" She asked while Emma cleaned the floor after dropping a tray of dishes she had collected from a table.

"Did you accidentally infect Sarah? Or any of your friends? If that's the case, you better tell me so we can proceed with this the right way."

"There's nothing going on," she lied, irritated. "I told you, I'm only stressed."

"No problem. Take a few days off then."

"There's no need. I'll be fine."

When she turned on her phone, after her shift that evening, she noticed a few missed calls. They were from Abi, which she found completely strange since they had barely talked after her birthday party. She called her back once she arrived at the studio apartment.

"Hey Abi, I just saw your missed phone calls. Is everything alright?"

"Emma, sorry. I knew you were working but I have some exciting news to tell you."

She had been helping Ryan on his mission of tracking the group Eliza used to belong to. They were dark magic practitioners and assured them they could break the curse Eliza cast, as well as banish her vengeful spirit for good.

The ritual had to be done at Northkill, where everything started, during a Full Moon night. They also needed the whole group to be together, as all of them were connected to those energies somehow.

"And are they trustworthy?" Emma wanted to know. "I mean, Eliza was kind of a psycho."

"We spoke to their leader and she seemed very concerned to know what Eliza caused," Abi told. "She really sounded interested in helping us."

Emma started to remember everything she had been going through in the last few months. The Full Moon nights at the werewolves' den, the friends she made on the pack, the visits to Aurelia's cabin and especially, her mating bond with Sarah. All of that would be gone when her curse was broken. There would be no enhanced strength and speed, advanced hearing or quick healing. She'd be a regular human again.

"We decided to do it after the Thanksgiving break, when everybody will be home. I mean, if you agree."

"Sure! I want it more than anything. But…" she bit her lower lip, "give me a couple of days to think about it."

Sarah was working on a photoshoot when Emma called her the next day. She wanted to discuss the possibility of doing that ritual as soon as possible, so she went to her apartment to wait until she got home.

"I have a decision to make. And since it involves both of us, I thought I should ask your opinion."

"What happened?" The blonde placed her backpack, along with her photography tools, on the sofa. "You look pale and anxious."

"Abi called me. She and Ryan were able to track the group Eliza was part of. They said they can set me free from the curse."

Sarah paused for a moment, probably reflecting on what that would mean exactly.

"You would no longer be a werewolf. Which is good, considering it's what you always wanted. But… our bond would stop existing."

"Exactly," Emma sighed. "This is why I wanted your opinion. I don't think nothing will actually change between us, but… I'd like to hear what you think about it."

"I don't have a good feeling about it," Sarah lowered her eyes and shook her head in denial. "I think we should speak to Aurelia first."

"And so what?! Wait until she tries another of her failed rituals? I'm not killing my sister, Sarah. If that ever happens… I'd lose my sanity."

"Can't you see that, Emma? That could be the evil disguised as a blessing that she saw in the cards. It's a trap, Eliza is messing up with your head."

"No…" Emma stood up and started pacing around the living room. " This is the evil disguised as a blessing. Everything is just too good to be true, don't you think? The transformations becoming easier, the advances in my career…"

"Our relationship," Sarah uttered, sounding hurt and disappointed. "Say it."

"I-I wasn't going to say that…"

"Maybe when you free from this burden, you can finally go back to your savior. The one who fixed all your problems."

"Really? Jealousy now? Abi is my friend ."

"And also your lovely ex, who thinks our bond is something I made up to trap you and steal you from her. And that once you're finally free from these false feelings, you'll run back to her arms."

Just like that, they were arguing for the first time. They hadn't had a single argument in those four months together.

"Is that what you're afraid of?" Emma finally lowered her voice. "Because I'm sure of my feelings for you. I know nothing will change. Don't you?"

"Yes, Emma. I'm sure of my feelings for you too and this is why I felt I should warn you against this stupid plan, but…" the blonde sighed, defeated, "you're the one going through these painful werewolf transformations every month. It's your decision to make, I won't interfere."

"I appreciate that."

They were in silence for a moment. Emma was starting to think she'd better go home, as there clearly was some tension between them. She wanted to think and give Sarah some space to reflect on the situation too.

She was about to open her mouth to announce she was leaving, but the blonde was the one who spoke first.

"I just want you to know I love you exactly the way you are. Even your werewolf side, I don't hate it and I can't even force myself to be scared of it, knowing it's a part of you too."

Sarah loved her. Every part of her. Those words struck her more powerfully than the moment they claimed each other. Those three words felt like a final step to seal their bond. An intense wave of emotions took control of Emma's body and mind, making her unable to even speak.

"Sarah, I… uh… thank you."

Addison was the next person Emma decided to announce her decision to. She knew she'd protest and be angry at her, so she waited until the diner was closed that night and they were the only two people in there.

"You said you wanted to talk to me," Addison was sitting on her office's chair, with her usual judgmental and bossy look. "We've definitely got a problem, don't we?"

"I'm doing it, Addison," Emma spoke. "I'm gonna break this curse."

"Good. Has Aurelia found another ritual?"

She told the pack's leader everything about the group Eliza used to belong to and how they could perform a ritual to end that situation. Addison listened to everything in silence. Her expression was completely blank. Emma had no idea what she was even thinking when she finished.

The woman let out a deep sigh and spoke in a tone Emma had never heard before.

"As your leader, I forbid you."

"W-What?!" She was surprised. Addison always said she would never stop her once she found a manner to break her curse.

"Are you even listening to yourself?!" She stood up, raising her voice and leaning over the desk, to be face to face with Emma. "You're planning to expose yourself to a dark magic ritual. You don't even know these people, Emma! If they're the slightest bit like that Eliza woman, she kept her werewolf child in a cage. They hate us. They hate our nature. Why do you believe they actually want to help you?"

"Because Silas was born a werewolf, like you. My case is different. It was an unfortunate incident."

"Of course! Because you became a werewolf during a stupid night of teenage hormonal bullshit, they'll feel sorry for you and change views they carry for centuries."

"You can't stop me!" Emma also stood up and raised her voice. "I never officially joined your pack. I'm not even marked as one of you."

"Watch me. If I have to lock you in that basement of yours, I will."

"You're not my mother. You can't force me to do anything."

"I'm your leader and you must respect me as such."

"I don't," Emma's werewolf instincts started to boil in her blood. She wanted to pick a fight. She wanted to hurt Addison's feelings somehow. "Actually, this is why you don't have a family. You're so obsessed over your little werewolf club that you can't even allow yourself to find a partner."

"And now you're fired too," the woman announced.

"Good. I hope I never have to see your face again."

She turned around and left slamming the door behind her.

"Emma!" She still heard Addison coming after her. "Come back here! You're not going anywhere. They're going to kill you."

Benjamin and Jenna also thought Emma's idea was stupid. Addison had probably talked to them and exposed her point of view. They were barely speaking to her and ignoring her existence while she was at the studio apartment.

Against her will, she decided to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with her family. But it was equally awful, as all of her relatives were reunited at her parents' house. At some point, she decided to hide in her bedroom.

"What's wrong?" Olivia joined her in her bedroom. "You look so sad."

"I can't stand being around these people," Emma complained. "Did you see how grandma keeps comparing me to our cousins? She makes me feel like crap."

"It's not so different with me. You should've gone to spend Thanksgiving with Sarah."

"I know, but… she's part of the club of people who are not talking to me. I screwed up everything."

"What did you do?"

She couldn't tell the first part, about breaking her curse. But she also knew that wasn't the main reason why Sarah was so upset that she decided to spend Thanksgiving with her family, away from her.

"She told me she loves me and I froze. I wanted to say it back but my brain just failed. All that came out from my mouth was…" Emma looked down and blushed, knowing it would sound completely stupid, " 'thank you' ."

"Oh," Olivia gave her a disbelieved look. She covered her face with a pillow in shame. "I'd be hating you too, to be honest."

"I know. I was a shitbag."

"You still can fix it. Just tell her how you feel."

When she was alone again, Emma grabbed her phone to type a text to her girlfriend. One where she poured all her feelings, saying how much she loved her and how things wouldn't change between them, even if she was no longer a werewolf. She deleted it. She decided she'd tell her that in person, after the ritual was done.

Being in that van, on the way to Hackett's Quarry again, made some negative feelings resurface inside Emma's chest. She started wondering if she was doing the right thing. If she had fought everyone and everything for a good cause. Only a few months earlier, she wouldn't even question that decision, but right now, she felt conflicted.

"Why does it sound like we're attending a funeral?" Laura spoke. All of them were in silence, tense because of that trip. "Jeez, let's cheer up the moods."

"How?" Dylan asked. "I don't think I can handle one of Ryan's ghost stories."

"Sing," Kaitlyn suggested. "You're always singing or whistling songs anyways."

"Okay," the blonde took her suggestion and started singing a cover of a Taylor Swift's song she knew Kaitlyn hated.

Emma couldn't even force herself to laugh. She had her earphones on, not being in the mood to talk to anyone, but when Abi sat by her side, she paused what she was listening to.

"Come on," Abi squeezed Emma's hand. "You're so quiet. You should be happy that tonight you'll be finally free from this curse."

"I'm still wondering if I'm doing the right thing," she confessed. "It feels wrong."

"You've been a werewolf for two years now. It's natural you've gotten used to that."

"It's not like that. After everything, I'm afraid to do something that will cause me more harm than good, you know?"

"We won't let that happen, okay? If we notice anything shady about these women, we'll stop the ritual."

"Thank you, Abi."

Kaitlyn looked at them and shook her head in a negative sign. She wasn't very supportive of Emma's decision. She also shared the opinion they shouldn't trust Eliza's former group.

"We're almost there," Jacob announced. "Only a few minutes now."

When they arrived, the group was already waiting for them in front of the lodge. They were a group of five, led by an old woman named Prudence. Only by looking at her, Emma felt shivers running down her spine.

"Where's the werewolf?" The woman asked. The others looked at Emma and she took a step forward. "Good. We must be prepared before the night falls."

"What exactly are you going to do?" Emma asked.

"We're going to weaken your werewolf side first. Then, we'll trap it inside a magical circle and it won't come out until we order it to. Once it shows up, well, we'll banish it forever. Together with Eliza and her curse."

"What about the rest of us?" Ryan asked. "Is there anything we should do?"

"We need two or three people to help us with the rest of the preparations," another member of the group told. "The rest can stay here and wait."

Ryan, Abi and Nick followed the two members of the group to the back of their own van to get some supplies. Emma and the other three woman headed to the lodge.

They locked Emma in the lodge's basement, where she was restrained by some chains Chris once used to contain his werewolf form. Then they gave her something to drink, some sort of tea. Emma immediately spit it out.

"What the hell is this?" She grunted. "It burns my mouth!"

"Wolfsbane and belladonna," the leader of the group explained. "This is how we'll keep the monster inside you tamed, weak. Now, drink it."

She took another sip of the bottle. It felt awful and extremely painful. The plants' mixture burned her mouth, her throat and all the way down to her stomach. She fell to the ground, squirming in pain.

"I… I can't…"

"It wasn't enough. You need to drink the entire bottle until the night falls. Otherwise, there's no ritual."

The women left her alone with the bottle of that tea. Emma took it, forcing another sip down her throat. It hurt more than the previous time. She started crying in pain.

"E-Em…" Jacob climbed down the ladder that gave access to Chris' old office. "What the hell are they doing to you?"

"T-They… They're weakening my werewolf side. B-But I'll be okay…"

She felt she was about to throw up. A metallic taste filled her mouth and once it came out, it was pure blood.

"Emma, stop. This is going to kill you."

"I have to."

Weak, Emma tried to reach for the bottle in front of her again. But Jacob kicked it away.

"No, you don't," he held her face, forcing her to look at him. "You looked so happy and confident back at Abi's party. What happened?"

"I…" Emma remembered her nightmares about her sister. "I spent a few days with my sister and I started to fear I'd lose control someday and cause her harm. I even started having these nightmares."

"You told me you've been transforming in a safe place, with the right people. I know you, Em. You'd never expose anyone to that risk, especially your little sister."

"I'm starting to think I acted by impulse coming to this ritual. I should have spoken to the pack's Elder first."

"We're going to get out of here," Jacob examined the chains that were restraining her. "Can you break it?"

Emma tried to use her strength, but she already felt weaker.

"Damn it. We need to find another way."

"They took the keys."

"I'll try to find something to break the locks," he climbed up the ladder, back to the office. "I'll be right back."

Emma closed her eyes, praying he'd be back in time.

Meanwhile…

"Mrs. Sutton," Sarah emerged through the cabin's door. Sensing Emma was in danger, she drove as fast as she could to the werewolves' den. Even if she knew they were just preparing for their incoming transformation that night. "I need your help."

"What in the name of god is this girl doing here?" She recognized the woman who was also there with the Elder. It was Emma's boss, Addison. "She's going to die."

"Emma went to that stupid ritual and I'm feeling it… she's in pain. They're hurting her."

The woman sighed, angry and frustrated.

"Fuck, Mountebank! Why didn't you change her mind? You're her mate."

"I told her she shouldn't go, but I can't force her to do anything."

"She's right, Addie," Aurelia stepped in. "You know Emma won't easily change her mind about things."

"What can we do now?" Sarah asked.

"I have a plan," Addison announced. She planned to rescue Emma along with the two other strongest members of the pack. For this, Aurelia would perform a ritual to delay their transformation. They also spread werewolf's blood all over Sarah's face, to prevent her from being attacked by any members of the pack by accident while she waited in Aurelia's cabin.

"Can you really prevent yourself from transforming?" She asked, curious as she watched the three highest members of the pack's hierarchy being prepared. She recognized one of them. It was Carl, the man who was getting married the day she and Emma met.

"Only if you're a pure blood," Addison asked. "But there are consequences. We usually need a few days to recompose ourselves later."

Aurelia was also delaying her own transformation. For the case Emma needed any special care, if she got injured or submitted to any harmful rituals. Sarah swallowed dry, thinking of that possibility. She hadn't felt any more pain through their bond. She hoped Emma had found a manner to escape.

"Plase, stay strong," she attempted to assure her werewolf mate through the bond. "We're going to save you."

"So, where's Mountebank?" Addison asked, once she was ready to leave.

"At Hackett's Quarry."

"Addison," Aurelia called before they left. "Remember, there will be innocent kids there. Don't lose focus. If any of you transform, we could have another tragedy."