The Cursed Child

CHARLES

Chapter 3: The Cursed Child 

My eyes swept around and could see everyone who had seated for the coronation day. where either my brother or I would be crowned as the new Alpha

Yet ,deep within me, I was scared knowing I have no hope of becoming the Alpha. It stood as an unbreakable rule in Werewolf history: one couldn't claim the mantle of Alpha without a mate, and that was my predicament.

I knew I was cursed the moment I turned Nineteenth and wasn't able to find my mate. While most discover theirs between the ages of sixteen and eighteen. But my fate deviated from the norm.  

Everything all became clearer to me when I turned twenty and right now, I'll be clocking twenty _one tomorrow. The time is 12 am. The anticipation of the clock striking 12 am fills me with apprehension. 

I'm really so scared of how everything will turn out tonight. but what stings me most isn't the leadership challenge we underwent to determine the Alpha.. but the fact that my younger brother is poised to claim the Alpha title. 

Though I emerged victorious in the leadership test between us, my lack of a mate bars me from assuming the Alpha role. I've been cursed from birth, destined to be a mateless he-wolf

The continuous beating of the drum and the incarnation of the high priest snap me back to the present . 

My father sits with his mistress, my brother and I flanked by the high priest. Seven women in traditional attire encircle us, their dance laden with symbolic significance.

 "Winning the challenge won't guarantee you the Alpha position, Charles' ', My brother derided me with an excited tone. His expression was palpable leaving me with a stroke of deepest fear. 

"You're Cursed, Charles! A Weak, Cursed wolf like you stands no chance of becoming the Alpha", he smiles in a contemptuous and mocking manner.

I took a deep breath on realizing his words were finally having a negative effect on me. 

Despite my fears, I hold unto the belief that the moon goddess won't forsaken me neither will she leave me stranded 

I looked into the moonlight and could see how bright it was tonight. 

All of a sudden I felt a sense of happiness lingering around me. It was an unexpected feeling. Like a satisfied one as if something Great will happen tonight. 

"Arrrrrrrrabraca!!!" The long solemn chants of the high priest suddenly began to create a spiritual divine atmosphere thereby giving an eerie vibe. 

The seven ladies concluded the dance with a bow the moment the priest's incarnation ceased.

He turned to look at me with a terrifying gase and glared at my father who could tell something was wrong. 

"What is it, what do you see?", My father asked with a suspension anxious tone. Awaiting to hear his response cause he knew something was wrong with the way the priests had looked at me earlier. 

"I've discovered why he hasn't found his mate. He's been cursed since birth. The curse can only be broken on the night of the red crescent moon," the priest revealed. 

What does he mean by the red crescent moon? The normal Crescent moon usually appeared as a light, muted, sunny citrus yellow with a mustard-yellow undertone."

The stunned reaction on my father's face was evident, plus the murmurs among the others gathered.

Amidst the crowd, I noticed my younger brother, a self satisfied playing on his lips with a devilish gaze seemingly anticipating this day to come. 

The once sad mood of my father suddenly turned to happiness and in few minutes from now, Anders will be crowned as the Alpha since it's already been known to everyone of my conditions. 

The somber mood that had enveloped my father's lips thereby abruptly shifted to joy within the blink of an air in a minutes, Anders will be crowned as the Alpha. And everyone is already aware of my condition. 

I couldn't stand here! I couldn't stand the hit and everything. I couldn't stand the apprehension which was running through me right now. The fear of watching something I've worked so hard for to be claimed being given to someone else. 

"Is that really true, Charles?" , the deep resonated voice of my father echoed as I turned to look at him and then his mistress who was giving me a mockery gaze. 

As if she had knew something embarrassing will be happening to me tonight. 

"You should have told me about the curse earlier; I would have sought a solution the moment I discovered it," my father stated, attempting to show concern, though I doubted its sincerity.

I could Read his thoughts. He was happy and so was my brother. I was never his favored child anyway. 

I felt a hand clutching onto mine and looking around, it was Anders. My younger brother and I doubt he was here to deliver his usual taunts. 

"It's actually a big disgrace to have someone like you as a brother cause you're a weak one and you know what I mean right? 

"Pull yourself together, Charles". My wolf, Axe, voiced out in anger when I could no longer control my emotions. 

Feeling uneasy, I walked away. Heading to nowhere in particular. All I needed was time alone. To question the moon goddess about my fate. 

To question her why my Life is different from others. All my life I never knew how it felt to have a mate. 

Never knew how it felt to be in love. I can't even signed a contract with a person just to pretend being my mate cause I would get caught immediately.

I never once experienced how it felt to be embarrassed until this day, having everyone's eyes fixed on you with apprehension running across your face.

Nor have I ever felt so sad about not having a mate because I always got every lady I wanted, so I never truly understood how it feels not to have one until this very day.

Walking alongside the dark forest, I find the need to shift to my wolf form. I needed to run around. To erase these negative thoughts of mine. 

My wolf transits to a canvas of scents, sounds , and instincts. My fur, a blend of earthy hues, brushes against the undergrowth as I move with great agility. 

Each step I took navigated the forest floor, feeling the texture of the terrain beneath me. Crawling around, a sudden smell of strawberry scent crept through my nose. 

It was an alluring scent of someone. Pulling me in, calling me in and the urge to find who this person is makes me nervous. 

My nostrils were filled with the alluring scent of this person. And the urge to find her runs through my blood.  

I halted my steps for a moment. Trying to stay calm and concentrating on my ability to smell. I need to detect her scent immediately. I need to find where she is right now. 

And boom, Within a few seconds,I sense her whereabouts but she was in great danger. 

I ran as fast as my leg could Carry me and stumbled unto her. 

"Mate!!!"