Franklin's POV
FOUR YEARS AGO… “Orion?” My father called me in the name only my mother used, knocking on my door. “Father?” I responded, not feeling very comfortable with it. “Can I come in?” He asked, and the nervousness in his voice baffled me. “Yeah, sure.” I shrugged, and he walked in calmly. He was fiddling with his hands, and I could see that something was up with him. “Is anything wrong with mom?” I asked, feeling my chest heave. “No, she's fine at the moment.” He said, and I could breathe properly. “Although, it might not be like that for a while.” “Huh? What do you mean?” I asked. He leaned on a table in my room and stared at me, clearly having difficulty articulating his thoughts. “Have you read the book of beasts? Or the curse of beasts?” Jon asked, and I nodded. “What does anything have to do with that?” I asked, sure that he wasn't just trying to cite an example from in there. “There's a curse on this family placed on us by the North.” Jon said, and my heart began to thump aggressively. I could already see the trajectory of the conversation. “And it only comes once in a thousand years.” “Where's this going father?” I asked, wanting this conversation to be over once and for all. “A son in the family must bear the burdens, or everyone including him in the family will die.” He said. “Is that why mom is sick?” I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. Jon nodded calmly, lowering his head. I saw a drop of water fall from his eyes. “I hate to ask this of you, but it's a very tough ask.” Jon breathed really hard. “It'll last for five years, and you would die in the fifth year, or we will all die.” I could not believe my ears. I could not believe that he was actually asking me to become a beast. Why would he even think of asking me that? “I've already built a house in the forest for you just in case you decide to accept it.” Jon said. “I'll visit with your mom every year.” “If you don't accept it,” Jon sighed, “we will all die, and the family's bloodline would cease to exist.” This was a very difficult choice. He was making me choose between saving my mother and everyone else, and living for myself. The noble choice was clear, but I don't want to. “You have enough time to think about it, but not too much time.” Jon said. “The clock is ticking, and lives are on the line.” He was about leaving when I called him back. “Is there no other way?” I asked, and he slowly turned to look at me with tears in his eyes. “I checked for every other way firstly before I came to you with this.” He muttered, shaking visibly. “I can't imagine losing my only son to such evil.” “I asked to take it upon myself, but it couldn't be me.” Jon sighed. “Can I say my goodbyes at least?” I asked, and he nodded. “No one must know what your purpose in the woods is.” He said. “Everyone must think you died a natural death, else the curse would loom.” “Why can't it be any other way?” I asked, still taking the whole situation in. I wasn't sure how to feel, but my heart just kept thumping. A part of me hoped that he'd laugh at me and call it a prank, but he was looking very serious. My mother was also very sick, and I could see the curse taking effect already. My death is the key to saving everyone especially my mother. I guess it's just my turn to be part of something unfortunate. Hopefully, after five years of probable suffering, I might reincarnate and live a more peaceful life. My three sisters walked in after Jon left my room. They sat around me, all happy and bright. “So, I have good news for you.” Aziel said, clapping her hands and squealing. “I'm listening .” I chuckled, trying to be normal, although nothing was. “So, you remember Therion?” She asked. “The boy in city?” I asked, and she nodded. “Your sister thinks she's in love with him.” Paenyrah, my second sister, mocked. “And we're just telling her how impossible it is.” Jane, the last daughter whispered. “This is what happened, I…” She kept talking, and seeing them all happy and excited made me realize the several things I'd do to keep them alive. Maybe there's dignity in becoming accursed if it saves my family. I can't let anything happen to them. My mind was no longer conflicted. I was ready to do anything to save them. And seeing them was the last nail on the coffin. *** “I checked on my mother one last time, but she couldn't even speak to me. I went into the forest.” I shrugged. “I shifted almost immediately into this.” I was barely holding on to my consciousness. Scarlett stared at me with her beautiful eyes. I could see my eyes through a mirror at the far end of the room, and they were almost completely red, meaning I was close to losing my consciousness. “I've spent four years, and I have one more year till I'm rid of this evil.” I growled. “I definitely wasted your time, and I'm very sorry about that.” “I got so carried away that I forgot that I'd be dying.” I sighed. “Live a good life with whatever boy that comes your way, and defy your parents as long as it brings you peace.” “Franklin, I'm so sorry.” She muttered, coming close to me. “I didn't know it was this bad.” “Scarlett, it's all good, but please leave now!” I begged with every sense of urgency. “Franklin, I promise to find a way out of this for you and your family.” Scarlett assured me. “How will you do that if I've already ripped you apart?!” I yelled, hoping that something would work in chasing her away from me, but it all seemed to make her more resolute in staying behind. I watched my eyes completely turn red before she ran out. I was now aggressively trying to break free. The fight between my consciousness, and whatever wanted to take over just because it was a full moon was quite strong. I wasn't going to let him take over yet when I knew that Scarlett was somewhere close. The battle inside me got tougher, and he was sniffing the life inside me out. I was barely holding on to a thread of myself. “Argh!!” I screamed, losing the battle as it snuff life out of me. I knew I had wriggled free of the chains I used to hold myself bound. And Scarlett's life is now in the hands of The Goddess. I only now hope that goddesses protect each other.Thane's POV After my short workout session, I hurried back to the room to have my bath. Scarlett was still sleeping peacefully at that time. I slipped into the bathroom, slipped out when I was done, and changed into fresh clothes. I went over my plan to swoon the King all over again. If there's a chance for me to rise above being just a regional Alpha, and seize more power than my parents think, maybe I'll have the freedom to do whatever I choose.I walked out of the room, and headed straight for the Registrar's office. “Come in.” He ordered before I could knock on his door. He was holding the morning's newspapers, which made me wonder who still uses them. “Good morning , Registrar.” I greeted. “Morning, Thane.” He responded , dropping the papers on the table. “Are you ready?”“I nodded, having released most of the tension in my body, “I am.” Registrar Thane stood up and led me out of the office to the King's quarters in the Academy. It was sparkling clean. I tried to maintain t
Scarlett's POV I was feeling a lot of pain in my lower abdomen. Although it was getting better over time, it still hurt. My phone rang while I was still on the bed. It was already very bright, and Thane had left the room. Although Friday is a free day, he had to do something with King Jon. “Hi girl.” I moaned, still laying on the bed.“What's up with you? Why are you looking like you got bent over the whole night?” Michelle asked with a sassy tone.I raised an eyebrow, and nodded once.“Wait… ah… fucking… minute!” Michelle giggled. I squealed as she giggled. I then started laughing, rolling over my aching stomach. “You got some D?”“I did.” I giggled, rolling my eyes.“Wait…” Michelle frowned, “don't tell me it was some beast shit you did right there.” “No.” I said, taken aback. “It was Thane.”“Thane as in the disrespectful , handsome , and tall Thane?” She asked, and I nodded gently, still giggling. “Well, that's one hell of a catch.” Michelle said. “You just moved from ‘scared
Thane's POV I woke up almost an hour earlier than my usual time. It was still very dark. The time was just 4:32AM. In a very long time, that was the best sleep I had had, although it was very short. I never expected it to happen. I had spent the evening begging Rose to come over, but she wouldn't agree because it was a full moon and their security was always at its peak due to the invasion of several boys. I planned to jerk off for most of the night until it all happened. I managed not to move as Scarlett was in my arms. She had slept off almost immediately after we had sex. It was immediately after she had her bath. I stared at her face, feeling my chest pump really hard. I had had sex with several girls, and there's nothing that should make this feel like the best I've had, although it does. Everything about it was perfect. From the soft kisses, to the aggressive ones, to the slow pounding. It was all good. I most likely would have made the move if she hadn't. Slowly, her eye
Scarlett's POV I finally composed myself, and I made my way to the theatre. I saw Zion immediately I walked in, and luckily, the seat beside him was free. I wriggled my way through till I finally sat beside him. “What… how…?” Zion asked, shaking his head. He folded his arms, and his eyes widened like he had just seen a ghost. “I almost died tonight, and so many things happened, but can we forget that right now?” I asked, and he nodded slowly, looking at me with surprise.“Just one question, though.” Zion asked, and I looked at him. “Is our royal beast alright?”I sighed, shaking my head, “I'm not sure.” We watched the movie in silence. It was unexpectedly funny. The arts department then had the stage to themselves, but all through that time, I was more focused on the king. Then, out of nowhere, people started leaving one by one.“What's going on?” I asked Zion.“It's a full moon.” He shrugged. “They're either going for a r
Scarlett's POVI was barely out of the house when I heard Franklin break the chains that held him down so tightly. I immediately knew that I was finished. I should have just listened to him from the onset. I ran into the woods where he knew best, and I heard the doors fling wide open. I heard him roar rather than howl. There was only one way to survive this, and it was in my wolf. Rather than shifting, I just kept running. I couldn't bear losing my phone, or having to shift in front of the guards if I get to safety. IF!My legs burned with pain, but I couldn’t stop. The sound of Franklin’s roar echoed behind me, shaking the trees around me. I tripped on a root but caught myself just in time.Run, Scarlett. Just run.Branches whipped my face, and the darkness around me felt like it was closing in. The full moon was the only thing that lit the path only slightly, and even that didn’t feel comforting anymore. I could hear him crashing through the forest behind me, fast and wild.At one
Franklin's POVFOUR YEARS AGO…“Orion?” My father called me in the name only my mother used, knocking on my door. “Father?” I responded, not feeling very comfortable with it. “Can I come in?” He asked, and the nervousness in his voice baffled me.“Yeah, sure.” I shrugged, and he walked in calmly. He was fiddling with his hands, and I could see that something was up with him. “Is anything wrong with mom?” I asked, feeling my chest heave. “No, she's fine at the moment.” He said, and I could breathe properly. “Although, it might not be like that for a while.”“Huh? What do you mean?” I asked. He leaned on a table in my room and stared at me, clearly having difficulty articulating his thoughts. “Have you read the book of beasts? Or the curse of beasts?” Jon asked, and I nodded.“What does anything have to do with that?” I asked, sure that he wasn't just trying to cite an example from in there. “There's a curse on this family placed on us by the North.” Jon said, and my heart began t