Chapter Two—The Alpha who hates me

Chapter Two—The Alpha who hates me

He was beautiful.

He was the most beautiful man I’d ever seen.

He was also saving me, from my doom.

I gulped hard as the towering figure stretched out his arms to block the oncoming flock. The crowd dispersed subtly, all letting out gasps as their alpha protected the witch of nightingale. They grumbled, he didn’t need to say a word before exerting his authority—he was powerful, they revered his strength and presence. He was the Alpha.

They all left, not without hurling their spittle in my face which fortunately landed only a few inches away from my body. It didn’t take long before the market went to its normal self.

Then he turned around,

Like I said….he was beautiful.

Brownish gold wyes with a red hue that probably shone under the full moon, when he was at his strongest, well corded muscles under the tight shirt he had on which gave me a hawks eye view to his ceps. He had the perfect shade of blondish auburn hair I’d ever seen, and his teeth—they were aligned like the stars itself, pristine, with two protruding canines.

He was Tanner Ashford. The leader of the pack, and my sister’s lover.

“Thank—

“Get up.” He said, his tone unkind.

I did as I was told. I rose to my feet, dusting the shells and tomato clumps from the hem of my skirt. My head was barely lifted when I felt his hands over my arm, in a blink I found myself in the woods and being pushed against a tree.

I let out a sharp cry, the sheer force of his power almost rupturing my weakened spleen. I plummeted to the ground, unable to process such a wicked gesture being done to me.

I heard Cecile’s giggle from behind the tree, managing to rise to my feet, my back still hurting from being thrown against the baobab. I wasn’t like the others, I couldn’t heal as fast.

The alpha snatched the basket from my grasp, handing it over to my sister who paid me no heed. She stared at it for a second and squealed excitedly, “It’s untouched. Thank you Tan.”

“I wouldn’t let such a calamity happen.” He smiled, caressing her cheeks with the brunt of his thump. He leaned in to kiss her, looking right at me as his mouth took over my sister’s.

I looked away abruptly. Unable to stand the vulgarity of their relationship, it was frowned upon for two unmated beings to have intimate relationships with one another, but the rules had no bearing when it came to the Alpha and the prettiest Luna of the pack.

Cecile broke away from the lustful embrace, licking her lips as she stroked his jawline, “What would I do without you, my big strong Lycan?”

He kissed her knuckles, then those unkind eyes bore into me, “What should we do?”

“Do what?”

“About her?” He pointed at me.

My sister glanced over in my direction, then she sighed, “You could kill her for all I care. It’s not like she’s of use to the pack anyways.”

“That’s a great idea.” A devilish smirk tugged at the corner of his lips and my heart took a flip, “However it’s a taboo. I’m sure she won’t live past her twenty third, then the pack’s curse can finally be lifted.”

They laughed. They spoke about me with so disdain and they laughed, making a mockery out of my very existence like I wasn’t even here. Then Cecile looked at me again, her smile dying down, she turned to her lover,

“Get her out of my sight.”

The alpha smiled, “With pleasure.”

*********

He dragged me away. I had little to no resistance.

I was tired, hoping for the sweet nectars of death to bloom and end my suffering once and for all, as he pulled me up the hill that led to my home. Cecile had returned to the square with her friends, taking dance lessons to prepare for the night ball, and I was left with the Alpha who barely dignified my presence with a word.

I let out a wince the moment I felt his nails digging into my flesh. Spouts of blood made out of my skin, I grazed my knee, and yet he still wouldn’t turn around to look me in the eye. I was that much of an abomination in his eyes, same as everyone else’s

“You don’t have to do this.” I winced.

He tugged, “Your father should’ve done a good job locking you in your cage.”

“I don’t….i don’t have a cage.”

“You should.” He muttered, tugging me even further, “You should be nowhere near the rest of us. The last thing the land needs is you spreading your curse everywhere.”

I remained mute as he trudged on with in nerving torture. It was only a matter of time before my body was covered in bruises, and his with gratification for hurting my very existence. We reached atop the hill and stopped.

Strange, I thought.

Father was right outside, with the high priestess. They noticed the presence of the Alpha and I, and their aura reeked of urgency immediately. I gulped hard, looking up at Tanner who sensed something was wrong also.

“You’re here.” The high priestess called, “Just in time.”