Fate: Her Curse

“What do you mean you can’t lift the curse.”

“It’s an ancient curse as old as time. According to the legends anyone with the mark of the star will be lost in the dark, ushering an era of endless night.”

“Those with the mark of the star only live to twenty moons at most, and their deaths usher an era of darkness. There has only been four cases throughout history as the curse is notoriously vicious in claiming the life of both the caster and the person its casted upon.”

“So in other words, whoever did this to my child is most likely dead?” George asked his face a blank mask of false calm.”

“Yes, I'm sorry Alpha but there is nothing I can do”

“Is there really no way to break the curse? Are you really going to stand there and watch my daughter die?” George asked his voice slipping to his Alpha voice at the end. His whole-body shook with barely contained anger.

“I understand your rage, but this is beyond me. I suggest the child is put to rest and cleansed to prevent the chaos that would follow if the curse claims her first.”

“Are you suggesting I kill my own daughter…” He asked as his eyes glowed and his claws grew out digging into the palm of his hand.

“It is what is best for the pack…”

The seers’ words were cut short by George's hand on her neck choking her as he lifted her from the floor. His pupils were a molten gold now as his wolf tethered on the surface. Her hand shot to his trying unsuccessfully to loosen his grip. Her apprentice fell to the floor trembling.

“If you so much as touch a strand on her head, I will bury you along with her”

“There… there is… another… way to break… the curse… alpha.” The seer said struggling to breath.

George studied her before freeing his hands and throwing her on the floor.

“Speak.”

The seer coughed for a while before regaining her composure a bit.

“Lashing out on a seer can bring untold consequences, Alpha.”

“Speak before I lose my patience”

“There is rumoured to be a way to break the curse but nobody knows how authentic it is.”

“The one marked by the star must mate with one touched by the sun before their twentieth moon, only the blessing of the sun can shed light and burn away the dark.”

“They are extremely rare; and are said to be born once every thousand years. They have hair the colour of the sun and are born with a sun birthmark.”

“The only one who can identify them is a seer. As their birthmark becomes visible after their twentieth moon.”

“Can your apprentice identify them?”

The seer eyes briefly widened in panic, “It is a wild goose chase, Alpha. There are millions of packs all over the world, finding a person touched by the sun is nigh impossible. The princess might be dead long before that.”

“If I may, alpha. I heard that one touched by the sun is born only on the 60th day of the leap year, surely that narrows the numbers.” The seers apprentice, Amal spoke.

The seer shot a glare at him before speaking, “Yes it does but…”

“Enough… why are you so adamant on my not finding a way to lift the curse wise one.” George asked, eyes narrowed suspiciously.

“I am not, Alpha, but I have witnessed the chaos this curse brings. My mother hid it from everyone when she discovered it, and it destroyed my old pack. The only reason I was spared was because my alpha banished me and the remaining survivors from the pack to protect us. We were put in the care of your grandfather, who welcomed us into his pack. I do not want my new home to be destroyed, so please alpha I'm begging you.”

George was shaken by the revelation, as the alpha, it was his duty to protect his pack but as a father he couldn’t kill his own child without at least trying.

“I understand you Wise one, and I apologize for my behaviour. As alpha of this pack, it is my duty to protect everyone, my daughter included. I swear on my blood as Alpha of the Sunlit pack that if I don’t break the curse before Aaliyah’s twentieth moon. She shall be laid to rest in the arms of the Goddess.”

“The moon and sun honour your vow, Alpha” the seer said bowing.

“I will tell the keepers to gather all the necessary information you might need; I will also prepare a capable discreet team to follow you soonest.” George said to the apprentice Amal.

“In the meanwhile, please make sure none of this leaks outside as it will surely bring unrest.”

“I won’t breathe a word of this anywhere, you have my word, Alpha.” The seer turned and left with her apprentice.

The healer was outside waiting with a group of servants.

“Alpha, I've brought the people you requested.” Viva said

“None of you shall spread any rumours or gossip about the princess Aaliyah, you shall take this secret to your grave.” George said using his Alpha voice. It was a gift of the moon goddess to all alphas which brings about complete obedience to whoever it is used on.

“Yes, Alpha.” They chorused.

“You're dismissed, Viva, might I have a word.”

Viva followed him into the nursery.

“Thank you, I will make sure you are heavily rewarded.”

“I am but merely doing my duty Alpha. And besides, our Luna Alice was my dear friend, I would not want any harm to come to her child.”

“You are a worthy friend and I have a favour to ask.”

“I need you to find a wet nurse and a governess you trust with your life to look after the princess for me. They must be discreet and bear no malice towards her for the mark she bares.”

“I will arrange for it at once. Alpha”

“If I might be so bold to ask, what will happen to the princess”

“I will do everything in my power to protect her, she will be fine.”

“Worry not for she will be alright.”

Seventeen years later

Grey moon pack

The meeting room of the Grey stone pack was agog with the latest message they received from their rival pack, the Sunlit pack. For generations these two packs have been mortal enemies due to a betrayal that happened hundreds of years ago causing the pack that was once one big pack to split. Over the years no one remembered the original cause of the strife but years of fighting over territories, resources and whatnot had increased the friction between them. The present alpha had not started any fight preferring to treat them as if they didn’t exist until now. Although they were offended to not be taken as a serious threat, they, their alpha especially could admit it was better for them seeing as the sunlit pack were extremely powerful. Their current alpha had spent his time filling his pack with talented healers and soldiers and had spread his connection through far and wide through his alliance with numerous large packs all over the continent. Meanwhile the alpha of the Grey moon pack had spent his reign fortifying their defence from ‘invasion’.

The messenger had said Alpha George was requesting audience to Negotiate a deal.

“So, they’ve finally shown their teeth, I knew their disinterest in us was superficial.” A gray-haired man with cold blue eyes said, his face scrunched in a sneer. He was one of the councilors.

“We should double the soldiers stationed at the border, increase the patrols.” Another councilor said.

“They said they wanted to negotiate, there is no need to be paranoid.” Zain, the beta of the pack said.

“Those wild beasts of the Sunlit pack don’t negotiate, they are power hungry, greedy bastards who wont stop until we answer to them.” Another councilor said.

“Enough, you all are supposed to be my council members, aiding me in decisions regarding the good of the pack, not squabbling about like a pair of women.” The Alpha, Lucien said eyes cold as he watched them.

“What do you think of this Damien?” Lucien asked his son. He was training him to be the next Alpha and has been bringing him to the pack meeting since the boy passed his fifteenth moon.

“I think we should meet them; Alpha George is more powerful than us and has nothing to gain by showing us such courtesy by sending a request first. There must be something he wants from us.” Damien answered with a calculative glint in his eyes. He was as wickedly calculative and intelligent as his mother.

“Very, well.”

Murmurs arose as more than a few were dissatisfied at the suggestion. “Enough, my decision is final. Zain send word at once. You are all dismissed.”

“Yes, Alpha.”