Chapter 3. Cursed ones

            Instantly, everywhere became dead silence to the extent, even a pin drop could be heard. 

Vera was cold and indifferent, as she lowered her eyes at the unconscious Anita.

" Is she?" 

Anabelle straightened herself and wiped her clammy hands together.

" I think the next thing is for us to bury her now before father comes back." 

" Oh, don't be a scaredy cat!" Vera rolled her eyes, as she waved her hand. She stood up again and strolled forward to where Anita was lying. " Get up bimbo! You think a trick like this can put us in place? How dumb!" She stepped hard on Anita's tommy, almost injuring her before sprawling water all over her face. 

*Cough* 

* Cough* 

With that, Anita jolted and started coughing out loud. She patted her chest with closed eyes and knitted brows. 

Vera stepped backward and gazed at her daughter. 

Anabelle just inclined her head slightly downward and scratched her neck. 

She totally didn't expect that. 

" You are too narrow headed!" Vera hissed at her daughter, before facing Anita again..

" And you, I don't know this is how brainless you are! Pulling this kind of trick just to implicate me?! Oh, that won't work little one, cause I am going to bring you down first! 

Anita ignored Vera, her step mother. She wasn't in the mood to hear anything, as she already knew how much she was despised. 

" Mother, am sorry." Anabelle quickly apologized to her mother and went on her knees. She was deeply sorry. 

Vera ignored her daughter's apology and scoffed. " If I were dumb as you, I would have got myself implicated by now!" 

Anabelle was embarrassed, and she clenched her fists. 

" This is all your fault ungrateful bastard!" She hit Anita's face again, in an annoyed manner!  

Anita's face swelled up, and it burned her badly as her face flushed..

She flinched in pain and cowered, since two demon were around her. 

Vera raised her hand. " I don't want her to die before her time, it would be a waste." She clicked her tongue. " Give her food. She has more chores waiting for her." 

Anita's eyes widened when she heard this, and she felt giddy again. 

Now, she knew she was doomed. 

 Anabelle nodded. " Yes mother." 

~~~~

    

Arnold got to the Alpha's place, with the others, and the meeting started after that. 

" Alpha, there have been many reports going around, and am afraid it is going to give you a bad name." The Gamma stood up and informed politely, looking at the others that were present. 

" Yes, sorry to say Alpha, but the pack isn't flourishing like before. There are many deaths and different calamities happening in the pack now. We have to do something. This shouldn't happen during your reign and time." Arnold also stood up and expressed, acknowledging the present situation. 

The Alpha cleared his throat and took a deep breath. He was called the savage Alpha Zayn. 

" I see, thank you for your concern. But I must let you know that I have put an action to this. So, soon things will be back to normal." 

His eyes were frosty and impolite, as he responded.

The elders glanced at one another and nodded. 

Just then, the priestess strode in and slammed her stick on the marbled floor. 

" The moon goddess has spoken!" 

Immediately, everyone raised their eyes'. 

The priestess scanned the meeting room and shook her head, with a complicated look.

" Alpha, the land is in chaos! The land will crumble!" 

Alpha Zayn stood up slowly and narrowed his eyes dangerously at the priestess. 

" Speak Samantha!" 

" Alpha, there are cursed werewolves in the land. Cursed werewolves!!! The moon goddess told me there are cursed werewolves, and they are responsible for the calamities in the land." 

Everyone wasn't expecting this, and they all appeared astounded and astonished. 

Alpha Zayn stared at the priestess and gritted his teeth. 

" Who are the cursed werewolves?" 

" The odd ones!" The priestess answered immediately. 

Alpha Zayn pressed his lips. He was very calm, maintaining a powerful demeanor. 

" What are we going to do now Alpha?" The Gamma asked. 

" Is something wrong with your ears?! What's next to do?" Alpha Zayn snapped at the Gamma and sneered. 

At the same time, he had already mind linked to the guards. 

*Gbam*! 

The huge door of the meeting room was pushed open by the guards. 

" Alpha, we are here." 

Alpha Zayn looked away impolitetly from them and glanced at the others. 

" I have made the decision. The cursed ones has to be eliminated!" 

This came unexpected again, but the elders took a deep breath. 

" We support that!" 

" Find all the rogues in the pack and slaughter them!" Alpha Zayn ordered the guards. " Including the wolfless!" 

The guards nodded. " Yes Alpha!" 

Arnold raised up his head, and his eyes contracted a bit. 

The Gamma also looked towards Arnold but didn't say anything.

Trouble was looming! 

~~~~

      It was already dawn by the time Arnold came back home. At this time, Anita had just finished eating in her small room, since she ended her enormous chores not too long. 

" Father, you are back." Anabelle went to meet her father, the moment he stepped in and greeted him, with a smile. 

" Yes." Arnold nodded and took a deep breath before sitting down. " Where is your mother?" He inquired calmly. 

" In her room. She's sleeping." Anabelle answered and took a seat beside her father. 

" Oh, is that so?" Arnold replied and arched his brows. 

Anabelle nodded and pursed her lips. After few seconds, she parted them, looking up at her father. 

" Father, is it true the Alpha is going to slaughter the rogues and wolfless?" 

Arnold widened his eyes and turned to his daughter. " Well, news travel fast."

" Father, does that means Anita is?" Anabelle tugged the corner of her lips, as she squinted her eyes. 

It was at this time, Anita came out of her rat like room and overheard what Anabelle was saying. She gasped and covered her mouth! 

Quickly, she hid in a corner. 

" Slaughter the wolfless and rogues?" She thought, and an ominous fear immediately surged in her heart. 

Arnold looked away from Anabelle.

" You don't know what you are saying." He wasn't pleased to hear that from Anabelle. 

" Of course I do!" Anabelle stood up and snapped. " Father, this is the Alpha's order! We must surrender Anita, or else we would get implicated for harbouring and hiding a cursed werewolf!" 

Arnold was confounded. He didn't know what to do. He looked conflicted and pressed a hand over his face. " You think that's the right thing?" 

Anabelle smiled wickedly. " Father, we won't let her know. We can't let her ruin our lives! We have to let her go! She is cursed, so she must be slaughtered!" 

" But she is your sister!" Arnold hissed and stood up. 

Anita, who was hearing this, didn't know when tears started streaming down from her eyes. 

She was disappointed and crestfallen! 

She turned her back to get a grip of herself, but accidentally, she hit a small golden statue, that fell to the floor swiftly. 

*Clang*

Instantly, she widened her eyes, as her heart skipped a beat! 

Anabelle furrowed her brows and snapped her head backward. " Who's there?!"