Chapter 6 A curse

Elena POV

I glanced at Draven, confused but his expression was even more confused. A wave of anxiety suddenly rose inside my stomach. Was something really wrong with me? What if it was something that couldn't be fixed, what would I do then?

The witch doctor was muttering incantations again now. I could sense an urgency in her tone as she knelt and drew different symbols on the ground with ash. A few of them looked like animals and I almost certain the one at the far left was a wolf.

She knelt for a long time, switching between incantations and singing at intervals. Her song sent shivers through me and I glanced at my arm to see goosebumps had risen on my skin. I breathed as quietly as possible so as not to disturb her.

She only rose to her feet after placing the ash on her tongue. She stumbled a little while rising and I rushed to help her.

“I can’t help you Alpha.” She said to Draven, her eyes still widened with fear.

Draven frowned. He was displeased. I could hear it in his tone as he demanded. "What do you mean you can’t help me? My mate, your Luna is suffering from an attack. It’s your duty as witch doctor to find a solution.”

The witch doctor replied softly, trying to ease his anger. “It’s not that I don’t want to help you Alpha, but I can’t. What plagues luna is a curse, an ancient curse.” She bowed her head, ashamed. “I’m afraid I’m not strong enough to counter it.”

“A curse.” Draven repeated, turning to look at me. I’m as stunned as he is.

“Child.” The witch doctor turned to me again, her voice warm. “Can you tell me when you started experiencing this?”

I spared a quick glance at Draven. His face was blank. “I think it started not long ago witch doctor, at my old pack.

When I rejected the mate bond between my previous mate and I, I suddenly felt as if something had been loosened within me. I thought it was the mate bond falling away at the time but now I think it was the curse.” I finished with a whisper.

The witch doctor was pacing the room in excitement now. “I think I know what it is now. I heard of something like this before from my grandmother while I was still a child. I can’t believe I actually get to see it with my own eyes. This is incredible.”

“What is it witch?” Draven asked impatiently. I kept silent but I was just as impatient as he was. If she knew what it was then she must have a way to solve it.

“It’s not a curse Alpha.” The witch doctor cried out, excitedly. “Okay it’s a curse, but not one that’s meant to harm her. It acts more like a seal.”

“A seal?” Draven and I asked in unison.

“Yes, a seal.” The witch doctor continued “In ancient times, such curses were used to seal great power until the bearer was strong enough to wield it or until the curse weakened.

They usually last at least twenty years before they need to be reinforced. How old are you child?” She asked turning to me.

“Twenty six. witch doctor.” I answered grimacing. What if Draven thought I was too old and didn't want me as his mate anymore? What would I do?

I couldn't go back to my old pack, not after rejecting the alpha in front of the whole pack. Going back there would be a death sentence. I shuddered, death might even be a light sentence compared to what they might do to me. I didn't need any further proof of their cruelty.

Draven was looking at me. I could feel his stare. He was probably wondering why I was suddenly panicking, but he didn’t say anything. He just moved closer to me and let his pheromones wash over me. My heart rate calmed down considerably and I managed a small smile, expressing my thanks but he only responded with a nod.

The witch doctor was muttering again “If you’re just twenty six then it shouldn’t be that the curse weakened, it’s more likely that the curse determined that you were strong enough to bear your power now.”

I swallowed thickly but couldn’t stop myself from asking “What kind of power was it witch doctor? What did you see?"

The witch doctor visibly stiffened at my question, her lips parted for a while but no sound came out. Then she let out a trembling exhale and said “I saw darkness child. It was like I had come face to face with an abyss that wanted to swallow me whole.” 

She shuddered and continued “Only goddess knows how much stronger it would be once the seal finally wears off completely.”