Mated Curse

I waited at the entrance of the Alpha's tent, my hands folded tightly behind me as I paced back and forth waiting for the meeting to end.

_“How dare he summon me here just to leave me hanging around like a jobless moron?"_

The members of council were still seated inside, arguing non-stop, like they always did.

Watching them alone was exhausting; it made me want to sleep, and I couldn't help but wonder if they ever agreed on anything.

Derrick's eyes met mine from across the tent. I gave him a “cut it short” signal, but he ignored it completely, turning his attention back to the meeting.

"Well, alright then," I clicked my tongue, standing up straight. “If you really want to play… then let's play."

I cleared my throat loudly before stepping into the tent completely unannounced.

“Alpha Derrick, you summoned me… here.” I paused, immediately covering my mouth with my hand. “Oh my goodness, I hope I'm not interrupting anything?”

For a moment, no one spoke. But the hostility in the air was too obvious to miss.

“I think we've covered enough for today," Derrick said, his eyes fixed on mine, "Let's meet again after the rise of the fourth crescent moon."

“Yes, Alpha".

One by one, the members of council made their way out of the tent until Derrick and I were the only ones left.

“You always know how to make an entrance, don't you?” he said dryly.

“Why did you summon me?” I raised a brow.

Derrick's eyes narrowed slightly. “I just want to make sure that you are not getting cold feet or even thinking of backing out of that little deal of ours.”

“Wait, you dragged me all the way here to talk about some stupid deal again?” I snapped.

“Of course, I did.” Derrick shrugged. “I mean, what else is there to talk about between the two of us?"

I stared at him blankly, my lips pressed together.

_The supposed magic of a mate bond meant absolutely nothing to me. There were no sparks, no butterflies. Only a stomachache from days of near starvation and anger at the universe for throwing him my way_

_But the mating ceremony, on the other hand, wasn't something any wolf, no matter the rank or status, could take lightly. Once the mates are chosen, a special bond is formed between them, which can only be altered by accepting or rejecting your fated mate._

_But either way, there has to be a mutual agreement between them, or else they'll both face consequences regardless of how strong they are or how far they try to run_

“You don't have to worry; I'll see to it that everything goes according to plan,” I forced a smile. “Just make sure you uphold your end of the bargain."

I took a step back, ready to make a quick escape.

“Stop right there.” Derrick called, making me halt in my tracks.

“What is it now”, I turned, immediately coming face to face with him.

_What the heck?_

“Sam.” He smiled, carefully brushing a strand of hair from my face.

I quickly moved back, feeling a shiver run down my spine.

“I know we don't see eye-to-eye, but can you really blame me for everything that has happened?” Derrick hummed, blinking innocently. “You should know by now that every decision I make is for the good of the pack and for you too."

“Hold on.” I raised a hand. “So you're telling me that you took away my birthright, turned everyone against me… And to make matters worse, you still have the nerve to say you're doing it for my own good when soon I might not even have a place to call home anymore?"

Derrick nodded confidently, making me wonder if he still had any shame left to lose.

"You've hated me for so many years; that is why you refuse to see the bigger picture. And even if you did, I doubt you'd be capable enough to take advantage of it.” He smirked. “I guess that's why your father never even considered you for the Alpha's position".

“Bigger picture?” I repeated, ignoring the fact that he would stoop so low as to use such a sensitive thing against me.

Derrick leaned forward, his face inches from mine. “Don't you get it yet?” He asked, “Even if you're not a threat to me now, what's to stop you from becoming one in the future? And when that happens, I would have no choice but to kill you."

_What?_

He held my face tightly, forcing me to look him in the eyes. “Now tell me, how will you face your father in the afterlife, knowing that I might have to send you there ahead of schedule?” He whispered, giggling like a maniac.

I froze.

_Was my existence really that much of a threat to him? But even if it was, I shouldn't have to die just to give him peace of mind, right?_

I was so furious that all I could think about was punching that smug look off his face. But instead, I held myself back, remembering our cursed mate's bond.

“You're a smart girl, Sam." He said, gently tapping my forehead, "So if you really want to make it out of here alive, then just stick to being the good puppet that you are… And I promise, once this is all over, I'll let you walk away from this pack in one piece.”

NOON

People often say that when the human world falls asleep, the werewolf world awakens, and I couldn't agree more.

The forest of Dawn Runner pack was transformed into a breathtaking wonderland as the pack prepared for the mating ceremony.

Delicate lanterns wrapped in red ribbon, carefully hung on tree branches, glowing like captured moon.

Colorful flowers of every kind were hung around the tents. While natural crystals and gemstones lit up the forest path, adding a touch of magic to the entire atmosphere.

“I'm so going to miss this,” I muttered, giving a nostalgic sigh.

The young cubs laughed and danced under the moonlight. While the young ladies strolled arm-in-arm, gossiping and giggling about who among them would be the lucky wolf chosen to be the Alpha's mate.

A part of me wanted to scream out loud, to curse each of them in their faces, and to make that two-timing fraud pay for everything he had done to me.

But I couldn't do it. Escaping from this nightmare was far more important to me than getting back at those who made my life miserable.

“Hang in there, Sam." I reassured myself, following the long and lonely road that led to my Aunt Alisha's tent. "Just one more day and I'll be free… forever."