THE CURSE

The Witch of Artemia was seated on a large bed in an ornately decorated tent. The war had finally ended, and now she could focus on what she wanted. Her lips stretched into a wide smile at that thought.

“Madam, Alpha Alaric is here to see you.” A young girl said, entering the tent. She walked straight up to the witch and stood bowing her head.

“Why didn’t you tell me earlier? I have to do so many preparations!” She said, jumping up and looking around the tent. Everything was in its place, yet she didn’t seem satisfied.

“Ma’am, but he just arrived. How could I have told you earlier?” The girl said in a low voice

The next moment Slap! A heavy blow had landed right across her cheek that left the marks of fingers on her cheeks.

“How dare you contradict my words? Don’t you know who I am? I can turn you into a mouse with a single curse.”

The young girl’s face turned pale as she shook with fear. Falling on her knees, she begged, “Please forgive me….ma’am. I will never make this mistake again.”

The witch said, picking up her wand, “Of Course I will forgive you, dear. You have worked so hard for me..”

The girl relaxed and kept muttering, “Thank you…thank you….”

The witch flicked her wand, and the next moment there was the one kneeling on the floor was not a young girl but a rabbit.

“Ha…ha…haa…he….hee…hee…” Her evil laughter echoed in the room.

“You were so faithful to me, so I forgave you. I didn’t turn you into a rat; I turned you into a rabbit.” She said, looking into the rabbit’s eyes

Then she picked the rabbit by its ears and threw it in a corner, saying, “I have no time to waste on you. I need to get ready to meet Alpha Alaric.”

She stood in the front of a full-sized mirror and tried different looks with the help of magic, but she didn’t seem satisfied by any of them.

“Damn! It is all because of that girl.” She complained as she tried on yet another look.

Her face lit up when she looked at her new look. The body-hugging red gown hugged her tightly, accentuating her curves. The plunging neckline of the dress revealed her cleavage. The cut in the dress showed off her long thighs. In short, she looked very alluring.

She drew in a deep breath and said, “Let us see how you can resist my charm now!”

She clapped her hands, and the next moment a man heavily dressed in armor entered the tent.

“Send Alpha Alaric in, and yes, see to it that no one else disturbs us.” She commanded and motioned him to leave.

She looked at herself in the mirror one last time. Her lips stretched in an evil smile as she slid one of the straps of her dress down her shoulder.

“Witch of Artemia, Greetings…”

She spun around when she heard Alpha Alaric’s husky voice. Her face contorted in irritation when she saw two werewolves flanking him, but she quickly regained her composure.

“What a delight to see you in better times, Alpha.”She said, giving him a sultry smile.

“All thanks to you. We could have never won the war if it wasn’t for your help. I hope you can accept the gifts I have brought as a token of appreciation.”

“These material things are useless to me. Please ask them to take it away.” She said curtly. There was only one thing she wanted, Alaric!

“But….I will feel bad if I didn’t thank you well…”

“Hmmm….okay…there is something you can help me with…”

“Sure…anything….I would be honored if I can help you.” The Alpha said excitedly.

“Can you ask them to leave? I will feel uncomfortable…”

“Samuel, Katie, you can leave….”Alaric said, turning to them.

“But, Alpha….your safety…”

“I can protect myself, and Serena is the most powerful with on earth; what could probably go wrong? Please leave.”

Samuel wanted to say that the greatest danger was Serena herself, but he couldn’t say that in front of her, could he? They both bowed and walked out of the tent, leaving Alaric and Serena alone.

“Now, tell me, Serena, how can I help you?”

“There is only one thing I need help with…” She said, closing the distance between them.

She cupped his face with her hands, and the next moment she crushed his lips with hers.

Alaric was stunned by her sudden assault. It took him a few minutes to wrap his mind around what was going on.

The moment he realized it, he shoved Serena away with full force.

Serena was unprepared for this and staggered backward; Hurt flashed through her eyes.

Alaric looked at her apologetically and said, “I am sorry, Serena. I can’t do this. I can give up my life for you, fight the dreariest battle for you, but I can’t do this. I have waited all my life for my mate and will continue to do so…..”

Serena’s eyes blazed with anger as she growled, “Are you sure you want to reject me? Don’t you know who I am?”

“I am sorry, Serena….really sorry….” Alaric said in a regretful voice. How could he betray his mate? 

The aura around Serena blazed a deep red as she said the words, “I, The Witch of Artemia curse you; the moment you consummate your relationship with your mate; she will die.”

Then Serena stormed out of the tent waving her wand behind her.

Alaric stood there, frozen like a statue. She had shattered his life and filled it with misery and despair with just one flick of her wand.