Chapter Four: Kendra

Kendra

"I heard that if he meets your gaze, you’d go blind.” Cassie, my kid sister says in a spooky voice. “He got laser in his eyes that burns more than silver.”

“ And he can kill a person by just blinking his eyes.” My mom adds. “ It was the curse he got for betraying his fated mate.”

I watch as the children shake in fear like I did the first time she told me the story of the forbidden Alpha. My Mom is a babysitter, and the children like hearing her very scary stories at noon before they get picked up by their parents. The little pups are asleep in the living room, while those from three years and above are circled in our very spacious porch.

“She was his fated mate. People believed that she was banished from the pack for murdering her whole family.” Cassie chips in and I roll my eyes away, fighting back the urge to click my tongue. The story is old, false and getting boring.

“Who is she?” One of the Luca, one of the children sitting on a bench next to Cassie asks.

“ The Witcher of doom.” She whisper-screams.

Even the name alone cringes me. The Witcher of Doom as she was nicknamed, has killed a good number of kings and took over their throne in a quest for revenge. Story has it that she will come for Stormhalt Moon pack next if the banished alpha returns.

Her first attempt to take control of the kingdom is what cost the life of my father and many of the king's betas.

Many different stories surrounding why the Witcher of doom cursed the King’s first son but the one that sits well in my head is that; he rejected her for another after she wiped her entire family just so they could be together. She cursed him to never find another mate.

“That’s horrible.” one of the children says, whimpering.

“ Did you say horrible? She is evil. She struck him with… Dragon's dream.” Cassie whispers in a stretchy and creepy voice.

“W… what is that?” they chorus in a panic tone.

“ Oh… that is a spell that sends nightmare… very horrifying, blood-curdling nightmares that drove him crazy. He was therefore declared unfit to rule the pack after the king, and was banished as he poses a threat to lives.”

“I feel bad for him.” A kid says in a shaky voice.

“I hate the witch!” another kid shouts from the back.

“Cassie, is there any such thing as Dragon’s dream?” My Mum lowers her head to ask Cassie.

“ No, I made that part up."

I yawn, stretching out tiredly near the porch railing…“Mother, he is back, The forbidden Alpha… All this stupid stories surrounding him, they're false."

They all turn questioning their questioning eyes on me, mouth and eyes wide in shock.

“ Now we all gonna die… aaaaaah!” A little boy screams out, and the rest follows.

“Calm down children… stay calm… no body is gonna die. What Kendra is trying to say is that…” she looks at me to quiet the panic, but I’m certainly not going to lie.

I look at the children, their sharp eyes staring at me curiously.“ what?...” I question their fearless gaze that is almost knocking the wind out of me, before adding, “I didn’t mean to ruin your story, but he doesn’t seem bad."

“ You see, Children. He is not baaaad.” My mom says calmly and the children relaxes a bit.

I can see worry crease my mother’s forehead and I know the conversation isn’t over yet. “ Children, is time to go. Your parents will soon be here. Cassie, gather their backpacks.”

Its appalling how many people are hating on the witch for raising an army of rogues and causing destructions but, they all seem to be forgetting the person behind her fury, Alpha Leo, the man who the mere mention of his name makes my core clench.

*****

However, before nightfall hit, my Mum did manage to convince me to go to Chase's birthday party right when she figured out that young nobles from all the seven kingdoms would be coming and I could meet someone.

After my 16th awakening ceremony when all my peers that share the same birth month as me transformed for the first time under the first full moon of our birth month and I did not, She has been worried that no one would want me as a mate. After all, the entire pack was a witness to my frailty.

Its been two years and the shame and humiliation is still fresh in my memory. That event is what has reduced me to a sobbing mess, a sore loser, an oddity in the back and the only pack member who has a cat as a pet - a typical human than a werewolf.

"The Royal carriage has arrived for you, Kendra”. It is my Mom’s loud voice reminding me that it is time. Time to face my demons. I should be confident but, a part of me is deeply terrified.

I look at myself in the floor-length mirror, a shadow of my formal self staring right back at me, a reflection of what a sorry ass I’ve become.

The girl who once had a bubbly life filled with dreams and aspirations now more puddle than a person. My long loose dirty pink-colored curls were hanging freely down my back, and my makeup, nude in every natural way possible compliments my blue eyes and my full lips.

" Kendra!” My Mum's voice comes again.

 " I will be down shortly, Ma.” I shout down at her. 

Coco perks her ears up and twitches her nose, then bolts to hide behind the door.

" You want to play hide and seek, huh? Not now, Coco.” It let out a sad meow sound and jumps back in bed. “Sorry, Coco.”

I take a deep breath, slowly twirling around in my white halter neck ball gown, taking in my curves. Taking one last look at myself in the mirror, I walk downstairs to find my Mum waiting with a broad smile on her face.

“There you’re…” Her eyes travels the full length of my body. “ you look gorgeous, like a Barbie doll.”

My face harden as I run a hand over the back of my neck. “I can’t do this, Mum”. I hiss out. “ I don’t want to go.” Truth is, I am having a bad feeling about the whole arrangements. 

She takes my shoulders and looks powerfully into your eyes. “You are fierce like your father. I’ve seen it in you. No Sullivan’s blood is a weakling. Do not let others define you.”

Taking a deep breath, I nod. “ Thanks Mum.” I plant a kiss on her both cheeks. “ I love you, Mum.”

She replies, “ I love you too.” 

As I walk towards the door she calls out to me and I swiftly turn to face her. " Be very careful. If truly the king's first son is back, stay far away from him. He is bad news. There are many evils surrounding him that you are yet to hear about. Do you understand?" I give her a nod before darting out.

Outside,I spot the royal gold plated carriage and a dignified older man waiting for me. In as much as there are dozens of luxurious and exotic cars in the palace garage, the royal family uses the carriage every year for The Kings procession during the Royal meetings. For reasons best known to Anna, she prefers taking trips within the capital in carriages. 

We ride through the streets of the capital until we arrive at the palace. It’s been so long since I’ve seen the palace, so I take my time drinking up the sight. I step out of the carriage and gracefully walk into the palace following the direction of the trickling of voices and music coming out of one of the buildings.

One part of the palace is huge and sprawling, with a sparking, huge size swimming pool at the back that’s now calm and deep blue, reflecting the lights all around the back of the house which is where the party is happening.

As I approach, I can see how heated up the party is from a distance. Tons of kids hanging out with drinks in hand, some of them already making out in the pool. There’s a DJ by the pool side, with lights and everything, spinning requests, and the major hits.

A live bartender mixing cocktails and bunch of teenagers lining up to fill their cups with more vodka as if High School kids are allowed to get drunk. This shouldn’t be happening in the palace but, who am I to question the royals?

I realized something else… I am overly dressed. All the girls are in trendy short shorts, tight dresses and heels… I am in a fvcking ball gown. Floor-length ball gown. This is nothing like any party I’ve attended in the palace in the past. I should as well turn around and leave right now before anyone notices me.

 "Where do you think you’re going?” I halt on Anna’s voice and slowly turn around to see her aiming an angry glare at me. “ were you trying to run away?” she asks as she strides up to me.

" No… I was just looking for you.” I force a smile.

" Then come with me.” She winds her hand around my arm and pull me along as she navigates between bodies swaying and grinding together to the blaring jam.

She leads me into a room that looks like it has an entire different party going on. It’s where the filthy rich privileged assholes are. One at a time, they are choosing a balloon and popping it to find a dare. It is secluded from all the party rumbles but, filled with people I hate the most.