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The Curse of the Alpha 22
~MearaI stare at the window, watching fat droplets roll down the glass.Being back at work is completely pointless. We haven't had a single customer all day, and my shift is nearly over.Other than the money, though, I'm here because I'm fighting for a sense of normalcy.Sire was confused when I told him I wanted to come back to work today, but he took me here anyway.Because of the curse, though, no one is venturing out. Emma and I's bosses are insisting we take the risk by keeping the place open, and because she needs money and I need to get out of the house, we are here."I'm glad you're back," Emma says, flipping a hand towel over her shoulder."I can't believe this place is still open." I would laugh if it wasn't so sad. I wish I could tell the people that this sickness isn't contagious, although that would only cause more panic.Emma smiles, leaning against the counter. "I would complain but it's nice and quiet and my friend has returned."I rub the back of my neck.When Sire w
The Curse of the Alpha 23
~MearaI stare at Hazel's wooden door, gathering courage."Be nice," I bite out, looking sidelong at my mate.He looks out of place on Hazel's old porch. He's attempted to look more mortal, as he put it, which consisted of wearing plain clothing and styling his hair slightly different.It doesn't matter how he presents himself, he looks like an Alpha, and Hazel will be able to sense his magic."You don't think I'll be nice?" He sounds a little hurt.I sigh through my nose. "Just...Don't intimidate her."Hazel wants to like Sire, for my sake. She will try her best, although I don't want her to have flashbacks to the night Sire chased me down and took me away. She had thought I had died, and I don't want her to look at Sire and be reminded of that."I'll try my hardest." He stares down at the salad I made him bring with us as a peace offering.I want this lunch with Hazel to go well. I want to feel normal again."And don't flirt with me in front of her," I add.Sire smirks. "Now that I
The Curse of the Alpha 24
~MearaSire has been carefully schooled in preparation for this evening.He isn't a centuries old Alpha having emerged from a watery grave, and I definitely had nothing to do with it.We are just a normal couple who accidently stumbled into the knowledge that they are mates.I knock firmly on the cottage door, giving Sire a wary glance.He isn't concerned about what my parents think of him at all. I'm not either, necessarily, but I am worried that they will uncover an aspect of Sire's past that I would like to keep hidden.The door opens, revealing the flushed face of my grinning mother."Meara!"She sweeps me into a hug so tight it's suffocating. I melt into it, letting myself remember how much I missed her. She smells so familiar, like cherries and vanilla."It's good to see you," I breathe, pulling back to look in the light brown eyes we both share. "Has it always been so cold here?"The ground is crusted with frost and the air is frigid. I'm starting to remember why our Pack didn'
The Curse of the Alpha 25
~MearaI settle under the covers, pulling them up to my chin.Sire slides in next to me, awfully quiet as he turns the lamp off, drowning the room in darkness, cut only by a few lit candles seated on my dresser.We have shared a bed before, but this feels far more intimate. The room is small and the bed even smaller, forcing out arms to touch at all times."Your parents are nice," Sire says after a long stretch of silence."Yeah. They are." I tightly clutch the edge of the duvet. "When they aren't criticising my choice in previous lovers."The last time I was in this bed Case was beside me. We ended up having a fight after he got mad about some comment my mother made. He knew she didn't like him, especially after he cheated on me."No one matters until you find your mate," Sire reminds me, a hint of amusement in his voice.I roll my eyes. Considering my parents are mates, they do believe that."That isn't a luxury for everyone, and it wasn't guaranteed for me," I tell him.I wasn't ex
The Curse of the Alpha 26
~MearaI press my head deeper into the cushion, propping my book up against my thighs.This is the perfect night. Sire has brought me back to my cabin for a night to myself, and I'm spending it seated on my couch, wine on the coffee table, a book about questionable morals open for me to read at my leisure.Despite this being an ideal night of relaxation, there is a strange feeling of emptiness spreading through my stomach.I think I'm starting to not like being where Sire is not.A pounding knock on the front door has my book nearly falling from my lap. Resting my palm on my ribs, feeling my heart thundering under my touch, I stand.Sire promised me a night on my own. Could he really not bear to be away from me for so long.I throw the door open. "I told you to give me a night...oh."It isn't Sire standing at my door, but Carran. The night is draped around him like a magnificent coat and there is a danger in his eyes that alerts me to exactly why he is here."Meara. Hello," he greets.
The Curse of the Alpha 27
~MearaI stare at myself in the mirror, wincing.How the fuck could I let this happen?Instead of spending last night enjoying my peace, I spent it tossing and turning in my bed, thinking of Carran...The last person I want to be thinking of at any point in time.The problem is, Carran's admission has done more than just stun me. It has complicated things. I don't actually think he likes me, at least how he thinks. He just wants something over Sire, a way to aggravate him.And if Sire finds out, he won't stop to think why Carran kissed me. My own Alpha will be dead in no time.Gritting my teeth, I tug my hair from its bun, my dark hair falling over my neck.I didn't realise how hard Carran kissed me last night. It wasn't passionate by any means, but in the moment I didn't feel how hard his hands gripped my face.And now, under my jaw, on my neck, and six total fingerprints, with three on each side of my neck. They are faint, but it's obvious they are there.And why...I pace back and
The Curse of the Alpha 28
~MearaI keep my head down, grimacing."This is absolutely miserable," I mutter, swatting at the giant leaves and stiff branches that slap back in my face as Sire passes through the bush in front of me.He doesn't look over his shoulder. "You want a cure, right?"I roll my eyes. Obviously, but why do we have to do this in the pouring rain, in the middle of a forest bordering the Pack territory alone?We are traversing into the forest looking for yet another witch. They are almost impossible to track, and I wouldn't have known to come here if Sire didn't know almost everything about the witches in this area."Do you know the entire witch population or something?" I grumble, lurching forward a little as I stumble over a thick root protruding from the damp dirt."Actually, Hazel told me about this." His voice sounds a little muffled as he walks a few steps in front of me.I frown. "When have you been talking to Hazel?""At that lunch you took me to, you went to the bathroom and she told
The Curse of the Alpha 29
~MearaThe rain doesn't let up as we follow the witch through the forest.I rub at my throat, scowling at her back. She nearly killed me and now I'm supposed to trust her. Any moment now the ground may give out from under me and I may be sent into a pit full of snakes."What's your name?" Sire asks her."Kimsa," she says after a long moment of silence. "My home is this way."She presses through the brush, not minding the branches that swing back at up from behind her. I want to hate her, because my throat is still raw, but I'm choosing to trust her in hopes she has the information that we need."Thank you for speaking with us," Sire exclaims, watching her. He doesn't trust her either.For a girl who looks far younger than most witches I know, she has a lot of power. She must come from a powerful bloodline, especially since she has been able to nullify Sire's transportation magic in this bubble of sorts."I'm only doing this as a way to end the curse," she mutters, shaking her head sli
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The Curse of the Alpha 38
~MearaI rest my hands on Sire's shoulders, trying to ground him.Today is what all of this has been about. Although it doesn't feel like it for him, it's been centuries since Sire has been in power, and no one here knows of what he is capable of.It's why Sire didn't sleep last night, spending most of it pacing back and forth down the hallway.We both know words aren't going to be enough to convince the people that he can be trusted. They have no idea who he is, and he killed their Alpha. They will learn, though, that there hasn't been such a powerful Alpha since him, and there will never be another one again.Sire looks up the stairs of the raised stage, hearing the murmurings of those who await news on their Alpha. We are in the busiest part of the Pack, and everyone has been alerted that an important announcement awaits them."Don't be nervous," I soothe. Despite my urging for his calm, my own tone is tight and strained.I have faith in him, but I'm also nervous. What if the peopl
The Curse of the Alpha 37
~MearaCarran's panic sets in immediately.He sends a few guards off to search the home, but that only makes him more vulnerable. Sure enough, only moments later the last guard sets off, Sire stalks through the door, closing it firmly behind him.Carran immediately scrambles back, rounding the desk as if it could do anything to protect him from his imminent death."You don't want to kill me," he hisses.Sire glances to the side, to where I lean against the wall, cradling my bleeding wound. Something dark and lethal flicks across his eyes before he drags them back to Carran."Actually, I think I do," he says lowly.Despite being the picture of death, he looks awfully casual. His hands are seated in his pockets, and there is not a single weapon in sight."My witches have very specific instructions if you do," Carran spits out, trying to hide his obvious fear behind a wall of venom. "Far more terrible things await you, Sire, if you kill me.""You hurt my mate.""She can be healed." Carra
The Curse of the Alpha 36
~MearaI storm up the steps, trying to force some calm into my body.He doesn't need to die. He doesn't need to die.I repeat my mantra over and over under my breath, trying to keep to my morals. As much as I would like to see Carran suffer for detaining my best friend, and causing her physical injury, I can't give into the temptation when there is so much more at stake.Sire was more than willing to oblige my angered intentions. I've managed to calm down within the hour. Enough, at least, to decide that no harm will come to Carran unless he instigates it.Or if he causes Hazel any more harm...I slam my fist into the door rapidly. His guards let me into the property with nothing more than a murmur of greeting.Carran knows I'm coming. He's betting on it, I assume.The door opens moments later, and instead of it being one of his staff like I suspected, it's Carran. He gives me a lopsided grin, propping the door open for me to storm into the foyer."I assume you know why I'm here," I g
The Curse of the Alpha 35
~MearaI draw the curtains back, the sun warming my skin.That feeling used to be one of my favourites. After a satisfying sleep, standing under the morning sun rays would bring a pleasant feeling. Now, that feeling is suffocated by what I've woken up to.I feel like I am a completely different person.Sire was asleep next to me when I woke up this morning. I snuck from the room and headed downstairs, wanting to avoid the conversation that I know is inevitable.Even doing that was difficult. Since waking, I can feel a tension between us, that I almost deluded myself into thinking I could physically grab it. The more I've stepped away from him, the more the bond has tightened.I already can tell that if we are too far away, it will go from feeling vaguely uncomfortable, to overwhelmingly painful.The witches weren't lying about the connection...“Good morning.”I flinch, whirling around.With my thoughts no longer crowded by thoughts of the bond, I feel the tension ease with Sire's pro
The Curse of the Alpha 34
~MearaI shift into the room uncomfortably, my cheeks stained with a semi-permenant blush.The weight of what is supposed to happen tonight hangs between Sire and I. He's transported us from the ceremony site to a tense dinner with Hazel, and back here again, to his manor.Now we stand in my room. Well, I stand in the centre of it, and he lingers apprehensively in the doorway."How are you feeling?" He asks gently.He has never seemed more uncomfortable than in this moment."I'm fine," I mumble, rubbing the back of my neck.We stand in silence for a few long, painful moments. My skin feels hot, my eyes unable to meet his intense stare. I'm afraid that if I look at him, and how tall and imposing her looks, I'll panic and try to take back the whole ceremony.I mean, how can I have sex with this man when I can't even look into his eyes right now?"Do you need something to eat?" He questions, rubbing a hand through his hair."No...no I'm fine.""Alright." He clears his throat, looking mo
The Curse of the Alpha 33
~MearaThe world materialises around me, revealing an unfamiliar sight.Hazel pulls her hand out of Sire, shuddering. The experience of being transported somewhere isn't easy to get used to.She shakes off any uncomfortable feelings before gasping, turning in a tight circle as she drinks in the site of where the ceremony takes place.“Wow, I’ve only ever dreamed of this place," she marvels, pressing her palms to her cheeks.This place is far from our Pack, only accessible by magic. For as far as the eye can see, there is only cracked desert plains, reaching out toward the horizon. The only thing disturbing the hauntingly empty space is a lush oasis that doesn't stretch very far at all.Rubbing a frown from my brow, I look back over my shoulder. Desert. When I look forward, there's the oasis that looks like a crack in reality."How is this even possible?" I question, looking at where the ground has been dug up and a marble pool of some sort lies."Magic," Hazel answers, stepping onto t
The Curse of the Alpha 32
~MearaI push away from Sire, whirling around to face him.My cheeks are flushed with shame, knowing I've been caught in a lie that I'm not going to be able to escape from. Sire wouldn't have brought me back here so promptly if he didn't know something was going on.“Why don’t you sit down.” He motions into the other room, his stare ice cold.“Take me back, Sire," I growl.He brushes past me, shaking his head. “You’re not going anywhere.”My jaw tightens as I narrow my eyes at his back, contemplating ways to get out of this conversation. He won't understand, even if what I'm trying to do is for his benefit. He would rather kill Carran now then continue hiding.“I just needed a break…” I exclaim, following him into the sitting room.Sire waves his hand in the direction of the double glass doors. They swing open, a warm breeze flowing in, contrasting against the chill that has seized my insides.“I know you were with Carran,” he mutters, falling into his brown leather seat, letting out
The Curse of the Alpha 31
~MearaI hurry down the stairs, shoving a coat over my shoulders as I go.Time is of the essence. I need to do this today.As I expected, Sire is in his office, pouring over who knows what. I haven't asked him because I'm afraid the answer will reveal a diabolical plan that I don't want to be privy to.I need to focus on one thing at a time.He looks up from his desk as I wander in, hushing my rushed breathing."Can you take me to Hazel?" I ask lightly.I made my decision in the early hours of this morning. Part of me is curious...would Carran even consider it, or would he blow me off? Regardless, the driving force behind my decision is the other repercussion of ending the curse with Sire.Carran will want to know how it ended, and if he asks the right people and the right questions, he will know Sire has been released from his tomb.I can't let that happen. Carran would kill Sire."We can both talk to her," Sire offers, rising from his chair."I want to see her, on my own." I rub the
The Curse of the Alpha 30
~MearaI stare through the canopy of leaves, stretching out uncomfortably.There's a bitter chill to the air, but at least the rain has ceased. We are camped out in the forest near Kimsa's house. It's too late to walk to the edge of her magical protection bubble, and she doesn't want us in the house with her, so here we are."Tomorrow we go to Hazel and have her bring us to this location," Sire says as he sets down some more blankets next to me, gesturing at me to lay them over myself.I fold my hands over my stomach, staring upward. "You haven't even given me a chance to think about this."This should be an easy decision. I shouldn't be thinking twice about being aligned to Sire. We are mates, we are already bonded. But the way Kimsa described what it would be like to be aligned overwhelmed me.When we are apart, I will feel it...I already do, but now, I fear it may be excruciating. What else might I feel? Will my emotions become too much to handle?The thought is terrifying..."What
