The Cursed Gift

Chapter 3

The summer passed exactly as Evelynn had expected.

Most days were quiet and predictable, spent helping her parents around the cabin and trying to settle into a life that still didn’t quite feel permanent. She sat beside her father while he repaired the hole in the roof, handing him tools and nails while he worked beneath the warm summer sun. Near the back of the property, she discovered a small, overgrown vegetable garden hidden beneath weeds and wild vines. She spent hours pulling roots from the soil and clearing the space so they could plant fresh seeds once fall fully settled in.

When the work was done, she often escaped to the lake hidden within walking distance of the cabin. The water was calm and clear, surrounded by tall trees whose branches swayed gently in the breeze. There, she could sit beneath the shade with a book in her lap and pretend, if only for a little while, that she was normal.

At night, exhaustion usually pulled her into sleep before her thoughts had time to wander too far. For the first time in years, life felt almost peaceful.

When the cool breeze of fall finally arrived, so did the start of the new school year. That morning, Tara drove the van through the pack territory toward the main road leading into the city. Their plan for the day was simple enough: pick up Evelynn’s homeschool materials, gather school supplies, and try to make the upcoming year feel as normal as possible.

Tara slowed to a stop at the main traffic light just outside the packhouse.

Evelynn looked out the window and immediately noticed two large yellow school buses parked near the front entrance. Teenagers gathered around them in clusters, laughing loudly while others climbed aboard.

“Hey Mom, what are those buses doing here?” Evelynn asked curiously.

She spotted the trio she had met a few weeks ago, absorbed in their phones and completely oblivious to the attention surrounding them. Evelynn couldn’t help but admire their features. Midas and Leo had dark brown hair, while Henry was beach-boy blonde. All three wore jeans and dark shirts, almost matching. The future Alpha and his friends seemed larger than life, which was expected. Girls nearby whispered and giggled while openly gawking at them, but the boys barely acknowledged their existence.

Seeming to sense being watched, Midas looked straight in her direction and scowled. She quickly slid down the front seat to avoid him. Could he see me? Ugh, I hope not.

Tara looked over at the buses. “Oh, a lot of the packs in this area are too small to have high schools and middle schools of their own, so they bus the kids out to the closest human city to go to school instead.”

Evelynn turned toward her mother, surprised. “I thought we weren’t supposed to reveal ourselves to humans unless they’re our mates or the Wolfen Council approves it during emergencies.”

“That’s true,” Tara replied as the light turned green and she pulled onto the main road again. “But blending a few werewolves into human classrooms is easier than building entirely separate ones. Humans don’t notice nearly as much as people think they do.”

Comfortable silence settled over the van, but Evelynn’s thoughts continued spinning. If other pack kids could attend school safely, then why couldn’t she? The question burned in her chest until she finally gave in.

“Then why can’t I go to high school with the others?” she asked carefully. “I’d blend right in with the humans! I’m so small no one would even pay attention to me.”

Tara sighed immediately, already exhausted by the conversation before it had fully begun.

“Evelynn, we’ve talked about this.”

“I know, but...”

“No,” Tara interrupted firmly. “Your visions are too unpredictable.”

Entwining her fingers in a desperate prayer, she continued to beg. “Please, Mom, I promise I’ll wear my gloves 24-7. And I’ll stay quiet. I won’t touch anyone. I just...” Her voice softened, “Just want to feel normal for once.”

Irritation tensed Tara’s shoulders as she gripped the steering wheel a little tighter. Didn’t her daughter understand she was trying to protect her? What if someone with bad intentions discovered her curse and exploited it? No, she had to keep her daughter safe.

“I said no,” Tara repeated more sharply. “Only bad things happen when your visions appear. I’m not risking your safety because you want to sit in a classroom.”

The words hit harder than her mother intended.

Evelynn slumped back in the seat, disappointment washing over her. She turned toward the window, blinking rapidly to avoid the tears.

Tara immediately regretted the harshness in her tone.

“I know you’re upset,” she said more gently after a moment. “But I’m trying to protect you, baby. I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

Evelynn stared quietly out the window, watching the trees blur past while guilt slowly settled over her. She understood why her mother worried. Deep down, she understood it completely. But understanding didn’t stop the loneliness. Eventually, she reached over and gently touched Tara’s hand in silent surrender.

Tara let out another tired sigh before forcing herself to smile slightly. “Why don’t we hit the bookstore before we go to the school? You can pick out two new books.”

Evelynn looked at her hopefully. “Five books?”

“Two.”

“Six new books?” Evelynn smiled.

Tara fought a smile as a playful growl rumbled in her throat. “You are negotiating in the wrong direction.”

Evelynn grinned slightly for the first time all morning. “Two sounds great.”

In the end, Evelynn left the bookstore with four new books because they were from the discount bin. She also had to promise she wouldn’t read them all in a day.

They reached the high school just around noon. While her mother went into the main office to meet with the homeschool advisor, Evelynn waited alone on a bench in the hallway outside.

Students passed between classes, and several slowed when they noticed her gloves. Some whispered to each other while others openly stared. Evelynn tugged nervously at the fabric around her wrists and kept her eyes lowered. Maybe blending in would have been harder than she imagined.

“Evelynn, right?”

A deep male voice spoke from above her. The familiar voice startled her enough that she looked up. Leo stood in front of her, smiling casually.

“Did you change your mind about coming to school?” he asked.

Evelynn shook her head and adjusted her glasses nervously. “No. My mom’s meeting with the homeschool advisor.”

Leo’s smile faded slightly. “That sucks. It would’ve been nice having you here.” He leaned casually against the wall beside her. “What grade are you in?”

She blinked at him in surprise.

“By age standards, I should still be in middle school,” she admitted. “But I already passed most of the placement tests, so I’m starting ninth grade.”

Leo looked genuinely impressed. “Seriously? So, you’re basically a genius.”

Heat rushed to her cheeks as she smiled shyly. “I just read a lot.”

“Yo, Leo!” Midas’s voice echoed down the hallway. “Coach is gonna kill us if we’re late.”

Midas came around the corner with a football in his hand and Henry hot on his heels. Evelynn realized the three boys were now wearing matching basketball shorts and shirts emblazoned with the Eagle school mascot. The shirts revealed the definition of their muscles. It was obvious that each of them had already connected with their wolves. Evelynn had to admit; they were handsome to look at.

“Sorry,” Leo said with an apologetic grin. “Football season just started, and Coach takes weight training way too seriously.” Before he jogged after the others, he added. “I’ll see you around...”

Evelynn smiled and gave a small wave.

Before Midas disappeared around the corner, he glanced back at her with the same scowl he always seemed to wear.

Evelynn frowned right back. Does his face get stuck like that or something?

“Ready to go?” Tara asked as she approached, carrying several textbooks and folders.

Evelynn immediately stood and took some supplies from her mother.

“We need to stop by the packhouse before heading home,” Tara explained. “Apparently all your assignments are online now, so Beta Phillip offered to loan us a laptop.”

The packhouse buzzed with activity when they arrived. Pack members were on their way to the dining hall or their suites.

“I’ll only be a few minutes,” Tara promised when Beta Phillip called her toward his office. “Stay nearby.”

Evelynn nodded obediently before wandering slowly through the first floor.

She explored quietly, peeking into elegant sitting rooms, formal dining areas, and lounges filled with expensive furniture. The cafeteria near the back of the building overflowed with noise and conversation. As she walked down a quieter hall, she heard weird noises. Unable to resist her growing curiosity, she went to see what it was. The noise grew louder. She pushed the gaming room door open slightly farther before her brain fully processed what she was seeing.

Midas stood near the billiards table with a girl wrapped around him, her legs locked around his waist while his pants hung unbuttoned low on his hips. Their tongues were down each other’s throats, and his hand was inside her shirt, groping her breast. She threw her head back and begged to go further.

The girl suddenly opened her eyes and screamed.

“What the f**k!” The girl said while covering herself.

Evelynn stumbled through her words. “Uh, uh, I’m sorry. The door was open. I didn’t mean...”

Her words caught when she looked at Midas. He looked completely bored, not even embarrassed. Well, that is new. At least he isn’t scowling at me again. Maybe he does have more than one facial expression.

SLAP!

Pain exploded across her face so violently that her glasses flew sideways onto the floor. Evelynn froze in shock; she pressed a hand to her throbbing cheek and stared wide-eyed at the girl who had hit her.

“Stop staring at my boyfriend! You stupid Omega.” The girl snapped.

“I-I’m not an Omega,” Evelynn stammered weakly, still dazed. “I’m Evelynn.”

The girl narrowed her eyes before noticing the gloves. “What’s wrong with your hands?”

She reached forward suddenly, trying to grab them. Before Evelynn could recoil, Midas caught the girl’s wrist.

“Roxie,” he said flatly, “I’m not your boyfriend, and leave the freak alone. She didn’t do anything.”

His eyes shifted lazily toward Evelynn.

“Besides,” he added coldly, “this was getting boring anyway.”

Roxie stared at him in disbelief. “Boring?! But we were just about to...”

Midas checked his phone, completely ignoring her.

“s**t, I got to go before my mom comes looking for me.” Without another glance at either girl, he walked out.

Roxie huffed angrily before rushing after Midas. “Midas, wait!”

Silence filled the room after they disappeared.

Freak, he called me a freak ... It stung more than her cheek did. It was the same label, but different pack. She couldn’t get used to being treated differently when she so desperately wanted to fit in. She decided never to come to the packhouse again.

After a few more seconds of standing alone, she picked her glasses off the floor and left to go wait in the car.

Tara frowned immediately when she noticed how quiet she was. “Is everything alright?”

Evelynn quickly turned toward the window, letting her hair hide the faint redness on her cheek.

“I’m just tired,” she whispered softly. “Can we go to the cabin now?”