THE CURSED VESSEL

CHAPTER TWO

Alicia! I hope you are ready. The ceremony begins in ten, Edward shouted from the door.

Right, Yes Dad. Alicia replied,

And why did you scream by the way? Edward asked he was surprised at Alicia’s reaction when he opened the door.

I am sorry, I wasn't expecting you to open the door without knocking. Besides, I heard heavy footsteps coming towards my room. Alicia replied

Oh, that, those were Gamma and Beta, but they are currently sitting in the living room, they weren’t coming this way. Edward said this with his brows furrowed at Alicia’s words.

I must have been hearing things then, Alicia said and sat on the bed.

You don't look like you are ready for this ceremony, you are not organized in any way. Edward said.

It was at this point that Alicia realized she was about to be late for her inauguration. She wanted to rush to the bathroom to wash when she turned and said,

Dad, what kind of Luna has no maidservant to dress and make preparations her for her inauguration?

Edward frowned and said to Alicia. We would not have this conversation, now get prepared and be out in five minutes.

Dad! Alicia yelled in disappointment.

Edward placed a finger on his lips and pointed to the bathroom. Alicia’s head dropped, she turned around and headed to the bathroom.

We have gotten to the final stage of this sacred ceremony of the Silvermoon. Our Alicia will be officially crowned the Luna and female Alpha of the Amber pack. Priest Ryden announced, raising his arms in admonition.

Alicia had just turned eighteen. The expectant gaze of the park members was fixed on her, they were willing to give her the benefit of the doubt since she was the one and only daughter of the late vessel of the moon goddess.

Priest Ryden turned to Alicia and said, say the prayers, Alicia.

I hope this ceremony ends the troubles and gives me the freedom I never had, I hope that the moon goddess will finally make me the next vessel, Alicia whispered to herself, her eyes closed with tears flowing down her face.

It took Alicia a great deal of bravery and courage to finally agree to become the Luna of Amber Park, she didn't believe in herself.

Maybe she was selfish, she didn't care, this is what she needs at the moment, she needs her sanity and freedom.

As the rays of dawn began to kiss the horizon, Alicia felt a sudden sensation that sent a strange shiver down her spine, the hair on her skin stood sending her nerves on edge. She was surrounded by a group of shadowy figures in cloaks.

Before she could ponder its meaning or think of an escape route, she was seized.

She managed to say let go of before stifled clothes were pressed against her mouth.

She managed to open her eyes and looked around to see why no one was making an effort to rescue her, panic surged within her as she saw her people staring back at her with no attempt to save her.

She struggled against her kidnappers but their strength was overwhelming. They whisked her away in a swift motion, she was taken away from her pack.

Alicia’s mind whirled with questions, she was already trapped within the perimeter of a dark carriage, she wanted to fight her way out again but she suddenly felt her strength trapped by an unknown force, she felt frail and could barely talk,

Can't you see that the community you call your pack is not willing to save you, ain't you happy that you were kidn*pped, they don't care about you, isn't this obvious, even your Father didn't make any effort? Gamma Austin spoke softly, making it sound like they were doing her a favour by k********g her. Alicia easily sensed the underlying menace in his voice.

His words struck fear in her. Previous events surfaced in her mind again and again.

Do they hate me that much? My Father would defend me whenever I was being bullied, why did he stand and watch me get kidn*pped by these people? Does he also believe I am a curse upon the amber pack? she said in her shaky faint voice and uncontrollable tears began to flow down Alicia’s face with her body unmoving.

Alicia suffered humiliation every of her life, she was labeled a curse upon Amber pack, the reason for her mother’s death.

You are a curse to our pack, I wish you perished instead of our blessed Luna Aubrey

What has our beloved Luna done to deserve this curse for a reward?

Our once strong and wealthy pack is now a tool of mockery to another pack

You better crawl back to the dark abyss you came from

The moon goddess is partial, she should have taken your life right away

Her body must have been an abode for witches, even the moon refused to make her the next vessel

Don't move close to her or else you will be struck with twenty years of bad luck.

These were the words Alicia had to live with every day of her life in her pack. She is not so weak, and so is her wolf but her childhood experience drew her pride and self-esteem down to zero.

Alicia felt her body drop to the ground with two giant palms as her face twitched from pain. They finally stopped after what seemed to be like forever. It was indeed the worst roller coaster experience all the way here if anyone asks.

She struggled to sit up, all she could see was darkness since her face was covered with a bag. She could not see but felt the presence of few beings around her and the sounds of living and non-living things.

Alicia signed, and the curse upon Amber was finally taken away.

Feeling a bit relieved that she was kidn*pped, she still cannot help but think of the reasons why she was kidn*pped by these mysterious assailants.

Beta Bryan said to Gamma Austin, go inform our Alpha that we have arrived and our mission is accomplished, I will be making other preparations, Gamma nodded and turned to leave, and Beta did the same as well.

Alicia heard footsteps moving in a certain direction, but away from her. The sounds from the footsteps were becoming faint as they moved, till she couldn’t hear them

anymore, then she was sure that her kidnappers had just left. She hurriedly began to untie herself, she also removed the bag covering her head.

She opened her eyes to see two pairs of not-so-big but breathtaking eyes staring back at her like it was going to dig deep into her skull.

Oh my days, Alicia said unconsciously in lust.

She held her breath as she was scared they would disappear if she did otherwise, her eyes slowly traveled down his nose from his eyes down to his lips and his perfectly chiseled jawlines.

Alicia wanted to see more of this often, to love and to hold forever, she was scared but her wolf would not take her eyes off him, she knew it was not a dream. I can not fall for anyone now, not in this present predicament, Luna be calm or I will push back into that hole, you won't be able to crawl out again, Alicia threatened her wolf.

Who are you? this voice was calm and at the same time, deep and threatening, it forcefully jolted her back to reality.

Alica fell to the ground with her eyes widening in shock, her once lost-in-lust expression turned bitter. That voice, why does it sound familiar? it wasn't just because his presence and voice sent shivers down her spine, it brought back a fragment of an incident she never wanted to remember. Fear gripped her.

Asher stepped forward but Alicia’s scream made him halt his steps, don’t come closer, she reacted harshly.

How did you get here? Asher asked again, looking at her as though he was losing his patience this time.

Alicia gathered herself and picked herself up, she guessed he must be the Alpha who asked that she be kidn*pped with the way he looked and the sort of aura he exuded. She felt irritation surge from within and decided to confront him.

Are you asking me now? Did you not send your dogs to abduct me? Alicia started yelling and went on ranting as her face became red, she was about to explode from anger. Are you trying to play tricks with me and behave like you know nothing?

I see you have some guts, your mood swings are rather interesting as well, you did not just infiltrate my territory, you had the effrontery to look me in the face and yell at me. Asher asked firmly, with a smirk plastered on his face. He wasn't shouting but the terrifying aura exuding from him at the moment,

Alicia could smell trouble in the air.