The Alpha's Cursed Slave

A gentle breeze blew through my red hair, and I gazed into the forest with blue eyes. I heard the birds singing and the wind stirring in the meadows. The sun was rolling on the horizon, painting the sky pink. My acutely sensitive hearing picked up footsteps coming from the north. A broad smile filled my face. "Lilly you're trying to scare me again," I said out loud. "You are cheating."  Lilly said. She knelt down beside me and gave me a warm hug. We sat in silence for a few minutes and looked at the beautiful scenery. "How do you think it feels to live there" Lilly said. "We'll probably never know" I said with a sigh. " You know you have a chance." said Lilly, turning around. " Leave your parents and go away? It's a strange world out there." I said in a calm tone. " Better there than in this s*****y" said Lilly. "Maybe one day" I said. "Your mother called you to come back as soon as possible" said Lilly. " What is so urgent" I said. " She said you had a visitor of the werewolf kind." said Lilly quietly. " Why can't they give us any peace lately?" she said. " They are always looking for new people to e*****e. " said Lilly. " Come on, let's head for home. " I said, standing up. I stood up and walked down the hill on a well-known path towards a small village on the edge of the forest. Lilly walked beside me and I lost myself in my thoughts. Lilly was the only person who had known my secret for all the years of my life. My first transformation began when I was fifteen, and it took me many years before I was able to make friends with the wolf inside me. It was difficult to manage my anger and hysterical fits when my true nature showed displeasure with other people or their words. Now it is a little easier. Fortunately there are also good qualities like incredible hearing and sight which do not disappear when I regain my normal human form. I am not complaining about my sense of smell, which has become very acute in the last month, and I have not had to deal with that yet. I could feel my she-wolf, who is not very happy, quietly growling inside me because it is time to go home. She loves to observe and enjoy nature. " I'll see you tomorrow at the same time right? " Lilly said, hugging me tightly. " Of course." I said, waving to her. I stood at the fence of my house. A very strong smell reached my nose. It was coming from a dark red car parked on the pavement. I could hear people whispering about the unexpected visitor. My wolf inside had stopped growling and seemed to hide from me. She does this very often when she doesn't want to betray me and cause me problems with my family or werewolves. It is like our little agreement. I opened the white fence gate and took the path straight to the door of my house. After climbing a few more steps, I opened the front door wide. "Mom, I'm home. " I said out loud. " Sweetheart, come into the guest room, we have a visitor" my mother's frightened voice spread through the house. My sense of smell could immediately detect two uninvited guests in the house who were werewolves. I hated the fact that werewolves were exploiting people by creeping on their inner monsters. They looked like humans, but their eyes and commanding tone gave everything away. I crossed the small corridor and opened the living room door. My eyes instantly met those of Mum and Dad, who were a little frightened. Then I turned my blue eyes to the strangers sitting in our living room. " Amelia, Lorcan is here to see us." said Dad. " Please be more respectful. People have no sense of respect." growled the werewolf sitting next to Lorcan. My eyes met Nathan's black eyes. His brown hair was messy and he was wearing a black t-shirt and jeans. I could feel my wolf inside me sort of poking its nose out to see who was there and growling angrily. Fortunately, nobody understood or saw it. I was mildly shocked that the strongest werewolf in the area decided to visit humans. Usually, it is the lower-ranking werewolves who are sent to s*****y for selection and who deliver the humans to the werewolf home. " I wanted to talk to Miss Amelia, will that be you? " Lorcan said in a calm tone. " Yes, how can I help?" I said, standing next to my parents. " This month you become an adult." Lorcan said. That officially means that there is a possibility to became a slave for werewolves. In my head that sounded quite sarcastic. People now live in separate villages and, having surrendered to the power of the werewolves, have pledged their labour to them. One person every eight months, making sure that he or she comes of age. "But we have others, stronger, faster." Dad said in a persuasive voice. "It's Lorcan choice, you have to respect it." said the werewolf sitting on the sidelines. "Calm down Harold." growled Lorcan. The room was silent for a moment, and Harold, who had been making rude comments the whole time, finally shut up and didn't say a word the rest of the time. "To my knowledge, your daughter is ten days away from coming of age." Lorcan said, looking at my parents. At this point Lorcan was standing full height and a few metres away from my parents. Harold stood nearby and, without saying a word, like a good dog, was digging for conversation. "Yes." Mom said. "Miss Amelia, I've come to inform you that you have exactly ten days before your departure. " said Lorcan. " I'm not going anywhere." I said in a cold tone. " You will not - " Lorcan's look was enough to make Harold silent for a moment. Then, in one swift movement, Lorcan was just a few centimetres from my face. He was standing in front of me, and his adequolon mixed with his scent was tickling my nose. Lorcan was much taller than me, so he tilted his head slightly down to look at me. "I hope you don't need to be reminded of what awaits those who disobey?" Lorcan said. Now his face was not so confidential and aesthetic. Now he had a cold, aggressive look on his face and an icy tone in his voice. I knew exactly what awaited those who disobeyed werewolf rules. A war that has already wiped out more than half of humanity could break out. I could feel my wolf inside just clawing with claws and teeth to claw this werewolf's eyes out and shove his own words down his throat. I was not afraid of him like all humans. Probably the beast inside me won't let me give in and lower my head to him. "Ten days. Now it is time for you. You are wasting the precious time I have left with my family." I said in a cold tone. Harold was the first to leave the living room after receiving a stern command from Lorcan to leave the building. Lorcan turned around and was walking towards the living room door when he stopped and looked directly at me. I saw his black eyes turn a deep yellow with red rims. I knew perfectly well that this was a warning for my rude vocabulary. Lorcan showed that his inner beast was not happy with my tone. I looked at him with my blue eyes, not trying to avoid eye contact. Then he turned away and disappeared behind the living room door. "You can't leave." Mum said in a voice full of pain. "We'll think of something." Dad said, hugging me. " You can't do anything." I said in a calm tone. " We can't give you away." said Mum. " That's how we guarantee peace, right?" I said, looking into my father's eyes. "Yes." Dad said in a disappointed tone. We all knew very well that this was unavoidable. Everyone of legal age is legally on the list for s*****y. Chosen people from the villages are moved to the cities. Specifically, to the homes of werewolves and must serve them until the owner decides to let them go. Everything happens, some leave and return, others never see the doorstep of their home or their relatives again. " I will be in my room. " I said in a calm tone. I smiled at my parents and climbed the small wooden steps to my room. It wasn't very fancy, but my dad and mum tried their best. My dad used to be a doctor, so he knows a lot about werewolf movement, weight, position. My mum was a trader in the local pub in the village. I got on my single bed and made myself comfortable with my arms folded over my head. I looked up at my greenish ceiling. My room was small with a wardrobe and a desk. Somewhere in the corner was a backpack. Yes the school I was still attending, currently on summer vacation before the last school year. Education is very important if you want to get a job somewhere further than the borders of this village. Somewhere in werewolf towns. It is said that some people, because of their brilliant minds, can work for werewolves and get normal salaries and live close to them. A quiet humming sounded in my second-floor bedroom window and immediately caught my attention. I turned and there was Lilly sitting on the roof of the house. I quickly got out of bed and ran to the window and quickly opened it. "Are you crazy?" I said, taking Lilly by the hand. "I heard the news, is it true?" Lilly said flatly. "Yes." I said, rolling my eyes. " You'll have a chance to see the world." said Lilly " Not like that."I said, sitting up in bed. " I know, but just think of it as an opportunity okay?" Lilly said in a calm tone. "An opportunity I don't want." I said in an angry tone. My wolf growled loudly in agreement and I felt my eyes flash gold for a moment. I felt my hands begin to shake and anger take over my body. I quickly shook my head to calm down and mentally silenced my angry wolf. "Amelia calm down we don't need a big wolf in the middle of this room." Lilly said as she laughed. Lilly and I were underlings, but her birthday was at the end of the year and mine was coming up soon. She has months of freedom from this nightmare that awaits me. She lay down next to me and looked up at the ceiling of the galley. "Ten days." I said. "In ten days you won't be here?" Lilly said. "Yes." I said in a calm tone. "It's not fair, the village is full of other people who are fiscally stronger, older and more experienced in the field." said Lilly angrily. " That's life." I said in a calm tone. In my mind I was really angry about the situation I was in, things could have turned out completely differently. I still had to live with my parents and finish school, then get a job and when I was ready to leave home. I know I am really lucky to be one of those people who stayed with my home. Most of the villages around here have been burnt and destroyed. The nearest human habitation to our village is about fifty kilometres away. The werewolves only allow us to live in communities that are not very big, so that we cannot get together. Many people have lost their homes, their relatives, have been uprooted, taken to other villages to live, taken away for s*****y or simply killed. "Maybe you will be luckier than others." Lilly said, considering. " I don't know what it will take for them to find out who I really am." I said considering. " I think your mother-in-law is smart enough, you've been undercover for so many years." Lilly said. "I don't know, when I met another werewolf today, she was like a stranger." I said in a calm tone. "Maybe it's the time of year when they're not very quiet." said Lilly. " I hope it passes." I said. Lilly got up from the bed and walked back to the window and opened it easily in one motion. Then she climbed out and sat on the roof. I knew she was risking a broken arm or leg, but I followed and joined her. We both sat on the roof of the house and looked out over our small town. Everything was in plain sight. There was the school, there was the hospital and there was the café where my mother worked. "I heard that Lorcan was coming, is that true?" Lilly said. "Yes, he's impressive." I said. " Even we think he has a charming personality." said Lilly. " He's a bit arrogant and likes to show his power." I said smiling. "How did your wolf react to him?" said Lilly. " He didn't make a very good impression." I said with a shrug. "What are your plans ten days before the trip?" said Lilly. " To spend time with those I love." - I said in a calm tone. " I'm sure we'll see each other again, don't be sad Amelia." said Lilly. " It's just not fair." I said shaking it off. "I'll see you tomorrow, okay? It's about time. Mum doesn't know I've snuck out of the house," said Lilly. "Sure, hurry up." I said. I held out my hand to help Lilly reach the ground faster. She waved and smiled broadly before disappearing from my sight. I stayed sitting on the roof of the house and darkness had started to gather outside the window. The air had cooled slightly and the wind had turned cold. With my blue eyes I watched the village fall little by little. Finally, a big bright moon appeared in the sky with lots of stars. I felt a thrill in my chest and a kind of shaking. I realised that my she-wolf was sad, not wanting to leave her home and go to a world she did not know. I had no idea what was out there for me. Although a few people who had returned to this village after many years of s*****y told me how they had fared and what they had seen there. For some unknown reason, they have a faint memory of what happened there, of the hard work and the tiring long journeys from one home to another. "Daughter's dinner." Dad's voice reached me. "Okay Dad." I said through the open window. I gently lowered my feet to the floor of my room and climbed in through the window. I quickly changed my dirty clothes into a pair of black ripped jeans and a yellow shirt. I tied my lilac red hair into a high ponytail which I braided so it wouldn't tangle. I opened the door to my room and walked lightly towards the kitchen. Mum and Dad were already seated at the table. There was also a separate chair waiting for me with a warm bowl of food. I sat down, thanked my parents for the food and started to eat. It was my favourite dish that my mother used to make. "Thank you Mum, it was delicious." I said as I plopped the plate in the sink. " Daughter we need to talk. " said Dad's calm voice. "Is something wrong?" I said, wiping my hands on a towel. " We want to talk about your trip." Mom said. I walked over and sat on the chair in front of my parents. They looked at me with eyes full of pain and barely held back their tears. Of course I understand them well, I am their only child and I have been their only child all my life. Now they just have to give him up, wondering if they will ever see him again. "We will put a dowry on you." Dad said. " I'll make food for a while." Said Mum. Of course they were scared as hell of what was waiting for me. From the talk of the years of s*****y, people there are very poorly fed and have to work damn hard. I nodded in agreement with my parents' decision. I knew I had a very difficult road ahead of me, but I was determined. I am not going to be a slave there all my life, and I have hope that I will find a way to return to my family. "It's not right." said my mother, barely holding back her tears. I stood up from my seat and hugged my mother. My heart broke to see her so broken and weak. "We can't change anything." Dad said in a calm tone. He put his hand on Mum's shoulder in an attempt to calm her down. I could feel my wolf snarling at the sight of his maker sad and crying. I hugged my mother tighter and snuggled in. "I'll be okay." I said softly so that only my mother could hear. "It's time for me to go to bed." Dad said, sighing. I knew how hard Dad's job was, so I didn't mind going to my room. I quietly closed the door and got on my bed. I looked out of the window, where it was dark and the moon illuminated part of my room. My she-wolf was looking around impatiently, which meant that she was desperate to get free. Today is a full moon and a day when she can roam wherever she wants and enjoy the night nature. I lay quietly in bed for an hour before I heard a no soul in the house. All I could hear was the steady breathing of my parents, which means I can finally get out of the house. I quietly got out of bed and opened the window of the room. In one easy movement I jumped onto the roof, and with another jump, my feet were already touching the ground. I took the next step and walked out of the village, where there was still one other person walking around. Most people are resting and sleeping at this time. The horisontes of the forests and the large meadows finally caught my eye. It was like a blessing for my heart, like a freedom I will never have again. Finally, with my bare feet, I reached the beginning of the forest. My feet felt the soft moss under my paws. I could hear the animals still awake and the birds singing soft melodies. I took off my clothes quickly, not wanting to tear them, turning into my true self. After a few minutes of painful bone breaking and grunting in pain, I looked like myself. A wolf, a few metres bigger than a human, dark orange in colour with very dense fur. Automatically, my ears swiveled in the other direction, listening to the sounds of nature. My golden eyes darted from one tree to the next, observing my surroundings. I stood up and in one swift movement I took off running into the thick of the forest. The trees flew past me at an incredible speed. I jumped, smelling the fresh scent of the forest and feeling the cool earth under my feet. It is an incomparable feeling of freedom and joy that fills my chest. When I got to my favourite spot, I stopped immediately to admire the view. I was standing on a huge hill far from home. From it I could see a huge lake covered with countless trees. I could see the outline of the mountains illuminated by the moon. I sat in silence for a few minutes and admired a fruit that I would soon never see again. My mother-in-law was not happy with her freedom being limited to a period of uncertainty. The most important thing was that she was now well. She was now free to be herself and go wherever she wanted. She was happy for her - she was happy for me in her heart. We are partly one and the same person but sometimes with different needs. All night long I saw the most wonderful places and wonders of nature before my eyes. All kinds of animals from deer to meerkats. Extremely powerful trees that formed whole groves and groves. Water bodies from the smallest to the most enormous where you cannot see the end of the horisonte. Time passed lightning fast and, as I sat in the middle of a huge meadow, the sun began to rise. Then I realised that it was morning and it was time for me to go home. I could feel my she-wolf saddened and her tail swelling, wanting to stay longer and enjoy her freedom. I reassured her with the promise that soon we would see the boundless fields and meadows again. I turned towards home and started to run, letting the wind lightly caress my thick fur. After a short run, I was close to the place of my clothes. A very strong smell reached my sensitive sense of smell. I stopped behind the nearest tree, although I doubted if a wolf as big as me would hide behind a tree. I stuck my nose out to look around to see who might be here, or who was here. I couldn't see any tracks anywhere. The scent led deeper into the woods and there was none on the village side. I took a few steps through the trees and brambles towards the stronger scent.I could feel my stomach starting to churn, which means the angry low growl I was making. A low and inward sound spread in the air, alerting the owner of the smell to the anger. I could feel the fur just stand up and my wolf start to gnarl her teeth. I could hardly see what she was reacting to. After a few seconds, I knew what it was. In a state of shock, I looked at the giant pitch-black wolf sitting in the shadows of the trees. It made no sound, it did not growl, it did not bark, it did not howl. It just sat there and looked straight at me. This wolf, even sitting down, was much bigger and taller than me. Nevertheless, I did not feel any sense of fear or panic as I watched this wolf. I sat down close to him at a considerable distance and looked into his dark yellow eyes with red rims. I knew exactly who those eyes belonged to - Lorcan. The she-wolf reacted negatively to this name and made a little mockery with her teeth to show that she did not enjoy his company. Of course she enjoyed the opportunity to be in her own skin for longer than a human. Nevertheless, she was well aware of what might happen to her if I didn't get to my bed in time. She showed her teeth and quickly got up from her sitting position and took a step towards Lorcan. The only thought that went through my mind was what the hell is he doing here and does he know the truth? Does he know my secret about being a werewolf living with humans? Many thoughts flashed through my mind. I kept walking slowly towards Lucian who was looking straight into my eyes. What the hell, girl, what have you come up with? The only question in my mind.