The Delta's Cursed Mate

Iris Pack

Reina’s POV

After many embarrassing bathroom breaks, a full day with Emerald driving we finally made it to the Iris pack. It was hidden in a small forest. When I pulled on to the dirt road that shouldn’t have been there, I was immediately met with guards. They looked at me for a long time before letting me through the gates.

I watched as the trees thinned and in the middle of the forest, a huge packhouse sat. It was around 5 stories, but I could tell it extended back further into the forest. If someone were ever to find it, it would look more like some rich humans get away rather than a pack of wolves. There was something about the feel of this forest that felt familiar to me, and it set Emerald on edge. She hadn’t really spoken to me, but she was slowly coming back.

I stopped the car in the oddly placed parking space and made sure the car was locked. I didn’t know the wolves and what little I had, was in that car. I looked around and many wolves had come out of nowhere and were staring at me. I hated being the center of attention. I pulled on my sleeves as I walked up to the steps of the packhouse.

As I made it to the bottom step, I felt a pull. Looking up, there was a woman with bright red hair and eyes just as big as mine. Her skin was pale, and the dark freckles that took over her face were like the few I had. The man that stood next to her had a tearful smile on his face as he looked down on me. He had dark brown hair that fell to his shoulders, and tanned skin. He wore a suit, but flashes came to my mind of him throwing a little red headed girl into the pool while she giggled.

Emerald rolled her eyes, That was you, i***t human.

I looked back at the two very familiar faces waiting for something to happen. I really hoped they knew sign language. I wasn’t very good with my voice.

“Do you sign?” I circled my two forefingers together.

“Yes, Reina. We do. We all do.” The woman signed back flawlessly.

I titled my head. I guess I shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. Leon had made sure his pack knew how to sign, and Benji knew too.

“How do you know my name?” I asked them. I felt someone hugging me from behind and it set Emerald off.

My hands gripped the hand from my shoulders and pulled, I felt the snap and could smell the internal bleeding. I looked into the eyes of a man, he couldn’t have been much older than me, he had his wolf at least. Emerald threw him in front of us and growled.

Emerald, we need to be nice. We’re asking for refuge.

No, Reina, we’re home.

I’m home?

Emerald just rolled her eyes and laid back down with her tail wrapped around her. Stubborn wolf.

“Jeez, sis, did you have to break my arm!” The man had already straightened his arm back and was using both hands.

“Sis?” I asked.

He was the perfect mix of the couple on the stairs. His auburn hair was just past his ears, and hazel eyes. He wasn’t wearing a shirt and his body was on full display. Only it didn’t spark any interest. Not that many did. Only Leon. The man looked back at the two people on the top steps. They nodded their head to whatever he was saying, but he didn’t sign it so I couldn’t understand. I patted his chest and made him turn to me.

“What are you saying? I’m deaf.” I signed to him frustrated.

The man rolled his eyes, “Yeah, I know you are.”

I looked back to the man and woman. They were holding each other while the woman shook. She was crying, but I didn’t understand why.

“Where have you been that you can do that?” He asked as he grabbed my wrist.

Emerald growled and pulled my arm from him. She didn’t like anyone touching us.

“Sorry, my wolf..” I looked down at the ground.

He motioned of for me to follow him and led the way up the steps to an office. The room was decorated in a sky blue with deep gray couches against the far wall. The wood floors were stained darker than the original wood but matched the desk that took up a huge portion of one of the walls. There was a balcony with French doors that allowed the salty sea breeze to fill the room. There was a hint of the almond smell I had missed so much.

The man with the hazel eyes sat on one of the couches and motioned for me to sit in the chair. I raised my eyebrow at him, but he just shrugged.

“Why did you come back?” He signed just as the couple handed us both drinks.

“I didn’t know I wasn’t supposed to. I didn’t know I left.” I told them.

“What do you remember about us, the Iris pack?”

I shook my head and shrugged. “Nothing. I mean I know I have a family, and I know that my parents made sure the entire pack knew how to sign so that I could talk. I was around 5 when I lost my hearing.”

The man ran his hands through his hair, “You were about to turn four. You and I were playing hide and seek near the cliffs, where Dad told us not to go. You hit your head just right and have been deaf since.”

I furrowed my brows. That sounded familiar. I remember playing near cliffs, and then never being able to hear again. Not until I turned eighteen and got my wolf and my mind link.

“I’m your older brother, Rowan. Our parents, Richard and Christina.” He pointed to them.

“How do I know you’re not lying?” I said. It was possible, but Emerald wasn’t near as hostile to the people in the room as she was with every other wolf. She didn’t want to run away and spend days in the forest. Or rush me into getting out of here.

“Your wolf, Emerald. She’s uncontrollable, right? She’s always angry and that’s why you broke my arm.”

I nodded.

“On your eighteenth birthday, you were cursed. A stupid warlock was pissed you weren’t his mate, so he closed your bond to everyone. Except he was an i***t and instead of closing the bonds, he erased them and your memory.”

Emerald huffed.

“Wolves are social. We live in packs because we need each other. A wolf with no bonds becomes, well it becomes Emerald.” Richard signed.

“Why did I leave?” I asked.

They all looked at each other.

“That’s something you’ll have to ask your wolf. One day you just left. We haven’t heard from you in almost two years, Reina.” Christina signed. “We always hoped you would come home, and we could be your family again.”

Emerald growled. We only came here because you are getting on my nerves. We don’t need a family.

I looked down at my hands. Can I at least join this pack? You wouldn’t let me join Golden Sun.”

Emerald rolled her eyes, Fine, but I’m not doing any pack runs and keep them away from us.

I felt a tear roll down my face. I had come home only to still be alone.

Don’t be such a baby. You begged me not to go live in the forest, this is the only compromise you’re getting.

I knew she wasn’t joking. She had done this one nice thing for me, and I should be thankful. At least she hadn’t forced control of my body in days.

I explained what happened over the past two years, leaving out Leon being my mate. To Emerald, he wasn’t. He was just another annoying wolf. After Rowan accepted me back into the pack, Christina led me to a room that was done in different shades of purple with a four-poster bed and black blankets. I looked around the room, there were hundreds of pictures around the room, and lots of abandoned technical projects. My fingers trailed the desk that had a soldering iron and lots of mother boards. It looked like I was trying to fix a computer at one point.

“Thank you.” I signed to Christina.

“Dinner will be at 7. Did you want me to show you around?”

I shook my head. She looked defeated, a look I had come to know so well. Leon wore it every day. I was always letting someone down. My mate, my parents, my wolf. I should have just let Emerald take over. Then I wouldn’t have to see that look anymore.

Emerald huffed, Told you. The forest is easier than people having expectations.

Why didn’t you tell me we were cursed?

I didn’t know. All I know is all of you humans and wolves are annoying. Bonds do nothing but make you disappointed. Look at our Mother. She’s upset that I don’t care. Being alone is better than constantly having people pity us.

She wasn’t wrong.