Bound By a Curse

Chapter1

“What are you doing? This isn't part of the plan.” Ethan Anderson says angrily to the man standing in front of him.

“Don't you think I know that? But Jack said we should meet him down the trail, close to the river.” Leo responds in a quiet tone as he averts his eyes from Ethan's inquisitive ones.

“This is too dangerous, Leo. What exactly are we meeting him there for?” Ethan asks in a suspicious but quivering tone.

“He wants to mobilise the rest of our supporters. He's trying to help us Ethan. I think it will be unfair of us not to go.” Leo says finally through a clenched jaw.

“Fine, but this has to be quick. We can't risk being caught.” Ethan responds as he moves down the track.

Ethan stares up at the moonless sky and can't help but have a feeling of impending doom.

“Why is there so much noise down there, Leo?” Ethan asks in a concerned tone.

“It's— it's just the people he gathered. Remember that you are not the only one who sees a problem with our current system.” Leo hurriedly explains as he doubles his steps.

Ethan nods in response and keeps moving ahead until he finally steps out into an open area. He stumbles forward when Leo hits him hard from the back.

“What the hell are you doing?” Ethan asks Leo as he takes a cursive look at the faces of the people currently surrounding him but still giving him a wide berth.

“I should be asking you that, Ethan. Why did you have to go and mess everything up?” Leo says with red-rimmed eyes.

“Where is Jack?” Ethan asks finally in a confused tone, refusing to see the betrayal that was right in front of him.

“Currently at home with his mate.” Leo responds as he takes a step closer to Ethan.

“You fucker! You sold us out!” Ethan screams in anger as he lunges for Leo.

Ethan is held back by some men from the quickly assembling crowd, as murmurs broke out amongst them.

“I didn't sell you out, Ethan. I did the right thing. I couldn't watch you betray our Alpha this way!” Leo says in a seething tone.

“An alpha who doesn't have our best interest at heart. He will rather watch us suffer than go through the uncomfortable sacrifices that have to be made!” Ethan says in anger as he struggles against the grip of the men holding him back.

“Then you should have gone about things the right way. You could have reported to the elders, they would have handled this the best way.” Leo spits out in a disgusted tone.

“What elders? The same ones that benefit from his evil?” Ethan asks in a sarcastic but bitter tone.

“Enough!” A loud but hard voice belonging to Alpha Caddel, the head Alpha of the Blackmoon's pack, says clearly.

The men holding onto Ethan, releases his arms, letting him go. They all fall to their knees in greeting but Ethan remains standing, his own form of rebellion which does not go unnoticed by Alpha Caddel.

“Ethan. Ethan. Ethan. I never knew you had it in you to blatantly disrespect me. And what were you thinking? That my men wouldn't tell me the truth?” Alpha Caddel asks in a genuinely inquisitive tone.

“I'm not shocked they told you. Fools will always be subject to fools.” Ethan says in anger as he takes a step forward.

“Tell me the names of all the people involved.” Alpha Caddel says in a flat tone, all traces of his earlier playful tone gone.

Ethan remains quiet as he squeezes his fingers tightly into a fist. “Kill me.”

“I knew you would be like this, that is why I brought in a little persuasion.” Alpha Caddel says with a smirk as he snaps his fingers together.

The men who had earlier been holding onto Ethan, cut through the crowd, dragging Ethan's wife, Charlotte and his six year old daughter, Mira along with them.

“What are you doing Caddel?! Let them go! They have nothing to do with this.” Ethan says in a quivering but angry tone as he attempts to fight his way to his family.

“Give me the names I need and I will let them go.” Alpha Caddel says in a quiet but dangerous tone.

“You have me already. Punish me and let them go.” Ethan says in a broken tone as he tries his best not to give out the names of his closest supporters.

“Just one name, Ethan. In exchange for the life of your family. Don't you think that's fair enough?” Alpha Caddel asks with a suggestive tilt of his brows.

Ethan gulps loudly as he stares into the eyes of his wife. The sound of his crying daughter spurs him into action.

“Jack. Jack Slade.” Ethan says finally, the words leaving a bitter taste in his mouth.

“Very good.” Alpha Caddel says to Ethan before turning his back on him. “String them up.” Alpha Caddel says to the men holding on to Ethan's wife and daughter.

“What are you doing?! You promised to let them go!” Ethan screams in despair as he resumes his fight to get to his family.

“Surely you are not that naive, Ethan. I can't allow your actions go unpunished.” Alpha Caddel says in a mocking tone.

“Please! Please I'm begging you! Let them go and take your anger out on me.” Ethan begs in a broken tone as he goes slack in the hands of the men holding him back.

“If I let them go, what will my men think of me? I'm sorry but I can't allow them to think I'm weak.” Alpha Caddel says with an indulgent shrug of his shoulders.

“This isn't about you being strong. It's about you having a goddamned heart!” Ethan screams at him as he finally manages to break free from the grip of the men surrounding him.

“Tie them up.” Alpha Caddel says, not bothering to respond to Ethan.

Mira, Ethan's daughter attempts to escape and run to her father but she is hit hard on the head by one of the men and she falls to the ground.

“Let them go! I will— I will do anything.” Ethan says in a pleading but determined tone.

“I'm sorry, but there's nothing I want from you. If it makes you feel better, I won't harm you. You are to live with the guilt of the fate you brought upon your family.” Alpha Caddel says with a wide smirk on his face.

Ethan breaks down crying, unable to watch the evil about to be done to his wife and daughter.

“Let them go, Caddel.” A strong voice says, breaking out of the trail.

“Jasper, I didn't know you had an interest in these things.” Alpha Caddel says through gritted teeth, upset at the interruption.

“We develop new hobbies everyday, Caddel.” The man named Jasper responds, with a taunt in his tone.

“Well it's a good thing you are here, I won't have to go through the motions of explaining my actions to you.” Alpha Caddel says in a dismissive tone.

“What actions? There is no explanation for killing innocent people.” Jasper says in a hard tone.

“He organised a rebellion movement against me, I'm very sure I'm justified in my actions.” Alpha Caddel says in response.

“Not without my permission and that of the founding leaders of these pack and you know it.” Jasper says in a cold tone as he levels Alpha Caddel with a glare.

“You have no right to stop me, Jasper. Not without the consensus of the elders.” Alpha Caddel says in a self assured tone.

Jasper doesn't respond as he pulls out a parchment of paper from his pocket and he hands it over to Alpha Caddel whose expression rapidly changes from a smug one to an angry one.

“This is bullshit! You can't demand their release, He betrayed our pack!” Alpha Caddel says in an angry tone.

“And he will he adequately punished for it.” Jasper says loudly, to the hearing of everyone surrounding them.

“They are going to be named traitors but will still live amongst us. How is that an adequate punishment for you?” Alpha Caddel asks with an enraged expression on his face.

“Irrespective of their current actions, they have been an integral part of our pack. You can't rule out the good they have done due to a little misunderstanding. Our decision has been made, and there is no changing my mind on this.” Jasper says in a calm tone.

“Fine. Very well. I promise you that you will regret giving this scoundrel a second chance.” Alpha Caddel says in an emotionless tone.

“I can live with that.” Jasper says, turning his back on the crowd and walking away.

CHAPTER ONE:

MIRA'S POV:

I step out onto the terraced balcony of the extremely beautiful mansion that served as a pack house.

I close the glass door softly behind me as I breathe in the fresh air. The ballroom had been so stuffy, I felt like I was about to die from asphyxiation.

I am still hateful that I had the chance to experience this though. If not for the peculiar theme of tonight's party, I would have been at home in my cramped room, staring dejected at the ceiling. Because you see, I was not accepted at this kind of social events.

I readjust the dainty mask sitting prettily on my nose and covering half of my face. No one had recognised me, even if they did, I'm sure their basic brains could not handle the fact that I might be daring enough to attend these events so they have decided to believe I wasn't here.

I lean on the railings and stare back into the large room at the other end of the doors and I shiver in anticipation and fear as I feel and see the same set of eyes on me.

The keen manner with which the man wearing the silver foxed mask was staring at me, I was momentarily worried that I might have been found out.

But then the mask-wearing stalker had gone out of his way to ignore me, so I figured I was safe, but now he was staring again and this time I was truly scared at the determined set of his lips.

I calculate the distance from this height to the ground as the mask wearing man stalks towards me. He wades off the people trying to speak to him, easily side stepping them.

I begin to shake, prepared to jump off the railings when he bursts through the door, closing it behind him.

“Well, well, well. If it isn't the impulsive Mira Anderson.” The hard voice belonging to Landon Caddel, the Alpha's son, says in a derisive tone that intensifies my anger.

If I had known he was the one behind the mask, I wouldn't have felt a sliver of anticipation at his attention on me.

“What are you doing, Landon?” I ask in a wary tone as he takes a step closer to me.

“You tell me. What are you doing here, Mira? You aren't accepted at social events of this nature.” Landon says in a growly tone that does nothing to quell the fast beating of my heart.

I know I should have recognised him as Landon from the dark colour of his eyes which looked like I could drown in them.

“Who let you in?” Landon asks in a hard tone as he takes a threatening step towards me.

“That's none of your business!” I say hurriedly in a squeaky tone as I retreat further away from him and closer to the edge of the railings.

“That's strange considering you are in my house. Everyone under this roof right now is my business.” Landon says with a slow tilt of his head.

“You don't want to be seen talking to the town's reject do you? I think you should return to the party.” I respond in a quivering tone, trying desperately to get him to leave me alone.

“Do you see me as someone who would conform to societal rules?” Landon asks with a scoff as he takes another step towards me.

“Fine. I will leave. If you excuse me for a moment.” I say as I fold my arms across my chest, trying to act tough.

“It's too late for that, little rabbit.” Landon says with an annoying smirk I wish so desperately to wipe off his face.

“Stop calling me that!” I say as flames of embarrassment eat up my cheeks. I know what he's referring to.

A few days ago at the sighting of the full moon, all the pack members within the ages of 18 and 20 gathered in the open clearing near the lake waiting for our first full transformation.

I was initially refused the opportunity to take part in the activity with other people of my age grade but after much persuasion, the authorities finally relented much to the chagrin of almost everyone.

And almost as though the moon goddess was no longer on my side, I waited and waited until almost everyone had transformed but I still felt nothing. However, just when I was about to give up I finally felt a sharp pain run up my spine.

I howled in pain, unable to move but nobody came to my aid. The pain racked my body until I felt I was going to pass out.

Just when I felt I was going to die, Landon came to my aid. He picked me up and took me deeper into the forest. I eventually transformed into a soft small wolf that would forever leave me embarrassed.

When I feel the inner rumblings within me, I know it's my wolf protesting at my line of thoughts. I recently just started to get in touch with that part of myself so I don't feel guilty even one bit.

“You shouldn't worry about that. Your secret is safe with me.” Landon says in a hard tone, stopping my like of thoughts as he carefully pulls off his mask.

My breath hitches in my throat at the sight of his midnight black curls which were cropped short. It was general knowledge that Landon was by far the hottest and meanest guy in our pack but that still doesn't make me immune to his appeal.

“But you have to give me something in exchange.” Landon finally says, his eyes dark with an emotion I don't recognise.

“I don't care if you tell everybody about my wolf. It's already getting bigger and better the more I train it.” I say in a determined tone as I convey the truth to him.

“I wasn't talking about that, little rabbit. What do you think would be the reaction of all those people when they realise you are sharing the same breathing space as them?” Landon asks with a cruel smirk on his face.

“I have as much rights as they do to be in this place. They have no right to take that away from me.” I say in an enraged tone as angry tears fill my eyes.

“That's not what the restriction order says, little rabbit.” Landon says in a calm mocking tone, effortlessly reminding me of the little drama that ensued the previous year which made me effectively banned from all social events of this nature.

“Fine. I will leave. The party is stupid anyways.” I say as I wipe the few errant tears away from my cheeks.

“I told you already, its too late for that.” Landon says with a wide smirk.

“If you are going to expose me, get it over with already.” I say through gritted teeth, unable to deal with the suspense.

“No, little rabbit. I'm not going to expose you. I want to have one dance with you.” Landon says, shocking the hell out of me.

“Dance—?!” I manage to choke out in confusion.

“Yes. It's what two people indulge in to have fun.” Landon responds in a flat tone.

“Why do you want to dance with me?!” I ask in an alarmed tone.

“Don't look a gift horse in the mouth, baby.” Landon says in an infuriating tone as he bops me on the nose.

“I don't want to dance with you!” I say in shock, unable to.wrao my head around the fact that the boy who has been my bully for years wanted to dance with me.

“I can always expose your true identity.” Landon says with a cruel smirk on his lips.

Now, there is the cruel boy I've always known.

“Fine. Just one dance.” I say in a level headed tone as I weigh all my options.

Landon places his hand on the small of my back and leads me forward, keeping me too focused on his hand on my waist to notice his little slip up.

“Landon! You aren't wearing your mask!” I say in a desperate tone as Landon leads me deeper into the room. We pass a lot of stunning ladies on the way who give him appreciative glances but he doesn't spare them any attention.

“And?” Landon asks in a pointedly obtuse tone that grates on my last nerves.

“People will recognise you!” I say painfully slow, hoping that he will understand.

“Do you really think they didn't know I was the one behind the mask?” Landon asks with a scoff. I have never seen a person more self absorbed than Landon Caddel.

“Landon, you are a coveted piece amongst these people. They will start to wonder who your companion is!” I say desperately, trying to get him to see reason.

“Let them guess. I'm the only one allowed to know the truth.” Landon says in a husky tone that sends shivers down my spine.

I barely have the time to form a response before Landon pulls me into him. He places his hand on my waist and I'm forced to hold his biceps.

I can barely concentrate on anything other than the bulging muscles beneath my fingers. I notice the multiple eyes staring at us. Some with wonder and interest at who I might be and others with Jealousy, wishing they could take my place.

“Do you enjoy this?” Landon asks in a calm, soft and soothing tone devoid of any form of mocking, for the first time.

“Yes. Yes, I do.” I say quietly, opening up to him with just three words I never thought would leave my lips this night.

“Well you have your parents to blame for that.” Landon says in a cynical tone as his hold on me turns bruising.

“Wait…. What.?!” I sputter in anger as I pull away from him.

“You really are very naive.” Landon says with a fulfilled sigh, finally allowing me to see beneath the nice facade and I wish I can say I'm shocked.

I whirl around to make a quiet exit before Landon completes his evil plan, when I bump into a lady who then spills all the drinks in her hand unto my dress.

“What the hell? Why can't you look where you are going?” The lady says angrily, before snatching my mask away from my face.

I freeze in shock and despair as I realise everyone's eyes on me. Heck… I'm doomed.

I turn to Landon for help but the look on his face and the calculative look in his eyes tell me the truth. I have fallen for the tricks of the devil once more.