The Alpha's bloodcurse

Meena panted as she ran through the thick forest. She was fast but not fast enough to evade the night hunters, and her bleeding wounds weren’t helping. The hunters could track her through her blood, making it impossible for her to hide. She was left with two options—either run or surrender to a death sentence. She stopped by a large tree, tearing part of her shirt to bandage her bleeding arm. Her shoulders were also bleeding, and she wasn’t healing quickly; Collins' venom was preventing it. She tried to hold back tears as she remembered Collins' rampage—how her precious, soon-to-be alpha mate savagely slaughtered their family and attacked her when she tried to stop him. It was a disaster, she thought. "How could he?" she sobbed quietly, barely holding back her tears. Collin had been so sweet. She remembered how he met her that fateful day. Her pack was just recovering from a recent attack. She had no parents, and her only family had been brutally murdered by a group of rogues. She was serving as an omega to the pack luna when Collin picked her scent as his luna, even though she was wolfless. Collin’s pack elders deemed their union forbidden, but Collin fought for her against all odds. "It’s gonna be fine," he told her. "You’re my luna, and nothing can change that." His sweet words and tenderness were what attracted her to him, but now all she saw was a savage monster, deemed to die at the next crescent moon. The wolves were howling; the hunt was close. Meena could barely move. She limped as she tried to run, but her weak legs resisted. Slowly, she fell down, tears clouding her faint vision. It was a full moon, and she was beautiful. She smiled weakly as she said one final prayer to the moon goddess. She heard footsteps approaching as her body surrendered to the pain. A figure knelt beside her and touched her forehead. The faintness overtook her completely, and darkness came next. The sun shone through the drapes as she woke up from a heavy sleep. Last night had been hectic. They had to meet with the elders concerning the crescent festival happening tonight. Usually, there wasn’t this much tension, but Collin’s father, the pack’s alpha, had passed away. Collin was chosen by the elders through the goddess, and his ritual was happening tonight at the crescent festival. They only had two per year, and Collin must have been so lucky to be blessed during a crescent festival. She walked to the bath to wash her face when someone suddenly touched her shoulders. She turned back as her eyes met Collin’s. His bright smile met the rays of the sun as he kissed her forehead. "Ready for the festival, my love?" he asked, leading her to the window-side couch. "It’s been hectic, Col," she replied, frowning lightly. "And the elders aren’t making it easy," she continued. "They do hate you," Collin teased. "Ha ha, very funny." She threw her pillow at him. The elders had never really accepted her as their pack’s luna due to her background and the fact that she remained wolfless. Everyone was keeping their fingers crossed, hoping she might get a wolf form when she conceived Collin’s baby. "You worry too much," Collin said, noticing her partly frowned face. He sat her on the bed and locked his fingers with hers. "We’re in this together," he continued, but his reassurance did not make her feel any safer. From a young age, she had the problem of paranoia, feeling that nothing good would last forever. Seeing how the universe had dealt her harsh blows in the past, it was only natural for her to have that feeling. But Collin’s smile was hard to ignore. His calm, extremely handsome face had a way of making her feel at ease. It was the same smile on that same handsome face that had asked for her that fateful day at the Silver Pack. They were just recovering from yet another attack from rogues, which had sadly claimed Lina, the only family she had left. With nowhere to go and little resources remaining, she worked as an omega to the ever-demanding luna of her pack. She had just brought the drinks when Collin saw her from his mat, his blue eyes drowning her in their ever-magical gaze. He approached her slowly amidst the full room of curious elders. He touched her as she struggled to catch her breath, enclosed in his ever-glowing aura. The room was still. The elders were now on their feet, watching in disdain as Collin asked for her name. "Meena," she answered, her breath mingling with his now close face. It was evident what was happening; she felt his entire force as he said under his breath, "Meena, my luna." Turning to the elders in the room, he repeated, "Meena, my luna. Meena, my mate," holding her hands. "I want to show you something," Collin said, pulling her out of her thoughts. He led her from the bed, rushing through the door. He held her hand as they walked past the busy passage filled with omegas bustling around, each occupied with one task or another. For a moment, she felt a sense of relief. They smiled at them as they walked side by side, her head held high beside her alpha, her Collin. He pulled her to the balcony, still holding her hand. "Look at this, my love," he said as they stared down at the busy compound. Everyone, in one way or another, was engaged in some task. From the orchard maids sorting harvested fruits into baskets to the omegas clearing the gardens, they all looked happy, chatting and laughing together. "Look at them all," he whispered. "You have a family willing to support you, one way or the other," he continued. "You are not alone in this because all this togetherness is because of you, my love," he said, kissing her forehead. "Happy day, luna!" they greeted as they noticed the couple staring at them. "Happy day to you all," she said, stepping forward with tears clouding her faint eyes. "Happy day." "Wake up, luna, wake up," she heard faintly as she struggled to open her heavy eyelids. Her head was pounding. "Wake up," the voice started again as she tried to sit up against the wall. The room was dim, with the only light coming in from a small window across the room. The air was thick, and she could barely breathe. She felt thirsty; her throat was dry. Looking around, she saw nothing but cauldrons and smoke. She tried to get up, using the wall to guide her weak legs. She touched her back and suddenly realized her wound had healed. It wasn’t supposed to, given that it was an alpha bite. "Sit, girl," a voice suddenly commanded, and she turned to see a slim figure hiding in the dark corner of the room. She reached for her dagger, but it occurred to her that she had changed clothes and wasn’t wearing her luna armor. "Show yourself," she demanded, trying to ignore the pain in her dry throat and sound bold. "Are you thirsty, luna?" the figure said, moving slowly forward. "The third pot to your left is filled with fresh spring water." She continued coming forward slowly. Meena looked at the pot and then back at the figure with weak but suspicious eyes. "Or, you can die of thirst and let your precious alpha be sentenced to death at the next crescent festival without you being able to save him. Your choice," the voice said sharply, the figure still hiding in plain sight. Even with her heightened eyesight, Meena couldn’t discern who it was. She blinked, and suddenly, the figure was no longer there. "Now, drink, child. We have a lot of work to do," the voice continued, suddenly appearing beside her with a wooden cup in hand. Meena shrieked as she stepped back. "What are you?" she asked, panting. Still holding the cup toward her, the figure replied, "A friend." She hesitated, but her thirst and her scratchy throat betrayed her as she hurriedly took the cup and gulped down the water like a rabid dog. She rushed to the pot of spring water, drinking to quench her uncontrollable thirst. She turned to look at the pale, smiling lady beside her. "Food," she said. "Do you have food?" she asked weakly. "I have anything you desire, but first, we need to talk," the woman replied in a low but commanding tone.