Broken Curse

17

And it’s how every Hallowed Guild pack does it. Aidan grabbed the glass of water from the table. It’s not right, but we can’t make a stink and make him even more wary.

Times like these brought to attention how damn lucky I’d been to grow up in the Rogers pack. It’s so weird. That’s not how I was raised.

Me neither. Beth moved to the side as the marked girl placed her plate of food in front of her. I’m not sure if we’re normal or abnormal now.

“Do you need any help?” It only seemed right to ask.

“No, I’m good.” The girl jerked back. “Thanks for asking.” She hurried to pick up a few more plates and headed back our way.

When she placed the plate down in front of me, I couldn’t keep my mouth closed. “How long have you had the tattoo?”

“Since birth.” She hid the pentagram point behind her hair.

Wait … I’d assumed he knew what she is because the witch gave birth to her, but she’s had the mark since birth, like me.

It makes sense since both of you are descended from the original witch. Aidan grabbed a fork and knife and cut a piece of his rare steak.

Think about it. Sunny popped a bite of mac and cheese into her mouth. You had to prove you were worthy to begin the curse, and she has to prove she’s worthy to end it.

You mean prophecy … Gabby growled.

Doesn’t this feel like a curse to you? Sunny rubbed her neck where her mate had cut it. It sure feels like it to me.

I couldn’t argue with that.

A text alert sounded, and Sunny pulled her phone from her pocket. She glanced at the screen and stiffened. It’s Eric.

Even though the two of them had only seen each other for a few minutes, they each recognized the fated mates’ pull. Eric was an alpha of The Hallowed Guild back in Austin, Texas. He had planned on killing Sunny because of her mark, but he couldn’t do it. He had cut her throat so the pack would think he’d killed her, but then he’d carried her to safety. That was where we’d met them. They’d gotten closer over the past few weeks via phone calls and text messages. Is everything okay?

He wants to know if we’re here. She placed her phone on the table. Barry has alerted the other packs about us.

Which is what I’d thought this entire time and why we needed to use our other names. Aidan chewed his food slowly.

We can’t leave now or we’d confirm his suspicions. Remus surveyed the people around us. Right now, they aren’t paying a ton of attention to us.

It’s probably because our marks are covered and we pretended not to know anything about her mark. Honor moved her food around her plate with her fork. We have to be careful.

No more asking about her mark until we can get her alone. Aidan nibbled his bottom lip. We have to be smarter than they are.

They’re typical, inflated ego alpha males that aren’t smart, so that shouldn’t be hard. Beth winked at me. We women can run circles around them.

Damn straight we can. Gabby lifted her cup in salute.

The rest of the evening passed without much action. Barry talked to us a little more, and we thanked him for the invitation.

He almost seemed disappointed that we were leaving, but I chalked that up to us not raising any more suspicion.

We tried hanging around as long as we could. I wanted to talk to his daughter alone.

Unfortunately, when it was time for us to leave, the girl had already gone.

We’d missed our opportunity.

Well, this night was a bust. Beth complained, using our new connection.

At least, we know where she is. That solved one piece of the puzzle. It also made it more problematic, especially since Barry didn’t trust us.

As we walked out into the woods, the wind picked up and shifted directions, blowing into us. That’s when I picked up her scent. Wait, she’s nearby. I took off, following her scent.

I found her about five miles from the pack grounds, sitting next to a pond and staring at her reflection. Dark purple bruises marked her arm, and tears ran down her cheeks.

Give me a second and stay out of sight. If we all descended on her, we’d spook her.

I approached her slowly like I would a caged animal. She tensed, but that was the only sign that she knew I was there.

“Hey.” I kept my voice low and friendly.

Don’t sound like a creepy psycho. Beth snorted in my mind.

Great, I’d totally missed the mark. “Are you okay?” I asked, using my normal low voice.

Better.

The girl wiped the tears from her face and turned around. Her eyes were still glassy, but she tried hiding the fact she’d been crying. “Oh, I’m fine.” Her voice wavered on the edge of hysteria.

“It doesn’t seem like you are.” I slowed my pace even more but continued my trek toward her. “Did something happen?”

“What?” Her eyes widened, and she vehemently shook her head. “No.”

“Then, what are those marks on your arm?” I didn’t want to call her a liar, but I’d make it clear that I knew something.

“I accidentally spilled some water on a pack member.” She rubbed the marks softly. “I deserved it for being so careless.”

“Really?” They were abusing her emotionally and physically. “I’m not so sure I agree.”

“Look, that’s how all packs work.” Something akin to hope filled her eyes. “Don’t they?”

“Nope.” If she needed hope, I’d give it to her. “You could come with us.” I wanted to say more, but I’d been warned to make her earn my trust.

“Oh, God no.” She stood and stumbled back a step. “I must stay here as penance.”

“For what?” She was too timid to have done something horrible. It sounded crazy.

“For being born.” She cast her eyes to the ground and rubbed her mark. “I’m evil and should be killed. However, my dad is making me stay alive despite my pleas.”

“How does a birthmark make you evil?” He’d totally f****d with her head.

“I’m part witch,” she said with so much hate. “I’m cursed and marked for death.” She held out her wrist, and there were so many damn cuts on it. “Every time I try to kill myself, he knows before I can go deep enough.”

He knew through his bond with her.