Beneath the silver curse

Myla’s pov Rowan’s eyes were a darker shade of brown beneath the silver moon. They held me in a trance, and for some reason, I couldn’t look away. My heart pounded loudly in my ears, each beat thrumming with anticipation. Tonight is going to be the best night, I told myself silently. Rowan moved closer, his thumb gently tracing my cheek, leaving behind a tingling warmth that burned sweetly. It was the most intoxicating feeling. Why did his touch feel so good? Then, just as suddenly as it came, it was gone. Rowan retracted his hand and took a step back. No. I didn’t like that. I wanted to throw myself into his arms, beg him to keep touching me. But I held back. I couldn’t risk upsetting him. My heartbeat sped up again. I didn’t need a wolf to tell me—Rowan was my mate. I closed my eyes and swallowed the lump in my throat. This is it. My eureka moment. My miracle. The Moon Goddess had truly blessed me—me, of all people , by fating me to an Alpha. I didn’t even deserve an Omega. “You?” Rowan’s voice cut through my thoughts like a blade. I blinked. He was staring at me—hard. No warmth. No affection. Only disbelief and fury. He didn’t look pleased. Not even close. And honestly? I couldn’t blame him. Who would be happy to have me as a mate? A cursed girl. I looked around. The pack watched us in complete silence. Some confused. Others horrified. This had to be a crushing blow. Their future Luna… was me. “Yes,” I whispered, bowing slightly in respect. Rowan laughed. It was harsh. Bitter. Cruel. He didn’t need to say another word. I already knew what was coming. Rejection. It wasn’t new to me. Rejection was my only constant companion. My mother had rejected me at birth. Magic had rejected me. My wolf had never surfaced. The pack barely tolerated my existence. And now… the one person I thought would finally choose me was about to walk away too. I held my breath, hoping…begging…that he wouldn’t. Rowan stepped forward, tilting my face toward him. Our eyes locked. His hand on my chin sent sweet sparks dancing through me. He smiled. Just a little. And I smiled back. That smile gave me hope. Then, his arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me into him. My heart thudded wildly. His forehead rested against mine, and instinctively, I shut my eyes. Then, his lips met mine. Soft, Warm and Overwhelming. It was my first kiss. I didn’t know what to do, only that I didn’t want it to end. But the moment I responded, just as I moved my mouth ,he pulled away. I opened my eyes. His expression had changed. There was regret in his eyes. And rage. “You’re cursed.” “Wh…what?” I stammered, dazed from the kiss. Maybe he didn’t like the kiss? “A cursed Luna cannot rule the Silver Fang Pack. Never!” he roared. A broken smile tugged at my lips as tears streamed down my face. I couldn’t look at him. I bowed my head in shame. Then came the final blow. “Let it be known,” Rowan growled, his voice echoing in the clearing, “that on this day, I, Rowan Rutledge, Alpha of the Silver Fang Pack , reject you…” He paused. Did he forget my name? Or had he never even known it? A guard leaned in and whispered to him. “Reject you, Myla Blythe, as my mate and Luna of the Silver Fang Pack.” That hit like a hammer. “No!! Please, Alpha!” I screamed, clutching my chest. The pain was searing. I tried to run to him. I had to. He couldn’t mean this. I could fix it. I could be better. I could— Two guards grabbed me by the shoulders and dragged me back. “Please! Let me go to him! I can fix this!” I thrashed in their grip, screaming, sobbing. But no one listened. “How unfortunate.” “Good riddance.” “Isn’t she cursed?” I heard every whisper, every sneer. They weren’t sad. They were relieved. This was supposed to be a celebration. The Silver Moon, occurring thirteen weeks after the Alpha’s 21st birthday was the night he found his fated mate. A sacred, joyous event. And I had ruined it with my bad luck. They dragged me back to the orphanage and threw me to the floor. Lady Gwen glared down at me. “If you don’t sit still, I’ll tie you to a chair.” “I’ve never seen a more disagreeable child,” Abbott muttered, adjusting her apron. Witch-servants. Cold as the moonlight. The door slammed shut. They didn’t care. No one did. If they hadn’t locked me in, I might’ve run out—screaming for my mate. How could he do this to me? The pain in my chest burned like fire. I wanted him. I needed him. I wanted my mate. “Where is she? Where’s that foolish girl?” the Enchantress’s voice rang out, sharp and furious. She ran the orphanage and her wrath was legendary. My heart pounded at the sound of her voice. I didn’t need magic to know she was coming for me. A cluster of teenage girls trailed behind her, eager to watch me be punished. Their eyes sparkled with cruel excitement. They were all witches, like me. Or at least, like I was supposed to be. We all belonged to the same pack, even if that sounded strange. Packs were traditionally for werewolves. But Alpha Gillian—Rowan’s grandfather—had welcomed witches into the Silver Fang Pack generations ago. He loved the craft, and ever since, witches had been part of the pack’s legacy. “How could you do this to us?” the Enchantress seethed, yanking a fistful of my hair. I winced but didn’t cry out. I closed my eyes, swallowing the pain. What could I even say? Apologize for being rejected? How was that my fault? “I’m going to teach you a lesson,” she hissed. Two servants appeared at her signal and seized me roughly. Before I knew it, I was tied to a cold wooden table. Tears slid down my cheeks. I didn’t even struggle. A part of me welcomed whatever punishment they had in store. Maybe it would hurt enough to drown the ache inside, to distract me from the scorching pain of being rejected “Let me take it from here. You needn’t stress over her,” Mistress Denna offered. She was the second-in-command ,always handling the dirty work while the Enchantress attended to ‘official matters.’ The first lash of the whip cracked across my back. Fire exploded under my skin. I bit my lip hard, holding in the scream. Crying during punishment was against the rules. Another lash. And another. Minutes blurred. Pain blurred. Then… it stopped. “Untie her,” Mistress Denna commanded. Abby and Gatty, the maidservants, rushed to obey. Denna lifted my chin. “Be good.” “Yes, Mistress,” I whispered, eyes downcast. I wiped a tear away and looked at the floor. If only I was like others ,life would be easier here . I was treated differently from other witches in this orphanage , yes I didn’t have powers but it didn’t make me less of a witch or maybe it did , I mean how can a witch not be able to do any kind of magic or spells . I was beginning to believe those who whispered that I was cursed and they only kept caring for me here in this orphanage out of the goodness of the enchanteress’ heart. They treated me like an outcast and I deserved it . I didn’t even like myself , how could I expect that others would . I was so unlucky and it was evident today when I got rejected by the only thing destined to accept me . All the girls here in wildhallow orphanage were less privileged but somehow they made me feel like I was even lesser privileged than everyone else simply because I couldn’t do magic and I had no wolf . To them, I was a worthless hybrid. No wonder he rejected me. “Myla!” A voice broke through the fog in my mind—Ava. She ran to me, arms open, wrapping me in a tight embrace. She was the only one who didn’t see me as less. The only one who ever made me feel human. “Why am I so unfortunate? Why does everything about me have to be so wrong? I hate myself so much right now, Ava,” I sobbed into her arms. “Hey, shhh… don’t say that,” she soothed. “You’re not unfortunate. You’re more than your wolf or your magic. You have one of the sweetest souls I’ve ever known, Myla. You deserve to be loved. Don’t let them twist that.” Her words were gentle, like cold water on burning skin. “He… he rejected me. And no one likes me here,” I cried harder, wiping my nose with the sleeve of my dress, tucking my raven-black hair behind my ears. “Hey. I love you. That’s what matters,” Ava said, her voice fierce with emotion. “You mean the world to me. Who cares what a bunch of bitter losers think?” She leaned in and whispered, “And forget that Alpha. He’s a d**k. He doesn’t deserve you anyway.” I couldn’t help it, I laughed, a weak sound, but real. Every time Ava spoke to me during a breakdown, it was like she poured peace straight into my soul. “I love you too, Ava,” I whispered. She smiled and helped me to my feet. “Now go get some rest. I’ll come check on you later.” I nodded, too exhausted to speak. I was filthy, aching, and starving. I shuffled to the room I shared with 49 other girls, each bed pressed against the other like forgotten pieces of furniture. Thirty Minutes Later “Myla!!” Ava’s voice cracked with grief as she ran into the room. Her eyes were swollen and red from crying. She’d been sobbing long before she came to find me. “What’s the matter?” I asked quickly, trying to sit up straight, forcing a fake smile. I didn’t want her to see I was still brooding over Rowan’s rejection. She didn’t answer. Her tears only came faster. “Ava?” I said softly, lowering myself to the ground to meet her. “Please don’t cry. I’m fine. See?” I said, giving her my realest fake smile ever. But she shook her head and sobbed harder. “For Goddess’s sake, you don’t get it!” she snapped suddenly. I flinched. Her voice had never sounded like that before. “Ava…?” She choked on a breath. “They’re sending you away,” her voice trembled. I blinked, heart pounding, mind racing.. “What do you mean?” She swallowed hard, tears spilling again. “You… you get banished at dawn.”