The Cursed Alpha and the Cursed Omega

Chapter 2

We wasted no time.

Kirk and I were the first ones to hurry back to the pack while Delta Franco stayed with the pack warriors who were busy collecting the fallen warrior’s body—even saying this in my head was enough to put a heavy feeling on my chest once again—then burning the rogues and raider’s body that ensued a fight at the forest.

Meanwhile, other pack warriors offered some aid to those who gathered numerous injuries. It was a good protocol to bring medicines and medical kit whenever we’re on scheduled patrol. We just never know when enemies are going to attack us. Aside from that, the pack doctor couldn’t possibly attend all patrols since he’s also needed back in the pack.

Prevention is always better than cure.

We can’t fathom losing our pack doctor, and always make sure we’re prepared for the worse.

The Beta, some pack warriors and I, were on a routine patrol since there were numerous sightings of rogues lingering around the forest just on the border of Danderasia—in which was a normal occurrence. Most rogues linger by the area because it’s surrounded by neutral lands that they can all wander around with a low chance of infiltrating through our patrols.

However, the sightings of raiders had been more regular than usual, and in order to prevent them from posing any threat to our pack, strict routine protocols had been implemented throughout the nation.

I know that this is for the safety of our pack. I can’t bear any losses as more days pass by. We’ve lost a lot over the past months and more so over the past years. Peace was never in the vocabulary of wolves—I’m well aware since it’s in our nature to hunt and kill. Needless to say, the patrols were more frequent than what it used to be. We function by training and patrol all our life just to keep our packs safe.

Two packs govern the small country of Danderasia in Monleite Kingdom. First is the Mystic Falls Pack, and the other is the Moon Valley Pack—which are allied packs and would often conduct pack meetings that would benefit both parties in the long run.

Throughout the years, the two remained in a harmonious relationship, life, and society co-existing with one another without the means of harming one another—which was usual in a werewolf nature. Most werewolves and packs consider each other as rivals since living in a pack would only mean trusting your own—not someone from an outsider pack.

Mystic Falls Pack, my pack, would always have the Moon Valley Pack’s back and vice versa. They have been allied packs for more than a decade, and everyone is doing their best in continuing with the peaceful lifestyle that we’re currently in.

Even though I was on the verge of a mental breakdown just earlier, I knew I needed to present myself in front of my family and group of Weres that might be my mate… one that I have been looking for such a long time now.

“You’re shaking, Luna.” Kirk’s voice echoed in my head, pulling me out of my trance.

Only when he spoke did I notice that I was trembling in the shotgun seat of the car. I thought it was because of the bumpy road, but this path has been fixed and smoothed out for years already.

“I’m fine, Beta.” I cut him off, although my hoarse voice meant otherwise. In spite of myself, we both know that I’m not being true to my words. There was a lie written on my face and he noticed it immediately, then he looked away–focusing his eyes on the road. We can’t bear to be in an accident. Not when we just lost some of our members, and not when my presence is needed at the packhouse.

“How…” he paused, unable to form words.

I averted my eyes to his direction. He was facing forward so I was welcomed with his side profile. Kirk has a small but visible mole under his eye—making it seem like it’s some kind of teardrop. His jawline was tight and defined. There was a tension that hung on his shoulders, one that isn’t hard to ignore. Moreover, he was gripping on the steering wheel so tightly, I thought he might break it.

One thing I’m familiar with from Beta is that he’s never one to hide his emotions. He can wear it on his sleeves without much care about the judgement that comes along with it. We’re always told that werewolves in our pack should prevent us from being too emotional since they serve as the protector of all she-wolves in the pack. If the ladies see them unable to handle their emotions, it brings a negative outcome to the others.

But not Kirk.

He’s not one to shy away from letting his feelings show. It doesn’t make him less of a werewolf either. More so, it made him more compassionate… more human-like. Not that it was a bad thing. I think it’s better since he’s not a heartless kind of guy. He’s not afraid to express his emotions.

This time, he met my eyes as he slowed down the speed of the car. “How are we going to tell them…” he trailed, then his eyes were back on the front.

Even though he couldn’t finish his question, I already knew what he was pertaining to. Kirk was talking about the fallen warriors of our pack—how are we going to break it to all their families that we lost three of our kind during the raider’s attack?

It was the type of question I always ask myself whenever such things happen to us.

Of course, in line with our nature, death is something that’s inevitable—especially when we’re at war with most of the packs that settled in the Monleite Kingdom.

I’ve known Kirk Doylce ever since we were little pups. His father was the former Beta of our pack, but when he turned 18, the position was passed onto him without much of a problem. Now, we’re the same age, but he ascended first before me. He knew that I was happy for him. Of course I was. Who wouldn’t? He was my closest friend in the pack back then. We grew up together—we trained together. So imagine my disappointment when he had been Beta for eight years already, and I have been stuck as an Alpha Luna-in-training for more years than he had been a Beta?

Remembering the day of the ascension rites, I was standing at the front, watching everyone–the Beta, Delta, Gamma, and pack warriors—all ascend into their rightful positions; the pain settling in my heart is still here. I do feel like that it wouldn’t vanish not until I get to take over the Alpha position from my father.

Kirk and Rachelle were aware of these emotions of mine.

They were the only ones I could fully open up to. And now… I lost one she-wolf that I trusted the most—I guess my secrets are safe with her as she’ll take it with her to the grave.

“We’ll tell them like we always do, Kirk.” I managed to say despite the bile forming in my throat. “This isn’t the first time we lost a pack warrior. It happened before and it will surely happen in the future—again. We knew this right from the start, even before we were right of age. We’ve already lost hundreds of our kind… this doesn’t stop us from protecting our pack.”

He let out a long, ragged sigh. “I know that, Myrr. But this time it’s different… Rachelle was your best friend and almost like a sister to you.”

“She still is, Kirk. Nothing changed. She’s still here with me,” I say as I point an index finger to my heart. “Rachelle fought bravely. She did her best to defend our land—along with Tom and Kevin. We should focus on that and give them praise during the funeral rites that will happen later on.”

Kirk’s lingering stares bored on the side of my face, making me avert my gaze to his direction as well. “You know that you can cry when you’re with me, Myrr. You don’t have to pretend that you’re strong… you don’t have to pretend when you’re with me.”

His words were enough for tears to pool my eyes. The lump in my throat was unbearable, and just like that—I was bawling my eyes out in front of the Beta, my best friend. He didn’t say a word, but I knew that he was crying with me as well as I heard his muffled sobs. Kirk placed a free hand on top of my clasped hands, trying to comfort me as we both mourned for the loss of our best friend.

I was so used to not showing the weak part of me whenever other eyes were focused on me—that I needed to be strong in order to provide a sense of security for all the pack members.

Although, it’s a different case this time.

No amount of self-control can make me stop from allowing myself to grieve for the loss of a loved one. Sometimes it’s alright to cry and feel emotions instead of burying it all deep down in your bones—so you wouldn’t explode just out of the blue, or might end up hurting someone.

Rachelle, Tom, and Kevin, I promise you that I will make him pay for what he did to all of you. Mark my words on the Moon Goddess name! Justice will prevail.

The ride back to the pack house has been smooth thanks to Beta Kirk. As soon as we were both done breaking down, I was trying to find a way on how I’ll make myself look presentable the second we’d arrive at the Function Hall at the packhouse. But it seemed like I didn’t even bring a fresh set of clothes that I could change into.

We were supposed to end up running with our wolves, but Kirk suggested that I’m in no condition to go on a run with my wolf. For he knew that my wolf might end up carrying all the grief I’m feeling and might end up running without any direction to take until she tires herself out.

Auriel, my wolf, could be like that sometimes.

I know she always got my back, but I can’t let her ruin this day for me. My family is expecting me to be back at the pack house in just a couple of minutes—especially my father. If I don’t show up for this event, he won’t forgive me… or worse, he might not want to continue with all these Mate Visitation.

Now, that’s something that I wouldn’t want to happen.

I’ve been looking for a mate for a total of five years now. Two of them I spent traveling across neutral lands and asking permission from countless packs if I could look for my mate in their vicinity. And three of which the Mate Visitation had been officially included to all willing households in the Monleite Kingdom.

The Mate Visitation is when werewolves from other packs were allowed to visit at our pack house—may it be from an allied pack or from a rival pack—they will introduce themselves and which pack they belong to, and then will fully shift into their wolf form along with me. Once we’re in our wolf form, we’ll see if the two of us were mates. Since soulmate wolves would have the ability to communicate with each other telepathically. The sparks didn’t matter in our real life—one could feel sparks from the opposite s*x, but still isn’t their mate.

Finding mates in the Monleite Kingdom had always been tough, rare even

Which is why I need to get home fast and talk to my father about it.

“Kirk,” I called my Beta’s attention. He gave me a quick side eye—eyes red and swollen from our breakdown earlier—then fixated his eyes on the road. “Floor it,” I commanded him, and he didn’t need any explanation when he sped up the car.

The sun already faded into view, replaced by the gray skies, and soon enough, the Full Moon will be visible for everyone to see. The Mate Visitation was always held on the night of Full Moon in order to make it easier for everyone to shift into their wolf form.

As we near the packhouse, there’s an indescribable sensation inside me that I couldn’t help to shrug off. It settled in my stomach and was spreading in my entire system. It was a foreign feeling, and I’m eager to satisfy the lingering emotions.

Hunger.

Is my destined mate at the packhouse?

.

.

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I GOT OUT of the car then hurriedly entered the place.

Kirk was following behind me as I headed to where my father would be located—at the Function Hall, but I needed to pass a group of werewolves before I could actually reach my father, and I didn’t want that.

I didn’t want to make myself seen before the event.

—not when I don’t want the Mate Visitation hours to happen.

While we were on our way back to the pack house, there was a change of emotions inside me as my wounds healed, but I was still covered in dried blood.

Honestly, I don’t see it decent to continue looking for a mate when warriors from our pack had been injured and worse… died. It would be much better to postpone the event as we should just focus on holding the funeral rites for the brave fallen pack warriors. I personally think that it would be the right thing to do instead of looking for my mate.

“Beta,” I called for Kirk’s attention behind me and in just a nick of time, he was already beside me, matching my steps. I stopped before the massive wooden door to the Function Hall. “Can you please get my father? Tell him I’m waiting here outside and I want to talk to him first.”

Kirk looked at me confusedly. He was giving me the ‘what-are-you-doing?’ look. “Right now, Luna? Shouldn’t we just enter the Function Hall?”

Shaking my head sideways, I replied. “I don’t want to proceed with the Mate Visitation hours. I’m going to tell him that it’s inappropriate—that we should just proceed with the funeral rites first.”

He raised a brow at me. “And you think your father—the Alpha— would agree to this? You should know better, Myrr. Alpha Craig won’t allow you to cancel the event that we’ve been preparing for a month.”

As expected, Kirk was already a step ahead of me. We both know that my father isn’t someone that would be easily swayed. He won’t let this thing slide. Prolonging the Mate Visitation would only make him furious. Not when he’s been anticipating for years that I find my mate so I can ascend as the Alpha Luna of the pack.

“I need to try, Kirk. I won’t let Rachelle, Tom, and Kevin’s body wait for hours just so I can find my mate. After all we’re still not sure if one of them is my mate—”

“They might not be here now, but I know them well enough to tell you that they would understand if you attend the event first, Myrr. We have been waiting for such a long time for you to find a mate and ascend to the Alpha position—you have been waiting for so long,” he mentioned, voice laced with dedication.

“I want to talk to my father first.” My voice was clip, stern.

“You know well that it won’t lead to anything, Myrr.”

Kirk was right. I lived with my father for years and if he’s decided on something already—he won’t change his mind. But I need to at least try.

“This won’t take long.” I insisted.

On our way back to the packhouse, I noticed an indescribable feeling that loomed over me. Something that never happened before when Mate Visitation hours are about to begin. I was convinced that it might be because my destined mate is near. While I’m ecstatic about the idea, I know that he’ll understand if I prioritize my fellow pack members first before the event.

Mates have always been understanding of their other halves. It is something that I learned just by observing my parents, and from all mated werewolves in the pack. That being said, moving the event wouldn’t bother him the least.

The Beta let out an exasperated sigh. He’s mindful of the fact that he can’t talk me out of something that I already made a firm decision. Emerald orbs bored into mine, eyes full of concern and worry, yet he muttered. “Yes, Myrr.” Then pivoted his heel as he entered the Function Hall’s door while I hid behind a huge pot of plants beside.

I hope the Alpha understands me. No… I hope my father takes this into consideration. Knowing how stubborn and authoritative he is, I wasn’t certain this would work, but I need to try. The Funeral Rights is way far more important to me than any other thing right now.

He’ll understand. Oh, Moon Goddess! I hope he understands.

Just this once, father… please.