Cursed
1397 Words
I cleared two food trays. I never knew I had such an enormous appetite until today.
Perhaps it's because I've never fed well.
By the time I was done, I had recovered seventy percent of my vitality and energy.
The stiffness in my limbs had loosened up. I could now walk around and move my arms.
Good.
I made my way to join Alpha Leonidas on the deck. He had left me an twenty minutes ago after he asked me rest.
I saw him steering the boat. He turned when he heard me approaching. “You should rest, Kylie.”
“I think I've had enough rest already,” I replied, unable to meet his eyes.
Out of habit, I refused to look him in the eye. I rubbed my elbow with my hand, fidgeting with my legs.
He strode over to me and held up my face. “Look me in the eye when talking to me. I'm not Gunner.”
I swallowed as I gazed up. His eyes were coffee black and deep, like an endless abyss.
“Why did you break me out of my cell?” I asked, my voice quiet.
Alpha Leonidas c****d his head. “There's no way I'd let my mate stay locked up in a cell, especially when I'm around.”
He has such a powerful aura. His wolf's scent filled my nostrils, drawing my wolf to his.
“But I'm a servant,” I said helplessly. “I'm Alpha Gunner's slave. He's crazy about me. You have no idea what he is like. He will kill me when he finds me.”
“If,” Alpha Leonidas said, his voice hard. “I'm not letting that brute lay a finger on you. From here on, you're mine.”
I stared at him, unable to believe my ears. Was this the freedom I seek all these while?
Thinking back on the months of suffering in the hands of Alpha Gunner, being in Leonidas' presence was a breath of fresh air and freedom.
“Where are you taking me to?” I asked, looking around the expanse of water.
“I have a villa in New Barks,” Leonidas said as he returned in steering the boat. “We'll be there in thirty minutes. You can relax now, Kylie. You're free.”
New Barks was a large metropolitan city built by humans, an hour trip from Fenrir Republic.
My mouth opened as realization set in. We were going to live among humans?
* * * *
Two black Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat were waiting for us at the shore as we stepped out of the cabin cruiser.
“Welcome home, Alpha Leonidas,” a white gray haired fellow bowed as Leonidas approached him. “I believe the New moon festival ran well.”
This man was a human.
Contacts between humans and Werewolves were prohibited, but I guess Alpha Leonidas cared less about that.
“It progressed well,” Alpha Leonidas replied, holding my hand. “I brought someone back from the festival.”
I saw the old man's stiffened. “Are you serious? She's your mate?”
Alpha Leonidas eyes narrowed. “That's right, Edgar. I've found a mate.”
Edgar's wrinkled face sagged. He looked at me with nothing but pity. “Is that so?”
Silence. The atmosphere turned gloomy, as if someone had died.
I glanced from Edgar to Alpha Leonidas. Now I was confused. “What's going on?”
“I'll tell you all about it,” Alpha Leonidas said, opening the passenger door for me. “Get in.”
He sat beside me in the driver's seat after I got in. Then he fired the engine and drove off to the villa.
While on the drive to the Villa, Alpha Leonidas started speaking. “I'm sure you've heard about me, Kylie?”
“I've heard many things,” I replied after a pause. “They say you're a rogue wolf, cast away from the Fenrir Republic because of your curse.”
“I'm not a rogue wolf,” he said, a sharp note in his tone. “That's just a propaganda created by my enemies to soil my name.”
“Then your curse…”
“I was cursed by the moon goddess from the day of my birth,” Alpha Leonidas interrupted.
I became uncomfortable. There were many speculations about what Alpha Leonidas curse was.
His dark aura made it evident, but not everybody knew what his curse was.
I was curious to know, so I asked. “What's your curse?”
“After we have you settled in the villa, then I'll tell you,” alpha Leonidas said.
I remained quiet. Something was off.
The bustling city soon gave way to the countryside where Alpha Leonidas villa stood.
One thing was for certain: Alpha Leonidas was rich. His car collections were all Dodge Chargers models.
Alpha Leonidas held open the door for me and took my hand. “Come with me.”
Without a word from me, I followed him into the villa.
“Let's get you settled in,” Alpha Leonidas said as he led me to the masters chamber.
The master's bedroom was enormous enough to accommodate three trucks, with a transparent glass shower cabin and a large king-sized bed with his initials inscribed on it.
We stood in the middle of the room, facing each other.
“Kylie,” Alpha Leonidas grabbed my shoulders, peering into my eyes. “You can choose to stay or leave if you wish. Do you have a family? I can take you back to them.”
I lowered my head as my face darkened. “My father sold me off to a slave merchant in order to pay his debt. He doesn't care what happens to me. I don't want to go back.”
“In that case, I'll tell you what my curse is.” Alpha Leonidas continued, “Every time I find my mate and accepts her, she dies after seven days.”
I stiffened as I glanced up sharply at him.
“That's right,” Alpha Leonidas said, his eyes heavy. “It's my curse. The mate bond between my mate and I, is just like a thread of death. On the seventh day, it snaps in twos, and my mate winds up dead.”
I was short of words. I could only gape at him, my breath held.
“After the death of my first mate, I encountered my second mate, but she rejected me because of my curse. You're my third mate.”
The word I was struggling to speak landed in my mouth. “What you're trying to say is, I'll be dead on the seventh day if I become your mate.”
“That's correct,” Alpha Leonidas responded. “Now listen, Kiley, I'm going to reject you right now. It's not my wish to drag you into this curse. Like I mentioned earlier, you're free to reside here. I'll protect you. You don't have to be a slave anymore.”
I hung my head as I thought about it.
If I accept him as my mate, I'll die on the seventh day.
If he rejects me, I can stay under his protection and experience a normal life with no worries.
Yeah, I would like that. It's the best option I have. After all, I'm free from Alpha Gunner.
I glanced up and met those dark sad eyes. Alpha Leonidas was suffering.
Every werewolf deserves a mate. Not just for political reasons, but for companionship.
Being a mateless wolf is like having a deep void that cannot be filled alone.
“I… I” I stammered as I held my chest with both hands.
My heart was racing.
Alpha Leonidas placed his finger on my lip. “There's no need. I'll do the rejection myself, okay?”
I shook my head, my hands reached out on their on as I held his face in my palms. “No, Alpha Leonidas. That's not what I meant. I–I acknowledge you,” I responded.
Alpha Leonidas reared his head back in shock. His eyes widened. “You what?”
“I accept you as my mate,” I repeated, my voice filled with my resolve. “I accept your curse and everything. I'll be your mate.”
- Writer
