Rise of the Luna (completed)

2-Cursed

Leyton’s POV

Tomorrow was the tenth year where I would be honoring and remembering my mum on Memory Day. Memory Day was important for werewolves as this was the day to celebrate the death of our bodies and birth of spirits in the spiritual world. It was also a day for the living to remember and honor their dead. We tried to keep it positive as we should be happy for those who had passed to the spiritual world.

It was never a particularly sad day for me until ten years ago. On that fateful day, when Mum didn’t show up to pick us up after school. I remember it was a cold and snowy day. We were waiting outside the main school building for hours, as the school had already closed. Kayla was so cold that her lips were starting to turn blue. I tried to keep her warm by hugging her close to me, under my jacket. We were so cold that we contemplated walking home even if it would take us at least three hours. Finally, just before it was dark, a car showed up. It was Beta James’ car and we realized then something was wrong.

We went straight to the hospital to see Mum but it was too late. She was barely conscious and we could not understand what she was mouthing to us. With the last of her strength, she put my hand into Kayla’s hand and with tears in her eyes, she took her last breath. Taking away with her the last parent we had and our childhood.

After Mum’s death, Kayla would not leave my side. She would scream whenever someone tried to separate us. I was comforted by her presence as she was the only family that I felt I had left. We had grown up together as Mum was best friends with her dad. Uncle Adam and his wife had always been kind to us, especially because Mum was a single parent. When his wife passed away from complications resulting from giving birth to Kayla, our families became even closer to support one another.

I’d never forget the day when Mum brought Kayla home after Uncle Adam had died from a sudden illness. She was curled up into a ball and wouldn’t speak a single word. Gone was the cheerful and bubbly girl who was always curious about what I was doing. Gone were the annoying questions that five year olds wouldn’t stop asking. Gone were the beautiful eyes that sparkled when she marvelled at the stories that I read to her from her favorite books.

Soon her little body couldn’t handle the stress anymore and she fell sick. It took a month before she finally recovered but by then the fever that ravaged her body had also taken some of her mind. She could no longer remember most of her past but we thought it was better this way, to spare her the painful memories of losing both parents. Gradually she became her old cheerful self and I was so happy to have my little sister back.

Good things always seemed to have to come to an end. A year later, Kayla started going to school and that was when she started to hear the rumors from the kids that she was cursed, that she had brought death to her parents. We ignored the kids and I tried my best to protect Kayla from the bullying but I could tell that the rumors got to her when she disappeared during lunchtime and reappeared with swollen eyes.

Little did we know that was just the beginning. A year later, Mum got into a fatal car accident. As we were both minors, we were brought to the pack house to live under the care of our Luna. During the first few months, the sense of loss and loneliness was overwhelming and I didn’t know what I would have done without Kayla by my side. Having her reminded me that I was not alone.

Until one day, I was sneaking into the kitchen to grab a midnight snack and overheard the Alpha talking to the Luna in the kitchen. Afraid that they would hear or smell me, I didn’t dare to go too near and could barely hear what they were saying. But I heard very clearly that they were talking about Kayla and something about Uncle Adam, and perhaps Mum’s accident was not an accident.

After that fateful night, I felt a whirlwind of emotions. What did Kayla have to do with what happened to Uncle Adam and why did that imply Mum’s accident might not have been an accident? Was it really possible for someone to be cursed and bring death to their close ones? But Kayla was just a little girl! I couldn’t believe it. No, I didn’t want to believe it. I didn’t want to lose the only family that I had left but I was also angry, why Mum?! Even if there was a curse, why did it have to take my mum?!

The pain and frustration drove me towards the brink of madness. The only way to stop thinking about it was to distance myself from those involved in my pain. I started to push Kayla away and would avoid the Alpha, Luna and Beta whenever I could. I didn’t want to have anything to do with anyone who was involved on the day of Mum’s accident. So when the chance came, I volunteered to go with the Alpha’s son to boarding school where he’d train to become the next Alpha and I’d become his Future Beta.

Tomorrow was the tenth memory day without Mum. It was also the first that I’d celebrate it back at our pack in ten years. I had been away at boarding school for ten years and running away from the pain of the past for ten years. Tomorrow, I’d move back to our pack house, as our future Alpha gets ready to take his place in the pack in two weeks when he turns 21. Tomorrow would be the first time that I’d see Kayla in ten years.