Bound By The Moon's Curse

Chapter 5

Kael

Loria’s head pounded as she lay tied to the cold stone. Her wrists and ankles burned where the ropes held her tight. She struggled, but it only made them cut deeper into her skin.

“Let me go,” she cried, her throat burning from screaming. Her chest ached, and tears streamed down her face.

Selene stood beside her, shouting words in a language Loria couldn’t understand. The old woman’s voice was loud.

Loria turned her head and saw Kael standing a few steps away. “Kael!” she cried, her voice breaking. “Please, help me!”

Kael didn’t move. He looked at her like she was nothing more than a task to be done. And maybe that was all she was to him.

Selene walked to the house, and came out with a small bag which she placed on the floor. The air was becoming loud with thunder and lightning which showed Selene's evil face and the devilish smile that stayed on her face.

“Kael, I’m begging you!” she shouted again, tears falling freely now. “Please don’t let her do this. Please!”

Selene stopped long enough to shout at her. “Be quiet, you don’t speak unless I say so.”

Loria ignored her, fear gripping her hard. “Kael, I’ll do anything. I’ll stay. I won’t run again. Just don’t do this!”

Kael’s jaw tightened, but he said nothing. He didn’t even look at her.

Selene laughed, sharp and cruel. “You see? He doesn’t care for you,” she said. “You are nothing but a sacrifice. You should be grateful to serve a purpose at last.”

Selene laughed, shaking her head. “Pathetic,” She turned back to the altar, holding a small knife.

Loria’s heart cut as she saw the blade. “What are you doing?” she asked. “Please, no!”

Selene ignored her and cut her own palm. Blood fell onto the stone, and the altar started shaking again.

Pain hit Loria in her stomach, back and head. She gasped, her chest burning like it was being torn apart. “Stop!” she screamed. “Please, it hurts!”

Loria struggled against the ropes again, but it was no use. She was becoming weaker. Pulling air into her lungs became more difficult. She was close to her death, she could feel it.

First her mother, then her father, now it was her turn to die. Then what would become of her brother? How would he survive?

She turned her head toward Kael, tears blinding her eyes. “Please,” she begged, her voice barely a whisper. “Take care of my brother. Don’t let him die. Take care of Liam.”

Selene slapped her hard across the face. “How dare you speak to the Alpha? You’re nothing!”

Loria’s cheek stung, but the pain in her chest was worse. It felt like her heart was being ripped from her body.

Selene stepped back from the altar, smiling. “It’s done,” she said. “The ritual is complete.” She turned to Kael. “You may return to Silverfang. By the next silver moon, your pack will grow again. The rivers will flow, and the land will heal.”

Kael nodded. His face was still cold, his eyes empty. He turned and started to walk away.

Then he froze.

His hands flew to his throat, his eyes wide with shock. He stumbled, dropping to his knees.

Loria watched, her body too weak to move. She could barely keep her eyes open, but she saw him clawing at his neck, gasping for air.

A voice filled the air. It was loud, and seemed to come from everywhere at once.

“Kael,” the voice said. “You have betrayed the Moon Goddess. You have traded what is sacred for your own gain.”

Kael’s body shook as he cried out. He was bent on his knee. He had probably never bent a knee to anyone in his entire life. His family was one of the most powerful in the world, he had no reason to.

“From this day forward, you will be cursed. You will have no mate. You will have no heir. Your pack will suffer unless...unless she forgives you,” it said. “Unless she loves you, even after your cruelty.”

Kael looked up, his face pale. For the first time, Loria thought she saw fear in his eyes. She hoped it reminded him of what he had done to her.

“She will be reborn,” the voice said. “She will not remember you, nor what you have done. You have twenty years to make her love you. If you fail, your pack will fall, and your bloodline will end.”

Kael fell back to the floor, his face pale. “No, this wasn’t part of the ritual. This can’t be!”

The ground shook harder, cracks spreading through the earth. The voice became louder, repeating the curse over and over.

Kael looked at Loria, his eyes wide, but he didn’t speak.

Loria felt the pain in her chest become worse. She wanted to scream, but no sound came.

The last thing she saw was Kael, still on his knees, his face filled with something she couldn’t name. She exhaled, as though her soul was leaving her body.

“Is she dead?” She heard Kael scream, running towards her, his hand around his head. Lightning ripped across the sky and boomed.

“She's dead. The ritual was her life in exchange for SilverFang’s prosperity.”

Kael stopped in front of Selene, scowling down at the old woman. Loria watched all this as though from far away. If she was dead, then how could she see them?

She looked down at her body which was still on the altar, her eyes closed, hands fisted.

Had she been struggling?

Why had she been struggling?

How did she even know that was her body?

Or maybe she was dead.

She saw Kael fist his hand and Selene hobbled away from him. Kael was screaming something and she was shouting right back.

Loria floated away, towards the water where she sat, smiling sadly. Then she closed her eyes and lay still.

After that, everything went black.