Cursed Bonds

My Chance To Escape {Irvine}

I feared I would not live another day, so I called their attention. I yelled, gathered all the strength I had, and screamed. Soon, I heard the sound of the bars and their footsteps. I could not focus my eyes on anything in particular; everywhere was blurry and dark. With my head dangling down almost lifelessly, I forced the words out, “I volunteer to kill the alpha king.” Every word that left my lips drew every bit of strength I had left. I heard nothing in response; it was dead silent except for my heavy and ragged breathing. “P-please,” I begged.

“Do you know what you are saying? You volunteer to kill the Alpha king? You think you can do it?” a man whose voice I don’t recognize asked incredulously. My throat was all dried up; I could not speak any further.

“Water.”

After downing a jug filled with water, I sat with my back against the cold wall of my cell. I could see their faces. One was Tony, Alpha Reed’s beta, and the other was Zayn, Reed’s assistant. They stood above me with their hands folded. “You do know who the alpha king is... right?” Tony asked and moved two steps forward. “Alpha king Kaiden, popularly known as the demon wolf. You do know he is called that, right?” He bent down and stared at me with cold black eyes. I noticed a scar that ran from his left earlobe to his chin. I looked away from him and settled my eyes on the untilled floor.

“I do, I have heard the stories about him. The only surviving lycanthrope that is rumored to be cursed-”

“Not rumored. He is cursed. I have seen the moon goddess's curse on his back. But do you know why he is cursed?” he asked. His voice sounded malicious and sinister. I hated it. When he received no response from me, he looked up at his assistant, and they both chuckled darkly. He looked back down at me. “He killed his own father with his own claws on a full moon night. He became the alpha king but also became cursed by the moon goddess. He would never be mated to anyone, and his shadow is a terrifying monster that devours lesser men.”

I gulped in fear. It was true that I knew not much about the alpha king, but I didn’t expect him to be so evil. “His strength is unmatched because of what he is. He can sense danger from a hundred miles away. He has lots of enemies, but no one has been able to lay a scratch on him. So I ask again, do you think you can do it? Do you still want to volunteer?”

Beads of sweat made my hair stick to my face as I breathed through my mouth and nostrils. Can I do this? Should I risk it? I might die. No, I would die, but if I stayed in this pack, I would live in pain, shame, and humiliation and eventually die on the battlefield. “If I succeed, will the alpha grant me my wishes?”

“Definitely! He would happily grant your wishes. But I am curious to know how you plan on killing the alpha king when you have no wolf. Killing you would be a piece of cake.”

“Alpha Kaiden would never expect such a weakling like myself to attack him. And because I have no wolf, I would not be easily noticed. I might be lucky.”

“You gamble your life on luck?”

“Yes.”

They chuckled again. “No problem, but remember this, if you get caught by any chance, take your own life before they get a chance to question you. If you don’t, I will see to it personally that I skin your flesh and bones. Understand?”

Fear gripped my throat in a tight hold; I nodded instead. I was fed and clothed like royalty, and I soaked in every moment for it may be my last. Alpha Reed and his son Brain came to the room I was kept in. I thought I could look into his eyes and feel nothing, but I couldn’t, so I bowed my head in greetings to them and avoided Brain’s eyes.

“My beta says you have three wishes, and if you succeed, I will grant them. What is it you want?” he asked.

“Just one wish, Alpha Reed. I want you to grant me a life outside the pack, I want freedom,” I said without hesitation. I looked up and caught the shock in Brain’s eyes before it disappeared.

“Really? I had the impression that you would want to be by Brain’s side.”

“Brain does not want me,” I threw back and looked away before the alpha caught the spite in my eyes. Suddenly, the alpha came closer to me and held my face up by my chin. His gray eyes stared intensively into mine.

“Can you do this, child?” I nodded. “Then, I wish you luck. Brain has something to give you, so I will give you two privacy,” and like that, he vanished from my sight. My heart began beating very fast even though I didn’t intend for it to beat that way. Brain came close to me, but I refused to look up at his eyes.

He brought out a metal case with silver intricate designs on it. I frowned; he opened it, and in the case was a dagger whose handle was smoothly crafted and beautiful to be harmful. “If you fail to succeed, take your own life with this blade and make it quick.” And again, my heart shattered. I allowed myself to hope and get swayed for a second there. “Getting caught is not an option, Irvine. I doubt you would survive anyways.” He placed the case in my hands and turned to leave.

“Did you ever love me?” I could not help but ask as tears streamed down my face.

He didn’t turn or look back but sighed. “No, the only thing I felt for you was pity and lust, my heart never raced when I saw you or heard your voice. Our bond was a mistake. The goddess made a big mistake,” and he left me to slide down the wall and cry for my broken heart all over again.