THE CURSE ALPHA KING

Chapter 2

The Kiss and The Truth

He opened the back of her shirt and saw the mark at her waist.

"She's the one. She's my mate," he said to himself.

Just then, Ella struggled free from his grip and slapped him hard across the face.

The moment she slapped him, Ella said, "I should have left you there. I just saved your life and this is the kind of s**t that you pull?"

The curse began to burn through Lucas's body the moment she turned to leave. The fire was back, stronger than before.

Lucas was struggling and said, "Wait, wait."

She turned around and saw the way he was struggling. "What's wrong with you now?"

She touched him and said, "He's burning up. Maybe there's something really wrong with him."

She said to him while holding him, "Hey, let's get you back to the bed."

Lucas said to himself, "Whenever she touches me, the pain just disappears.”

Without warning, Lucas kissed her deeply. But she managed to break free by biting his lip hard. He said slowly, "Nobody has ever bit me like that before."

"That was my first kiss. You are an asshole," Ella said and left the room.

Lucas said to himself, "I need to learn more about you, Ella Storm."

Ella was on her way out when she said to herself, "What a prick! How's he just gonna kiss me like that?"

Her phone rang. It was her grandma. "Hey, grandma."

Her grandma's voice came through the phone. "Sweetheart, your phone call got disconnected. Is everything okay?”

Ella said, "Yeah. Yeah, um, everything is fine. Um, I'm actually at the hospital now, so I will just... I'll come over and see you."

The moment the call ended, Ella said to herself, "It's okay. He's a werewolf. I will just pretend I got licked by a dog. It's not like I will ever see him again."

Ella's grandma was in her hospital bed when Ella entered the room.

"Grandma, how are you doing? Did they finally schedule your heart bypass surgery?"

Her grandma held Ella's hand and said, "I didn't plan on having the surgery."

"What?" Ella said. "Why? But why not?"

"You start college in a few days and the tuition is due. We can't afford to be in debt.”

Ella's grandma continued, "We can't afford to have more debt than we already are. I don't want to be your burden."

Ella said, "No, no grandma. You can never be my burden. You're the only family I have left. If you don't get the surgery then I'm not going to college."

"Ella, you graduated valedictorian in your class. You have to go to college. That is not up for discussion."

"Grandma, your heart is not up for discussion. If you get the surgery then I will go to college. Deal?"

Meanwhile, Lucas was outside the hospital waiting for his Beta Hugo.

"Sorry for the wait, sir," his beta apologized.

Lucas said, "Did you at least find some info on this girl?"

"Yes, sir. The folder is in the car for you to review."

Hugo opened the car door. Lucas entered and took the folder. "Ella Storm, let's see who you are."

As Lucas opened the file, his eyes grew wide. The first page had Ella's picture, but underneath were documents.

At home, Ella was preparing lunch when her phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Hello, Miss Ella. Just calling to let you know that your tuition has been fully paid by a sponsor. You can now register for classes."

"Oh my God, really?"

"Also, a scholarship of $20,000 has been deposited into your account."

Ella almost dropped the phone. "I cannot express how grateful I am. Thank you. Um, can I please know the name of the sponsor? I would like to thank him in person."

"I'm sorry, but the sponsor requested to remain anonymous for now."

After the call ended, Ella sat down on her couch, confused. Who would pay for her education? She didn't know anyone with that kind of money.

Her phone rang again. This time it was the hospital.

"Miss Storm? This is Dr. Martinez from the hospital. I'm calling about your grandmother's surgery."

Ella's heart stopped. "Is she okay? Did something happen?"

"No, no, she's fine. Actually, I'm calling with good news. An anonymous donor has paid for her entire surgery and recovery. The best surgeons, private rooms, everything. We can schedule the surgery for tomorrow if you'd like."

Ella couldn't speak. Tears started running down her face.

"Miss Storm? Are you there?"

"Yes, yes I'm here. Thank you so much. Please schedule it."

After she hung up, Ella fell to her knees crying. Someone had just saved her grandmother's life and paid for her college. But who?

The next day at school orientation, Ella stood in front of hundreds of students.

"Hello everyone, and welcome to orientation. My name is Ella Storm and I am your student representative for the class of 2027."

Everyone clapped.

While Claudia, Ella's classmate who always liked to bully her, was very angry where she was sitting.

Mila said to her friend who was sitting next to her, "I heard that girl Ella is a country bumpkin hillbilly."

Jessica replied, "She got in on a scholarship."

Mila said, "I can't believe the school asked her to do the opening speech. She looks so trashy."

"Yeah. Claudia should have been the one to give the speech. You're so much better than that ugly loser."

Claudia said, "The school probably picked her to represent the poor people, you know, diversity."

Ella continued, "It is my great honor to be with you all here today. Thank you so much and I hope you have a great school year."

Ella smiled and the school master said, "Everyone, please give a round of applause for our next guest, our school's biggest donor, Mr. Lucas Vinci."

One of the masters told Ella, "Remember to smile and give him your warmest welcome. Mr. Lucas is the werewolf Alpha King and the sponsor of your tuition."

"Of course, sir."

Ella held the flowers which the master gave her for welcoming their guest. As she was smiling, her eyes were on the flowers until Mr. Lucas walked to the stage. She looked up to welcome him and give him the flowers, but she ended up shocked the moment she saw him. The flowers dropped on the floor.

The master quickly and quietly asked her, "What is going on here? Pick up the flowers."

She pretended and picked them up. She said, "Um, Mr. Lucas, thank you. And on behalf of all of the students in the scholarship program, I would like to extend my gratitude."

Everyone clapped. She gave Lucas the flowers and said to him with a low voice, "And I will pay you back every penny that I owe you once I graduate and get a job."

He pretended to have a handshake with Ella and gently dragged her close to him in a way no one would notice. He slowly said to her, almost close to her ear, "That's not what I want."

Ella pulled back and whispered, "Then what do you want?"

Lucas smiled but his eyes were serious.

“Oh, I see,” he said with a smirk. “So I guess you’re interested in getting kicked out of college on your very first day… and getting blacklisted from every major university in the country?”

Ella’s stomach twisted.

“I wonder,” he continued, almost lazily, “what your sweet grandmother will think of that. She worked so hard to get you here. You wouldn’t want to disappoint her… would you?”

Her mouth opened, but no words came out.

“You have three seconds to decide,” he said, his tone now icy. “Three… two…”

He raised the mic to his lips. “Check, one…”

Ella’s eyes widened. Panic set in. He was really going to do it — humiliate her in front of everyone.

Without thinking, she rushed forward and grabbed his arm.

“Okay!” she whispered harshly. “Okay, you win. I’ll do whatever you want.”

Lucas looked down at her with a satisfied grin. “Good. Meet me at the dean’s office after the ceremony. Don’t be f*****g late…

Back in his office, Lucas sat behind his desk, staring out the window as the phone pressed against his ear. The line crackled before the voice of the High Priestess came through.

“She’s human,” Lucas said tightly. “So how the hell is it possible that she’s my mate?”

There was silence for a moment, then the woman’s voice replied, calm and ancient.

“It’s rare… but it happens. Once in a lifetime, an Alpha may be bound to a human girl — if she bears the Mark of the Moon.”

“If she has the mark,” the High Priestess said, “then she’s the one. Once you mate with her, the curse will break. You’ll finally be free.”

Lucas leaned back in his chair, letting that sink in.

The High Priestess sighed. “But there’s a problem.