Bound to love the curse

Chapter 2- Chelsea

Chelsea’s POV

“You again?” Alpha Zade growled.

I squeezed my dress.

My knees felt weak but I forced myself to stand upright.

“D-Don’t sign the alliance, my alpha.” I said.

Ryker’s eyes darkened. Then his lips curled.

“What nonsense is this?” He finally said, pointing at me.

“This servant dares to interrupt a meeting?” An elder said.

Zade flicked his gaze from them to me.

“I said it,” Ryker rose to his feet. “Bluewolf is a joke and it allows its civilians to behave without shame.”

My throat tightened.

My words had disappeared.

“Uhm-”

“Speak!” Zade roared.

“M-my alpha,” I shuddered.

“Wait, aren’t you the same servant from the hall?” Ryker walked towards me.

I lowered my head. “Yes, I am.”

Ryker laughed without humor.

“So you’re the filthy girl that embarrassed my pack.”

My face burned.

I knew what was coming for me but at least I stopped him from signing…for now.

“So you embarrassed my pack first and you’re here again to tell me not to sign an alliance,” Zade started circling me. “What do you know about alliances, omega.”

“I was trying to warn you-”

“Warn us of what?” an elder snapped. “You are just a servant.”

“I saw-”

“Enough,” Zade said sharply.

He stood up.

“Why should I listen to you?” he demanded. “After the disgrace you caused?”

My fingers clenched.

“I saw Bluewolf fall,” I whispered. “Fire…blood…y-your crown.”

Silence fell.

Ryker scoffed.

“Listen to this madness. Are you trying to call me weak? That I can’t rule my own pack?”

“N-no… I’m saying you will lose your crown,” I said, my voice shaking. “If you sign this alliance, I saw it in my visions!”

“Visions?” Zade asked.

“Yes…” I said. “I see visions…of the future…and I saw you on your knees and-and-”

Zade’s eyes flashed.

An elder pinched his temple and shook his head slowly.

“Enough!” Ryker roared. “Get her out… before she curses this room further.”

“Yes, Ryker.” Zade bowed. “Guards!”

My heart beat faster.

“I knew she was a problem,” he added. “The moment she dropped that tray.”

The guards rushed in and grabbed me by each arm.

He shoved his chair back.

“My pack will not bind itself to a disgrace like this.” He said.

He turned and strode toward the door. “This meeting is over.”

The doors slammed behind him.

My heart dropped into my stomach.

Zade turned slowly to me.

I could feel the heat rising.

“You.”

“I was only trying to help,” I whispered.

“You cost me everything.”

He grabbed my neck until I choked.

“P-please,”

Murmurs rose outside the council room.

“Take her outside,” he ordered the guards.

They grabbed me again and dragged me through the hall.

All eyes were fixed on me.

My cheeks burned.

“Please…please,” I begged.

I should have kept my mouth closed. I shouldn’t have said anything. I should have left.

Daphne stepped out from the crowd.

“My Alpha,” she said softly. “What happened?”

“This servant,” he growled at me.

She glared at me.

“Ryker terminated the alliance.”

Gasps travelled through the hall.

“What?” Daphne yelled.

“This servant here,” Zade pointed at me. “She called me weak and told me I would lose my crown if I signed. Ryker felt offended and he left.”

“N-no,” I tried to say.

Murmurs filled the air.

“No…I didn’t call him weak, h-he was in my v-visions a-and-”

Then the lights twitched for a second.

It clicked, Daphne slapped me.

Tears rushed into my eyes as I watched her.

“She deserves the dungeon,” Zade growled.

Daphne shook her head.

“No. Exile her.”

My breath broke.

“No,” I cried. “I can fix this.”

“She cost us an alliance,” Daphne said. “Let her pay for it.”

Zade looked down at me.

“Strip her of pack protection,” he said. “Send her beyond the border.”

“No…please.” Tears streamed from my eyes.

Zade cupped my face forcefully. “If your visions are so real… Why didn’t you see this too?”

“Alpha, please… I’ll never make this mistake again. Please don’t exile me,” I begged uncontrollably.

“You’re done for.” Daphne mouthed and a smirk crept on her face.

The gates opened and they shoved me out.

The doors slammed shut behind me.

I collapsed to my knees.

Everything was blurred out. My eyes were fixed on the floor.

“My life was over.”

“I shouldn’t have spoken,” I whispered.

I stopped crying but my heart felt heavier when I tried to breathe.

“Why?” I shrieked at the heavens. “Moon goddess, why?”

“Why was I cursed? Everything I held on to, everything I survived on was always taken away from me. I’m tired, I feel weak, I don’t want to be here!”

I kicked an old trash can beside me.

“Ow!” I yelped.

Tears blurred my vision.

I wiped it away again and forced myself to stand. I started walking, having no idea where I was going.

My feet hurt. My chest ached.

I snapped and looked around. I was in a forest and it was dark already.

I walked faster, hoping I would get to the forest’s exit. But I realized I had been walking in circles.

My stomach grumbled.

I dropped to the ground.

“I’m going to starve to death,” I sniffed. “Then predators can feed over my-”

Leaves rustled behind me.

Then I heard a grunt.

“Hello?” I echoed.

I stood up immediately. The predators were faster than I thought.

“Hello?” I walked towards the sound.

Then I saw him.

A man lying on the ground.

He wasn’t moving

Blood stained his clothes.

My breath caught.

I stopped for a second before I stepped closer.

“Hello?” I whispered.

He didn’t answer.

I stared at his face.

And my heart stopped.

I crouched next to him.

Blood trickled from his forehead. His chest rose slowly as if it was painful to breathe.

“Oh no…” I whispered.

I reached out before I could think about it. My fingers hovered his shoulder, then I felt a pulse on my wrist.

I sucked in my breath and looked down.

The Polaris mark glowed faintly.

My stomach dropped.

No. It was impossible.

No, no, no…

I shook my head quickly. “I-t can’t be, no…not now.”

My chest tightened.

I had the Polaris mark since birth and before my mother died, she explained that it only glowed…when I found my mate.

I looked around.

He grunted again, like he was in pain even though he was unconscious.

“Okay…Chelsea, think, think, think.” I said to myself.

I couldn’t even carry him.

I stood up and held my forehead.

Predators could be nearby, even rogues.

Anything.

That was when I saw it.

It was a narrow pathway between the trees.

There must be something on the other side. I was filled with hope again.

“I’ll be back, I swear.” I whispered even though he couldn’t hear me.

I took one last look at his face. And then I ran for help.