Cursed by Fate (COMPLETE)

Chapter Twenty Seven

I twined and untwined my fingers in front of me, I whipped my hands down my outfit an unknown number of times, and I mumbled and talked to myself as I tried to ready myself for this pack barbecue. The thought of all these people, these wolves, in one place frayed my nerves beyond belief. I was also having trouble controlling my temper. These people have lied to me my whole life. Shunned me, even while being the daughter of the alpha. I swear they took advantage of the fact that I was oblivious. Took advantage of my ignorance and mocked me behind my back because of it. And just thinking about it had my temperature rising and my heart beat unsteadily. 

The guys had all left me alone in my room to get dressed, and I knew I was starting to take too long and that they’d be coming to check on me soon, wondering what was taking so long. I wouldn’t lie to them, there was no point in doing so. I was never good at lying anyway, not unless I really, really wanted or needed to hide something. And with the guys? Well I didn’t want to hide anything. I wanted to be open and honest with them. Anyway, how can I expect something from them when I wasn’t willing to give it myself? It wasn’t fair. 

With a deep breath, I forced myself out of my room and down the stairs to meet my men. They were all patiently waiting for me by the front door a mixture of concern and excitement in their eyes. The only one who looked even the slightest bit uncomfortable was Uriel. He was an angel about to be in the presence of an entire pack of werewolves. I’m sure in the past he had even fought against them in wars to bring peace to people. Not all wolves were peaceful just as not all humans and angels were. And Uriel was an unknown number of years old so I can’t even fathom what he has been through, what he’s seen. I can’t imagine how lonely his existence must have been. 

I mean think about it. Supernaturals only get one mate in a lifetime, and I’m Uriel’s. How long has he been alone? How long has he longed for something he is just now able to obtain? I hated just the thought of it. Hated the years he has spent alone, how unworthy he must have felt as he watched his brethren get their mates and live their lives in happiness. I have always been on the outside looking in and I was coming to realize Uriel had been doing the same, just for a much longer period of time. My poor angel mate. I wonder what I can do to help, or even if there was anything I could do. There was no way for me to make up lost time. But to an immortal time meant nothing, so I could spend the rest of my life making up for the time he has lost, for the time he has spent alone. I wasn’t going to leave him. 

With that in mind I made my way directly to Uriel and hooked my arm through his with a smile. I needed him to know I was here for him just as he was for me. This relationship between all of us couldn’t be one sided. They couldn’t support me and be there for me if I wasn’t willing to do the same in return. Plus, I wanted to be there for them, I wanted to show them that they could depend on me, lean on me. I wanted them to know I would always be there for them. We needed to support each other, have each other's back. There was no other way, no better way than that. 

“Are you ready?” Uriel asked, looking down at me. 

“As ready as I can be considering everything.” I admitted. “Meeting the entire town basically all over again is daunting. They’ve all been lying to me, deceiving me. Even if they were commanded not to say anything it doesn’t make things any better.” 

“Try not to dwell on it. They didn’t have a choice in the matter, so even if they wanted to tell you they wouldn’t have been able to.” Lance tried to soothe. 

“Maybe so, but that still doesn't make me feel any better about all of this. They want me to shift and show the pack my wolf. Whereas I don’t mind that, what I do mind is their reaction once they see her. I know Rose is dominant, what I don’t know is what her reaction will be to an entire town that deceived us. Something tells me she isn’t going to like it.” 

Rose’s echoing growl in my mind gave me my answer. Yup, she definitely was not going to like this. Though she was going to enjoy making them submit. I could feel the mixture of anger and excitement to hurry and reveal herself. It actually made me chuckle to myself, these people don’t even know what is about to hit them. Poor souls. I wonder what the pack will think about an angel and vampire being among them. Well, it’s not like I am not an angel and vampire as well, not to mention Mathias who is vampire and werewolf. So they’ll have more than one vampire walking among them anyway. 

All of us reached the barbecue together. The music blared around us as people wandered around and mingled with each other. It broke my heart not to see my friends or any of the people from my class I’d come to know over the years. I could see the sadness in some of the people’s eyes, telling me exactly who the parents of those kids were. They also all seemed to gravitate towards one another. Shared trauma seemed to have brought his group of people together, though I wish the tragedy had never happened to begin with. Such unnecessary violence, unnecessary death and blood shed. Whoever was responsible would pay with their lives. A life for a life, it only seemed fair. 

It was right around then people started to notice our arrival. Whispers started as they looked from me to my mates, their eyes wide with wonder and curiosity. That curiosity would be quenched soon unfortunately, but first I wanted to enjoy this. And I wanted food, I felt like I was starving. So I made a beeline towards the food table, piling my plate high with the variety of food they had spread out before us. My mouth watered in anticipation as we took our seats, everyone looking at me like I’d grown three extra heads. 

“What?” I furrowed my brow looking between everyone. 

“Nothing.” Mathias laughed. “Just didn’t know you were that hungry.” 

“I feel like I’m starving.” I groaned before taking a large bite of my barbecue sandwich, moaning as the tangy flavor danced across my taste buds. 

“Have you fed?” Elias asked. 

“Uh, I’m feeding myself now.” I said looking at him dumbfounded. 

“No.” Elias shook his head. “I mean fed, as in your vampire side.” 

I paused with the sandwich halfway to my mouth. “Oh, uh, well no.” I admitted. 

Elias and Mathias both made a sound halfway between a sigh and a groan as they eyed each other before looking back at me. 

“What?” I demanded. 

“You need to feed.” Mathias sighed, rubbing his hand down his face. 

“I’m fine. Just let me finish my food.” 

“No.” Elias said sternly. 

“Excuse me?” My eyes narrowed on him. 

“You need to feed.” He reiterated. 

“I will after the barbecue.”

“Fine, but directly after.” Elia warned. 

“Yeah, yeah.” I waved him off and continued devouring the food in front of me. 

I continued to eat as my eyes scanned the growing crowd, half of which I’d never seen before. How many were in this pack? And how far out does it reach? Did it reach beyond Darkridge? Or did Darkridge extend farther than I originally thought or was told? If I was to be alpha that seemed like important information to know. Maybe there was something in my fathers office to tell me. I haven’t been in there since before he died, and even then he never allowed me in there alone much less see what he was always working on. At least now I know why he never did. 

“Nicole?” A man’s voice questioned from beside me. 

“Yes?” 

“I am Lyle. I was your father’s beta and stand in alpha.” He said bowing his head to me. “It would be an honor to pass the title on to the appropriate party once the pack and I know you are of rank and power.” 

“Excuse me?” I asked, turning to him and glaring. “I may be new at this and new to know this is a wolf pack. But do you honestly think you had a choice in the matter?”

“Well, yes.” He said, his eyes boring into mine. Rose did not like this. She quickly rose to the surface, my now purple eyes turning silver with her presence. I slowly stood and faced him head on. His eyes dropped to my feet the moment Rose showed herself. She had been calm and collected this whole time as she assessed the people around us, but with his challenge she surged forward. 

“You want to see worth?” I smirked. 

“Come on Rose. Let us show them who we are.” I encouraged. 

She growled her agreement as I let the shift wash over me. It was still painful with this being just my second time shifting, but it was a lot faster than the first time, the sound of cracking bones barely even registering to me. When I was on all fours, we sneezed, shaking out our fur and stretching lazily. Rose showed no sign of interest as she yawned and paced circles around Lyle. When she was done assessing him she rolled her eyes and pranced to our mates side and sat on her haunches. I laughed at her as she tilted her head to the side and watched Lyle’s and the others' reaction. I sweat all of their jaws were on the floor, and if they opened their eyes any wider their eyes would pop out of their head. 

“Not possible.” Lyle breathed as he bravely inched towards me. I snarled my warning at him, he was close enough. And Lyle stopped his progression immediately, and eyes me from afar. 

“You can clearly see it is very much possible.” Uriel said, his arms crossed over his chest. 

“I’ve never heard of white wolf.” Lyle admitted, his eyes turning to Uriel. “We all thought they were wivestales. Something that was told to kids as fairy tales and bedtime stories.” 

“That’s what everyone thought.” Lance agreed. “But Nicole had clearly proven otherwise.” 

“Yes, well we would all be honored to have her as our alpha. When news of this spreads people will be coming from far and wide to join our pack.” 

“Or attack it.” Elias deadpanned. “No alpha would give up the chance to challenge a white wolf.” 

“They’d be insane to try.” Lyle said turning his eyes to Elias. “A white wolf is powerful. Not only is strength, speed and size, but they have magic in their blood. It’s part of who they are.” 

“We know.” 

I huffed and once again let the shift take over me. Rose would be free to run soon, but right now I needed to face this pack. When I was standing in front of Lyle again, fully clothed, I smirked. I held my ground, daring him or anyone else to challenge me. Rose and I both knew she could take whomever tried, but none stepped forward. Instead everyone bowed their heads and bared their necks in submission. Great, well, I guess that all worked out. I was clearly worrying for nothing, but now Lyle’s words played in my head on repeat. People would come to join or fight me soon. So no matter how much I wanted to just rest and spend time with my men, I would have to train. Train my body and my wolf. This should be fun.