The Cursed Awakening book 1

Chapter 7: The Farewell Celebration

Jason’s POV

The Royal Pack didn’t do anything halfway. When it came to celebrations, they went big. Today was no exception. The going away party was in full swing, with shifters from all over the kingdom gathered to eat, drink, and wish us well. The barbecue pits lined the yard, filling the air with the smell of grilled meat. The pool was crowded with kids splashing and yelling, and carnival style games were set up across the grounds. Some booths had magical elements like juggling fireballs or enchanted ring tosses, drawing excited cheers from the younger crowd.

Shifters of every kind mingled under the setting sun. Trolls towered over most of the guests, their deep laughs carrying across the yard. A group of fox shifters lingered near the edge of the pool, their sleek movements graceful even when standing still. A few witches and fae added color to the party, their natural glow making them stand out in the crowd.

I should have been relaxed, enjoying the moment. Instead, my nerves were a mess. Two years of Alpha School awaited me, and while I wasn’t scared, I wasn’t exactly thrilled either. Leaving everything and everyone behind was harder than I’d expected.

I wandered through the party, stopping to talk to a few pack members and allies. A couple of bear shifters were near the cornhole game, their sheer size making the boards look like children’s toys. They waved when they saw me.

“Jason, you ready to handle Alpha School?” one of them, a burly guy named Russ, asked.

I shrugged. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

Russ laughed. “Don’t worry, kid. They won’t break you too much. Just enough to make you stronger.”

“Thanks for the pep talk,” I said dryly, earning a hearty laugh from him and his buddy.

I kept moving, trying to distract myself. Reid was over by the grill, standing a little too close to his mate, Zaina. She had joined the pack recently, moving here from the human realm after they’d met. She was beautiful, she has caramel skin, bouncey dark curls that framed her face, and curves that made Reid lose his damn mind.

I smirked as I watched him practically drool while she spoke to Coral and her friends near the magical games. Reid was 19, three years older than Coral, and really a protective older brother. He still kept an eye on her, though, even as he obsessed over Zaina.

Coral, of course, looked stunning. Her hot pink bikini and matching mesh cover-up sparkled in the sunlight as she laughed with her friends. Eli was by her side, as always, his hand on her lower back while they talked. I felt my jaw tighten.

Reid eventually broke away from Zaina and came over to where Collin and I were standing. Collin, the future Gamma, was cracking jokes about the ridiculousness of fire juggling.

“You two excited for this?” Reid asked, snagging a drink from the cooler next to us.

“Excited isn’t the word I’d use,” I muttered, taking a sip of water.

Collin smirked. “Come on, Jason. Two years of nonstop training, studying, and dealing with stuck-up Alphas from other packs? What’s not to love?”

“You’re such an ass,” I said, shoving him lightly.

Reid laughed. “He’s not wrong, though. Alpha School isn’t exactly a party. But it’ll be worth it when you come back ready to lead.”

I glanced toward Coral again. Eli had his arm around her now, and she was leaning into him, smiling at something he said.

“You sure you’re ready to leave her behind?” Reid asked, his tone softer now.

I clenched my fists. “She’s got Eli. She’ll be fine.”

Collin raised an eyebrow. “You keep telling yourself that, man. But if you ask me, you’ve got a hell of a lot more than brotherly concern for her.”

“Drop it,” I snapped.

Reid sighed. “Look, Jason, I get it. Coral’s important to you. But she’s 16. She doesn’t even know if Eli’s her mate yet, and she won’t until she’s 18. You need to focus on yourself right now. She’s got us here to look out for her.”

I didn’t respond. They were right, of course. But that didn’t make it any easier to watch her with Eli.

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As the sun dipped lower, the crowd grew louder, the energy ramping up as the night approached. I joined in more, playing a few games and chatting with pack members. Gregor, one of the trolls, dragged me into an arm wrestling match that I barely managed to win.

“You got lucky,” he grumbled, rubbing his arm as I laughed.

“Keep telling yourself that, big guy,” I said, clapping him on the shoulder.

By the time the fireworks started, I was starting to feel the weight of the day. Tomorrow, everything would change. Two years might not seem like much, but it felt like a lifetime when you were leaving everything you cared about behind.

As I watched Coral laugh with her friends under the glow of the fireworks, I made a silent promise to myself. No matter how far away I was, I’d always be there for her. One way or another.