The Mate's Curse

Chapter 3

(Cassie’s POV)

Less than three hours later I was dressed in a plain white dress with a subtle lace overlay, with my strawberry blonde hair pulled up into a neat bun and very simple make up, which mostly served to hide the red around my eyes from crying so much. Werewolves wore white for funerals and even though it would take place in a human church and be a human service and cremation, a notice had gone out stating that it was James’ wishes that white was worn as per his will. 

I exited the car and walked behind my parents as we made our way to the service. The attendants were a mix of werewolves and humans, some in the know, but some not. As we walked up to the crematorium where the service was to be held, people would stop my father and offer condolences. To the outside world, Alpha James and my father were brothers, which was how we decided to explain the closeness of the pack. It wasn’t entirely incorrect. A pack is a family after all. 

I saw Beta Thomas first, along with his wife Helen. Helen had been one of the humans living on the packlands and had lost her husband and mate during the attack. The pair had grown close in their mutual grief and had fallen in love. They had been married fifteen years and had three beautiful children, all human too. Beta Thomas saw me and pulled me into a hug. “He’s with David and Sarah now,” he said. “He can finally tell them how proud he is of them.”  

I could only nod and hug him tighter as I tried to hold back the tears. I released him and moved to gently hug Helen too before moving aside to allow my parents to greet Beta Thomas and Helen. 

It was then that I saw our Luna. Even in her grief she looked beautiful, wearing a tailored white dress and simple white heels. Her almost white blond hair was loose around her shoulders and her blue eyes sparkled from unshed tears. She looked so fragile, I wanted to rush to her and protect her from the pain that I could only imagine she was feeling. As my father was the Gamma, it was his job to protect the Luna and Alpha Pups, a role that would normally be passed on to the Gamma's son. I knew I wasn’t a male wolf, and didn’t even have access to my wolf, but I trained to ensure that I could take over from my father when the time came. As Ava and Noah, the Alpha and Luna’s children, were born human, then technically the responsibility didn’t cover them but that wasn’t going to stop me. 

Even though I couldn’t talk to my wolf I still had all the other abilities that came with being a werewolf. I healed quickly and had the strength and speed to match any other wolf. And I was damn sure that I was going to use it for good. 

Luna Layla saw me and smiled, and as I went over to her, she pulled me into a hug.

“I’m so sorry my Luna,” I whispered.

She pulled away and shook her head. “You don’t need to call me that anymore.”

“What?” I was confused. 

“My dear, sweet Cassie,” she said. “I am no longer Luna of this pack.”

I was shocked. I knew that as a human,she technically couldn’t hold the title any more but she had been my Luna all my life and I wasn’t going to accept anything else.

“I don’t care about the rules,” I said defiantly.

She laughed, although it was a sad laugh. “Oh Cassie, you beautiful girl, if only you knew.” She pulled me into a hug and whispered, “It has and always will be a pleasure to serve you.” Then she released me and immediately stepped into Beta Thomas’s arms. 

I stood there shocked. What did she mean? Serve me? It was surely the other way around. 

I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned to see my mum looking at me. “It’s time,” she said, and I nodded before following her into the service. 

I was sitting on the front row between Beta Thomas and my mum, with my father at the other side of my mum. I listened to the officiant as he talked about the sorrow of death and the joy of life and all the things they always say. He talked about Alpha James' passion for hiking and love of nature which ignited a soft ripple of chuckles from the wolves in the room. He then went on to talk about family, naming my father as his brother. 

“And survived by his wife Layla, and two remaining children Noah and Ava and as he now joins his eldest son David and sister Sarah who were tragically lost some years ago.” I couldn’t help the sob that escaped my mouth at the mention of them, and Beta Thomas pulled me into another hug as I quietly sobbed into his jacket. 

***

After the service ended we held a small intimate wake at the Alpha’s home, this was strictly wolves and those who knew about us only. This was our chance to celebrate his life. I was sitting on the grass outside in the back garden that opened onto the woods and listened to the stories from Alpha James’ youth, told by my father and Beta Thomas and others who had been around. Other than our ranked members there were only two other surviving pack members, Peter and Gemma Norwood, brother and sister who had stayed with us until they had both found mates in other packs. It was normal for the female to join the male’s pack but Peter had also requested to join his mate’s pack too, due to too many painful memories. Alpha James had allowed the request, although both were back today with their mates. 

There was an assortment of wolves from the surrounding packs here to show respect. Everyone knew the history of the attack and I think they felt sorry for what we had become. It was just a shame that no one seemed to know which pack it was that had launched the attack. It was customary for the attending wolves to go for a run in remembrance, something I wasn’t looking forward to. No one other than our pack knew that I couldn’t shift and I didn’t really want them finding out. 

Slowly the wolves drifted towards the woods to strip out of their clothes and shift and to enjoy the run and I started to feel nervous. I stood there with the intention of slipping away unnoticed when my way into the house was blocked by a medium set man with dark chestnut hair and brown eyes that edged into gold. He was very handsome for an older wolf and I could tell from the power radiating from him that he was of Alpha blood. 

He smiled at me warmly. “Surely you won’t be missing the run, my dear?” he asked with a curious expression on his face. 

“I erm… I... “ I wasn’t sure what to say. I didn’t want to appear disrespectful to my Alpha’s memory but knew I wasn’t going to be shifting, I glanced longingly at the woods where I would give anything to be able to shift and run. 

Before I could say anything else my mum came up beside me and greeted the man. “Alpha Black,” she said to my shock.

This was Alpha Black, he was the alpha of the Black Stone pack around 30 miles away. It was one of the biggest packs in Europe and he was the acting head of the council and Alpha King of Europe, no wonder I could feel his power. 

“My daughter has had a difficult day,” my mum explained. “Today’s events have brought up too many memories from the past” 

“Of course Gamma Waters,” he said, nodding. “How insensitive of me.” He smiled at me once more before nodding again and excusing himself to the woods. I breathed a sigh of relief and thanked my mum for coming to my rescue before heading down the street to my home. I wanted to put this awful day behind me and get on with my life. 

***

I had just slipped into a short pj set after a shower and was combing my wet hair when my mum knocked on my bedroom door. “Cassie, are you awake?” 

I sat on my bed. “Yeah mum, what’s up?” 

She poked her head into the door. “Your father has said that we are needed back at the Alpha house.” 

I looked at the clock and the digital display read 11:24pm. Why would we be needed at this time? “Ok,” I said. “Go ahead without me, I will be a few minutes.” 

She smiled although she had a worried look on her face as she closed the door. 

I hunted for a pair of jeans and a top and quickly pulled them on. I slipped on a pair of trainers before leaving and heading back up to the Alpha house again. As I got closer I could hear arguing which caused me to rush quicker to the house. I walked in without knocking to see Luna Layla sat on the stairs with tears in her eyes. Ava had her head in her mother’s lap and Noah was sitting behind them, looking furious. 

“What-” I got out before the Alpha’s office door opened and the shouting increased.

A well built blond haired man stepped out. “Miss Waters?” he questioned. 

“Yes,” I said, looking at the Luna again

“Your presence is requested in here,” he commanded more than said.

“Who the hell are y-” I started but Luna Layla spoke. 

“Cassie, just go, it’s important.” 

I looked and she smiled again. I walked past the now not-so-happy blond man into the room and surveyed the scene to my horror. 

My father was holding my mother and both looked incredibly pale and Beta Thomas was being held back by two werewolves while shouting all sorts of obscenities at a man sitting behind the Alpha's desk. I looked to the desk and saw Alpha Black sat expressionless in the Alpha's seat.

He glanced up as the door was closed behind me by the angry blond wolf, then stood and turned to Beta Thomas and in a firm but not raised voice said, “Be quiet.” 

The power that rolled off those words was pure Alpha power and immediately Beta Thomas fell silent even though the look on his face was pure fury. That didn’t stop Alpha Black though, he calmly looked around the room and smiled although there was no warmth there. 

“Now that we are all present, it is time to discuss the transfer of pack ownership.”

I looked up in horror, and my stomach dropped. He was here to take what was left of the Silver Lake Pack.