Cursed, Mated, Free,

Chapter 1: The Take over

I awoke with a sudden jolt, gasping for air as I frantically eye my surroundings and letting the early morning light chase away the last remnants of my reoccurring nightmares. It is always the same nightmare, feeling an agonizing pain, waking up on a rock surrounded by death. Recognizable faces from my early childhood lay, pale, cold and void of life while the flora and fauna around match the dead and wilted state of my once old pack. That was six years ago now, it feels as if it was a lifetime ago my twelve-year-old self woke up on that rock and ran away until my feet were bloody and I, exhausted. I ran away from everything I knew, or what was left of it to endure my curse alone, to grow into my wolf alone, scared, and afraid.

Groaning and stretching out my stiff back from the hard surfaces of the cave I slept in, I started to stuff my very few belongings into a haggard sack. The contents of my belongings are very minimal, a few dresses and undergarments, a rustic dagger and a small crystal that appeared in my palm six years ago after the ritual. It did not take long to realize the crystal is connected to my curse. I feel attached to the crystal as if it is a part of me or I am apart of it, so I cannot bare to part with it even though it is a cruel reminder of that night. 

Exiting the cave, I allow my wolf senses to kick in, I take a long, deep sniff of the air getting a good sent of the nearby animals and my surroundings ensuring I cannot smell any dangers that may lurk such as hunters or other rogues. My ears twitch eagerly to take in the sounds of nature, noticing the light swooshing and splashes of a nearby waterfall piqued my interest. 'Good a bath', I thought to myself, keen to wash away the dirt and sweat that came from sleeping in a cave and my recent nightmare.

Without a second thought I transformed and shifted into my wolf, something that I have grown to love as the pain from shifting as diminished over the years. My wolf's coat is predominately white but now is tarnished with a small array of black and red zig zags where my shoulder would be. A gift from the curse no doubt. My wolf takes strong leaps through the forest, weaving around trees and obstacles which is made easier by our natural enhanced site.

The waterfall is breathtaking in its beauty, after my bath I find the time to lounge around in the morning sun, shifting back to my human form. I feel a familiar sensation on the back of my shoulder, a deep burn that gradually worsens with every minute. "Shit", I muttered to myself. The onset of the burn usually signals a full moon and when Calytia takes over my mind and body for 24 hours. I only ever get glimpses and see portions of the destruction she causes when she takes over. My breath quickens with the pain now spreading down my back and arms, I clench my teeth waiting for the pain to subside like it usually does. 10 minutes of this burning pain and it feels as if it only getting worse. "This shouldn't be happening for so long, arghhh, shit, shit, shit", I reach into my sack and pull my crystal out, shocked but not surprised that the usual purplish colour is quickly fading black. It only starts fading when Calytia is emerging to the surface in the matter of hours. Usually, I have days. She is coming. Fast. 

Desperately pushing through the low branches and swerving large tree roots, I head for an old, abandoned bunker like structure to lock myself into. As the searing ache from my mark continues to spread throughout my body, I grow weak, slowing my pace to an almost limp. I do not think I will make it in time before she takes control. My wolf is rendered powerless to the pain dramatically slowing my pace.

The bunker is a small room reinforced with steel, but is now dust filled with remnants of rotting, wooden tables, and chairs. I assume it was a hide away for someone. I discovered it in the forest years ago and have been determined to make use of it when the full moon comes, and I lose control.

Before I discovered the bunker, Calytia took possession, and she slaughtered a small wolf village. I remembered bits and pieces, the screams of men who tried to defend their pack, women crying and huddling their children away. Remembering a young man on his knees trying to plead with calytia, his tears soaked his face, his family dead around him. Calytia took pleasure in this, I could feel it, I could feel her laughter when she snapped his neck. Feeling responsible and to blame, as if I should have some control over her, I never bothered to find a home, friends or even a mate. Living in solitude for so long has readied me for a lonely life, and maybe death. I always squash the fantasies of having someone to love and protect me, it seems so pointless longing for a life that will never come true, after all, who can love a monster like myself?

Approaching the bunker door, I drop to my knees, drained with a harsh dizziness washing over me. I am so close. Slowly reaching forward for the bunker door my hands trembled viciously as I gripped the handle. My reflection in the metal caught my attention, the young women that staired back was frighteningly pale in contrast to my black hair which was now matted to my face from sweat. My usual emerald-green eyes started hazing over to a familiar translucent red, accompanied by a sudden pounding sensation in my head that pulsed behind my eye sockets.

I let out a shattering scream as I felt my soul shift away to make room for the dark moon goddess, Calytia. The high pitched scream transitioned to a more throaty and deeper noise quickly deflating into a sinister laugh.....

 "hmmmm, you fight so desperately little pup. Quite little pup, don't make me kill something now."