Howls of Cursed Fate

꧁ 𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓞𝓷𝓮 ꧂

𝓝𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓲𝓼 𝓪𝓼 𝓲𝓽 𝓼𝓮𝓮𝓶𝓼

When finding your fated mate was supposed to be inevitable, reaching my age without one felt like a curse-and my father's constant pressure to find her only made things worse. Maybe I was a lost cause, and that fact would finally let him sleep at night. Or not. Cry me a river.

The bass thumped through the walls of the club, a relentless rhythm that matched the beat of my heart. I loved the numbness the place and Friday's happy hour drinks offered. It was the stress release I needed after my father's big speech.

I lounged alone on a plush sofa at our pack's table, trying to ignore the stares and whispers from others who knew exactly who I was. Gulping down another glass of rum and cola, I then took a deep breath to ease the weight of their eyes on me.

The air was thick with the scent of sweat, cheap cologne, and something sweet-like trouble waiting to happen.

"The big talk from your father really messed with you, didn't it?" Asher, my best friend and classmate, handed me another drink, his tone too casual to be innocent. "That we have to search for our mates every damn-"

"Asher," I warned, narrowing my eyes at his messy brown hair. "I'm here to forget all that, not to be reminded. So either help me or find someone else to nag."

He grinned and sat next to me.

"So, his talk was meant for you only?" He chuckled into his glass and quickly downed it when he noticed my pointed look.

"Asher, stop." His sister brought more drinks to the table, squeezed in between us, and leaned in with a mischievous grin. "Gideon, don't worry. Maybe if I stare into your eyes long enough, we'll find out that we're fated." Her dark eyes locked onto mine, playful, searching deep into my soul.

Asher laughed, shaking his head. "Lilly, you'd need a miracle for that. And Gideon's got enough on his plate without adding a jokester like you into the mix."

"Hey! I'm not just a jokester," Lilly shot back, feigning offense as her blond curls bounced around. "I'm keeping all you pups in line."

Despite my efforts to remain unaffected, I found myself laughing along with them. "Yes, you try."

She ran a hand quickly through my hair to prove her point. "And we're both blonde-"

"Stop," I groaned, rubbing a hand over my face.

"Honestly though, I really do need a wolf in my life. I want to be a wolf too." Lilly leaned in closer, her grin widening as she saw a glimpse of fear in me. "But even though I'd love to have an alpha... no, Gideon, I can't take you as more than a friend," she teased, her voice dripping with mock seriousness.

I cringed but couldn't help smirking. "Thank God for that," I replied, seeing her fake puppy eyes. "But hey, those pancakes you made this morning? Top-notch. You're really stepping up as the pack's big mama."