Cursed

Beautiful

Scarlett

I stand before the small café, watching the sign swing and creak in the wind. It was early in the morning, and the sun had only just started to rise. I add it to my mental tally: three hundred and two days since I was rejected and fled my pack. The first hundred days had been unbearable. I was angry at everything and pushed almost all of that anger onto my wolf. As time went on, my anger and hurt faded, my wolf became more present, constantly whispering promises into my ear.

I pushed the door open, and the smell of coffee and freshly baked goods washed over me. My eyes scanned the room, finding the family face sitting in the corner. Curly brown hair was pulled into a knot behind her head, a few strands framing her delicate face. My presence must have caught her attention because she immediately looked up from her steaming drink, her warm eyes landing on me. Chelsea rose from her seat, waving me over. I dodged the waitress with a tray of coffees and made my way to Chelsea. She dipped her head at me, her neck bared in submission. My wolf purred at the sight.

Her wolf still recognises us as Luna. My wolf hummed, satisfied.

"It's been so long." Chelsea dropped all formalities, her arms wrapping around my neck. She smelled different. Still Chelsea, but mingled with something oddly familiar. No matter how hard I tried to put my finger on it, the scent evaded me.

I sat opposite Chelsea, my hands wrapping around the steaming mug of tea she had ordered for me. I had not seen her since I left, but we messaged occasionally. She had been there whenever I needed her, always answering my calls in the middle of the night when I saw no way forward. Chelsea had become an anchor I didn't know I needed.

"Chelsea. I need to say thank you. For everything you have done. But I am surprised I was able to see you today, did you have to ask permission to leave the pack grounds?" It was customary to ask the Alpha's permission to leave. To ensure he knew where all his wolves were, and as a sign of respect. Chelsea sipped her drink, her eyes meeting mine.

"No, I didn't ask. My mate allowed it; he would have told the alpha after I left, so Cole wouldn't have tried to stop me." Chelsea glossed over the first part of her sentence so seamlessly that I almost missed it.

"Did you just say mate?" My voice was creeping up a pitch in surprise and excitement. I knew she smelled different. A blush covered her dark skin, so bright she almost glowed. Then it struck me, I did recognise the other part of her scent.

"Dax!" I practically yelled, earning me a few questionable looks from other customers. Now that I knew it was Dax, his scent became so obvious and so strong. If Chelsea were mated to Dax, then that would make her a Beta female. Pride swelled in my chest as the girl before me beamed.

"It's only recently that we mated. I was going to tell you, but thought it would be better in person." Her smile grew as she spoke of Dax.

I quietly sipped on my tea as she told me everything. That Dax was so gentle and kind that he found her in the middle of the night. They had wasted no time completing their mark and were fully mated the next morning. Chelsea had explained how she had taken on the new role as Beta female, her time now being consumed with assisting Dax when he dealt with small grievances in the pack. Other than that, she had been busy helping at the orphanage. Her eyes shone so brightly when she spoke of all the children she cared for, telling me everything about each one. Then she went quiet, her eyes drifting down to her now-empty mug.

"What is it, Chelsea?" She cleared her throat, wary eyes meeting my own. My wolf perked up at Chelsea's behaviour.

"It's about Cole." Her voice was quieter, and the brightness from her eyes had faded. My wolf listened intently. I waited for her to continue.

"I should've told you sooner, but I needed to be with you when I did. About six weeks ago, he visited another pack. When he returned, he had a warrior female with him, whose name is Jenna. They..." she trailed off, her eyes not meeting mine.

"Just say it, Chels," I quipped, my heart sinking already. It was obvious what she was going to say, but I didn't think those words would hurt the way they did.

"They have mated. She has claimed the title of Luna." My wolf growled lowly. She was seemingly fine with Cole mating a new wolf, but at the thought of someone claiming her title, everything changed.

"Thank you for letting me know. I appreciate it. I do owe you so much, Chelsea. Now you must get back, I am sure Dax is missing you greatly." I tried to keep my voice playful. Chelsea gave me a sad smile. Her soft hands encased my own.

"You will always be my Luna, Scarlett. Always." Those were Chelsea's final words as she rose from her seat and bowed her head. I watched her back retreat out of the cafe and disappear. My wolf snarled, Chelsea's words only calming her slightly.

I practically ran from the cafe, shoving a few notes at the waitress, telling her to keep the change. As soon as the fresh air hit my wolf itched to be free. I allowed her to take control, letting her run towards the woodlands. We ran for a few minutes, coming to a stop near the wooden shack we had claimed as our home. My wolf snarled as my femur bone cracked. I screamed, more bones breaking and melding themselves in different positions. My wolf howled out, embracing the pain of a shift.

I remembered being warned that a first shift hurt, that every shift after that got easier, but no one told me it was this painful. My whole body broke itself, snapping bones and tearing skin. Everything set ablaze, my screams died as the final bones snapped into place. I lay curled in a ball, soft fur swaying in the wind. My wolf whimpered slightly as she pushed us to our feet. We stood tall on four paws. My wolf looked over herself, our eyes taking over our legs. My fur was white with a silvery undertone. My gaped at the colour, my wolf pulled a smug face.

A white wolf. That was a wolf of legend. It was said that if a white wolf ever walked the earth that it was a sign from the moon goddess. That she had sent her child down. It was a legend passed down differently in every pack, but in my pack, it was a sign of salvation. That all wars will end and that wolves will prosper. That is a legacy that crashed into me.

We are beautiful, Scarlett. There is much you must still learn. Things are shifting, threats are looming. Embrace who you are meant to be. Our time has come.