Cursed

Scared Pup

Scarlett

The soft beeping and whirling of machines stirred me from my unconscious state. My eyes were shut, as I groaned. The machine to the left of me beeped faster, and I forced my eyes open. A blinding light shone down, and I turned away, my eyes half squinted as brighter lights bounced off white walls. I swallowed, wincing at the dryness of my throat. It was like I hadn't drunk in days. I yanked the monitor off the end of my finger, stopping the incessant beeping.

My wolf was curled into a dark corner in my head, her white fur only just on display. I reached for her. Black eyes met mine, and a breath of relief left me. My wolf was fine. She quickly stood, pushing forward in my mind.

We are home. Her soft voice was also a little scratchy. The memories of what happened flood through me. The rogues, the lightning and the death. I flinched at the amount of destruction I had caused; my wolf, however, stood straighter.

Do not regret what we have done to survive. She left no room for question as she remained present in my mind. I sat up slightly, taking in the room. I had never been in the healers' building before. Even when my father was killed, his body was buried straight after the attack, like every other wolf that night.

My heart stopped at the shirtless figure sitting in the corner of the room. Those green eyes were watching me silently. My wolf didn't move; she knew he was there. I pulled the covers closer, hoping to hide from his scrutinising gaze.

"Hello, little one." As soon as that name left his mouth, dark anger washed over me. I shoved the covers aside, ignoring the fact that I was wearing someone else's shirt and shorts.

I swung my legs off the edge of the bed, stopping when light pink puncture marks caught my attention. The injury was healing quickly, but it was still sore. My fingers brushed over the small wounds, eyebrows knotting together. Forgetting Cole was even in the room, I tenderly ran my fingers along my back. The grazed over jagged flesh, and I hissed. They would still need a while to heal.

My attention turned back to Cole as he rose to his feet. My eyes dragged over him. He looked different. The boyish charm he once had was gone, replaced by a ruggish man before me. The stubble covering his jaw was thicker and unkept, his muscles were harder, and the air around him was darker. He took a step forward, his green eyes locked onto my face. I remained still despite the urge to curl up into a ball in the corner of the room.

My wolf snarled as I caught sight of his neck. A new mark sat just above his shoulder, replacing the one where ours once sat. It was dark. The image of a single wolf stood alone. I had never seen a mark like it. A depiction that was not a positive one; it held a darker secret. My wolf quietened at my thoughts, agreeing that something wasn't right with the mark. My fingers ran over my mark; it was still there, slightly faded on my shoulder. Coles' eyes traced my movements, landing on our mark.

"You still bear my mark." His statement was abrupt. I dropped my hand instantly.

"And you do not." I tried to keep my voice calm and steady. Cole blinked, tearing his gaze from my mark and back to my eyes.

"Why do you still have it? It should have gone the moment I rejected you." The words tumbled from his mouth in confusion. Silly Alpha. I pushed up from the bed, stumbling slightly. Coles' reflexes must have kicked in because he grabbed my arm to stabilise me. Familiar fireworks spread along my skin where it made contact with his. I hissed and pulled my arm from his grip.

"I did not accept your rejection. That is why I still have this mark." I tried to step past Cole, but he blocked my way, his bare chest at eye level. I looked up, glaring into those green eyes.

"You cannot be here, Scarlett. I will not allow it." The edge to his voice would've made me cower if it were a year ago. Now I stood strong, squaring off to the large man before me. My shoulders tightened the same way my wolf raised her hackles. 

"I won't leave here. The pack is in too much danger, no thanks to you." I spat my words out. Cole's smirk fell from his face.

Chelsea had explained everything Cole had done since I left. The so-called Alpha of this pack had left them defenceless. He spent all his time fucking his new mate or cowering in his house. That left the pack unprepared and weak. It also meant he hadn't taken any measures to lessen the rogue population around his territory. My wolf snapped her teeth at the idea of her pack being in danger. 

"You know nothing of what has happened in my pack since you left." Cole's words sliced into me. I hadn't left, I had been forced out. My wolf and I were unwelcome in the pack my mate was Alpha of. Yet he says those words as if I have a choice.

"You gave me no other option, or don't you remember? Because I sure as hell do." I stepped closer, my finger jabbing into his chest. This time, the fireworks didn't register on the tip of my finger. My anger was the only thing I felt. My wolf sat quietly, allowing me to handle the situation.

"That's because you were weak. You let my pack suffer." He said, his voice growing colder, more bitter. I barked out a short laugh at his words. 

"If I am so weak, then tell me why rogues advance on your pack every day. Tell me why there is unrest within your boundaries and why you hide away from everyone." I meant every word I said, watching him visibly recoil from my words. They were meant to hurt, meant to inflict just a smidge of the pain I felt.

"I have no words for an Alpha who neglects his pack." Venom dripped from my words as I pushed his stunned body aside. I didn't care if Cole had more to say; I barged out of the room and left the medical building. My wolf is guiding me towards Chelsea's scent.

That was no Alpha I left behind; it was nothing more than a scared pup.