Cursed

Legend

Chelsea

Wind and rain whipped through my hair as I ran through the woods. Dax was just ahead, tracking Scarlett, and Justin was behind. I leapt over broken branches and tree roots, avoiding tripping and landing in my face. The night was now eerily quiet, the previous howls muted and the thunder gone, leaving only the soft patter of raindrops on the leaves. Instead, the woods grew thicker, and the air shifted. We followed Scarlett's scent, which was mingled with the smell of blood and death. My wolf had started to panic, reaching for her Luna with everything she had.

Dax slowed as we approached two dead rogues. One had his neck twisted at an awkward angle, and lifeless eyes stared up into the darkness. The other disturbed me. Its body was shrivelled, its fur drained of all colour. The rogue was no more than a shell of the wolf it once was. It was like its life had been drained from its body. Justin froze at the sight, his eyes raking over every individual feature of the body.

"That's impossible." His voice was quiet as he squatted down. I nudged his shoulder. We couldn't dwell on this; Scarlett needed us. Justin glanced at me, understanding but still not moving.

"Only in legend have I heard of such power. If Scarlett did this, then we don't need to worry." Justin muttered quietly as he reached out to the body. His hand hovered just above the body, and his eyes shut. I stared at him, my brows scrunched together. Justin's eyes flew open, and he looked up at me.

"Don't look at me like that. I can practically feel whatever killed this mutt." Justin hummed, a faint smile gracing his lips. 

Dax had returned from wherever he had disappeared to, staring down at the body. His eyes met Justin's as he pulled the Third to his feet. 

"We must keep moving." Dax didn't wait for Justin to reply as he spun around. I followed behind, walking this time through the thick woodlands. 

With every step we took, more bodies appeared, many mangled and bloody, but a few in a similar state as the one drained of life. The stench of death grew in the air, followed closely by the smell of burnt hair. I scrunched my nose, not welcoming the foul smells. Justin walked beside me, his eyes darting wildly around. I reached out and grabbed Dax's hand as a clearing opened up. 

The space was littered with bodies. Many were covered in burns and lay upon blackened ground. Those who weren't burnt were either ripped open, with different organs spilling from their carcasses, or drained of anything living. I tensed as Justin gasped. Scarlett lay in the centre of the massacre. Her pale skin was covered in blood. Her naked body was marred with deep scratches; there were some puncture wounds on her thigh, so deep that white bone shone through. Then there was her back, it was shredded to pieces, flaps of skin only just holding on.

Bile rose in my throat as I turned away and heaved. The contents of my stomach emptied onto the floor at the sight of my friend. Dax rubbed my back as he continued to stare at Scarlett. It was Justin who moved first, stripping his shirt from his body and running over to her. I straightened and watched silently as Justin struggled to pull his shirt over her naked form. Dax stepped in to help, tugging the large item over her exposed, damaged skin. 

"We need to get her to the healer immediately," Justin exclaimed as he gently lifted Scarlett off the floor, her body lying limp against his bare chest. I got closer, grasping her swaying arm and tucking it into her chest before moving a strand of her light hair from her face. 

"Chelsea, be honest with us, did you know Scarlett could shift?" It was Dax who spoke, his body standing close to mine. I leaned closer, enjoying his presence. 

I had known Scarlett could shift. She called me that night to explain everything. Not a single detail was left out, even the colour of her wolf. I was shocked at first, a small fear grew in me until Scarlett spoke again, and I remembered that she was just a girl and she was my friend, I had nothing to fear from her. She had begged me to keep the whole thing a secret. If other wolves knew her life could be in danger, and if Cole knew all hell would break loose. So I kept her secrets for weeks, right until now when Dax called me out. Still, I couldn't tell him; my wolf wouldn't allow it. We were bound to the moon goddess and therefore Scarlett. 

"Yes, I knew. I am sorry I didn't tell you, baby, but you will understand why. Please, trust me." I watched for his reaction, expecting anger for withholding the truth from him. Instead, he ran a hand down his face and sighed. 

"Okay. Justin, follow me. We have to get her to the healer before our Alpha tries to stop us." Dax's hand wrapped around my own as he led us through the bodies and out of the woods. Scarlett didn't stir once, her pale body still limp in Justin's arms. 

We paused just outside the pack borders, and anxiety crept up my spine. Dax looked over at Justin, who nodded before he stepped into the pack grounds. This was a race against time, or at least against Cole's ability to sense Scarlett's presence within the borders. Based on the deep growl that roared from the Alpha's house, he had sensed her instantly. 

I turned to Justin. "Run, Justin, quickly." My hand released Dax's to push Justin towards the healer's building. He tightened his hold on Scarlett and ran, his wolf taking control as they charged through the pack grounds. 

I stood beside Dax and faced the direction of the Alpha's house. Cole's still shirtless form emerged from the darkness, his flickering between green and black. Dax stiffened as Cole stormed towards us. He looked around but pulled his attention back to us when he couldn't see Scarlett. My heart hammered in my chest as a bead of sweat trickled down my back. 

"Where the fuck is she?" Cole seethed, the air around him thickening with his anger. I tucked myself closer to Dax, my wolf afraid of defying her Alpha. Dax looked Cole directly in the eye, his hand pressed into my stomach to keep me safe. 

"She is with the healer. Scarlett was badly injured and required immediate help." Dax only stated facts; his hand gestured towards the healer building Justin had run to. Coles' head snapped to the building and then back to Dax. I wait for him to lash out at my mate. My anxiety faltered as he huffed and ran towards the healer's building. Dax just stood there, watching his alpha run. 

"We have either doomed Scarlett or saved her. I just don't know which yet." Dax whispered in my ear. I knew which, though, we had saved her life and thrown her straight back into the pack that she craved so deeply. Scarlett had returned now. She was home.