Cursed

Family

Scarlett

I twisted the handle of the front door of my family home. The smell of my mother instantly washing over me followed closely by that of my brother. It had been too long since I'd last seen them in person but I would call frequently. As soon as I stepped into the house a cry echoed through the sitting room. My mother came barrelling towards me, her eyes glassy with tears. I moved forward, meeting her half way and wrapping my arms around her. My wolf welcoming her scent as we stood in each other's embrace.

"I missed you my sweet child." My mother whispered into my hair, her hand absentmindedly stroking my back.

"I missed you too mother and Scott. Where is he?" I pulled away from my mother as she jerked her head towards the kitchen where my brother stood in the doorway. He had grown. Those once slightly shorter limbs were longer now and bound with growing muscle. His smooth face sported an attempt at a beard but his hairstyle was still the same.

My wolf pushed forwards as I grasped Scott's shoulders and pulled him into me. She purred at, enjoying being reunited with her family. I had told my mother and brother of my wolf a few days after I shifted, being sure they would keep my secret. My mother was so proud she cried for days, dying to tell someone but she didn't. She kept her word and so did Scott. Our secret. Well and Chelsea's but she wouldn't tell anyone.

"You're a bit big now to be calling you little brother!" I laughed at my own joke as Scott pried my hands from around his waist, muttering about personal space.

We sat on the sofa for hours that evening, catching up on everything I had missed. Scott had been active in his training, preparing himself to look after his family one day. And mother had been helping out at the pack nursery. She said many pack members spent more time guarding the pack than usual as they don't feel safe and that left the nursery needing extra help. I frowned at this, it was unheard of for a pack to take matters into their own hands. My wolf had been agitated ever since she heard what has been happening. Just as the sun sank beneath the trees we finished our catch up. Both Scott and my mother excused themselves for bed, leaving me to sit and think.

The moon was high in the sky by the time I left my family home, unable to relax after everything I had learnt today. My wolf still pacing around my mind. I stormed through pack grounds, this time wearing some of my own clothes and shoes which I was grateful for. The night air was cold, nipping at any exposed skin as I reached the Alphas house. It wasn't my intention to return to this building, a place I had once dreamed of calling home. Yet here I stood, back rigid as I stared at the front door. It too every bit of anger towards Cole for the neglect of my pack to walk inside and not back out.

The house still smelt of him but tangled with the sour smell of Jenna. I wrinkled my nose and habitually kicked my shoes off. The house was quiet so I snuck through the main room and into the kitchen. It hadn't changed one bit, in fact it felt like I had never left. My fingers skimmed over the work surfaces as I looked around the room.

"You shouldn't be here little one." His deep voice made me jump slightly. Unaware he was even awake I spun and faced him, topless as usual with joggers sitting low on his waist. Cole looked me up and down before running a hand over his face and stepping into the kitchen, shutting the door behind him.

"We need to talk." I kept my voice low, not wanting to wake Jenna above. My wolf stirred only for me to push her down. She would be too angry to have a proper conversation. Cole stepped away from the door, closing the gap between us. 

Cole nodded, "I know." This was a different version of the Alpha I had argued with earlier. He was subdued; his eyes couldn't meet mine. I almost felt bad for him, but he didn't deserve my pity.

"You have let the pack down, Cole. They look to you for advice and protection, and you turn a blind eye. You're too busy wrapped in Jenna to even notice the pack fending for itself, creating extra patrols and training harder because they are scarred." The words came out of my mouth softer than I had expected. The normal bitter tang didn't follow them, only sorrow. It hurt me to know what had happened to my pack, to know the fear they felt every day. Cole glanced up at me, those green eyes duller than normal.

"I fucking know that, Scarlett. I know I have failed them. I am a worthless Alpha. They used to adore me, but now they look at me with such disgust." Those green eyes met mine again, only this time they were slightly glassy as he stared at me. My wolf let out a quiet whine. Despite our hatred for Cole, we were still mated to him, and those feelings were hard to forget. I wanted to reach out to him, to provide comfort.

"This needs to change and now. Rogue numbers are growing, and they are getting smarter. I will not see the downfall of our pack." Cole took a step forward and closed the small gap between us, his rough hand cupping my cheek. The pad of his thumb stroked my skin gently as he stared at me.

"This is no longer our pack, Scarlett. I have a new mate, she has the title." His voice cracked as he spoke, his thumb halting its caresses. It made no difference that Jenna existed, not to me or my wolf. Our title was clear to us, and we would be getting that by whatever means necessary.

"I understand that, Cole, but I am just here to tell you that tomorrow I will challenge for my position as Luna. Jenna either accepts the challenge or she leaves. I am simply here to let you know things will be changing." Cole nodded. It was as if he knew what I was here to say.

"She is a warrior, little one. That is why I chose her over every other she-wolf. Jenna will kill you if you challenge her." The warning in his voice was clear. I stepped back from his touch, my body missing the heat of his hand. There was a different sadness in his eyes, one that reminded me of grief. 

"You underestimate me, Alpha and I will gladly prove you wrong." I sidestepped him and exited the room. Not daring to glance back, I fled the house into the night and made my way to my bed. Tomorrow was make-or-break, and I had to be prepared.