The Alpha Curse

When Neo was born, the pack was joyful for their good fortune. Five generations of Alphas had been born with a curse, shown with a small, black dot at the base of their necks. Throughout the years, the Alpha family had sought answers through various means. No oracle, witch, vampire or other supernatural being could explain the mark. Some theorised that it was a remnant of the House of Atreus curse, if the family name Artemus was any indication. A House whose generations were cursed with death and suffering, a House not seen since Gods and Goddesses walked the earth. But with the lack of evidence and a need to continue normal pack life, the first cursed Alpha, Vincent, concluded that he must find his mate as soon as possible, to secure a new heir before whatever fate met him. He did not expect his son, Roland to bear the same mark, cursed to the same unknown fate. When a werewolf dies, a ceremony is held so that their wolf spirit could be released back to the sanctuary of the Moon Goddess Selene. When Vincent suddenly did not wake up the morning of his nineteenth birthday, not even the strongest of the supernatural could sense his waiting wolf spirit in him. Whatever curse had struck this family, it took their wolves also. Roland went through even greater lengths to try and prevent the same fate as his father. With blessing from the Lycan royals, he was able to mark a chosen mate at age 16, then shortly after have a son, Wright. As Wright bore the mark, Roland, determined to have a surviving successor, perused to have an heir that would survive and lead the pack. His mate died during the birth of their second child. Roland, stricken with grief, took his own life, which was normally impossible for a werewolf due to their fast healing abilities. Unless wolfbane is ingested in heavy amounts. Roland died alone, in pain, just as he was fated to. On his nineteenth birthday. Wright had Frederick, Frederick had Ethan. Ethan knew what would happen to him, as it had happened to those before him. The elders of the pack had been advisors to his great grandfather. After Roland, all the cursed young Alphas had kept to themselves, distancing from other packs in the area, creating a reputation that indicated they were not to be interacted with. Ethan did not want his pack to suffer due to whichever deity or supernatural being had decided to cause them pain. Desperate, he pleaded with the Moon Goddess on the eve of his nineteenth, to spare him, so his pack could be free of this curse, so his future family could live happy lives. Ethan did not wake up that morning. When Freya discovered that she was pregnant two months after Ethan’s passing, it was almost too much to bear. Ethan had not wanted to mark her, as he believed she may become cursed also. Freya knew that her child would be born with the mark, cursed with one year of being a full Alpha wolf before succumbing to whatever death is fated, to lose their wolf. She bore the pain, deciding to give her child the most fulfilling life possible. When Irin was born, all stood with baited breath as the doctor examined him. No mark was found, the pack rejoiced as Freya held the first Great River Alpha in six generations to be given the chance at a normal life. - Three doors along, a new set of lungs joined in the celebration. Cassandra was born two minutes after her future Alpha, to two normal working wolves, in an ordinary, curse free family. As her parents cried with happiness in one another’s arms, the nurse stopped dead, peering behind the small girl’s neck, where a small, black dot was proudly, prominently displayed.