The Cursed Wolf's Beta Mate

CHAPTER 5

Luro’s POV

The dusk had just fallen bathing everything in a soft azure glow. We had been summoned by my father Voltran Brown, the alpha of The Wanderwood Pack for the formal initiation ceremony. There were about fifty of us, gathered in the large meadow behind the packhouse.

We stood there straight and upright waiting for our Alpha to arrive. My fingers curled around the lace of the white gown as I looked around. A deep sense of foreboding gloom kept me entangled in its clutch. The anxiety had risen to a level that it was almost suffocating.

There was a movement behind the oak tree a few yards from the ground. A figure emerged from behind the tree and waved at me. Though I couldn’t see her clearly, I knew it was my sister, Wanda. Her presence put me at ease instantly and my lips lifted in a weak smile.

“Has everyone gathered?” A booming voice with deep timber drew my attention to the front. My father was dressed in ceremonial white robes with golden brocade. His expression was stern and uptight as ever. His eyes met mine in the passing but there was no exchange between us, not a nod of encouragement, no smile, not even a flicker of recognition.

A deep sigh escaped my lips. I should have been used to it by now. My father always treated me coldly, no matter how hard I tried he never acknowledged me. Eventually, I started avoiding him unless it was absolutely necessary. Most of my conversations with him were through Wanda.

Austin, the Beta of our pack walked up to my father and handed him a golden sword. The hilt and the scabbard were made of pure gold. He unsheathed the sword reevaling the fine silver blade. The moonlight caught its surface, dazzling everyone with its bright light.

He held the sword with both his hands, pointing the tip of the blade towards the moon. “I, Voltran Brown, the alpha of the Wanderwood Pack officially begin the initiation ceremony!” His deep and strong voice drifted through the air making everybody’s hairs stand.

“After this ceremony you all will become official members of this pack. May the Moon Godess give you strength, fame, ambition and protect you from the curse of the Marked wolf.”

His words sent a shudder down my spine. Wanda was right. My father could never find out that I was a Marked wolf.

Alpha Voltran swished his sword three times in the air before plunging it into the heart of a clay model. The clay model was shaped like a crooked penatagon. Four of its corners represented the evil and ominous present in four directions while the fifth one represented the evil within.

Alpha Voltran’s jaws clenched and his eyes turned into a darker shade of emerald. The cracking of the bones sounded at a rapid speed and within moments, he had shifted fully.

Being the Alpha of the pack, he was larger than other wolves. His silky brown fur dazzled in the soft glow and his crystal clear eyes lit up with a fierce spark.

“Owwww!!!!!” A deep howl pierced through the night sky like a sharp blade. The effect was almost instant. Everyone knelt to the ground and soon the grunts, growls and groans echoed in the clearing.

The boys and girls gathered in the clearing started shifting one by one. I felt a compulsion to crouch down. My neck became stiff and my body became rigid. A sudden surge of pain engulfed me making her forget everything. I remained in that same position struggling to get to my feet again.

When the weight of the force finally lifted, a veil of thick silence had fallen over the meadow. There was shuffling of feet and all of a sudden everyone burst into a high pitched howl. I felt the urge to call out as well but my human voice came out hoarse and raspy.

I felt all pairs of eyes bore into me. I raised my head to meet Alpha Voltran’s flaming eyes. There was something more than anger in those eyes; something I had never seen earlier; a sense of deep revulsion.

Wanda rushed over to my side and pulled me to my feet. Bowing to our father, she said in a respectful voice, “If you don’t mind, Alpha. Can I take Luro back to the packhouse.”

The replying growl was both angry and disgusted. Patting my hand in consolation, she led me away from the lair of wolves who stood proudly against the night sky. My heart was crushed under the scrutinizing gazes of those beasts. I should have felt relieved that my truth wasn’t discovered but I felt neither relief nor happiness. I clung on to my sister’s warm support and moved along.

***

A few more days passed. My life went from heaven to hell. The parties and gatherings that wouldn’t begin without my presence ignored me completely. Wherever I went, whispers and taunts followed me.

The talks and chatters ranged from hushed whispers to open comment; falling into my ears like scalding acids.I tried to zone it out but some of the phrases stuck in my mind.

“Who would have thought that the daughter of an Alpha would turn out to be wolfless?”

“I know right, Alpha Voltran is so unlucky.”

“He has no sons; his elder daughter never found her mate. Luro was his only hope but see what happened.”

“It is useless even if the younger one finds her mate, he would reject her without even blinking his eyes. Who wants a wolfless mate?”

“True, she is destined to be rejected.”

“Alpha Voltran’s ancestors must have commited grave sins to be cursed like this.”

Sometimes, I felt like screaming at the top of my lungs ‘I am NOT wolfless. My wolf is way beautiful and stronger than any of you.’

However, I had to supress those words under layers of hazy lies. Even if I exposed myself, I couldn’t implicate Wanda.

My own father refused to look me in the eye. Mother was the usual indifferent self. If it weren’t for my sister’s support, my spirit would have crumbled to pieces. She kept reassuring me that people would forget everything with time but that never happened.

Days dragged on in a similar fashion until we were invited by Alpha of the Bloodhound pack for an elaborate feast. Surprisingly, my father asked both of us to go with him.

I could feel the tingle of excitement again. Since the feast was being held in a different pack. There wouldn’t be many people who know about my situation. It would be a relaxing change to interacting with strangers; free from the fear of being taunted…