A Cure For The Cursed Alpha

CHAPTER SEVEN

ISABEL'S POV.

The cold of the early morning still clung to my skin as I stood at the kitchen counter, my hands moving automatically through the very familiar motions, the process of preparing breakfast. This wasn't anything knew not by any chance. I was already used to doing stuff like this, be it for alpha Leo or for the entire pack.

The whisking of the pancake batter in the large glass bowl provided some small, mindless comfort. It kept my thoughts from wandering too far, but then it only lasted for a moment.

No matter how hard I tried I couldn't get what happened a few hours ago out of my head. Erica's cruel wake-up call still echoed in my head even as I moved around gathering the ingredients for breakfast.

I could still feel the icy water seeping into my skin, her harsh words cutting even deeper than the cold itself.

Erica had barged into my room very early this morning, just a couple of minutes past four. I hadn't slept early last night as mind had been too occupied with thoughts and everything else, and I couldn't bring myself to settle down long enough to get some sleep. I had only fallen asleep only to be rudely woken up when I felt myself being doused in something freezing cold.

I woke up to find Erica standing over my bed, an empty bucket in her hand as she glared down at me.

“Good morning my lady, how did you sleep? Are you tired? Would you like me to give you a massage?" Erica snared her every word dripping with anger and bitterness as I coughed hard, beating at my chest with my fist as I tried my hardest to get the water out of my lungs.

"I hope you haven’t fooled yourself into thinking you’re suddenly important around here because of the mating, you w***e,” Erica had spat at me, her voice dripping with malice. “You might have tricked Leo into marrying you, but hear this, Isabel, you’re still nothing. Nothing but a mere pack slave. A property of the alpha family to be used whenever and however they please. You. Are. Nothing! Now get off that piece of crap you call a bed and get to work! I expect breakfast to be ready and served by the time the pack wakes up and comes downstairs!"

My heart clenched at the memory. She stood over me with that empty bucket, the sneer on her face as real now in my mind as it had been hours ago.

"No more tears, Isabel," I reminded myself for the hundredth time since the incident this morning as I felt my eyes tearing up. I shook my head, quickly blinking back the tears as I tried my best to focus on the task at hand, which was making sure this breakfast was ready before the pack came down here. I don't even want to imagine what would become of me otherwise. Thank goodness for the two Omegas that I had helping me. They weren't talking to me, they weren't even looking at me. In fact, I'm surprised they're even here to begin with. It doesn't look like they're that thrilled to help me so...

It's fine though. As long as they help get this breakfast ready on time for the pack I really don't mind anything else. I don't want anymore problems with Erica and alpha Leo. Especially Erica.

"Don’t give them the satisfaction. It only makes them come after you even more. You're strong, Isabel."

It was a mantra I clung to everyday of my life ever since Alpha Henri's death and alpha Leo's swear in as the new alpha of blood moon pack. If I could survive one day without breaking, then I’d count that as a victory. No matter how they pushed me, I would not let Erica or Leo see how much they hurt me. But even with the wall I tried to build around my heart, the cracks were showing. How long could I keep this up? It never really worked. Not before and certainly not now that things had gotten even worse for me.

I tried my best everyday but in the end the truth still remains. I'm not strong. I can lie to everyone, the whole world in fact. But I can't lie to myself. I'm as weak and as useless as they come, period. Nothing more to it. No but, no maybe. Just that.

The batter swirled in the bowl beneath my wooden spoon as I stared, and I added some more flour to thicken it a bit more. I let out a heavy sigh as the question I had turned over and over in my head since last night returned to haunt me. What if I just ran away?

I mean, It seemed so simple, like it might just be the answer to all of my life problems. Everything I'd been so worried and scared about. I wouldn't have to live like this. I could get away from this, all of this. I could slip out one night while everyone slept, disappear into the wilderness where no one would bother looking for me. After all, I was just a slave. No one cared where I went or even if I lived.

Sounds like a good plan if you ask me, but then there's one tiny little problem. I didn’t have a wolf. I was wolflesss which means I was defenseless out there. The wild was harsh enough for those with the strength of a wolf; for someone like me, it would be a death sentence. The world outside these walls would swallow me whole. I wouldn't survive out there for more than a couple of hours and even I knew it.

And yet, even as I thought about it, even knowing all of these, the idea of running still tempted me. What was worse—facing the wilderness or staying here with Erica’s cruelty and alpha Leo’s indifference, day in and day out? Those two are clearly out to get me. They get off of making me miserable.

The sound of footsteps approaching the kitchen pulled me from my thoughts. I froze for a moment, my heart pounding in my chest as I glanced over my shoulder.

Erica. She was here again.

What does she want now? To douse me in some more water? Or maybe wolvesbane this time.

Her eyes zeroed in on me immediately, and I could feel the hate radiating off her in waves. It never ceased to amaze me just how much hatred one person could hold inside of them.

Her eyes passed over the two omegas in the kitchen and a deep frown settled on her face immediately.

“Why are they helping her?” she snapped, gesturing toward the omegas who immediately paused in their task to give her attention. “ Who permitted you two lowlifes to help this slave with anything, or in anyway for that matter?! Are you all so desperate to believe she’s your Luna now, just because the Alpha was forced to mate her?”

I felt my hand tighten on the wooden spoon as I glared at her.

Before anyone could respond, Erica’s hand lashed out, striking one of the omegas across the face. The sharp sound echoed through the kitchen, and I winced instinctively.

“Erica, stop! Stop it!” I said, stepping forward without even thinking about what I was doing and what the consequences might be. But then that is my problem isn't it? I already knew that was the problem I had. I can't handle seeing people in trouble. I've always been that way and it's gotten me in more trouble than I could ever count. And I have a feeling another one is about to add to the list.

Erica tried to get past me, her hand raised in the air ready to strike once more and like the stupid girl that I am, I moved quickly, blocking her once again.

“Erica, that's enough! They didn't do anything wrong! They’re just—”

Her icy gaze snapped to mine. “What? What did you say? What the hell did you just call me you wretch?! You think you can talk to me now? You think you’re above me don't you? You suddenly think you could talk while I'm talking!”

Her words sliced through me, but I stood my ground. “That’s not what I meant. You don’t have to hurt them just because they're helping me, Erica. They were only—”

I didn’t see her hand move until it was too late. Her palm collided harshly with my cheek, sending me stumbling backward. My hands flailed for something to hold onto, and in the process ended up I catching the hot frying pan behind me instead. Pain shot up my arms as my palms burned against the hot metal of the frying, causing me to scream out in pain.

I hissed, trying to pull away, but my fingers had already been scalded.

Erica watched, her lips curling into a smirk. “Good,” she said, her voice almost purring with satisfaction as she placed her hands on her hip. “Maybe now you’ll understand what it feels like. Watching you stand in front of that altar with my Leo… it was like my heart was being ripped out Isabel.”

I stood there, cradling my burnt hands, unable to say a word. The pain in my palms was nothing compared to the bitterness in her eyes. No matter what I said, I knew it would only make things worse. She was no shewolf. Erica we as the devil herself.

My eyes darted to the knife on the counter and at that moment, for a split second I wanted to grab it and plunge it through her heart. Or the place where a heart was supposed to be anyway. I doubt she has one. I'd had enough of her and at that moment I just wanted to end it all. But of what use was it? I would only get on more trouble.

“You've caused me so much, Isabel. So much pain. I’m going to make sure you feel that pain a thousand times over,” she continued, stepping closer, her voice low and dangerous. “By the time I’m done with you, you’ll wish you were dead. And I won’t have to lift a finger to make it happen. You'll do it all on your own."

She reached for the bowl of pancake batter and, with one swift motion, dumped it over my head. The cold, sticky batter clung to my hair and face, and I gasped as it ran down my skin.

“You think you’re something now?” she sneered. “You’re still nothing. You always will be.”

She swiped her arm across the kitchen island, sending bowls and utensils crashing to the floor, the sound of shattering glass making me flinch. The mess sprawled at my feet was almost as bad as the wreckage that was my life. Almost.

“Clean it up,” Erica spat. “And if I come back down here and this kitchen isn’t spotless, you’ll regret it. I promise. You better clean up that mess if you know what's good for you. Slave!"

With that, she stormed out, leaving me standing there with the batter dripping from my face. My hands throbbed, and my heart ached in a way that I couldn’t even describe. There was no one left in the kitchen now. The omegas had scattered the moment she’d lashed out at them, leaving me alone.

For a moment, I wanted to scream. I wanted to cry. But I wouldn’t. I couldn’t.

Instead, I took a deep breath, wiped the batter from my face, and got to work. The broken glass, the ruined food, the mess—I would clean it all up. Because that’s what I was here for, wasn’t it? That was the only reason I existed.

As I bent down to pick up a shattered bowl, the thought returned: Maybe running away isn’t such a bad idea.

But where would I go? What would I do?

Even as I tried to convince myself that staying here was the only option, the tiny seed of doubt already took root deep inside of my mind. Maybe one day, I’d find a way out of this life. Maybe one day, this would all be over.

For now, though, I was still here, trapped in a life I hadn’t chosen, bound to a man who didn't care wether I died or survived, hated by a woman who despised my very existence, who would stop at nothing to see sure I suffered.

But no matter how much they pushed me, I wouldn’t break.

Not yet. Not ever.

I would survive today, and then tomorrow, I would do it all over again. Just like always.