Heaven’s Curse

THREE

*Declan’s POV*

“So will I see you again?” the red-haired girl seated next to me asked for the second time that day and I did all I could not to roll my eyes at her. Give it up already. It's quite obvious I'm not interested, dummy. I can already feel Swift purring in my head. Swift is my wolf's name. He's stubborn as hell but no doubt a very powerful and fearless wolf. 

I turn and give the girl a very charming smile. My dad could afford to hire a jet for me, but no, we are trying to keep my coming home as low key as possible. “I don't think that's gonna happen cutie,” I whisper into her ears and I saw her face flush in embarrassment, but hey, don't blame me, she should know when to back off.

She eyed me and jumped to her feet. “fool,” I hear her mutter under her breathe but I pay no mind to her, in fact, I couldn't help but chuckle at the expression on her face. I unfastened my seat belts and get up now, I was getting nervous again.

It's been nine years since I left home. Nine good years. I can't particularly say I'm pleased to come back because I had already gotten used to Riverdale, where I spent the past nine years training amongst the greatest warriors in all the werewolf kingdom. 

I made quite a number of friends there whom I will now miss. You see, my dad had been extremely worried for me after the revelation that something bad was going to happen to me when I eventually found my mate at eighteen. So, he thought it best to send me away and now, I'll be turning twenty one tomorrow. In his mind, he thinks he has cheated nature and now that I was way over eighteen with no mate, then the curse would no longer have it effects.

I kind of feel that is him being selfish. Well, maybe he thinks he's trying to protect me but not only did he deprive me of meeting my mate, he also separated me from my mom, and my beloved sister. I wonder what Lisa looks like now. 

While most of my mates had grown up attending normal schools and enjoying their teenage years, I’d been subjected to a life of fighting, training amongst great wolves, with little or no female company. I remember sneaking out with some of my mates in training to seek female company. 

My father thought he was keeping me away from the females but I doubt if he knows the extent I have gone to seek female companion in the years that I was away. Yes, I may not have found my mate which was the game plan, but what did it even matter? Why did my father even believe in such jargons?

Look, don't get me wrong, it's not like I do not believe in prophecies, but why would my dad believe the witch that told him my mate will bring my downfall and the fall of midnight pack if care is not taken? It just didn’t make any sense. I recalled her words in my head again:

“He shall shift to his wolf form as early as sixteen, and he shall find his mate at midnight on his eighteenth birthday. She is one who will bring an end to him, and cause the downfall of the entire pack for he shall inherit her curse, and if care is not taken, a warlock of unknown origin will rule over all the kingdom of the southern wolves,” Those were the words of the seer, and how old was I then? Twelve.

I was twelve when I heard those words and I can never forget them, no matter how hard I wanted to. My parents had packed my bags two nights later and sent me away. I  still remember Lisa's loud cry when I was leaving. I miss her so much, we used to be so close as kids but I have not as much as heard her voice or seen her picture in nine years. That was a whole lot of time.

I came down from the plane now, with my luggage which was a medium sized box, and a small back pack strapped to my back. I breathe in a mix of different scents as I passed by a couple of people and make my way towards the man that held a placard that bore my name ‘Declan McPherson’. I recognized him easily as one of the team leads in Midnight pack.

Of course, my father would trust Donald to deliver me home without spilling anything to anybody. But how long did he think he could hide my coming back? My aura was not one that could easily be hidden. I was the future alpha after all.

Donald smiled and dropped on one knees when he sighted me, “Welcome back ,” he said with his head bent.

“C’mon get up,” I whispered but loud enough for him to hear. We were in public, and I really did not want to draw any attention to myself. What the heck was wrong with him?

He was on his feet immediately and quickly rushed to help me with my luggage, securing them in the trunk of the vehicle.

“It’s good to have you back future alpha, you have grown a lot from the last time,” Donald commented. 

Of course, I have grown, it’s been nine years what do you expect? I just nodded and got into the back seat of the car while Donald settled himself behind the steering and started the engine. Donald too had aged, but I was not about to tell him that right now. It was pretty dark outside but werewolves had clear night vision as you know, so I’m staring out the window, taking in the environment and how much has changed in the last nine years.

“So tell me,” I turn my eye to meet Donald’s in the rear view mirror “How’s it been?” I know I should be excited. I mean, anybody would be excited to be back home but I wasn’t, and I'm sure Donald can tell from my countenance. He seemed kind of scared of me but that was only expected. I was the future alpha, and I'd spent the last few years training amongst powerful wolves, of which many of them still respected me, which still amazes me till today.

“Nothing out of the ordinary,” Donald shrugs, then goes on to give me a short detail on how they have been surviving for the last couple of years now and about the recent rogue attack on their territory. That was what picked my interest.

“Rogues? Was anyone harmed?” I asked immediately.

“just a little pup, nothing too serious,” Donald answered.

I somehow felt angered by his response. He just said they had lost a little pup because of the rogue attack and here he was sounding like the life of that pup did not matter. Maybe because it was my natural instinct to protect my people, even though I was not yet the alpha but the thought of something harming a young one and Donald sounding like that young pup’s life didn't matter was enough to drive me nuts. 

I’m totally unaware of what my mood was doing to him, but then I see his jaw quiver. “I'm sorry if I offended you, future Alpha,”

“Just call me Declan,” I snapped “ And why did you have to sound like the life of that pup did not matter? We lost one of us to a bloody rogue and you can still say it's nothing too serious?” I was probably over reacting, because I can now see that my words were affecting his driving. What the hell was wrong with this man? Has he never been scolded before?

“I'm sorry Declan,” Even with the way he pronounced my name, it was obvious he was not comfortable with the sound of it. 

I lowered my Aura and admonished Swift to calm down. Did I say Swift was stubborn? Well, this was Swift in action, taking control of my emotions and acting like he could control everybody. Well, maybe he could but we were not yet alpha. 

True to the prophesy however, I had shifted to my wolf form two days after my sixteenth birthday, and the council had sent news to my father. He had panicked again, and told them to make sure I do not come in contact with any female wolf till I was way over eighteen. But even the authorities did not know about my many tantrums when I would go about searching for a companion. When I turned eighteen, I had experienced this deep feeling of loneliness. Once, I escaped from the four walls of Riverdale in search of my mate. That was the only time I was caught, and again news was sent to my father.

He was scared that it was all part of the prophecy, and even though the elders did not know about the prophesy, his constant reminder to them to make sure I don’t associate with any female had them raising their suspicions. My training hours increased, and it eventually paid off. I turned out to be one of the most powerful werewolf within my age range before I left, and Swift is a very good fighter. You would want to see Swift in action, I know.

The rest of the drive to midnight pack was quiet. We got to the borders very late, and I could perceive the scent of different wolves. This place was home. These people were my family. I could see the shock on the faces of the wolves that were on guard when we got to the gates.

Did I not tell you that my coming could not be kept a secret no matter how much my parents wanted it that way? Some of the men on guard already perceived my scent even before seeing me in person. They fell to their knees as we drove past and parked next to my parents quarters. On the wall of the building it was written; THE ALPHA AND LUNA. I smiled. This had to be my mum's suggestion. It was just the sort of thing that she would like. I can already perceive her, and my father's strong aura. I only saw my father two times in all the nine years that I have been away; when he came to check on me after I had shifted into my wolf form, and last year when he just passed by randomly because he had a meeting with some of the elders there.

I walked up the stairs till I came to the front door. If I was not excited about coming home, then I am now. I had previously perceived scents of werewolves settling in for the night, but now I could feel them wide awake, and I'm sure many of them close by were already peeping out their windows to trace my scent. So I quickly opened the door, and I was in.

My eyes met my dad's first who was standing besides the huge painting of him on the wall, a warm smile plastered on his face. My mum came out of the kitchen  cleaning her hands on a towel. I can see tears in her eyes as she stretches out her arms to me, but before she meets me, my beloved sister flew out from nowhere, throwing herself hard against my chest that we both collapsed on the floor. 

She had been hiding her scent all this while, something that even I could not do successfully. The joy was indescribable. I have missed these people so much. I staggered back to my feet with Lisa still in my arms and my mum joined us in the hug. The tears were pouring from her eyes now. I know how much she missed me, you know how much now for a Luna to cry without reserve.

I think I can now say I'm glad to be back.