The Mate's Curse

Chapter 9

(Alpha Stephen Black’s POV)

“Then I accept your offer.” Cassie looked defiantly at me but the look in her startling green eyes was that of defeat. 

I smiled and nodded. “Wise choice.” 

I mind linked Anna to send in the girl who had been waiting outside. Seconds later there was a knock at the door. “Come in,” I called, and the door opened and a young woman walked in. 

She had her blond hair tied back and was wearing workout clothing that showed more of her body than it hid. She walked to the desk and bowed her head. “Alpha.” 

“Remind me of your name again, dear?” I queried. 

“It’s Amelia, sir. Amelia Tate.”

“Are you related to Robert Tate?” 

“Yes sir I am, he’s my papa,” she proclaims with a big smile.

“That's good, he’s a good man, your father.” Robert was one of my top warriors, we had trained together when I was younger. Amelia smiled proudly. 

I pointed to Cassie who was watching our exchange with a curious expression. “Amelia, this is Cassie.” Amelia turned to Cassie and looked her up and down before smiling brightly. “Cassie is the new pack member that you were told about.” 

Cassie narrowed her eyes at me. 

“Oh, I am excited to meet you Cassie!” Amelia gushed. “Your room is only a few doors down from mine, and your suitcase has already been delivered too.” 

Cassie glared at me when she realised that I hadn’t really given her a choice. I had already decided she would be working with Davidson. Hell, I decided it before she arrived on pack ground this morning.

I ignored her daggers as I went on. “Amelia, if you could be so kind as to show Cassie to her room and help her get acquainted with some of the other girls on your floor?”

“Yes, of course, Alpha.” 

“And maybe you could help her get ready for tonight's party?” 

Cassie went to say something and I could tell she was getting annoyed again. I found that despite her disconnect with her wolf, she still exhibited some impressive power. I raised my eyebrows, daring her to say something and she clamped her mouth shut again.

“Oh of course, we can see what you have Cassie and I can totally help with makeup and hair and we can get some of the other girls involved and you can tell us all about you.” 

Cassie looked horrified at the notion of this although she covered it quickly so Amelia didn’t see it, and I chuckled to myself.

“Well that sounds great. You’re excused, ladies,” I said. “I’m sure I will see you both this evening.” That last part was directed pointedly to Cassie. 

Cassie glared at me again but stood up to follow a hyper Amelia out the door. Just as she was walking out I called out. “Oh, Cassie?” She turned and glared. “Welcome to the Black Stone Pack.'' I smiled as a darkness clouded her eyes briefly before she turned and slammed the door shut behind her, sending one of my pictures off the wall which then shattered on the floor. 

I sat there, still leaning my chin on my hands as I listened to their receding footsteps. It wasn’t long before I heard the house door close. 

“I like her,” I said, leaning back in my seat. Declan guffawed, which caused me to join in. 

He walked round and sat in the chair that Cassie had just occupied. “She’s a feisty one, for sure.” 

Declan leaned back and put his feet upon my desk and I scowled at him. “Do you mind, man?” I pointed to his feet. 

“Not at all,” he grinned. 

I rolled my eyes at him. Declan had been my closest friend since we were pups. We had trained together. He was the best man at my wedding and I at his. His father was my father’s Beta and I knew that his son would be my son's Beta, as their friendship was as solid as ours.

“You know, I thought she was gonna rip you to pieces a few times.” 

I chuckled. I didn’t admit it, but so had I. “I don’t get it.” I started to clean up all the papers that she had thrown at me as Declan watched. “I swear I saw her wolf a few times, but nothing. I didn’t like being the d**k Alpha.”

“But you’re so good at it.” I growled at Declan but he laughed it off. 

Still, I hated that I physically hurt the poor kid, especially on her first day in the pack. I felt shitty enough that I’d forced her away from her home, and I really wanted the pack to be a safe place for all of them. The look in Darren’s eyes told me he was tired of hiding and I felt guilty for not doing anything sooner. I should have brought them into the pack 18 years ago.

***

(Flashback)

“Dad,” Hunter whined at me. “I want to come for the alliance tomorrow.”

“Hunter, I said no,” I growled, “And Alphas don’t whine.” 

He looked deflated. Even at 11 years old, he was taking an interest in the pack business, especially in the last year or so. We had been in negotiations with a pack around 50 miles away. The Silver Lake Pack stood strong at just under 250 members. But they were not a warrior pack, in fact many of their pack were humans, which I found curious. There were even rumours that they were working with witches. This left a bitter taste in my mouth, especially around Hunter.

It was a witch that brought sorrow on this pack. Well that and Julian f*****g Tainter. The Alpha of the Blood Stone Pack had been a thorn in my side since I found out Melissa was my mate. Julian had feelings for Melissa so was upset that she and I were fated mates. And he had gotten even more bitter when Melissa’s father, the Alpha of the Thornewood pack had chosen to transfer ownership of the pack to Black Stone, pushing our numbers higher than Blood Stone. 

Even though he had taken a chosen mate and had a toddler pup of his own, his bitterness was still evident when Melissa had gotten pregnant with Hunter. She had fallen very ill, and I had almost lost both her and Hunter. It’s unusual for werewolves to get unwell, and it was only after talking to a witch healer that we discovered that dark magic was involved. Julian had been so jealous of our family and growing pack that he had a dark witch put a curse on my unborn child, a curse that had serious implications for our own pack. 

If our Alpha heir hadn’t completed the mate bond by his 30th birthday, his wolf would die, and with it the wolf of every member of our pack. 

I was furious but knew we had to keep the curse quiet otherwise we would start losing pack members. Only the named ranked members and a select few elders knew about the curse. And I was committed to creating alliances and bringing struggling packs into Black Stone so that when Hunter’s wolf surfaced, we could only hope that one of our growing pack members or alliances held his fated mate. 

It was the rumours surrounding the Silver Lake Pack that had caused me to seek them out. I had hopes that if they really did associate with witches that they would be able to help us with the curse. But they were a very secretive pack, and had all but closed their borders seven or so years ago after some sort of leadership dispute. They had resisted negotiations for so long, but a year ago they had finally agreed to discussions. We had made numerous trips between packs and things were starting to finalise, in fact we were due to sign the alliance the day after tomorrow. We had one more meeting tomorrow in which the Alpha said he needed to reveal some information and then we would sign the alliance. I would supply warriors to protect their borders, which was something they were very keen on, and they would supply healers.

Hunter was keen to learn more about being an Alpha and it made me proud that he took such a keen interest. But I still believed that school and training were important, which is why I had a sullen eleven year old pestering me now. 

“But Dad….” 

“Hunter.” The voice of my beautiful mate and wife Melissa floated in, blessing my ears. I looked up and smiled as she walked into my office. “Respect your father, and it’s time for bed.” Hunter huffed in response but I growled and he did as he was told and left for bed.

I smiled at Melissa and bent down to kiss her swollen tummy, not that I would dare say that to a pregnant she-wolf. Our baby girl was due to join us in the next couple of weeks and I was so excited to extend our family further. 

My Beta burst into my office just as I was about to kiss my wife. “Declan, what's wrong?” 

“Stephen, Silver Lake have sent out a distress signal, they are under attack.”

“f**k!” I jumped up and ran out of the office, mind linking the warriors to get to the vehicles. I ran out of the pack house and a black SUV screeched up in front of me. The passenger door flew open and I jumped in as Declan jumped into the back seat. Jarrett, my Gamma, was in the driver's seat and before the doors closed he was peeling out of the estate where we joined the formation of six other SUVs. 

As we were leaving pack territory, Melissa mind linked me. “Be strong, my love. Be safe.”

The ride was quicker than it would have been in the day and I know that we broke more than one speeding law, but it didn’t matter. By the time we got to Silver Lake Territory, it was all over. There were fires everywhere and dead bodies ripped apart. I had never seen such c*****e in my life. And in the middle of it all, right in front of their pack house I saw their Gamma’s mate clutching their little girl, and the Gamma, still in wolf form, his light tan fur covered in blood and his left back leg stood at an odd angle. Nevertheless, he stood in front of his family, snarling at us. 

***

(Present day) 

Thinking back to that day both angered and upset me. Their pack had been all but wiped out, their numbers had gone from the hundreds to barely double digits. I had also learned that night that the Alpha’s heir and sister had been killed in the battle and there had been an attempt to kidnap the Gamma’s daughter. And no one knew who had attacked. Rogues had been ruled out because of how organised they were, but no one seemed to be able to place the scent of the pack. 

I made a decision that day that I would offer them sanctuary within the Black Stone pack instead of an alliance. With their only heir dead, I knew the pack’s days were numbered. I went back the next day to offer them safety and found the place deserted. They had all gone, disappeared in the night, not to be seen again for almost 18 years.

It was only after one of the Elders read of the death of James Minress in a car accident last week that he recognised the name and brought it to my attention. I’d gone to the funeral on a whim and recognised the missing pack members immediately. I had planned to offer my condolences and optional sanctuary as part of my pack up until I bumped into Cassandra at the wake. She was trying to sneak out unseen around the time of the final run and I challenged her on it. It was that look in her eyes, the deep longing to be in the woods that really caught my attention.

I used my alpha sense to call to her wolf only to receive no answer. It was only when Gamma Jessica came over that I realised who the child was. I knew then that I had to ensure that this poor broken child was in my pack. I didn’t just feel it, my wolf felt it too, Branson was shouting in the back of my head. He was insistent that we did everything we possibly could to ensure that this girl was a member of Black Stone.

“What would you have done if your dumbass plan had worked?” Declan pulled me back in from my thoughts as he chastised me. “I mean, yeah, you scare the s**t out of her and her wolf shows up and protects her, well done., But then you would be facing a super pissed off wolf who would be looking for your throat.” 

I grinned sheepishly and shrugged. “I thought that’s what you’re here for?

“Oh hell no, you poke the wolf, you get eaten.” He laughed. “I’m here to protect you from external threats, not your own stupidity.”

“It was worth a try.” I shrugged again. I had thought for sure if I got her angry enough that maybe her wolf would show herself after hearing of the circumstances around her first shift.

“Look man, I know you feel responsible for her, but give her time, this is a serious adjustment for her.” 

I gave him an amused look. “This from the guy who swore to protect her and vowed to avenge her former pack?” 

It was his turn to get sheepish. “Ah you felt that, did you?” I shook my head, laughing.

“Ok,” I said, getting serious. “Get her into training. Between that, Dr Baxter and the socialising, hopefully we should see something soon. We can review the situation in a couple of weeks.”

“Yes sir, and what of the parents?” 

“Tell Aggie to give them minimal duties and keep an eye on them,” I said, thinking back to when they were swearing loyalty. “Something doesn’t feel right, I think they are hiding something major.” 

I was about to say something else, but a fragrance in the air caught my attention. I sniffed and sure enough the sweet vanilla and cinnamon scent of my beloved filled my nostrils. “Mate!” Branson suddenly perked up in my head, getting excited. My office door opened and in walked the most beautiful woman to walk the earth, my wife and mate Melissa. Her long straight black hair flowed like silk down her back and her amber eyes sparkled as she saw me. 

She looked down at the broken picture on the floor and raised her eyebrows at me, and I chuckled. She then walked further into the room round my side of the desk and placed a kiss on my head, and I shivered with delight as the electric charge ran through me. “Hunter has called,” she said as I raised her hand to my lips and kissed it. 

“And?” I asked hopefully, but she shook her head.

“I suggested he just come home, but he’s stubborn.”

“I wonder where he gets that from?” I said, shaking my head. She playfully growled at me and I smirked.

We told Hunter about the curse when he was 19. At first he was confident in Diana the Moon Goddess’s plans and said that his fated mate would appear. But by the time he was 23 and she still hadn’t arrived, we started to be concerned. He even attempted to take a chosen mate which ended in the worst possible way. After that he declared that the Moon Goddess would decide his fate and he would only complete the bond with his fated mate. 

He travelled the world visiting more packs than I could count, going to all the mating balls and other events that he could. Officially he was working on pack business, networking within the werewolf community, but the aim was simple: find his fated mate before his 30th birthday. 

He left shortly after his 29th birthday and had been gone for about three months and was making his way across North America right now. My Gamma Jarett and Hunter's future Gamma Kieran had gone with him. I sighed. We were getting close and I had been searching for some other saving grace, or some way to break the curse. 

Melissa stroked her hand through my hair.  “Don’t worry, I have a good feeling.” She smiled like she had a secret and leaned down to kiss me ever so gently. I shifted and stood to deepen the kiss, pushing her between me and the desk, and the passion sparked between us causing a small moan to escape her mouth. I hitched her up onto the desk causing her skirt to rise up and giving me access to her bare thighs. I ran my hands up the inside enjoying the feel of her unbelievably soft and warm skin. She gasped as my fingers brushed her panties and -

Someone coughed! I snapped my head up to see Declan still sat in the chair grinning at me. I had totally forgotten he was there in my lust. “Enjoying the show, pervert?” I growled. 

Melissa buried her head into my neck chuckling while Declan’s grin got wider. “So am I to assume the meeting is over, sir?”

“Get the f**k out of my office.” I growled again and he laughed. 

“Enjoy your lunch.” He winked before sauntering out of the office laughing. I shook my head at him as the door closed and then turned my attention back to my wife.

“Now, where were we?” I asked, kissing her again.