Chapter 7

• The gathering for my banishment turned into an emergency pack meeting. Everyone huddled into the hall as warriors trooped in and out.
• ‘What do we do? Are we going into lockdown?’ A girl beside me asked her father.
• ‘We have to hear the Alpha’s decision,’ her father answered, squeezing her to his side. They huddled into each other while I stood to the side wishing I had someone to hold for assurance.
• How could this be happening? Tales of the cursed alpha were nothing more than tales. We heard of his exploits but like every misfortune, we all believed it would never befall us. Other packs were invaded but no one ever believed theirs would also suffer an invasion.
• “Ahem.” The hall went dead silent when Jackson cleared his throat. “As you heard, the cursed Alpha Valens and his men have breached our borders and are currently on their way here,” he started and loud murmurings broke out in the hall.
• ‘Dad, I’m scared,’ the girl beside me hugged her father tighter.
• I was scared too. Terrified out of my wits.
• “Does that mean we are going to d-die?” Someone in the crowd asked and the murmurings grew louder.
• “Quiet!” Jackson growled. “Don’t speak nonsense in my presence.” The hall went silent again. “Given the suddenness of the situation, I – we are at a loss so if any of you have suggestions –“ The hall almost exploded as people shouted suggestions at the top of their voices.
• While everyone shouted to be heard, I hugged my arms filled with goosebumps. With every second that passed, the tighter the rope strangling my heart became. They were closing in on us – and fast. Dread mounted and the hair on my arms stood on end. We were about to be hunted yet we could do nothing but congregate for a meeting.
• “We have to fight for our homes. A stranger cannot intimidate us on our land!” Jackson’s mother shouted.
• A number of people agreed with her but I thought she was foolish. Why risk the lives of thousands of wolves for a battle we already lost? This land became the cursed alpha’s the minute he stepped foot on it. Blood Moon would not be the first to try to defend against the cursed alpha and I knew we would not be the first to win. Every single pack that tried to fight him off lost. There was no chance in the high heavens or in the pits of hell that we could defeat the cursed alpha.
• “What if he slaughters us all?” Someone else shouted and another loud argument ensued.
• ‘Trust in our warriors!’
• ‘The same warriors who cannot protect our women?’
• “The Alpha has to step down!” Another person exclaimed and it silenced half the hall. “If – If Alpha Jackson cedes his seat, then there will be no need to fight a – a losing battle.”
• ‘Are you a fool? How can you ask our Alpha to accept defeat without a fight?’
• ‘Do you mean we are nothing but cowards in Blood Moon?’
• More arguments erupted around me.
• It was the most sensible option – the only option really – but an Alpha’s pride could pierce the skies. Ceding his seat would be admitting to being inferior to another man. It would shatter his pride but would Jackson put his pride before his own people? Would he give up his birthright to make sure no blood was shed on Blood Moon land? I no longer knew him well enough to answer such a question.
• “H – How about delaying the decision?” Todd spoke from the front of the hall. “We may be able to negotiate with him if we – if we get on his good side…” He trailed off and we all froze for the second time that day.
• It was impossible not to sense the invaders. They felt different, smelt different – like a threat – and if they were any other invaders, our warriors would have stopped them at the borders but these were the cursed alpha’s men. Wolves no one ever wanted to go up against. They were here. The sounds of their paws hitting the ground was unmistakable. The sound grew closer and closer and closer until –
• Someone fainted and chaos ensured around the place.
• “Lockdown! Lockdown! We have to hide. We have to – they are here. They are here!”
• “Hello,” a soft voice sent chills down all our spines. A strange man stood before us as if it was natural for him to address us. Everyone became as still as stone. “I bring greetings from the Alpha,” the man said and someone let out a strangled cry.
• “I am the Alpha here,” Jackson growled.
• The newcomer turned to him with raised brows.
• “Oh, good. The Alpha would need a place to rest tonight. He is travelling with a party of thirty-five wolves who would appreciate comfortable beds,” the man said.
• “You –“ Jackson growled but the man cocked his head to the side.
• “Be quick.”
• That was all that needed to be said. Like clockwork, the elders filed out. Jackson’s mother followed and for a second, I almost did too but then I remembered it was not my place. I was no longer the Luna of this pack. It was not my place to welcome guests whether invited or uninvited.
• The newcomer exited with the Alpha’s mother and elders. We all felt it when our home was opened to strangers. We heard their footsteps as they entered and climbed up the stairs and there was nothing we could do to stop them.
• “T – That –“ Jackson stuttered, his eyes red – almost as if he was on the verge of tears. “We were saying – suggestions – “
• “They are – They are peaceful people,” Todd said. I would have snorted if the situation wasn’t dire. “If we offer them something – maybe a peace offering – they might consider a negotiation.”
• ‘A peace offering?’
• ‘What do we have to offer them?’
• The murmurs were quiet this time, muffled whispers that told of our fear. There were strangers in our home. We could no longer move as we used to.
• “How about a nice, warm body for the Alpha after the long journey here?” A man behind me said. “No – No man can resist the beauty of our women, after all. But that’s – that’s just my thought anyway.”
• Jackson’s gaze slid from the man to me and my heart stopped.
• “Chantelle.” I closed my eyes, squeezing them shut while my body trembled as he called my name with venom in his tone.
• No, no way. He wouldn’t do that to me. He couldn’t!
• “Chantelle, rather than banish you, I have decided you’ll ‘assist’ the cursed alpha tonight.”
• “No. No!” I screamed, my eyes snapping open. “How can - How can you suggest such a thing!” I exclaimed as the world closed in on me. “No, I won’t! I won’t!”
• “Would you rather be banished?” He growled but I continued to shake my head in disbelief.
• “I won’t – I won’t –“
• “Then you leave me no choice. As your Alpha, I command you to do it.” My wolf stiffened. “Then it’s settled,” he muttered while I choked on my sobs. “We’ll negotiate with the cursed alpha.”
• Nauseous, I hugged myself as I was dragged away. “It’s not real,” I muttered. It was impossible for me to believe.
• “We have to make her presentable at least,” the girls sent to ‘prepare’ me talked amongst themselves while I sat there like a zombie.
• The goddess must be punishing me. There was no longer any doubt in my mind. The goddess wanted me to suffer. I could only hope the cursed alpha made my death as painless as possible because it felt like I was sinking into an abyss and before the darkness crushed me, I needed someone to end the misery I called a life.
• The girls changed me out of my clothes, whispering in subdued voices amongst themselves but their words barely reached my ears. My mind continued to reel as I thought back to Jackson’s gaze earlier.
• Did my mate – the man I spent the better part of my life loving – really send me out to whore myself for another man?
• I would rather be banished than be subjected to such humiliation. Unfortunately, it was impossible to resist the Alpha’s command as an omega.
• For hours, I was washed, dressed, perfumed, and made up. When they finished, I stared back at the mirror and wondered who stared back at me since the woman reflected in the mirror looked nothing like the person I saw in my mirror every day. With the tight, low-cut red dress I had been shoved into and the loud makeup on my face, I looked – cheap.
• “All done. Here, take this.” One girl shoved a green bottle into my palm. “It’ll help you loosen up.”
• My skin prickled as I gazed at the bottle but ignoring the alarm going off in my head, I brought it to my lips and chugged.
• Even if it was poisoned, I did not care. I didn’t mind dying at that point.
• “Ma’am, think of this as your last duty to the pack. Please, do your best.” The girls left me with those words. A while later, I heard a loud voice outside the door asking me to come out.
• The warriors outside leered at me, their gazes suggestive.
• Laughter bubbled in my guts but I could only let out a choked sound.
• Perhaps, I should have gotten on my knees to beg. I should have clutched Jackson’s knees, hit my head on the ground as many times as he required. If I had – if only –
• “He’s in the reserved guestroom,” a warrior said. “When he’s done, I can show you a good time,” he added with a wink.
• “Ah, yes, I’m certain I won’t be too shabby compared to a cursed devil, yeah?” The men cackled as I all but ran away.
• Getting to the grand guest room, I knocked once then twice but received no response. Looking around the empty hallway, I pushed open the door with sweaty palms and stepped into the large room.
• Sirens went off in my head as I approached the bed.
• “E – excuse me, sir.” I stopped as my vision wavered. “S – A - Argh!” I jumped back, almost falling as his eyes snapped open to reveal burning red irises.
• “I found you.” A soft, almost dreamlike voice flowed from the cursed alpha’s lips.