MOONBOUND HEARTS

"Witch," someone spat.

"Curse," another sneered.

They didn't lower their voices. They wanted me to hear.

Some turned their backs. Others just watched, waiting for me to disappear.

No one dared look me in the eye, they believed that I could make the strongest man bend at my will, just by staring into my eyes.

I kept walking, not saying a word. I bit back the tears that threatened to pour out. I fought the urge to turn and go back to the comfort of my room, away from the hateful stares.

I made my way into the woods, as I entered, the silence felt like salvation.

There was a fallen tree not far from the path, a place I usually went when it got too loud in my head.

I sank onto the bark and breathed in. The cold air felt clean here. The way it clung to my lungs almost made me feel alive again.

For a moment, I just sat there, soaking in the stillness. No one stared, no one whispered, Just trees, wind, and the rustle of leaves.

Then I heard footsteps.

"Some people really like pretending they matter," Lena's voice rang through the woods before I even saw her. "Walking around like they don't stink of bad luck."

I stopped. My hands curled into fists at my sides.

"Hey, Cursed One!" she called louder. " Did you Lose your way again? Or are you just trying to find a new hole to hide in?"

I stood up and turned around, my eyes were greeted with the familiar sight of Lena and her usual little crowd of four girls.

"I'm was just taking a walk," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Oh, she talks now?" one of the girls snorted.

Another stepped forward. " You Must be feeling brave today."

I shook my head and started to walk past them, pretending they weren't there, but Lena sidestepped into my path.

"Uh-uh," she said. "We're not done."

"I don't want trouble."

Lena smirked. "Too late. You were born with it."

The girl to her left spat at my feet. "You should've been thrown out when you were a baby. Everyone knows you're a curse."

I kept my head down and tried to move around them, but Lena shoved me back hard.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"Leave me alone," I said.

Slap! Lena napped me across my cheek. The sound came before I felt the pain on my cheek.

"Or what?" she sneered. "You'll cry to the trees?"

The second girl laughed and pushed me too. "awn, look at you acting all tough."

I held my ground, but the third girl stepped in and shoved me from behind, I stumbled forward fighting to gain my balance. Lena slapped me again this one harder than the first one.

The force of the slap sent me staggering backwards till I hit the ground, my hands scraped the dirt and my face almost falling into the dirt.

They all burst out laughing.

"Look at her," one of them said. "Miss Cursed on her knees."

"She looks better down there," Lena added. "Where filth belongs."

I stayed down there, there was nothing I could do, fighting back would only mean declaring war on the Alpha and his family.

"Pathetic," someone said. "She's not even fighting back."

They turned and walked off, still laughing, like what just happened meant nothing.

I waited until I couldn't hear them anymore.

Then I pulled myself up slowly, brushing the dirt from my palms, even though it didn't really matter.

No matter how hard I tried to stand tall, I still felt small. I walked out of the woods, not minding the tears that now streamed down my face and the stares I got.

Once I was far enough, I broke into a run, I didn't stop until I reached the house.

My feet hit the steps fast, and I slammed the door behind me, ignoring Douglass's voice calling faintly from the den.

I went to the drawer and pulled out the small, sharp blade I'd hidden months ago.

I sat on the floor, back against the bed, the blade trembling between my fingers.

Maybe they were right, maybe I was cursed. I thought. Maybe the world will be better without me

Tears blurred my vision as I pressed the metal to my skin.

As I raised my hand to finally put an end to my nightmare of a life. The door burst open

"Alina!"

It was Douglass.

His voice cracked like a whip. In seconds, the blade was out of my hands, he threw it across the room and grabbed my wrists.

His eyes locked on mine.

For a split second, I saw fear on his eyes . But it disappeared as fast as it came.

"Stupid girl," he muttered. "What were you thinking?"

I didn't answer, he let go of me and stood.

"I don't care what they said to you," he said, his voice cold again. "You don't get to take the easy way out."

My throat tightened, and I looked away, blinking out the tears that blurred my vision.

"You live. Do you hear me?"

Still, I said nothing.

"Don't ever try that again," he said without turning. "Next time, no one will stop you." Then he left.

And I was alone again.

Once the door was shut, I let the tears flow freely, crying my hearts out. Then, I drifted off while thinking of how it would feel to live in a world I actually belonged to.

The dream came fast, one moment I was on my bed, the next moment I was standing in a throne room.

Blood pooled around a dark throne. Shadows flickered along cracked walls, and I saw him again, the same man, tall and broad shouldered, he was cornered by enemies.

His chest was heaving, his knuckles were bloodied. He was fighting like a mad man.

No matter how he fought, he was loosing

A blade swung toward him from behind. I didn't think twice, I just moved, placing myself between him and the strike.

Instantly, I felt the pain of the sword stuck in my belly. He caught me just before I hit the ground.

His arms were tense with shock. "Why?" he asked His voice low.

"I don't know," I coughed out blood as I spoke. "why do I keep seeing you, I don't even know your name."

He leaned in, lips close enough to brush mine.

"You will."

I gasped and sat up.

Not again.