Chapter 4 Forbidden, yet present

"Oh no, you will come along with me. If not for the ceremony, you'll help me with my bag. My old shoulders should have a relief with you around" Nana insisted. She just wants Amelia to have this experience of a lifetime. Who knows, if she never gets a chance to witness another.

"But you know that..." Amelia began and Naga interrupted her. She was going to tell her that she'd always been forbidden to attend any ceremony in the village because of the curse on her but Nana wouldn't let her speak further.

She raised her hand to indicate that Amelia should be quiet and she did. This is not going to be her fault now. If she was going to be punished, then Nana would know that she was responsible for her error.

That night, Nana laid awake for a long time, she was deep in thought. She had lost her mate many years ago and the moon goddess didn't bless her with a second chance mate. She'd grown old and childless.

Then Amelia came into her life. Her father believed she was cursed and so did everyone else in the pack. But how can she be cursed with so much beauty and goodness in her. She's a normal child and deserves to have what others do.

She's going to be eighteen the next day. She's weak and wolfless. Besides being the cursed daughter of the Beta, she's often referred to as the worthless Omega.

Shouldn't she also be in the midst of other pack members if perhaps she would find her mate? Will the moon goddess deny her that privilege and chance as well? She's already cursed and wolfless, if she doesn't get to have a mate, her life would be worthless.

That is why Amelia will have to come with her to the Pack's convocation. She closed her eyes and made a silent prayer to the goddess that she give Amelia a mate that would accept her without doubt or bias.

The next morning, Amelia set out, dressed in a cheap dress. Her hair was styled to one side. She looked casual but beautiful. That day was her eighteenth birthday and she dressed in her best, even if her best was the rag thrown away by another family.

She was plain, without makeup but she looked attractive and pretty. Though many will not accept it, everyone knows Amelia is the most beautiful girl in the pack. They wondered why the moon goddess would bless her with such a rare gift despite knowing she was cursed.

"Happy birthday Amelia" Nana said and kissed her temple. She's beautiful and deserves two glances from anyone who comes across her.

"Thank you Nana" Amelia appreciated. She smiled and was happy. All her life, only Nana has ever wished her a happy birthday. That day was always spent mourning by her father and each year made her earn more hatefulness from him than the previous.

She remembered on her fifteenth birthday, she encountered her father coming from the forest. He probably went to place flowers by his mate's tombstone and on his way back, he crossed paths with her.

In his hatefulness he had raised his sword to cut her through when she took to her heels. "I curse you forever Amelia...forever you shall rot in pain and despair" That day she was so close to death and for a long time, the trauma of it haunted her.

As she set out, carrying Nana's medicine bag, she prayed silently in her heart that her father wouldn't see her. The crowd should hide her from his sight and she would be careful as well.

By the time they arrived at the Pack's ceremonial ground, it was already crowded. Had these people not spent the night in their homes? Nana sat down and Amelia tried sitting next to her when a woman stopped her "you are not allowed to come to gatherings, get away from here, you cursed Omega"

Amelia shivered, her fingers trembled and she was going to leave when Nana stopped her by holding her by the wrist "I brought her with me, so she will not go anywhere" she protested.

Amelia's eyes welled up. She said she wasn't going to come but Nana insisted. Now, she'd just arrived and she was already experiencing resentment from pack members. Other people had gathered, ready to have her thrown out.

"If she must be here, let her stay at the extreme end, not mixing with other werewolves. She's cursed and she must stay in solitary otherwise, we will all request that she should be beheaded..." the enraged woman growled.

"Nana..." Amelia whimpered. She hadn't come here only to be murdered on her eighteenth birthday. It should be another day, she shouldn't die on the same day as her mother's memorial day.

"She might have been cursed but she's my assistant and I have brought her along. Are you going to send her away or have her murdered before me?" Nana growled back at her.

Without waiting for her to say another thing, Nana glanced at Amelia and said "Sit at my feet" and Amelia did. Sitting at her feet meant sitting right on the floor and Amelia gladly accepted it.

The other pack members gnawed but couldn't do anything about it. Nana was the Pack's oldest healer, they can't just disrespect her that way. And since the cursed Omega is seated on the floor, that's better, she's meant to be on the floor where everyone can trample on her.

Amelia hugged her knees and stayed quietly as the announcement came that the Beta had arrived. Amelia shook and was more than happy that she's on the floor.

He wasn't going to see her. Everyone stood up as the Beta got to his place and sat down, his elegant daughter sat next to him. She's the most popular lady in the pack. For her fighting skill, her beauty and being the future Luna.

Then the Alpha arrived along with the future Alpha dressed in a royal robe, elegant, and graceful, a dreadful sight to behold as well.

As the future Alpha stood, side by side with his father, a sudden wave of scent hit Amelia. It was soothing and it sent a feeling of emotion into her.

She swallowed hard, is this what she'd been afraid of encountering all along? The scent became stronger and she raised her head to glance at the direction it was coming from...