Alpha's curse and slave

I could not feel anything. My limbs had given up the strength I retained moments ago. The bruised muscles of my limbs cried out for me to rest. But I could not stop. Not when I had been given the chance to flee the clasps of the devil I called my moon blessed.

Courage welled and I pushed my feet against the bare grounds of the forest as I heaved and panted. My destination was not decided but my motive was apparent. I needed to cross the river before his warriors caught up to me or terrible, I land in his hands again.

The risks were high.

And the fact that my wolf was in hibernation for he had dominated her fully, ignited outrage and natural turmoil inside me. So vastly. He had demolished so much of me. My breath was unequal but I could not risk it for I was so near to my path. Just needed to cross the river and my scent would be mixed with wolves of another pack. I just hope the weed Dextra had given me worked for a few more days till I decide what I need to do next.

Pebbles pierced through my soles, the blood dripped down my forearms as I ran with all my might. My eyes hastily searched the area when I heard soft waves of water cascading down the rocks.

Eventually.

I run carelessly with bleeding limbs. I had been running for the past few hours. I hadn't truly believed the location Dextra had given me of the next pack but the deeper I ran into the forbidden forest, the more I feel it... the taste of my freedom.

Freedom that had been yanked through my hands by the nefarious barbarity of my mate. The one who was supposed to protect me was the one I was seeking protection from. Why? Why did he have to be my mate?

Were my longings of wanting a mate who loved me and cherished me wholly was so much that the moon finds it so unfair for she cursed his existence upon me. My thoughts shattered, a wild wind blew past my flesh making me shiver. A few more steps and I was near the shores of the river that flows south.

I scrunched my shoulders to my ears at the glacial wind. It followed me into the thickening trees that grew darker the further I endeavor. The setting sun was casting the sinister shadows that turned every rustle that the wind made into an imagined threat.

Sweat beaded at my hairline as the pain in my body deteriorated. The soft sound of running water should have been a gift, but it served to be a new way, for now, I had to sneak into foreign lands. When a rushing river came into view, it didn't take long before I spotted another side. I didn't waste any time before making my way toward it.

My body hurled in relief whilst the cold flowed through me, causing it to break out in goosebumps. My finger touched the cold water and I held back the urge to shiver and back away. I needed to cross it. Xerxes's wolves were a lot swifter and if I kept lingering in his territory, it would be a matter of time when I would be again in his clutches.

Shaking my head, I sagged a deep breath before dipping my leg into the water. My teeth soon began to chatter violently. Clenching my jaw tightly to seize the motion, I quickly moved further. The river was shallow, barely reached my shoulders and that was quite beneficial since I only had to swim to a certain distance before I reached the opposite side.

Feeling relieved that I no longer was fenced in his region, and now that my little wavering odor was washed away, it was difficult for him or his wolves to trace my imprints.

Kneeling on the ground, I took deep breaths, the air around me seemed changed now. But the pain resonating through my sides was jaw-clenching. It was my limit now. I couldn't take it any longer. I barely had any stamina left to walk.

My breathing was now trivial, more refined and the cold wind now had started to leave glacial impacts on my flesh.

Pushing myself, I tried to regain my posture yet it only resulted in me landing on the ground again. This was it.

The pain was too much to bear. And that was when I started feeling numbness creeping its way down my legs, and my torn, wet clothes indecently clung to my body.

Losing the battle with my mind, I surrendered on the ground. The moment my head touched the ground, my body went limp and darkness was soon followed but the sudden snap of a twig to my right had my senses on high alert and with a groan of frustration and pain, I managed to pick myself up from the cold wet ground.

I cautiously looked around, the limited light moon provided was the only source since it was already dark. Just as I was about to turn right, then another snap of branch paralyzed me in pure horror. My heart started pounding so hard that it was all I could hear.

That one snap triggered the worst moments of my last few months repeatedly. My breathing now had started to come out in short raspy gasps. All I could think about was my tormentor.

I slowly turned around, shaking badly from fear that I thought my body may have vibrate mode. I felt weak without my wolf.

What if he found me? What if he was standing behind me with his evil smirk? Was he here to torture me more? Was I ever going to escape his hell?

Once I was facing the direction the noise emanated, I immediately stopped inhaling. My body was immobilized as I stared at the front. Standing a few feet away from me was a man with light hair and sharp dark eyes. He had a sinister smirk on his face. The smirk was never good, it always brought me suffering.

With a sudden shot of terror streaming through my body, I ran. Resisting my injuries and pain. I ran like my life depended on it because it certainly did.

It was a false hope 'cause I had only managed to take a few steps before I felt a heavy influence from behind. The man tackled me and I tried not to fall on my ribs, I just couldn't afford to break anymore.

His full weight crushed me under him. The stench that was waffling off him made me puke. I used every bit of my power to thrash against him, but it barely affected him. It only pissed him off more whilst he let out a threatening growl.

Growl? Wolf?

Why didn't I sense his presence before? Were my senses too molded with the herbs he used on me that I couldn't even identify a wolf in this forest?

"It would be better if you stop struggling. The fun we are about to have wouldn't be pleasurable enough for you." He leaped his tongue over the flesh of my cheek.

Oh, no. I didn't escape one monster to fall into the hands of another. I was not going to get raped by another wolf. I thrashed against him, shaking my body side to side while trying to claw him.

"You fucking wench!" He yelled so loud that my heart shuddered with terror. Sitting up, he straddled my torso and before I knew it, lifted his hand to strike me across my cheek my mouth instantly filled with warm, familiar, coppery, metallic blood whilst he grasped my jaw in a harsh grip. My breathing hitched as he brought his face closer to mine while his grip on my jaw hardened.

"I'll fucking make you experience hell." He slammed my head back to the ground, causing black dots to appear in my vision.

A loud growl was suddenly heard in distance, a lot more intimidating and threatening as I barely turned my head to the source of the sound, still struggling to focus my vision from the impact.

I could make out what appeared to be a giant wolf. A massive, raven-haired wolf with piercing eyes looking our way. I couldn't help but whimper more and more. All the facets, combined with pain and terror made me shiver.

Still struggling to fight the dizziness, I felt the man on top of me tense. And faster than my eyes could follow, the wolf lunged toward us. A scream tore out of my mouth as I shielded my eyes with my hands as I waited for him to tear me into pieces for invading. But all I felt was weight lifting off me and something wet prickling my flesh. My vision was blurring, the fatigue and pain had taken over me fully and my eyes darted in and out of the darkness. The last thing I felt was something feathery touch caressing my skin before I fully skim into unconsciousness.

"The wounds are lethal. Although there isn't any major injury superficially, her ribs are bruised internally, she needs rest to heal."

"Why she's taking longer to heal?"

I tried to open my eyes but found it to be a struggle. Two diverse voices fell upon my ears as I tried to recognize them, they were distant like someone was talking outside the door. Obliviousness washed over me and all the memories came wrecking into my head. The escape, the woods, the golden-haired wolf before I blacked out.

My lids felt heavy whilst they quivered from my perseverance, just to remain shut.

"I don't know, Alpha. I can sense her wolf but there's hardly any sign of her existence." I felt my coarse eyes open slowly, just to shut again from the bright lights above me. After a little struggle, my eyes finally adjusted to the brightness and I was able to look around.

I was lying in a hospital bed, wearing a light blue gown, the walls were bright white and the floors were concrete. To my right were monitors and an IV bag that connected to my arm. The bed seemed to be filled with a clear fluid, connected to the back of my hand that had my fingertips wrapped in bandages.

I somehow knew I wasn't back in Xerxes's lands for he never treats me after his ruthlessness. I had no idea where I was or who brought me here but that didn't stop me from fear prowling inside me in unfamiliar surroundings. Instead of thinking about who saved me, my mind became paranoid. Why would someone help me? No wolf brought a stranger to his or her pack. The question deduced one thing. I had to leave.

I ripped out the IV in my hand, bringing blood as the needle tore my skin. I raised myself from the bed as I unclipped the heart monitor off my fingers. The moment my feet tickled the cold ground, I heard alarms go off. In a panic, my eyes broadened and I tried to run for the door when my legs gave out. I fell to the floor letting out a pained moan.

The door flew open and in the surge, a man with raven hair stormed in. His piercing blue eyes framed over me as his brows narrowed in confusion. He was wearing brown leather shoes, blue jeans, a crisp white shirt with the top two buttons undone.

"Alpha,"

Another man rushed in, wearing a lab coat and a stethoscope circling his neck.

Alpha.

I started to panic, recalling what happened every time I spend time with my moon blessed, Alpha of Alphas. This man was an Alpha, he serves Xerxes and now he would hand me over to him. He knew me. He knew what I was running from.

"Calm down, you're safe. I'm not gonna hurt you." He said while walking carefully towards me. When I first met Xerxes, he lured me into a false feeling of safety before he became the definition of cruelty. His words were how my terror and anxiety exacerbated his pleasure. This man was trying to make me think I was safe, that he was trying to help me, and when I would rely on him, he would hand me over to that monster. No, I would never go back to him. Not again.

I shuffled backward in fear until my back hit the wall, my arms wrapped around myself as I hugged my knees to my chest.

"Hey, don't worry. No one's going to hurt you." The man in the white coat said as he walked closer and crouched down in front of me whilst my eyes remained on his hands the whole time making sure he couldn't make any sudden move to cage me. The man with sparkling electric eyes looked at me the whole time.

He reached his hand out to my hand which was bleeding from the sudden pull of the IV, causing me to flinch.

"I'm just going to check your vitals. Can you give me your hand?" He outstretched his hand, palm facing up. He didn't make any move to get closer and stared at him with uncertainty and uneven breath.

"Give him your hand." The man with blue eyes muttered from behind, my eyes immediately jerked towards him as he held my gaze into fierce one. A sudden sparkle in his eyes startled me and I couldn't look away, he slowly nodded his head at me and I found myself trapped in his gaze. And before I realized I had placed my hand over the doctor's hand.

He gently checked my pulse now had stabilized a little and inspected the spot where IV was injected.

"Your pulse is stable for now but the bleeding hasn't stopped. How about we get you on the bed first?" The doctor gave me a gentle smile while softly pulling my hand to stand with his help.

"Alpha!"

I instantly curled back into a shaking ball on the floor, hugging my knees tightly. Someone had slammed the door open, alarming me. It was a man with dark hair and dark eyes. I could see his muscles stretch and flex as he took sharp breaths.

"What?" The man with blue eyes growled, snapping his head towards the door as he bared his teeth at him. I immediately closed my eyes shut. This was it. He was angry and now he would punish me for disobeying him.

"I-I.... you're awake! Finally! Alpha has been so worried." He panted at the doorway. "You've been out cold for two days." He continued walking into the room. "I thought...." He trailed off as he finally realized that I was a shivering mess on the floor.

"Good job, Avi! Just when we were advancing, you just had to barge in here freaking the crap out of her. Now she's in worse condition than before." The man with oceanic eyes again growled that I had to hold back the urge to run for hills. His barbaric tone was deep and dominating that I almost felt myself curling into a mess.

"M-My apologies, Alpha. I just... didn't know she was up." Said Avi as he looked fearfully towards the blue-orbed man who scowled. My eyes slowly took in his form. He was tall, muscular and his defining muscles were visible through his shirt. His dark hair clipped into a decent cut as a few strands fell over his forehead.

And when he turned his eyes towards me sensing my gaze on his, his eyes softened a bit.

"What's wrong with her?"

"I barely have any clue, Alpha. A plausible presumption is, she's been tortured. This describes her actions when she found herself in a strange place."

"Crap...I should've been more careful." Avi muttered and the doctor tending to my wounds gave him a hard glare.

Alpha nodded, his eyes never leaving mine as he started walking toward us.

"I'm sorry for scaring you, that wasn't my intent. You don't have to be terrified. I'm not gonna harm you, no one's going to. My name is Augustus. What's yours, cupcake?" He was now nearby, crouched down to my level. His tone was strangely calm and soft unlike the hard musculature of his body. His green eyes softened as he regards me with his gaze.

"K-Katarina." I stuttered out in a whisper, looking down again.

I couldn't hold his gaze. It was too intense and intimidating.

"Katarina." I felt a tingly feeling in the pit of my stomach as he summarised it. I could feel my skin igniting.

"You're a shy one, aren't you?" A deep chuckle resonated through his chest. "Let's get you up on the bed first. You're injured and should be resting." Slowly he stretched his hand for me to seize. I pondered as I unsurely placed my hand over his whilst he gave me a small smile. I looked fascinated at him as his cheek dipped into an adorable dimple.

Just like Xerxes-

My body tensed and he tightened his hold on my hand.

"Come. I'm not gonna hurt you." Slowly he helped me stand and sit on the edge of the bed.

"If you don't mind me asking, what happened to you, cupcake? I found you while I was roaming in the woods. Your condition wasn't stable when I found you....you were scarcely alive."

My breath hitched as I murmured lowly.

"I-I don't want to talk about it." I glanced at Avi who was just standing a bit farther back than the doctor, his mouth slightly gaped open as he stared at the man in front of me. A look of startelment in his eyes.

"That's fine. You can take your time." He said once he sensed panic in my eyes.

"Do you have anyone you want to contact? Family? Friends?"

I thought about my family.

"No," I muttered looking at the floor.

Family. What do I call a family? A dead brother? A dead mother? A dead father?

"No worries. Do you have any memory of your last pack? Where do you live?" He asked cautiously enough to not scare me anymore.

Pack? One that had been massacred? Or the one that never treated me like their Alpha's mate? Where do I live? Where was my home?

"I-I don't have any." Words were whispered into the air and he caught them.

"That's not a problem. You can stay here. We've enough spare rooms in the packhouse. Once your condition is stabilized, I'll have one of my wolves arrange for your arrival." He said softly and I nodded.

"For now, you can rest here after James changes your bandages, okay?" He talked like he was soothing a child and I barely could look into his eyes as I meekly nodded.

Standing up, he walked towards Avi and looked over his shoulder before his eye met mine.

"I'll be back to check up on you. Till then take good care of yourself." With this, he left before saying something to James.

James was quick to change my bandages and checked my vitals. Just because they hadn't done anything to me didn't mean they were good. I couldn't let my guard down no matter how nice and genuine they seemed. I had to stay alert.

Just because I agreed to stay here didn't mean I was going to stay here forever. Just until I was healed. I needed to leave this land before Xerxes find me. I had to get away as far as possible. This was just a temporary arrangement I made out of necessity.

It was just a flash when my eyes damped as the scene before me etched a harsh and brutal image I could never forget. When my body jerked violently, my sobs were squeezed by his hand over my mouth whilst I felt hot flames of fire licking against my skin. My body jerked again as I felt his arms circling and wrapping around my waist and my flesh pushed up against his.

"Tell me what I want to hear, blossom."

His hot breath rasped against my skin I felt burning sensations erupting through my veins. Confining my legs securely around his waist, my body jerked again. I felt him so deep inside me, I could feel him in my stomach. I let out a strangled wail of both pain and ecstasy as his fingers dug into my sides.

Sweat dripped down our naked flesh, I couldn't tell if it was from the fire surrounding us or the intense way he was molding my skin to his accordance.

I felt his claws drag down my back as he pumped deeper. A terrorized scream rippled through me as his heterochromatic orbs held mine in a captivating aura whilst he violently slapped my backside.

I hated this male.

"Look, Katarina. See what you made me do." I shut my lids tightly, I couldn't look at the mangled body of the wolf who tried to help me. Guilt that the poor soul no longer could be his family only for the reason that he wanted me to escape the clutches of the monster moon had cursed me with as a mate.

He chuckled darkly against the nape of my neck as his thrusts become deeper and slower. His fingers itched as he ran them over my face.

"You're mine, blossom. And no matter how far you run, I will always find you. You're mine, my female."

I jerked suddenly as I gasped and my eyes widened as I looked around. Beads of sweat trickled down my face and armpits whilst I couldn't help paranoia to get out of my mind. Calming my raging heartbeats, I tried to tell myself that it was a dream. A false hope. Rather a memory that had cared into my mind like a nightmare.

Looking around, I found myself in the same hospital room. The brightness of the walls was now shielded by the darkness of night. And only sound was coming from the heart monitor connected to my finger.

I was safe.

I convinced myself.

Taking a deep calming breath, I closed my eyes again. This time instead of sleep, his heterochromatic eyes flashed through my mind and I jerked open them. I wasn't going to get any sleep tonight, I contemplated. Even though my wounds now had started to heal gradually but certainly, I think what would I do next.

I couldn't stay in this pack longer for I had a dilemma that Xerxes would soon find me but I had nowhere to go. I had to compile my plan accordingly. I just hope he could never find me. I had suffered enough from his hands to even think about spending any more time with the barbaric male.

For now, the best course of action was to just go with the flow. I'd have a roof over my head, a shelter, and probably even food to eat. I just needed to spend a few days here till I figure out what to do next.

****

I looked anxiously at my reflection. My nervousness turned into anxiousness from exposing my bruised flesh to some strangers to the deep neckline of the white floral dress. The fabric felt delicate and soft under my hands. I looked nothing like the woman I was months ago. The skin looked damaged, the subtle purplish-blue stains over my skin made me look damaged, my hairs had lost their shine and deep dark bags rested under my eyes.

I swallowed hard stared down at the dress.

It would be fine. They were just a few bruises, nothing more. They were nothing.

I was nothing.

Yet my heart couldn't stop racing in panic.

I could hear Augustus and James talking about my medications and health just outside the bathroom door as he gave me privacy to change into clothes before showing me the packhouse, where I would make my stay for a few days.

I was wide awake when James came in to check up on me. My vitals were good and the inflammation of my wounds now had diminished. I was good to move, he told.

Augustus was soon to come and was glad to know that I was doing fine before he gave me the dress he brought for me from his sister's closet so that I could feel revivified and move into the packhouse.

It was considerate of him.

I sighed again.

Just a few more days.

I reminded myself as my fingers wrapped around the doorknob and I twisted it.

"Her wolf seems to be in hibernati-"

Both men stopped talking as they grasped my presence among them. Now that I was out of my little privacy circle, I felt more embarrassed about my bruises and the indecent look I supported. I couldn't look up to meet their gazes for I knew their eyes were solely on me. On my bruises.

There was a sudden shift in the air. Something seemed.....distant.

I looked up from the dress I was wearing, I realized the feeling of wrong was coming from the heavy silence that had blanketed the room.

My eyes regarded two males, as one of them gasped audibly while the other slowly stepped towards me. His green eyes lacked any warmth he showered me with yesterday. They were locked on me.

On my neck.

I swallowed.

They were just bruises.

His eyes left a burst of color on my caramel skin as he slowly walked toward me. An unfamiliar fear rose within my chest. What if he finds me undeserving to reside in his pack? What if he finds me revolting and just kicks me out? Where would I go?

My tongue darted out. I had to say something to ease this eerie silence. It was nothing. Nothing. Nothing. I was the one with bruises. And as instinct, I backed as Augustus stepped nearer. It was scary. He looked scary. More intimidating. My heel collided with the bathroom door. My heart raced. My eyes remained on him as he stayed on my neck.

"Who did this to you?" He raised a steady hand, his thumb brushed over the length and he pushed my chin up, exposing my neck farther.

"I-It's just.....I fell." I swept my tongue over my lips. Why was I lying? And why did I find the need to answer him urgently?

His brows furrowed, a mocking curl of lips as he shook his head. "I detest liars, Katarina."

His thumb pressed into the bruised flesh harder and winced at the pain that flared.

His eyes gradually met mine.

"Katarina," His voice was hard. I swallowed at the shiver of fear his Alpha tone sent up my spine as his eyes drilled into mine. "Tell me, who did this?" He didn't ask this time.

He commanded.

****