Breaking The Alpha's Curse

ALPHA ERIC'S POV

I couldn't breathe so I struggled.

I tried to grasp onto something just so I could have control over the panic rising inside me but there was nothing and no one to offer me help as I kept on sinking beneath the invincible pressure that suffocated me.

Suddenly, my alarm rang and I woke up with a long gasp as the pressure disappeared and I could finally drag in air through my nostrils.

I turned off my alarm before palming my face in despair while wishing these horrible nights would come to end someday but I knew that was impossible.

My life had been this way since I clocked eighteen and was crowned Alpha of my pack after my father's death but I never stopped being wishful because I believed that someday, my predicament would end.

It was a generational family curse. All the men in my family died on the day they clocked forty and they all died the same way... they suffocated in their sleep.

I was thirty five already and I didn't have a mate nor did I have an heir to continue my lineage and knowing I had just five years left was very unsettling but I tried my best not to let it weigh me down.

I had a business to run, a pack to be responsible for as the Alpha and a mate to find before the rest of my five years would be over so wallowing in this misery wasn't an option for me.

With that, I pulled myself out of my despair, switched my mood to a better one and got out of bed to prepare for the day.

I checked my calendar and realized I had quite a lot to do for the day so I quickly got ready for work and when I walked to the living room, my gamma, Victoria, was waiting for me with a large grin on her face.

"Good morning, Alpha Eric. I trust you had a good night?" She asked me and I gave her a blank stare in response, only to see her smile vanish as she understood immediately.

"OH! You didn't? I thought the remedy my mum sent this time would work. I'm sorry, Alpha" she apologized with a pout but I waved her off so she wouldn't feel too bad.

"It's not you or your mum's fault that I'm built this way so she should stop making these remedies for me. It's been ten years since she started giving them to me and I still can't breathe whenever I fall asleep" I told Victoria and she sighed.

"Your dark circles are looking more visible day by day and as the Alpha, it doesn't make you look healthy. So don't blame me if I always feel the urge to help" she replied but I shook my head in amusement as response while we made our way to the dining room to have breakfast.

"I have five years left to live, Victoria. So I don't think looking healthy should be my priority now. Leaving a thriving pack behind after my death is more important to me, okay?" I said to her and she gave me a long pitiful stare before she broke eye contact and sat down with a huff.

"I hate to think about how you won't be here with us five years from now. It's such a scary thing to know the day you die" she shared her frustration with me and I understood her plight but I just chuckled in response just as the maids began to serve us breakfast.

"You'd better get used to the thought now, so it'll prepare you for my absence after I die" I replied and she glared at me.

"Don't say that Alpha. You never know what could happen" she reprimanded me as I began to eat but all I did was smile as I chewed.

It was my fate, my destiny, and it was depressing as hell to know that I was dying soon but I couldn't do anything about it and I also couldn't show it was weighing me down because I was the Alpha.

My people looked up to me so being vulnerable and weak wasn't even in the cards for me.

Even if I was dying the next day, I would still perform my duties as the Alpha because all I wanted was to make my people happy.

As I ate, I suddenly realized I hadn't seen my beta since I got out of my room so I turned to Victoria who was busy stuffing her face with food.

"I haven't seen Matt. Have you heard from him today?" I asked her and she paused, her fork suspended just a few inches from her mouth as her eyes widened.

"Shit! I forgot to tell you. His wife passed out last night so he took her to the hospital and they found she's pregnant. They want to carry out a scan before they leave so they're still at the hospital"

She explained the reason for my beta's absence to me and my fork dropped to the table on hearing that my beta was going to be a father soon. We had to pay them a visit.

"Come on, get up, Victoria. We're paying them a visit in the hospital" I urged my gamma to forget about her breakfast and follow me and she looked puzzled.

"What? Why?" she asked but I didn't give her a reply.

I just grabbed her hand, pulled her out of her chair and together, we both walked to our cars before I finally let go of her hand.

"Matt is going to be a dad soon so it's common sense to take a gift to them while they are still in the hospital. Get into your car while I call my personal assistant to prepare something suitable for a mother to be because we're going together to check on them and share our joy about his news"

I said to Victoria and she nodded in understanding before getting into her car while I called my personal assistant, Mirabel, to get me a gift basket.

Then I got into my car too and together with Victoria, we both drove out of the premises of my house, leaving for the hospital together.

Soon, we arrived at the hospital and even though I wasn't too fond of hospitals, I knew I was there on a good note... to congratulate my beta on becoming a father, so I really didn't mind being there.

Holding onto the gift basket Mirabel had gotten for me, I and Victoria made our way to the ward where Matt and his wife were and it was a cheerful morning for everyone as we all rejoiced over the good news.

Then my phone began to ring and when I checked, it was a call from Mirabel which meant it was about work and it was urgent.

So I excused myself to leave the ward before taking the call and it was quite a lengthy phone call with one of the executives who wanted to know when I'd show up for the company's morning briefing with the executives.

Once I was done, I tucked my phone into my pocket and made my way back to the ward but then a patient in a critical condition was brought in through the emergency doors and soon, a lot of nurses and doctors ran past me toward the room the patient was taken to.

I didn't pay any mind to them as they panicked to and fro but then one of the doctors bumped into me while she was trying to put on her gloves and she lost her balance, falling straight to the floor with her back but I caught her just in time and pulled her up to her feet.

With her wrapped tightly in my arms, our eyes met and stayed locked and I didn't know why, I couldn't even explain it but I was immediately mesmerized by her and I wanted to drown in her baby blue eyes as her brown bangs got in her eyes.

I could tell that she was human because she didn't recognize me as an Alpha.

All she did was give me a wide eyed stare from the shock she just went through and I knew it was time to let her go but then my nose caught a scent coming from her and my wolf was immediately alert in my head as my eyes widened and my mouth parted in surprise.

It suddenly felt like time had slowed down between the two of us once I realized the woman I was staring at was the mate I had been searching for all my life and subconsciously, I held onto her even tighter, causing her to gasp in response.

So she quickly pulled herself out of my hold before fixing her gloves with a nervous chuckle while all I could do was stare at her dumbfoundedly as I tried to accept the fact that I'd just found my mate... in a human!

"Doc, you're needed immediately in the ward" a nurse interrupted our moment and she blinked before looking away from me to turn to the nurse.

"I'll be there right now" she said to the nurse, her soft voice washing me and the nurse walked away while I focused my gaze on her name tag.

"Thank you for saving me earlier but I really have to go now to save a patient. I'll always be grateful" she said and with that she was gone.

But I got her name. Her name was Iris Gallagher and she was my mate.

ALPHA ERIC'S POV

It was dinner time but I had no appetite. All I could think about was Iris and how she was my mate but had no idea.

I kept on poking through my pasta absentmindedly while I reminisced on how she bumped into me, and I smiled to myself when I remembered how pretty she looked while I held her in my arms, even though her hair was disheveled and her baby blue eyes were as wide as saucers from shock.

She was beautiful and I already liked her but Matt and Victoria didn't know yet. I hadn't told them that I had found my mate yet because I didn't know how to break the news to them.

"Alpha Eric? Alpha Eric!" Victoria yelled my name twice while snapping her fingers in my face and I was pulled back to reality when she gained my attention.

"What is it, Victoria?" I asked her after blinking twice and she gave me a long stare along with Matt who just looked curious.

"You weren't listening to us. Matt said his wife is already calling him to come home" she replied and I ran my fingers through my hair as I realized I had zoned out.

"Something is on your mind Alpha. What is it?" Matt, who was always good at being observant, asked me and I sighed.

There was no escape for me because I knew them, they would drill answers out of me one way or another so I decided to be honest and come clean. Besides, it was high time they knew about Iris.

"I found my mate today in the hospital" I said and Victoria's cutlery made a loud clang as it dropped from her hand to the table while she stared at me with surprise all over her face.

"You, you found your mate? Your mate was a patient?" she asked and I gave her a blank stare while Matt chuckled.

"Of course not. She was a doctor" I replied and she slapped her palm over her mouth dramatically before she pulled her chair closer to mine and grinned at me.

"Is she pretty?" she asked and I couldn't hold back the smile that grew on my face.

Victoria's grin changed to a knowing smile when she saw my facial expression and she cleared her throat just as her eyes lightened up.

"Did you get her number then?" she asked another question and Matt chipped in too this time.

"What is her name? I'd like to run a background check on her to know everything about her" he fired his own question too and I sighed.

"Her name is Iris Gallagher and I didn't get her number because she was in a hurry to treat a patient" I answered both of them and Victoria looked disappointed while Matt smiled in satisfaction.

"I'll have a full report about her by tomorrow and will have it sent to your office so you can go through it. For now, I have to head back home and stay with my wife" he told me while he grabbed his jacket and phone and I nodded in response.

"See you tomorrow, Matt" I said to him and he bowed his head.

"See you tomorrow, Alpha Eric" he replied and he waved at Victoria before he left so it was just me and her left in the dining room.

"So tell me, Alpha Eric. How did you two meet? And why do you know her name but do not have her number?" Victoria asked once Matt was gone and I laughed because I expected that question.

"She bumped into me while she was in a rush to treat a patient and I caught her scent when I held her back from falling. I instantly knew she was my mate but couldn't bring myself to speak so she walked away before I could ask her for anything. Also, I saw her name on her name tag. That's how I know she's Iris Gallagher"

I explained my encounter to my gamma and if her eyes could grow bigger than they were, they would pop out of their sockets.

"Alpha Eric. You didn't just find your mate... you like her!" She declared and I scoffed because how could she tell immediately?

"I never said I like her" I tried to deny what was clearly true and she scoffed back at me.

"Your eyes were shining so bright like bulbs while you talked about her. That's enough to know that you like doctor Iris. Okay?" She replied knowingly and I rolled my eyes in response which prompted her to giggle mischievously.

"Whatever, Victoria. I'm heading to bed and you should do the same" I dismissed her because all I wanted to do was retreat to my room, and think about the perfect way to approach Iris again.

"Sure, Alpha Eric. Just figure out how you'll win her heart since she's human and has no idea about our world" she advised and I nodded.

"Don't worry too much Vic. I'm working on that '' I assured her just as I stood up and she did the same before holding onto my hand.

"You will go back to the hospital to see her again... right?" she asked hopefully and I nodded before pulling my hand out of hers.

"Of course, Victoria, I have to go back if I want to see her again" I confirmed for her and her smile grew wider.

"Great!" She exclaimed then she spun around and left the dining room for her bedroom and I did the same.

Once I laid in bed, all I could think about was Iris.

About how her brown locks got in her face when she almost fell, and how wide her eyes were when she stared at me with so much intensity in them while I could hear her heart beating so loud.

I smiled to myself when I remembered how I had held her in my arms before she let go and I knew instantly that I wanted to see her again.

So I made a mental note to myself. I was going to read Matt's report about her first before I'd return to the hospital to search for her the next day.

At least, I would have an idea about what sort of person she was once I read his report so it would be easier for me to get her attention.

With that, I went to bed, hoping that she'd like me too.

**********

Iris was smiling at me. She looked so happy while she looked into my eyes and I could feel the happiness running through my body too while I smiled back at her.

In her arms was a baby boy and somehow, I just knew he was our son.

Then my eyes caught the calendar on the wall and I was surprised to see it was the year I would clock forty six. Slowly, time began to stop and without warning, Iris froze along with our baby.

I began to panic as the realization that I was alive at forty six hit me but that wasn't all. Time had also stopped and I couldn't figure out why or how.

Just as the shock about everything set in, a black hole appeared from nowhere and I could feel an ominous presence in the air. In the blink of an eye, I had a sword lodged deep in my chest and I was dying.

When I turned to Iris, hoping to protect her from this invincible force which had just attacked, I saw that she had been killed already and her empty eyes stared at me from where she lay with our wailing son in her arms.

This couldn't be happening. I had to stop this. I had to stay alive and revive my wife. I had to protect her!

**********

Suddenly, my alarm rang out loud in my ears and I was pulled back to reality as I woke with a loud gasp.

I didn't feel suffocated this time. In fact, I had never slept so well in a long time but that dream... it had to have a meaning.

There had to be a reason why I had such a dark dream.

I turned to the bedside to turn off my alarm and my hand froze in the air when I saw I had woken up two hours later than the usual time I woke up.

I was confused. Did I just sleep in for the first time in my life? Even though I had such a terrible dream, I could tell I slept way too deep to not hear my alarm ring and that was a first for me.

My phone began to ring and it was Victoria. I quickly took the call and there was silence over the phone for a moment.

"Alpha Eric, I just had a premonition" she said and my grip on my phone tightened.

Victoria came from a family of witches, wizards and werewolves. Her mother was a witch while her father, a werewolf, and I chose her as my gamma because she could use her mixed powers to help me.

So if she had a premonition right after I had such a nightmare, there had to be a reason why.

"Speak to me" I urged her to go on and she sighed heavily.

"It's about your mate, Iris. She... she's the one who would lift your curse Alpha... but she's going to die"

IRIS GALLAGHER'S POV

I was exhausted. It had been a hectic week filled with nothing but emergency cases and surgeries to be carried out on patients but finally, I was getting the weekend off and I would be able to take the rest I had been craving since the week began.

Flexing my shoulders to ease the tension there, I sighed out loud while I loosened my hair that had been in a tight bun since the day began and the ache I felt in my head lessened but it was still there.

So I took some pain relief pills from my locker and popped them into my mouth before I changed into a pair of jeans and a blouse after returning my scrubs into my locker.

I was ready to head home and I was excited to spend the weekend doing nothing but first, I had to go grocery shopping.

After telling my colleagues goodbye, I walked over to the roaster to sign out for the day and I randomly recalled how I was caught by that unknown man when I was about to fall the previous day.

He was dreamy, very handsome and manly and I was instantly attracted to him but too bad, I had an emergency or else I would have asked for his number because I was sexually frustrated and he seemed like a perfect distraction.

It had been two years since my last relationship with a man and I had kept my life strictly professional but it was beginning to get boring and I hoped for something exciting.

With a sigh, I turned to walk out of the hospital but halted when I saw the man I just thought about.

He stood by the entrance to the hospital with his hands tucked into his pockets while his gaze traveled around the building.

Then his eyes fell on me and stayed there and I wondered why he was staring at me. Suddenly, he began to walk toward me and I could feel my heart thundering beneath my chest until he stopped before me and smiled and my heart stopped this time.

"Iris Gallagher?" He asked and it was the first time I'd hear his voice. It was magnificent hearing him speak and it was a struggle not letting my jaw drop in amazement.

I looked up at him as he towered over me and I noted how big he was compared to me. He could pick me up with one hand if he wanted and having that thought sent thrills through my body but I tried not to let it show on my face.

"How do you know my name?" I asked him because I never shared that information with him and he smiled even wider, weakening my defenses and causing all the alarms in my head to turn off as he was having a really good first impression on me.

"I saw your name tag yesterday when I caught you. Remember?" He answered and I finally smiled at him. Of course I remembered. His face was too good looking to forget so easily.

"Yeah I remember. Are you here to see someone? You were here yesterday" I asked him just to be sure about his purpose of returning to the hospital and he gave me an intense stare before he finally replied.

I couldn't help but feel like he looked at me like he knew me but I knew I didn't know him. So it made a part of me feel unsettled but his warm and manly aura kept on pushing that unsettling feeling to the back of my mind and I forgot that I was supposed to be cautious.

"I was here to see a friend who would soon become a father but his wife has been discharged so they aren't here anymore" his deep voice washed over me again and I clasped my hands tight to have some control over my feral thoughts.

"That's great news about your friend but then, why'd you come back today?" I pushed more to hear his answer and he took a step closer to me before staring so deep into my eyes like he could read my soul.

"I came back to see you. I couldn't stop thinking about how pretty you looked when I caught you so here I am, hoping I could take you out tonight"

He gave a very honest answer while he still stared into my eyes and I noted how gray his orbs were, how his jet black and soft looking hair was all combed back, making him look formal even though he was simply dressed in a cardigan and blue jeans and I felt my face heat up in response to what he just said about me being pretty.

Someone passing by cleared their throat to break our trance and when I looked, it was my surgical assistant and she gave me a sheepish smile before walking away so she wouldn't interrupt us.

Then he took a step back while chuckling at my brief exchange with my nurse and I ran my fingers through my hair way too many times to ease my nerves.

"So... you want to take me out on a date?" I asked him and he nodded his head.

"Affirmative" he confirmed and a small smile tried to sneak its way onto my face but I quickly forced it back and cleared my throat while he gave me a knowing smile.

"I don't even know your name" I said to him and he held his hand out for a handshake.

"It's Eric Kaladdin. That's my name" he introduced himself and I wondered how it was possible for such a devastatingly handsome man to also have a pretty name.

"Nice to meet you, Eric Kaladdin" I returned the handshake and he flashed me a toothy smile.

"So, is that a yes for the date offer, Iris?" He asked, my name rolling off his tongue like honey and pancakes and I held back a squeak. Damned be the sexual tension I was feeling!

"It's a yes, Eric. I'll go on a date with you" I replied and I watched as his eyes instantly lit up on hearing my answer.

Then he led me to his car while we talked about our jobs and my mouth fell open when I saw his ride was a maybach exelero. I was obsessed with cars so I knew the models too well and I knew his car was worth a fortune.

"Who are you? What job do you do?" I asked him, not holding back my curiosity and that made him laugh.

"I own my company. We make fragrances and jewelries and I have branches in many other countries. I hope that clears some of your doubts about me, Iris" he replied and it was even harder to keep my lips sealed as I stared at him dumbfoundedly.

A CEO of a very prestigious company just asked me out on a date and he seemed like he genuinely was interested in me so was this a sign that my weekend was going to be great?

"I see... that's cool. So where are we going for this date?" I asked him in an attempt to change the subject as he opened the door for me to get into the car and he helped me put on my seat belt after I sat in the passenger's seat.

"Wherever you want to go, Iris. Show me what you like because I want to learn more about you" he replied after fixing my seat belt and I caught a whiff of his perfume due to how close he was to me. He smelled so tempting.

"Okay then. I have just the place in mind" I told him and he nodded at me.

"Perfect," he replied before closing the door.

Then he walked over to the driver's seat and got into the car before closing the doors.

I watched as he turned on the car and my eyes were focused on his hands, making me notice how long his fingers were and I gulped when I realized where my mind was headed.

Everything about this man made me nervous and that got me excited for absolutely no reason because what if he didn't even want to take me to bed?

Without warning, he turned to look at me and I did the same, our eyes locking onto each other and charging the air around us into something more intense and I suddenly wanted him to kiss me.

As if he could read my mind, he immediately inched closer to me and he gently pushed my hair back before cupping my face. Then he gave me one last scalding look and pressed his lips against mine.

My heart skipped a few beats when I felt how soft his lips were and when he urged me to open up for him, I did without hesitation.

Then he cupped my face even tighter while he deepened the kiss and I didn't know when I let out a moan as I wrapped my arms around his neck.

He suddenly pulled away and at first, I was confused but then his eyes turned golden while he stared at me and all the pleasure in me melted into fear.

I was about to scream for help when my instincts told me I was in danger but then he said just one word to me.

"Sleep," and I fell unconscious immediately, everything around me turning blank under his command.