Alpha Knight’s Cursed Mate

KNIGHT

Alpha Califf and Luna Shadow stayed for a while until dinner.

“If what Zarah told me is true, you didn’t know you were a half-werewolf until last week.” Shadow sat next to her mate as she enjoyed her Wagyu steak.

“Yeah, but I like being human. You’re lucky, guys. You know what you were since you were born,” Nirvana replied.

“Do you wish you could turn the time and never find out?”

She shook her head. “I don’t think I would change a thing, Alpha Califf. I can’t live with regrets. My grandfather kept things away from me to protect me, but he knew the time had come when I needed to know what I was. So, I’m okay with my life right now. At least I’m not insane.”

Shadow smiled. “You must have freaked out.”Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

“I thought I was gonna pass out.” She chortled.

“My adopted father had experienced the same thing.”

“You’re adopted? I thought you have a father.” She swatted her hand a little. “Sorry.”

“She found out about Alpha King just recently,” I told her. “Her parents died when she was young.”

She looked at me. “At least, she knew she was a- what is she? Lycan?”

“Yes. Half-lycan, half-witch, and a royal,” Califf said proudly, squeezing Shadow’s hand.

“Wow. So you’re really a princess.” Her eyes widened a little in awe.

“Not a big deal. I don’t like it when people act weird around me.”

“You can’t blame them. I, for one, am dying to know how you keep your hair color so vibrant.”

Shadow laughed, then covered her mouth. “This is my hair color.”

“Wait. What? Really?”

“You don’t know?” I asked her in amusement. “Is that why you called her Daenerys earlier.”

She made an ample eye warning. “She didn’t have to know that.”

“I was brunette until I lost my wolf and my gift. When I got them back, I got a hair makeover overnight. Since then, I had the same color.” Shadow looked at me. “Credit to your chef. This Wagyu is so good.”

“Thank you, Luna.”

“Wow. How is that even possible?” She sipped her Rosé.

“Magic and you just have to believe the impossible and supernatural around you.”

“Agreed. Otherwise, I’ll go nuts.”

“Exactly, but you can’t go around telling humans.”

“Yes. Werewolf pros and cons 101.”

“She got highlights when she healed my father, and it was a warning from the dead witches and nature not to use her gift until she undergoes training,” Califf said.

“Yeah. I forgot to ask you about that. So you experienced being human for a while. How was it?”

“Fantastic.” Shadow raised her glass of sparkling water. “I got to feel the silver in my hands. But it’s exhausting sometimes when you’re used to having supernatural strength. I felt how to be worn out, and my bruises didn’t heal fast. When I went martial arts training, Goddess, I felt every pain in my body, and Alpha thought someone hurt me, but it was an unforgettable experience. So, are you staying here for a long haul?”

“I’m not sure.”

“What do you mean you’re not sure?” I stared at her.

And she stared back at me. “What if there’s no way to break the curse? And what if your people won’t accept me as your, you know, Luna? The book says your pack should accept me. Right now, I’m not one of your kind nor a pack member.”

“Vana, can I give you a piece of advice as a friend?”

“Of course, Alpha Califf.”

“I met my mate while she was a rogue. She’s something. She liked to disobey me but did what she thought was best for her. You know what rogue means, right?”

“Yeah. A werewolf without a pack. A lone wolf.”

“Yes. I starved her so she would submit to me, but she didn’t. She was strong-headed. My pack made fun of her, but they didn’t know who exactly she was. It doesn’t matter if you are powerful or human. When you show them who you really are and that you care for this pack, they will accept you as one of them, with or without a wolf inside you. Shadow was accepted by my pack because she cared for the people around me. She won their hearts. It was not because of who she was, but what was in her heart.” I watched her reaction as Califf gave her some advice.

“I know it’s hard for you to understand right now,” Shadow prompted. “Your relationship with Knight, it’s strange. It feels like your whole life is already arranged for him, but trust me, you have to give it a chance because I can see myself in you. It may confuse you right now, but soon, it will make sense. Califf is one of the best things that has ever happened to me despite the fact we started on the wrong foot.”

“Thank you, Luna. That means a lot coming from you.”

Nirvana went awfully quiet after that but drank her wine.

After the wonderful dinner, a portal appeared before us, making Nirvana gasp.

“Is that?” She pointed at the portal looked like a blue-purple black hole without sucking us to the unknown.

“A portal,” Shadow said, smiling. “Welcome to the supernatural world, Vana.”

“Oh, my God. I never imagined I would see a real portal in my life.” She giggled beside me.

“Stick around, and you’ll see more weirdness in your life.” Shadow kissed her on the cheek. “We have to go. Thank you for the lovely dinner.”

“Say hi to your father and Zarah,” she said, waving at Shadow.

“See you both soon.” Califf took his mate’s hand before stepping into the portal and disappearing.

I watched the portal vanish. I still wrapped my head around the fact of what Zarah could do. When I looked at my mate, she was still staring at where the portal disappeared before us. “Are you okay?”

“I don’t know.”

“You’ll gonna be fine.”

“Yeah?” She arched a brow. “What just happened right now is far-fetched, but I guess I have to get used to it, right? Because my soulmate is a freaking werewolf and a leader of the pack.”

“What do you want me to do then, Nirvana?”

“Nothing!” She left, walking away from the dining room.

“Where are you going?”

“Dinner is done, so I need to re-energize for another weirdness tomorrow.”

I blew a breath once she was gone. I heard footsteps approaching, and the stinky smell of my best friend grew stronger.

“I saw Vana leave. She looked upset.”

“Still adjusting to this whole thing.” I stuffed my hands in my pockets. Honestly, I didn’t know what to do. I’d never experienced this whole serious relationship long-term thing.

“Just spend some time with her. Take her on a dinner date or give her something she likes. Maybe a dry picnic in the vineyards or show her the winemaking process. There’s a lot to do around here that might get rid of her boredom. You have to understand that her life before she met you was mundane. You can’t shove things like these into her for one day and expect a great result. You should be grateful she hasn’t gone insane.”

I glared at McKaye. “Are you done?”

“Not quite, but that’s all for the day.” He patted my back.

I shook my head in annoyance because what he said to me was all true, and it pissed me off for being so dumb and clueless. “I have to go.”

“Where?”

“Sleep.”

“You’re such a dick.”

“Back at yah, Mac.” I left the dining room and went upstairs. I wanted to take a little piece of advice from McKaye, but I instantly heard murmurs in the corner.

Nirvana’s scent became more distinct as I got closer.

“Why are you acting so weird?” It came from Kailin.

“I’m not. I felt so ashamed, and my cheeks burned the entire dinner with his friends. I mean, there was no awkward moment because Califf and Shadow were just so kind. Maybe they were trying to be nice because I was not like them.”

“Then what is your problem, exactly?”

“I can’t be around Knight.”

My cousin laughed. “And why is that?”

“This whole mating pull thing is driving me insane. You should have seen my face when I got jealous of Shadow. She knew exactly what to expect from me. She pranked me and pretended to be Knight’s girlfriend, and guess what?”

“You said it already. And why is that a bad thing?”

“Gosh!” She must have just rolled her eyes. “You’re not even listening.”

“I am, Vana. Just stop fighting over your feelings.”

“That’s the thing. Knight doesn’t feel the same. He’s probably just being kind because he has no choice.”

“He could have rejected you if he wanted you out of his life.”

“He already tried it once.”

“It wasn’t rejection. He was trying to protect you.”

“It feels the same thing to me. He recited those specific words to me. Why are you my best friend if you’re on his side?”

“Because I love you both.”

“Argh. You’re useless.”

Kailin laughed. “We’re in the living area. Do you realize that we have enhanced hearing, and our conversation is like being broadcast all over werewolves’ ears?”

“Oh, my God! Why didn’t you tell me right away? I completely forget about your senses.”