Wolf Cursed (Lone Wolf Series Book 1)

by Heather Hildenbrand

  “So, what happened?”

  “A summit was scheduled. We would meet the hexerei leaders at the border where our lands met and sign a peace treaty in blood.”

  “In blood? Seriously?”

  “It probably sounds strange to human customs, but for wolves and supernaturals, it’s a common practice. An agreement like that would be unbreakable, and the punishment for violation would have been severe. The pack was divided about it. There were protests. Riots. On both sides, so I’ve been told.

  “Anyway, the night before the summit, there was talk of a secret affair. One of ours sneaking off to be with one of theirs.”

  “A wolf and a hexerei were in love?” I asked.

  “Rumors,” he said. “No one knew for sure. Then, the next morning, we all met at the border.” His expression changed then. His faraway gaze became haunted. “We should never have gone to that meeting.”

  “What happened?” I asked.

  “A spell had been cast on that spot. One that only affected our pack. The hexerei leaders claimed it wasn’t them. That it had been cast the night before.”

  “Like a trap?”

  He nodded. “And we all walked right into it.”

  “What did the spell do?”

  “Untethered us from our alpha. One by one, until every wolf in our pack was removed from the bond. At first, that’s all we knew. It took time to understand the full ramifications of that untethering.”

  “Kai said the curse makes it impossible to find your mate,” I said.

  “That’s one of the little surprises, yes. Took us years to figure it out too.” His expression darkened. “Whoever cast that curse wanted to prevent us from forming a mate-bond, which is sacred to wolves. It also makes us stronger as a pack, but more importantly, finding our mate settles our wolves in a way nothing else can.”

  “Not even an alpha?” I asked.

  “Being tethered to an alpha is different. An alpha would, at least, have the strength to focus our beasts. Without either of those, our pack is wild. Basically, we’re at the mercy of our baser instincts. If our wolf gets angry, we don’t have control over the way that anger shows itself.”

  “You mean like bar fights and hunting me down in the middle of Main Street in broad daylight?”

  “Silas will be dealt with for his aggression,” he said, his expression flashing with a dark rage. For some reason, that made me feel better.

  “So, what does all this have to do with my tattoo?”

  “From what we know of the hexerei’s abilities, every spell has a counterbalance. If you use magic to create something, somewhere at the same time, magic is created with the ability to uncreate it. Nature’s balance, I guess. And it’s absolute. Like universal law. We never knew what that counterbalance would look like, but we knew it had to be out there.”

  “And now you think I’m it?”

  “That mark you wear on your skin is the symbol of our pack. The mark of the alpha who was torn from us.”

  Okay, that did seem a little concrete. Damn.

  “And the alpha in question was my father.”

  He nodded.

  I had to ask the question out loud or it would always hang between us. “Do you think my dad had something to do with it? The curse, I mean? If he ran right after…”

  “I don’t know,” Oscar answered, and the look in his eye told me he’d asked himself that question many times.

  We stood in silence for a moment.

  “Why curse you this way?” I asked finally. “I mean, why unsettle or untether you at all? Why not attack you outright for whatever hate they had against the pack?”

  “Apparently, destroying us wasn’t good enough,” he said grimly. “They wanted to make sure we destroyed ourselves.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Oscar’s story answered so many questions for me. It also raised several more. A lifetime of living on the run, and here it was: My dad had been an alpha—right up until the day he’d fled his own pack. Had he seen them as the threat, or was he running from something else? The hexerei, maybe? I gritted my teeth in frustration. For every answer I got, another question rose in its place.

  “So, wait, if my dad was the alpha, he knew about the curse and the hexerei. Why would he keep it a secret from me? Why not come back here and let me help the pack like I’m clearly meant to do?”

  “That’s what I’d like to ask him myself.”

  Memories of my father washed over me in grief-filled waves. All of the lies, the running—and he’d been running from his own people. The ones who needed him most.

  I didn’t want to hate him, but it was becoming harder and harder.

  Shoving aside my feelings, I focused on Oscar again.

  “Okay, so what about another of the pack from that time? Doesn’t anyone know more about how this whole counterbalance or curse breaking thing works?”

  “There aren’t many of us left,” he said. “Me, Teddy, and Warner—the twins’ father—are about the only ones left from the inner circle. The ones who attended the meeting that day,” he explained. “And now you know everything we know.”

  “What happened to everyone else?”

  “Moved away mostly. When the alpha bond couldn’t be remade, most left to find another pack they could tether to. Didn’t want their kids and wives left exposed to the more baser instincts of our nature.”

  “Why doesn’t everyone leave?” I asked. “Do the same thing?”

  He shrugged. “For me, this is home. And I’ve managed to tame my beast enough to keep it controlled. Some of the younger ones come here, looking for a pack like ours. They’ve been kicked out of their own clans or abandoned—everyone has their reasons.”

  “So this became a sort of pack of misfits then.” I couldn’t help relating a bit to that.

  “That doesn’t make us all the same, Ash.” He gave me a warning look. “Don’t forget that a lot of them, Silas included, came here because there was no one to make them fall in line. They like that.”

  “You’re saying some of them don’t want the curse to be broken.”

  “I’m saying you need to watch your back, especially until we can figure out more about this. And about how to call your wolf up.”

  “That’s fair.” I sighed. “What I don’t understand is why the hexerei haven’t offered to reverse the spell. I thought you said you were in peace talks back when this all happened.”

  “The hexerei claim not to understand the magic used.”

  “You look unconvinced.”

  “All I know is the hexerei leaders ran off that day and have only caused problems since. They send spies to watch us. Spooks to infiltrate. But they refuse to communicate directly.”

  “What about the guy they found today? Can’t they try talking to him?”

  “They’ll try,” he said wryly, “Believe me. But it’s never worked before, and I doubt it will now. Every one of them is either trained to withstand our methods, or they’re magically bound to keep from talking. They’re keeping something from us; we just don’t know what.”

  “No wonder you see them as the enemy,” I said.

  “Look, Ash, you’ve stepped into the middle of a giant shitstorm. I need you to know I’ve got your back, no matter what happens, but we have to play this very carefully.”

  My heart warmed at his words. Danger aside, I felt a rush of gratitude for Oscar. It had been a very long time since I felt like it wasn’t me against the world. At least, now it was me and Oscar. And the twins.

  “Should I worry about Kai?” I asked. “Will he tell anyone about my mark?”

  His expression clouded with something I couldn’t read. But he shook his head. “Nah. He won’t say anything.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Kai’s wolf likes you,” he said simply.

  I looked at him in surprise. And even though Kai had been an ass earlier, my heart fluttered at that.

  “How do you know that?”

  “I’ve known Kai his
whole life, kid. Besides, I smelled it on him that night you saw him shift. Trust me, my beast is never wrong when it comes to scent.” His lips quirked toward something like a smile.

  “Well, maybe Kai’s wolf and Kai should have a chat. Because Kai, the human, hates me.”

  Oscar snorted. “If he hated you, you’d already be gone.”

  I wasn’t sure Oscar knew what he was talking about, but I was too worn out to argue it.

  “Oh, almost forgot. Idrissa brought your bags of purchases over.”

  I followed where he’d pointed and spotted my shopping bags in the corner near my room.

  “Thanks,” I said in relief and gratitude. At least, now I wouldn’t have to venture downtown again and risk Silas and Presley hunting me down for it.

  Oscar pushed to his feet. “Look, get cleaned up, and call the twins. You can start training whenever they’re available. I’ve got to get back downstairs. You good?”

  I nodded. “Yeah, I’m good.”

  He headed for the door.

  “Oscar?” I called.

  “Yeah, kid.”

  I waited until he turned back and then flashed a grateful smile. “Thank you.”

  He grunted something unintelligible and then walked out. I smiled. The grunts were starting to become endearing.

  The following morning, Isaac picked me up for our first training day. We rode with the top down, and I closed my eyes, letting the wind whip at my hair as I imagined myself on the back of a motorcycle.

  “Did you get laid?”

  Isaac’s question had my eyes snapping open again.

  “No,” I said. “Why the hell are you asking me that?”

  “You had this weird look on your face just now. Like you were thinking of an orgasm.”

  “I was not thinking of an orgasm,” I said.

  “Riiight.” He shot me a wicked grin. “Does the orgasm have a name?”

  “Isaac,” I warned.

  “Your orgasm is named Isaac?” he shrieked.

  “No.” I growled in frustration. “It’s way too early for this.”

  “I think our friendship has progressed more than enough for you to discuss your crush.”

  “I mean early in the morning,” I said pointedly.

  “Right. Not a morning person. Here.” He picked up a coffee from the cup holder and handed it to me.

  “You’re giving me your coffee?” I asked.

  “Sure.” He shrugged. “I’ll get another when we get home.”

  I stopped mid-sip. “Okay, first, thank you. Our friendship is officially solidified by this selfless gesture. Second, home?”

  “First, our friendship will be solidified when you tell me what happened between you and the delicious Kai Stone after he whisked you away on his sexy steed yesterday. And second, yes.”

  Sexy steed. That didn’t deserve a response.

  “Nothing happened. And whose home?”

  “Don’t believe you. And mine.”

  “Okay, can we have just one conversation at a time?” I asked.

  At the same time, he said, “Kai,” while I said, “I get to see your house?”

  He shot me a look. “Baby girl.”

  I bit my lip.

  “I’ve never been to a friend’s house before,” I explained.

  His eyes widened. “What kind of sheltered, toxically conservative life did you lead?”

  “The kind where I refused to bring people home to my alcoholic-paranoid father and was too afraid to leave him to go anywhere else.”

  I waited for some snarky-yet-endearing comment like maybe how my lack of social skills finally made sense. But Isaac didn’t say a word as he pulled into a roughly paved driveway that led up to a gray, two-story house masked by shade trees.

  In fact, there were trees everywhere. Woods encroached along the back and sides, offering direct access to secluded forest. Perfect for a family of wolf shifters. To the right of the house, a detached garage sat open with a partly disassembled motorcycle set up inside. Idrissa sat bent over in front of the bike, a white bandanna covering her fiery red hair.

  Isaac parked and got out, coming around to meet me as I climbed out of the Mustang. He grabbed me and pulled me into a hug.

  “What’s this for?” I asked against his broad shoulder.

  “For being my friend,” he said, pulling away and planting a kiss directly on my mouth.

  “Whoa, this isn’t that kind of training session,” Idrissa said, and Isaac turned his grin on her as she walked over from the garage, a dirty rag in hand.

  “You’re just jealous that I kissed her first,” Isaac teased.

  Idrissa shot him a look then me. “So, you two huh?”

  “What? No, Isaac was just… It was a friendship kiss,” I said firmly with a pointed look at Isaac. The way his eyes danced in amusement said he knew it had been nothing more, but he clearly wanted to rile Idrissa.

  “Ugh. Don’t piss her off right before she has to teach me to fight,” I told him.

  “Ohh, whoops, good point,” he said, wincing.

  Idrissa rolled her eyes. “Come on, you two. Let’s go get some water and towels.” She eyed me. “You’re going to need it.”

  I had no idea what that meant and was pretty sure I didn’t want to find out either. But I followed her and Isaac into the house and was greeted by the smell of bacon lingering in the air and the yapping shriek of what looked like a possible rodent.

  “What the hell.” I jumped back as a blur of tan fur ran at me.

  Yapping barks nearly drowned out Isaac’s voice as he exclaimed, “Galileo!”

  Before the animal could attack my ankle, Isaac scooped the rodent into his arms and snuggled it close.

  I blinked, relieved to realize he was not, in fact, snuggling a rat.

  “Is that a dog?” I asked.

  Isaac looked offended as he said, “Of course it’s a dog. This is Galileo. Galileo, meet Ash.” He held the dog high so they were eye to eye and said with authority, “She’s a friend, not food.”

  Idrissa didn’t even laugh, which made the whole thing even weirder.

  “Should I be worried?” I asked.

  Isaac held the dog out so I could pet it, which I only did from a place of good manners. The dog tried to bite my hand, so I jerked it back.

  “No,” Isaac said. “I mean, don’t come over without one of us here, though. He’s kind of protective of his space.”

  “I don’t understand,” I said, glancing between the twins then back to the dog that looked like it belonged on a Taco Bell commercial. “You guys are more than enough to protect this place…right?”

  “Galileo is a chihuahua,” Idrissa explained. “He’s very territorial.”

  Isaac set the dog down, and it nipped at my pant leg then stood there, growling at me.

  Idrissa rolled her eyes. “I’ll put him up.” She grabbed the dog and put him inside a small crate against the wall.

  “Okay, not trying to insult your wolf side, but…I have questions,” I said.

  Isaac grinned. “You’re learning.”

  “Isaac begged for a dog for years,” Idrissa explained. “But every breed we tried was terrified of our beast. They could smell it on us and quickly became overwhelmed and traumatized by living with what they perceived as constant danger.”

  “But not Galileo,” I said.

  “Nope. That dog has BDE,” Isaac said proudly.

  “BDE?” I repeated, confused.

  “Big dick energy,” he explained. “He thinks he’s ten feet tall. Hell, he thinks he could take all of us put together.” He shrugged. “So, he’s not scared.”

  “He’s too stupid to be scared,” Idrissa corrected. She elbowed me. “Don’t be like Galileo, okay?”

  “Got it,” I said.

  “Good. Come on.”

  Ignoring Galileo’s barking, Idrissa led the way through the house. We passed a living room full of large, cozy furniture and cluttered with an array of items—socks, shoes, a remote t
ossed against a soft blanket. It wasn’t messy, just lived in. All of the markers that made a house a home.

  My eyes stung at the sight of it, and I tried to remember if my house—any of the dozens I’d had with Dad—had ever looked so lived in. Probably not unless empty beer cans counted.

  “Isaac, is that you?” an older female’s voice called out. “Your sister needs to get that pan of oil off my porch before I kick her ass for staining the paint.”

  I tensed as Idrissa stepped into the kitchen first and I followed.

  “Message received, Mom,” Idrissa said.

  A blonde woman stood at the counter of the kitchen island, a knife poised against an onion. She looked up as we entered. Her eyes fell on me, and she smiled, lowering the blade.

  “Oh. You must be Ash,” she said.

  “Hi,” I said tentatively.

  She dropped the knife as she came around the counter and grabbed me, pulling me into a hug before I knew what was happening.

  “It’s so nice to meet you,” she said, drawing back again before I could fumble with hugging her back. “Isaac and Idrissa speak highly of you.”

  “Oh. Thanks. I… They’re great.”

  Behind me, Isaac snorted.

  “They’re something, all right,” she said with amusement and affection shining in her friendly brown eyes. “I’m Amberly, mother of these two heathens.”

  “Hey,” Isaac protested.

  Idrissa just snickered.

  Amberly ignored them both as she said to me, “You’re welcome here anytime, Ash.”

  Her words held just enough meaning that I knew she meant them. I also knew she was aware that I probably wasn’t welcome anywhere else in this town. My shoulders relaxed.

  “Thanks,” I told her. “I really appreciate it.”

  “You just tell Oscar to stop wasting his time with those losers over at the Throttle and to hire my daughter already.” Amberly glanced at Idrissa and the rag clutched in her greasy hands. “Get her mess out of my garage and into his.”

  I smiled. “I’ll tell him.”