The Cursed One

by Ronda Thompson

  Her mind wanted to think about Gabriel and what had just happened to him, but she would not allow it. She might easily snap if she did. Instead, she only thought about running, about staying ahead of the creatures she knew would soon come after her, if they hadn’t already. A loud chorus of howls echoed around the forest behind her. Amelia swallowed down a scream and kept running.

  There was no safety for her in the woods. No place that a wolf could not sniff her out. No possible way that she could outrun one if her captors were in pursuit of her. Those realizations nearly defeated her. She wanted to stop and rest. Part of her wanted to give up. Then she caught a whiff of smoke on the air. Could it be the night fires burning at Wulfglen? Was she that close? Or did she simply smell the campfire she’d left behind not long ago? Amelia did stop.

  She took a moment to catch her breath; then she tried to figure out which way the wind blew. Toward her, she realized, which meant the smoke she smelled was not coming from the direction behind her but in front of her. But if she did manage to reach Wulfglen, would it be the safe harbor she once imagined it to be? Mora had said what happened to Gabriel was his curse. All of the Wulf brothers were supposedly cursed, by insanity, everyone thought.

  Were Armond and Jackson like Gabriel? And if they were, did her friend Rosalind know about her husband? Did Lucinda know? Or had the Wulf brothers kept their secrets, the way Gabriel had kept his from Amelia? Would they want to kill her because she knew, like the others wanted her dead? Suddenly Amelia realized there was no one she could trust. No one who hadn’t lied to her, deceived her.

  But then, maybe that wasn’t true. She was confused. Gabriel had lied to her, deceived her, but he’d also protected her. Even tonight he’d been willing to sacrifice himself for her. She had believed she loved him. Could she love a man cursed as he was?

  Amelia had to make a decision. She couldn’t stand around all night trying to sort through her thoughts and feelings. The only thoughts and feelings she should have at the moment were how to best survive the night. She had to take a chance on Wulfglen. Even if no one was home, servants would be about, wouldn’t they? At least whoever was in charge of looking after the stable. Having made her decision, Amelia set off toward the direction where she still smelled the vague traces of smoke in the air. She didn’t get far when she was attacked.

  The wolf lunged at her from the shadows, knocking her to the ground. Amelia rolled in the dirt, then scrambled up. She knew the wolf now. It was Mora. She would have been the first to notice Amelia had escaped. She would have been the first to come after her.

  “I will kill you,” she said to the beast. “If you give me no choice, I will protect myself.”

  The wolf peeled back its lips and growled at her. Amelia was almost glad Mora had attacked her while in the shape of an animal. If she had to make good on her threat, it would be easier. Still, there was one thing these people could not change, and that was their eyes. It was Mora’s eyes staring up at Amelia, not the eyes of a beast.

  “Just let me go,” she appealed to Mora. “No one would believe me if I told them about you and the others. They would think I had gone mad. I want the life you plan to steal from me. I will fight you to the very end to keep it.”

  The wolf inched closer. Amelia brought the knife up, her hand gripping the short hilt so that she could lash out with all her strength. The animal crouched, as if it meant to pounce, but from the shadows a larger wolf hurled itself at Mora and knocked her away. Amelia recognized this wolf, as well. It was Gabriel.

  Wolf squared off against wolf. They circled each other, growling, hair down their backs raised. Amelia crawled away from them, her back pressed against a tree, the knife still held out in front of her. The beasts collided. They were a blur to Amelia’s merely human eyes, but from the sounds of the fight, both were out for blood. In a battle of beasts, Gabriel clearly held the advantage. He was twice the size of Mora and quickly pinned her down. Amelia heard the smaller wolf yelp; then it was dragging itself away, crawling along the ground, bleeding at the shoulder.

  Amelia expected Gabriel would finish Mora off, but instead his large head swung in her direction. He moved toward her. She swallowed loudly and brought the knife up before her again.

  “Stay away, Gabriel,” she whispered. “I don’t want to hurt you, but I will.”

  The wolf stopped and stood regarding her. Amelia had no idea if Gabriel could understand her in wolf form, as she suspected Mora and her kind could. Mora had said he wasn’t the same. He was cursed. His question came back to haunt her in that instant. When he’d asked if she could kill to defend herself, he hadn’t just meant against Mora or one of her people. He’d meant against him.

  Could she kill him if he attacked her? His eyes were the eyes of the man she loved, or thought she did. Whether he could understand her words, fathom who she was, he was still Gabriel beneath the fur and the fangs, wasn’t he? Mora moved and the larger wolf immediately turned its head and growled at her. She stayed down.

  Gabriel didn’t want Mora to get too close to her, Amelia realized. Even as a wolf, he was protecting her. She lowered the knife. Whatever Gabriel Wulf was, he wouldn’t hurt Amelia. She knew that with a certainty she’d never known about anything or anyone before. He had lied to her. He had deceived her, but she could still trust him with her life. But what about her heart?

  Exhaustion set into her bones. She leaned her head back against the trunk of the tree and closed her eyes. For the moment, Gabriel wouldn’t let anything happen to her. For the moment, she was safe.

  It was horrible. Coming awake naked and shivering, confused, trying to figure out what had happened to him and where he was. Gabriel uncurled himself, his muscles putting up a protest, as if he’d been turned inside out. His leg was better. Either that or the rest of him felt so bad the leg seemed minor in comparison. He stretched in the cool morning light. Then he remembered.

  Amelia. God, where was she? Had she escaped? Oddly, he had a blurry recollection of seeing her in the forest … a knife clutched in her hand. Odder still, he recalled what she’d said to him. She’d said she would hurt him if she had no choice. He wasn’t dead. That left the horrifying possibility that she might be. Gabriel rose from the forest floor, naked. Then he spotted her a few feet away. She was asleep. He breathed a sigh of relief; then he spotted someone else.

  Mora lay on the ground, human, her eyes closed. Leaves covered her like a blanket. One might mistake her for a fairy princess, if one didn’t know better. The blade of the knife still clutched in Amelia’s hand blinked at him when sunlight managed to penetrate the heavy canopy of trees overhead. Gabriel went to her; he bent and removed the knife from her hand. Her eyes opened. For a sweet moment, she smiled at him. Then, as dawning came to her, the smile faded and she pressed back against the tree, as if to get away from him. Gabriel had no time to offer her assurances that he was in his right head and she had no reason to be afraid of him.

  He had to deal with the threat of Mora once and for all. Gabriel had never physically hurt a woman, but Mora would kill Amelia if she got another chance. He couldn’t allow her to have another chance. He walked to where Mora lay, bent, and placed the knife against her throat. She opened her eyes, and for a moment, like he had felt earlier, she looked dazed. Her eyes widened upon seeing him leaning over her, naked and with a knife pressed against her throat. She tried to move, but the action brought a moan from her lips. The leaves fell away from her shoulder and Gabriel saw the nasty bite marks, the blood.

  “You are my enemy, Mora,” he said to her. “You are a danger to Amelia. It’s time to end your threats.”

  He thought to make a clean, quick slash; regardless of what she’d done to him and Amelia, Gabriel did not want her to suffer. Suddenly a hand was upon his shoulder.

  “Don’t, Gabriel,” Amelia breathed.

  He glanced up at her. The sunlight danced around her blond head like a halo. The compassion in her eyes pierced his heart.

  “She could have k
illed me twice and she didn’t. I don’t think her duty is as simple as she was led to believe.”

  Gabriel glanced down at the woman pinned by his knife. Mora glanced up at Amelia. “They taught us how to speak, how to walk, how to fit into any setting, whether it be servant or superior. They did not tell us we would care. They did not teach us to kill without conscience. I’m not certain we are ready to take over the world yet.”

  Mora had deceived them before. Gabriel didn’t feel as compassionate toward her as Amelia did. He damn sure didn’t trust Mora. And he didn’t have Amelia safely to Wulfglen. He had a decision to make, and it was not an easy one, regardless of Mora’s deception. He had deceived, as well. Mora and her kind were only trying to survive. He should understand that, and maybe he would, if they held by their own rules.

  “You talk of rules among your people and then discard them the moment things do not work out as planned,” he said to Mora. “You have rogues among you, like Vincent, who would harm Amelia rather than woo her as he should have done. You are sometimes more beast than human. You will never survive among civilized society.”

  “Something to think about.”

  Gabriel turned his head to see Raef standing not far away, a pistol aimed at him.

  “Now, get off of my sister.”

  Raef was not alone. His men stood behind him. Gabriel might end Mora’s threat with the swipe of his knife, but there were still the others to deal with.

  “I will trade her life to you for Amelia’s,” he said. “Let her go. You can do what you want with me.”

  “Gallant to the end,” Raef said, the usual sarcasm flavoring his voice. “That is something that cannot be taught, unfortunately. I’m glad few of your station possess the trait.”

  “Raef,” Mora called softly. “Do as he says. Let Amelia go. I could not fool this man when I took her form; I therefore doubt if I could fool others who know her well. Killing her is senseless and barbaric. She has shown me compassion, and I must do the same.”

  Mora’s brother frowned. He did not lower the weapon. “They will tell others about us.”

  “Will they?” Mora challenged. She tried to struggle to a sitting position, recalled her naked state, and stayed as she was. “Even if they do, whoever they tell will think she’s mad, and his family is already rumored to be insane. Why would he tell? He’s no better than us. It would be to his advantage if society remains ignorant.”

  Raef didn’t appear fully convinced. Gabriel pressed the knife to Mora’s throat again to help convince him. If it were only one man he was dealing with, Gabriel would never use a woman as a bargaining tool, but for Amelia’s safety he would. Raef seemed to sense Gabriel’s dedication. Finally, he lowered the pistol.

  “All right, Wulf. I will trade my sister’s life for the life of your lady love. As for you, we have no use for a man who does not share our goals. Move away from Mora. Both you and the woman are free to go now.”

  Gabriel was still leery. These people had been pursuing them for days. They were dedicated to their cause. They had proven they would kill for it. He found it difficult to believe Mora’s people would let him and Amelia walk away.

  “He will keep his word,” Mora said, as if sensing Gabriel’s hesitation. “My brother and I are honor bound to the Wargs, but we do not always agree with their ways. It is time for us to slink back into the shadows. To think about this experience and evaluate it. And it is time for you to go home.”

  Home. Would it or could it be the same for Gabriel now? He was cursed. He had deceived the woman he loved. What was left for him? Survival alone? Was it enough anymore?

  He felt Amelia’s hand upon his shoulder again. “Let her go, Gabriel. It’s over now.”

  Slowly, he slid the knife away from Mora’s throat. “I never want to see you again,” he said to her.

  The smile that crossed her lips was both chilling and sad. “You will. But you won’t know it’s me.”

  Raef came forward, the pistol now shoved into the waistband of his trousers. He threw Amelia’s valise on the ground, then snapped his fingers. One of his men appeared with a set of coarse clothing and a large pair of boots. He placed the items on the ground next to the valise. While Gabriel hurried into the trousers, the man handed Raef a blanket. Mora’s brother bent beside her. A moment later he rose, carrying Mora’s blanket-clad body in his arms.

  He paused before Gabriel. “I gave my sister my word this time,” Raef said. “If I cross paths with you again, I will not be so civil.”

  “Neither will I,” Gabriel assured the man.

  Their gazes held for a moment in silent challenge. Finally, Raef turned and walked away, his bearing that of a prince. Still wary, Gabriel watched Raef and his men move into the forest. A moment later, it swallowed them up, as if they had never been there. Gabriel stood staring, squinting into the shadows of the forest until he was certain they were truly gone. Then slowly he turned to face the woman he had deceived.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  A barrage of emotions assaulted Amelia. Relief that Raef and his men were gone, that she was safe, that the nightmare had ended; only it was not over. Before her stood the man she loved, yet he had deceived her. He had lied to her. He was not what she thought he was. How was she supposed to feel about him? How was she supposed to take her life back when nothing about her life was the same anymore?

  He stared at her now, waiting for her to say something, but what could she say? How could she understand what he had never explained to her?

  “You deceived me,” she finally said.

  Gabriel could no longer hold her stare. He glanced away, bent his head, and studied the ground. “Yes,” he responded. “I did.”

  “What is this curse that rests upon your family?” she asked. “Why didn’t you tell me the truth from the beginning?”

  He looked up at her with his forest green eyes. “In the beginning, if I’d told you the truth, you would have been afraid of me. You wouldn’t have allowed me to help you. You wouldn’t have trusted me.”

  That was true. After what had happened to her at Collingsworth Manor, had Gabriel told her he was different, that he could change his shape like the others, she would have been terrified of him. Still …

  “Later, you could have told me,” she said. “Later, you should have told me.”

  He glanced away from her again. “I know,” was all he said.

  She was tired of his secrets and wanted them exposed now. He owed her that much. “Tell me about your curse. Do your brothers suffer from it also? Do their wives know, or do they keep their secrets like you?”

  Bending, Gabriel lifted the shirt left for him from the ground and slipped it over his head. “All who share our bloodline share our curse,” he answered. “One of our ancestors was cursed by a witch long ago. But the curse must be set into motion. I have no idea if Armond suffers as I now suffer, or Jackson, although I had suspicions about him before he went missing.”

  Curious, Amelia stepped closer to him. “It must be set into motion? By what?”

  He didn’t answer. Instead, he pulled on the boots sitting next to her valise and adjusted his clothing.

  “By what, Gabriel?” she repeated.

  Finally, he glanced back up at her. “By a man’s weaknesses.”

  His answer confused her. “Do you mean by sickness? Did it happen because your leg became infected?”

  He shook his head. “No. I mean weakness. A character flaw—being unable to resist things a stronger man could resist. I lowered my defenses against the curse, and now it has taken me.”

  If the curse was simply tied to a man’s weaknesses, Amelia wondered how it hadn’t affected him before now. All men surely had weaknesses. “Did the curse just now come upon you? Or have you had the ability to shift your shape from the beginning?”

  Gabriel walked to a fallen log and sat. He was still limping a little, she noted. “No, it just came upon me this full moon, and I do not have the ability to shift. I do not have a cho
ice. But I have known about the curse for a long time. I have known I am different from other men.”

  She’d known he was different, too. But with the other threats aimed at her, she had never considered him one, as well. And she shouldn’t have, Amelia realized. He’d never been a threat to her, not even when the moon changed him. He had still been her protector.

  “What happens now?” she asked him.

  Rising from the log, he walked over and picked up her valise. “Now I take you to Wulfglen. You go on with your life and I figure out how to go on with mine.”

  His words fell flat in the air around her. Was she supposed to forget what had happened to her? What had happened to him? That she loved him? Or did she? He wasn’t her prince, he was a man cursed. A man who had deceived her, no matter how just he felt in doing so at the time. And still she wanted to believe in the dreams she once had about her life and his. In spite of all that had happened, she still had hope. Suddenly she understood why he did not have hopes and dreams.

  “This is what happened to your father, isn’t it?” she asked.

  He kept walking. “Yes. He was weak, my mother as well. The curse destroyed them.”

  And, Amelia imagined, it destroyed their children in a way. Coddled and spoiled all of her life, she supposed she wasn’t one to judge what Gabriel’s father’s suicide had done to him. Or his mother’s quick passing upon the heels of what must have been a shock to him. Then the sons had been left with the fear embedded in them that their lives might end in a similar tragedy.

  “You don’t have to follow in their footsteps,” she said. “You don’t have to let this destroy you.”

  Drawing up, he turned to her again. “If you think I’m planning on fetching a pistol and blowing my brains out, you’re wrong,” he said. “If you think I can carry on a normal life like a normal man now, you’re wrong in that, too. Come, Amelia,” he added impatiently. “I’d think you’d be anxious to return to the life you’ve been forced to leave behind these many days. In two weeks’ time you’ll forget this even happened.”