3

He narrowed his eyes at me, I could tell he was about to yell before I quickly held my hand up.

"Before you go all crazy alpha on me, put yourself in my shoes. I had no idea why he abused me every day, but I was scared and fed up. I did what I did to survive. Would you willingly stay with a woman who's abusing you? Or if you swing the other way-

"No, I don't swing the other way. And I know, but you could have allowed him to explain." He snapped.

I rolled my eyes, "He almost killed me."

His eyes widened, "What?"

"He almost killed me. You can't blame me for being scared." I retorted.

Eduardus sighed, "I know, I'm sorry. I'm just stressed with looking for him, the only place I found his scent at was the dungeons but it's faded."

"Eduardus, why can't your pack help?" Some other alpha demanded.

"A pack without their alpha is weak, we have multiple search parties out. Using up half our warriors. We just don't have enough to help. I'm sorry. I need to find my little brother."

"Your little brother-

"That is enough, Frederick." The councilman cut in. "Very well, continue the search for your brother. I hope he's found."

"Why bother looking for that scumbag? He's abusive! Not only that, but he slaughters packs!" Frederick growled.

I bit my lip, "That's actually not true. He doesn't slaughter packs unless they deserve it. And why are you so bothered that he's searching for his brother?"

"Because he took part of my land!"

Eduardus rolled his eyes, "You were being cocky and challenged him. You bet your land that you would win, but you lost. It was fair."

Frederick narrowed his eyes, "He's a piece of shit. He doesn't deserve to be alpha! He abused his own mate, who says he won't abuse his pack next?"

"Because he broke the curse!" Eduardus snapped.

The room became silent as he continued to glare at the stunner Federick.

"You don't know what he went through. We have no control over it! It skips a generation, therefore, he ended up with it. He's not a horrible person, if everyone just gave him a chance you would love him. He's scared of opening up, which is why he's always looking angry and guarded. You don't know what he went through as a child." He whispered, his voice cracking.

I swallowed, the guilt squeezed my heart as I gently placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I-I didn't know..." I murmured.

He turned around and smiled sadly at me, "It's not your fault."

"I just came here to ask that you don't attack my pack. I understand if you hate my brother, but the pack doesn't deserve any sorrow or deaths. We have enough going on as it is." He pleaded with everyone.

The councilman nodded, "I'll see to it that your pack doesn't receive any attacks."

Eduardus thanked him before starting to walk out, I internally groaned and grabbed his wrist. He spun around, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"I'm going to come back to the pack to help you find him. It's the least I can do. Plus, we need your pack in the war. I've seen how strong they are, finding Alaricas is the first step to bringing the pack back to their original strength." I stated.

He seemed hesitant, "You aren't afraid?"

I sighed, "I am, but I need to do this. For me, for the pack, and for the werewolf race."

He nodded before following me to where my parents were standing.

"You're nuts." Gabriel mumbled.

I shrugged, "I feel guilty for not letting him explain and I want to know more about this whole curse. And the whole needing their pack for the war."

"Then I'll go as your bodyguard, if you don't mind, Eduardus." Cain said.

Eduardus looked at Cain, "I'm fine with it."

I smiled at my family and said goodbye before walking back to our hotel room.

Looks like I'm returning to my nightmare.

Stepping out of the SUV felt surreal, I couldn't believe I was back to the place that caused so many sleepless nights. I sniffed the air, Alaricas' scent wasn't here anymore. My stomach flipped at the thought of him being gone forever.

I ran my hand through my hair, I can't feel completely guilty until I know for sure he was cursed. I thought back to the night I rejected him, he was acting different. I would usually get an uneasy feeling around him, even when he was being kind, but not that night.

I was drawn to him, not like anything before. The mate-bond was no longer blocked, I could feel all his emotions. It was overwhelming, but now it broke my heart a little more.

"Hey, you okay?"

I sighed and faced my uncle, "Yeah, just...this feels weird."

"I know, but as soon as the pack is strong again and we find Alaricas, we can leave." He assured me.

I only smiled, if Alaricas was truly cursed then there's a slight possibility that I won't want to leave. Deep down I silently hoped that we could be the couple we were supposed to be. I wanted to love him, I still do, but it's going to take a while for that to happen.

I cared for him, maybe, but not love. My wolf was oddly quiet as I stepped into the packhouse, I sighed as I studied it. It looked so gloomy, there wasn't anyone to be seen.

"The pack is always out now, searching for him." Eduardus sounded.

I turned around, "He's seriously missing."

He nodded, "Yeah, he is."

I followed him to the alpha hall where I stayed in a guest bedroom, when we passed Alaricas' my chest ached. That guilt slowly started to wrap around me again as I made my way into my room.

After I was settled in I walked back out and started to explore the packhouse. I tested my memory, finding some kind of amusement. When I came across the dungeon I slowly opened the door.

The faint scent of Alaricas lingered in the air, but it was barely noticeable. I went to walk down when someone's voice stopped me.

"You're back?"

I spun around to see the beta, Jefferson, staring at me. I swallowed, feeling slightly uncomfortable. He has always been a strange guy.

I nodded slowly, "Yes."

"Why?"

I was stunned by how harsh his voice was, I took a slight step back.

"To help you guys find Alaricas."

He grunted in reply before roughly shoving me out of the way. He started walking down the stairs before stopping.

"I wouldn't come down here, I torture...uh...rogues down here. If you want to keep a sane mind, stay away from here." He growled out.

"But I thought Alaricas didn't allow the torturing of rogues?" I asked.

He glared at me, "He's not exactly here to enforce that rule, now is he?"

I jumped when he slammed the door shut, I stood there for a few moments. He seriously has some issues.