That’s ridiculous. Alpha Caelan isn’t my mate.I rubbed a hand across my face.
“Don’t worry. We have plenty of time to get you up to speed,” she said with a wink.
“Why bother?” I scoffed, snapping my mouth shut before I could say more.
What’s wrong with me? I’ve never had this much trouble minding my words before. I can’t let my guard down just because she says she wants to be friends. She’s still a beta.
“Why not?” she retorted. “Like it or not, you’re a final candidate in the choosing. You’ll have to go on dates and such. It’s expected.”
I allowed my gaze to drift back toward her.
“The alpha won’t pick me,” I admitted, unsure of why I felt the need to convince her that I’d never be Alpha Caelan’s mate. “Ican’t have…a mate.”
“What? Who told you that?” she inquired with an incredulous look.
“My father and the pack sage,” I explained quietly. “I have a condition, and the Goddess would never risk it being passed down to future pups.” I brought my mug to my lips. “At least, that’s what the sage said.”
“That’s ridiculous. What condition could you possibly have that would make the Goddess punish you like that?” she demanded, her playful personality gone in an instant.
I wasn’t sure how to answer that. As a guest in their pack, they had a right to know that I wasn’t dangerous, but if I shared it, my own pack’s shame would be brought to the surface. Sunny’s chances would be destroyed, and I’d be punished.
They’re going to find out soon enough. I can’t hide my wolf forever. The longer we’re here, the more likely it’ll be that I have to shift. Then what? Will they be impressed that Sunny has a monster like me under her control?
“Shade, what is it?” Taffy asked, her voice soft and low. “Why do you believe you can’t have a mate?”
I realized I wanted to tell her. Even if she recoiled in disgust, even if she called me a monster and had me thrown out of Harvest Moon, I wanted her to know about the real me.
I knew it was risky. But part of me didn’t care. I’d never had anyone ask what I thought or how I felt. No one had ever shown any interest in me or asked to be my friend. Was I being selfish for wanting such a thing?
I focused back on my hands, taking a deep breath and wondering if I’d lost my mind completely as I glanced back at Taffy.
The Cursed Wolf
SHADE
“My mother…” I paused, gripping my mug tightly. “My mother died because of me.”
My eyes closed, tears threatening to spill over my cheeks at the admission. I let out a trembling sigh as I turned toward Taffy.
“I don’t think I’ve ever said that out loud before.”
“What do you mean, Shade?” Taffy’s voice was almost a whisper.
“It was my fault,” I replied, my tone much firmer than I intended as I set down my cup and stood, slowly beginning to pace back and forth. “I’m responsible for her death, and for that…I was cursed.”
“Cursed?” she asked. “What do you mean cursed?”
“Lupus ad laborem natus ex,” I replied. “It means the wolf born from sorrow. It’s the curse the Goddess bestowed on me the day I watched my mother die.”
“Oh, Shade,” Taffy soothed. “And what does it do? This curse?”
“Nothing anymore,” I said dismissively. “Alpha Butch made it so I would never hurt anyone again, but a cursed wolf can never have a mate. The Goddess would never allow it.”
“Do you want to tell me what happened?” Taffy queried, giving me a comforting smile.
Goddess help me, but I did.
I told her everything that happened that fateful day, leaving out the details about how Sunny and I were related and how the alpha was actually my father. I told her how my mother was killed right in front of me.
