The Alpha's Cursed Mate novel Chapter 6

She danced around with the ribbons, spinning and flying, as her mother hummed to the song. The aroma of her mother's food covered the kitchen and could be smelt from miles away. If there was one thing her mother knew how to do like a pro, it was cooking. Too bad she decided against being a chef. The little girl was positive her father had quite a good time when he was alive.

Twirling on her feet, she shot her arms out, using the ribbons to grab a cup and a salad knife. Adjusting her body, she spun the ribbon, slicing the knife through the air with a smile on her face. She was getting better at this.

"Mother, I have a question to ask," she spoke, bending her body backwards as she spun the ribbon spirally above her. Her mother hummed. "How do I identify my mate?"

"It's easy," her mother smiled, "when you perceive the most intoxicating and pleasant scent, when the wind blows against you in a way you can't understand when you can't think of anything but that scent, just know that the owner of the scent is the one. And what do you do when you find him?"

She spun her ribbon to a stop. "I reject him."

_____

Another ridiculous day, only worse. Since the news of “The Steel” Alpha's agreement to visit our pack spread, the alpha worked my bones into making the pack perfect. Every one of them knew I was a perfectionist when it came to arrangement, so they had me do most of the work, so the pack would be organised enough to leave a good impression. The only good thing about it was that I was allowed to spend time away as a reward. Though I knew it wasn't. They didn't want the alpha to choose me, just in case none found their mates. “Who would see such a good servant and turn a blind eye?” Alpha Swindells had asked rhetorically.

So, waking up that day was splendid news, actually. I washed up and put on one of the few nice dresses I inherited from my mother. I brushed my hair, braided it and placed the braided tail over my shoulder and wore my only good shoes. It was the black combat boots a distant friend of mine bought for me. If I was lucky, she would swing by, though I doubted.

Her name was Scarlette. I met her a year after my mother died. She had wandered into the forest and found my quiet spot. For a human, she wasn't a bit scared to find a tattered girl in the middle of a forest. Somehow, I felt safe with her. She would tell me stories and jokes, and even if I didn't understand, it was good to listen to her speak.

At first, she would come every day, but when the Luna started noticing the barrier intrusion, Scarlette reduced it gradually until she only came around my birthday period and unpredictably.

I found out she was not as human as I thought she was. Scarlette is a dhampir. She, somehow, was more human than a vampire. Had the speed, strength, telepathy and more she didn't tell, and she only drank blood twice a year or once, if she didn't use her powers too much. Scarlette was also a hunter as she claimed, which I believed was because of how easily she slipped in and out of the pack.

So, with the hope that I would be fortunate enough to meet her and, at least, make my day less boring, I headed to the pond. My mother's short sundress was even shorter on me, but it was okay to wear since no one would be seeing me in it. As I got closer, I got a whiff of her scent. Zinnia whooped with excitement because Scarlette meant me shifting. Yes, Scarlette knew, but I didn't tell her, my wolf did.

It happened two years ago, on my mother's death anniversary. Somehow, depression pushed me to the back of my mind and Zinnia took over. She would have gone on a rampage if Scarlette didn't show up and stopped her. Fortunately, Scarlette promised to keep our secret, and that was when she told me her secret. The secret of her being a dhampir. No one knew, no one except her mother. She was some kind of forbidden dhampir, so keeping her identity secret was the only way to remain alive. We had something in common.

Returning to me being able to shift. Scarlette had far more heightened senses than mine. She could see things from five miles and perceive them as well—though my sense of smell was stronger. So, she could keep a lookout for me. Running into the pond surrounded by trees, I smiled when I saw her there, skipping rocks.

Just like her name, she had a hair colour the exact shade of scarlet, something she said she took from her father. Dark skinned like her father, but more beautiful than all the alpha's daughters put together. Her emerald eyes were the perfect touch to her beautiful features, along with her glamorous body. She was absolutely stunning and extraordinarily nice.

"There you are!" She exclaimed, looking at me over her shoulder. The sunlight reflected on her emerald eyes, a playful smile on her lips. "I've been waiting for ages. Did you know I came here yesterday? And the day before that? And that? And that?" I giggled. She smiled, turning around to face the pond. "It's so boring now I've quit my hunter career." She sighed dramatically. I walked up to her and tapped her, demanding answers to why she quit. "The old geezers got out of hand. Seven months ago, they planned to attack innocent werefoxes—" my gasp interrupted her. She laughed, already knowing why. Her laugh was every bit as beautiful as her soul. Sometimes, I wished I was as beautiful as her. The girls in the pack thought I was a threat, they hadn't even met Scarlette.

"Did I not tell you about werefoxes?" I shook my head frantically. Scarlette was the only means of information about the outside world I had, other than my books. I pulled her to sit down, ready for the long story of how she met werefoxes. "Well, I've met them once. And one time, when I went to Asia, I met a nine-tailed fox," she whispered. I gasped again, my eyes flying wide. Those are real? "Yes, I was surprised too. Anyway, I quit my job when they decided to hunt innocent werefoxes, but they still went on with the plan. My mother ended up reporting to the higher-ups but turns out they were aware. Then the foxes reported to their guardians, the red nine-tailed fox, the white and the three-eyed sun fox. To cut a long story short, most hunters are dead now, my mother too."

My eyes widened. She looked at me unsurely, sadness taking over her usual happiness. "You don't need to feel bad, the hunters killed her, not the foxes. So now, the hunter empire is practically closed. They couldn't even fight the three awesome deity foxes, and they ended things. It's good but bad. Now, I don't have a cover for my identity." She murmured. Not knowing what to do, I wrapped my hands around her shoulders for comfort. She smiled half-heartedly. Now, we had another thing in common: we both don't have a mother.