Beauty and the Cursed Troll

“Jacob?” I barely heard my own voice with its softness. Uttering his name made my tears worse. “How...” My throat bobbed, “How are you?”

“I'm fine, Farrah.” He briefly paused, and then, “How about you? Are you okay? You sound...upset.”

Even seven years later, he can still tell how I feel with the way I speak. “I’m—” I shook my head. There’s no use in lying again to the brother I just contacted now. “I am upset. I’m not okay.”

“Tell me how you became upset.”

I gripped my phone tighter even with my shaking. “Running away is something I realized I’m not good at. I want to come back home, Jacob.” Not really a lie, but not the whole truth.

“Come home.” It was more of a plea than a suggestion. “Come home, Farrah.”

Home? So does that mean...the Dark Moon Pack survived the Black Sun Pack’s attack? Does that mean my home survived the flames?

“I—Okay, Jacob.”

Jacob has no hesitation. No further questions. Just the pure urge to see me again in our pack. I don’t know if I should call him by his name again. A little bit of shame—and a huge wave of regret—reddened my cheeks, knowing that I was so free to say his name after all these years even when I abandoned him.

“Good. Stay at the hotel I’ll be booking for you in the meantime.” He sighed. “I’ll text you the address.”

***

I didn’t notice it had been two hours as I lounged by the hotel room’s bar, casually sipping a glass of sparkling water as if Alpha Heather hadn’t just slapped me and turned for help to my brother Jacob.

I stare at the oak door, hoping for a good reunion with Jacob. I stomped my right foot repeatedly as I shake my legs, pondering if I’m doing the right thing.

Or if the right choice should be just find Heather and kneel before his feet as I beg—

I shook my head. No. I will not be his victim again.

Calling my brother is the right choice.

I immediately shot right to my feet as soon as I heard the footsteps in the hallway.

One knock. Then followed by two knocks.

Is that Jacob? Or did Heather find out about me through Jacob?

I took a sharp breath as soon as I stopped by the door, my hand hovering on the doorknob.

But when I opened it, it was not Jacob’s smile or Heather’s face that beamed into me.

“Farrah?” His voice was deeper than the deep blue sea, and something mystical radiated from him. “I'm Roland. Your brother sent me to be your escort.”

***

I stared at the peculiarly tall man in the doorway. His height even surpasses the doorframe. I found myself face-to-face with a complete stranger. Tall, with curly short dark hair and pristine black eyes flicked with gold. The gold in his eyes lit up as though he could see right through me.

Even with the strangeness of his skin, he wears clothes like a pack’s Beta. Or Alpha.

“I’m a cursed troll,” he breathed.

I blinked. Oh, that’s why. “But aren’t trolls supposed to be ugly?” I swallowed, hoping the question didn't offend him.

“I am, when the sun is out. When night comes, like now, it replaces my original face with this handsome face.” He gestured to himself. “It’s literally been ugly days and handsome nights for me for seven years—well, at least this is what it's been like for me ever since Alpha Jacob freed me from the Enchanted Forest.”

When I didn’t reply, he cleared his throat and awkwardly gestured inside. “May I come in?”

I chuckled nervously. “Well, I guess I didn’t have a choice.”

I tipped my head above, praying to the Moon Goddess again that my statement doesn’t offend him.

I stepped aside, letting him enter the hotel room smoothly. The room felt smaller with his presence, or maybe it’s because my height barely reached his hips. Though he moved with a casual grace that I see Alpha Heather usually does, there’s something in his presence that is both predatorial and intimidating.

I was about to ask something when he suddenly straightened up when his phone buzzed. “Our limousine’s early. You’re ready to go?”

I gathered my bag, the only belonging I’ve brought with me, and followed Roland.

I gape at the cherry-red limousine. At the luxuriousness, and the beauty, at the...fact that my brother is now probably an Alpha and has the power to send an escort and a limo.

The drive to my apartment was quicker than I expected. Or maybe it was because of the comfort the limo’s interior offered.

The limo pulled up to my apartment building in a heartbeat. “I'll wait here, Farrah.” Roland whistled. “Just grab what you need and leave what you don’t want.”

I was so lost in thoughts that I didn’t notice my feet already carried me forward even if I refused. Leaving Alpha Heather behind is both a relief and a sad thing to do.

I opened my apartment’s door as silently as possible. As I stepped inside, I froze.

Moans were reverberating from the bedroom—

Me and Heather’s bedroom.

Our bedroom.