Cursed Mate Of The Supreme Alpha

RAINA

"Do you ever think of revenge, Raina?"

Diego suddenly asked me out of nowhere. he had left me in the kitchen for over an hour all by myself toiling away to prepare dinner for the pack.

I froze when he asked me that unimaginable question, the ladle i held in my hands halfway between the simmering pot of stew and the chipped wooden bowl. The stew bubbled, thick with herbs and meat scraps, filling the kitchen with a savory scent that doesn't quite mask the damp, smoky air. Diego leaned against the counter, his sleeves rolled up, his dark eyes watching me too closely.

"What?" I asked trying to feign ignorance though I heard him perfectly.

He smirked but there was no humor in what he had asked "You heard me. If you had the chance, would you ever poison Alpha Dirke and that snake he calls Luna? Maybe that brat Trish too?" My stomach knotted with fear, the spoon slipped from my hand clattering against the pot's rim. Hot stew splashed on my wrist, but I barely felt it.

"Diego," I whispered glancing frighteningly at the kitchen door to make sure no one was around "Don't say things like that, you could get me into trouble."

"Why not?" he said, stepping closer, he had a smug look on his face. "You can't tell me you don't think about it. Every day, I see how they treat you, you are covered in bruises, Raina. If you were anyone else, if you had any power at all you would have torn them to pieces by now."

I turned away from him and pretended to check the cake in the oven, though my hands were trembling. "Power?" I asked softly, my voice breaking. "That's the problem, isn't it? I don't have any. I'm not wolf enough, not human enough, I am just a mistake the Moon Goddess cursed."

He lets out a low chuckle. "Maybe girl, or maybe you're more than that."

His tone made me really nervous and I didn't know why. I glanced at him, his eyes gleamed with something I couldn't quite place; maybe pity, or calculation. But he is the only one I could call a friend in the pack.

"I don't want to poison anyone," I replied while stirring the pot again just to have something to do with my hands.

"I just want to be free, to breathe without someone calling me a curse, to see what's beyond these walls or simply die."

Diego sighed wearily "Freedom!" He said the word like it's something unattainable "You think there's freedom out there, half-blood? Out there, they would tear you apart faster than in here, so you better snap out of your delusions dear."

I swallowed the lump that had formed in my throat, maybe he's right, or maybe not. But even a world that hates me would be much better than this one with the moonshire pack. Diego didn't say anything else to me, and for a few moments, the only sound that broke the silence was that of the fire crackling, the bubbling stew and Diego chopping onions. Steam rose around us, the heat from the fire making us sweat profusely. After a few minutes of silence he cleared his throat. "You haven't heard, have you?"

I glanced up and starred at him, bracing myself for the story he would tell "Heard what?"

"Alpha Dirke received an invitation from the High Council this morning. The Supreme Alpha himself, Alpha Zane of the Howlers Pack has called for a Mating Ceremony in Howlgroove. He's searching for his fated mate."

I blinked, unsure I heard him right. "The Supreme Alpha?"Diego nodded

"The most powerful werewolf alive. Some say his power comes straight from the Moon Goddess herself, they say she gifted him the cosmic powers of the stars only his fated mate can absorb. All ten clan packs has been invited to send their most beautiful daughters. Alpha Dirke is over the moon about it, he thinks it's an opportunity to restore the Moonshire Pack's lost reputation."

A bitter laugh escaped me, "And let me guess, Trish will be his offering?"

Diego grinned "Ofcourse dear, Who else?"

I shook my head "Then may the Moon Goddess help the Supreme Alpha, because she's cruel enough to curse a saint."

Diego chuckled nervously, "Careful what you say, Raina. The walls here have ears."

"I'm not afraid of walls," I muttered "Just the monsters living inside them."

He looked at me for a long moment, then leaned closer, lowering his voice. "If you had the chance, would you take it?"

I frown. "What do you mean Diego?"

"To leave," he said. "To run, to be free from this godforsaken place, even if it means never coming back."

"I..." I stuttered, then shook my head. "It's just a dream."

"Dreams start somewhere," Diego said softly. "Remember that."

Before I could answer, the heavy kitchen door swung open. The hinges creaked , and both of us stood to attention.

Luna Fran walked into the kitchen, her perfume choking the air, she wore a long red silk dress with a cape that trailed behind her. Her eyes landed on me first, sharp and filled with hate.

"Still here?" she snapped at me "You should have served dinner ten minutes ago, half-blood b*tch"

I bow quickly, my pulse racing. "Yes, Luna. It's almost ready."

She wrinkled her nose. "You stink of smoke and filth. How dare you breathe the same air as your betters?"

Diego bowed his head low. "Forgive us, Luna. We were only making sure the meal is perfect." "Perfection isn't in your hands, cook," she said coldly. "Just serve it before the Alpha loses his temper. And you......." she glared at me, "you are coming with us tomorrow."

I looked up, startled. "Tomorrow?"

She frowned "Did I stutter stinking wretch? You will accompany my daughter Trish to Howlgroove. She'll need someone to carry her gowns, fix her hair, and remind her what real beauty looks like when she stands next to a creature like you."

My stomach dropped "Luna, I....."

"Silence!" she snapped "Be grateful you will even set foot in the capitol. Do not embarrass me or the pack half-blood or else I will make sure your tongue is cut out before we return."

I bite down on my tongue to keep my quivering in check and bowed "Yes, Luna.

"Good," she said , smirking. "Now, serve dinner. And wash yourself, you look like a stray dog." She walked out of the kitchen, her red cape sweeping against the stone floor. The moment she left the air in the kitchen felt lighter, I exhaled deeply.

Diego exhaled too shaking his vigorously "Guess that's your dream answered. You are leaving the Moonshire pack house, after all."

"Not the way I wanted," I replied . "I have never been outside these walls, heck! , don't even know what Howlgroove looks like."

He studied me, his gaze unreadable. "It's beautiful, so they say , I have never been there myself either. A city of moonstone and gold. They say the Supreme Alpha's Castle is made of pure gold, but not all that glitters is safe."

Something about the way he says it makes the back of my neck prickle.

"What do you mean?"

He shrugged. "Just... be careful, Raina. People notice more than you think."

He moved past me, grabbing a tray of roasted meat meant for Alpha Dirke.

"I will see you tomorrow," he murmured "Don't be late, you know Luna Fran doesn't like delays."

He carried the tray out of the kitchen, leaving me alone with the simmering pot and my racing thoughts.

For a while, I just stood there, my hands shaking as I ladle stew into bowls.

Tomorrow I will be going to Howlgroove, my first time leaving these walls. Part of me should be excited, but I wasn't, I felt caged. I hurried out of the kitchen to the dinning room to serve the pack. As I placed the bowls of stew on the large oak table something struck me.

"Maybe this is my chance. Maybe..." I whispered to myself. I shook my head , it seemed almost impossible. could I really escape, run away forever and finally be free.

After dinner was done, I stood by the kitchen sink with a mountain high of dirty dishes while everyone else partied at the grand hall, I could hear their howling, it was past midnight already.

This might be my only opportunity to finally escape this prison even if I could never escape my curse. I quickly submerged the dishes in cold soapy water while working out the plan in my mind. At last, Freedom, I could almost taste it now.