The Cursed Prophecy

Since Snow's pregnancy, the Alpha had been in a state of pent - up frustration for months.

I dropped to my knees, my body trembling like a leaf in a storm.

"Alpha! Your wretched slave is tainted. I'd sully your sacred status! Please don't do it.!" My voice was a broken plea.

The Alpha, his patience worn thin, growled and clamped his large, calloused hand over my mouth. His touch was rough, his strength overwhelming, and any further protest was stifled.

When it was over, he tossed his blood - stained and tattered tunic at me, his lip curled in a sneer of pure revulsion.

"Muna, you were never fit to be a pack wizard.Your body's allure is enough to drive a sane wolf mad, but your powers? Pathetic."

With those scathing words, he turned his back and loped away, leaving me crumpled in the dirt.

Moments later, the pack's shaman - a twisted, old werewolf with a penchant for dark magic - approached, carrying a vial filled with a murky, steaming liquid.

"Muna, a gift from the Alpha. Drink up, pup. No use fighting it."

I stared at the vial, my heart sinking.

I knew it was a potent abortifacient, a concoction brewed from the most toxic herbs in the forest. But what the Alpha didn't know was that in the depths of the Red Den - I had been made barren.

On the night of the full moon, Snow's time had come.

I was dragged to the ancient birthing altar - a slab of blood - stained stone surrounded by howling wolves.

As a sacrifice, my wrists were bound with silver - lined ropes, the metal searing my skin. Blood dripped from the burns, adding to the pool forming beneath me.

Rosy stood over me, her eyes wild with sadistic glee.

She chanted the ancient incantations, her voice a shrill screech that echoed through the forest.

With a vicious swing, she smashed the sacred divination crystals, their shards scattering like stars.

Through the haze of pain and fear, I saw the Alpha approaching. His eyes widened in horror as he took in the scene.

The thick, metallic smell of blood hung heavy in the air, and he staggered back, his stomach heaving.

"What madness is this! Release her at once!" he roare.

Rosy stepped forward, her hands raised in supplication.

"Alpha, she defied the moon goddess two years ago! Her blood is the only way to appease them. If we don't, a curse will befall the pack, and Snow and her cub will die!"

At the mention of Snow and the unborn cub, the Alpha's resolve crumbled.

He shot me a look of pure loathing, as if I was the cause of all their troubles.

Without another word, he turned and disappeared .

Rosy's mocking laughter filled my ears.

"How does it feel, sister? Abandoned by the one you once loved. You were so proud of your divination. Did you see this coming?"

I bit my tongue, refusing to give her the satisfaction of a response.

Snow's agonized howls echoed through the night. She was in the throes of a battle for her life and her cub's.

As the night wore on, my blood flowed freely, dripping from the wounds in my wrists.

But as the silver - laced ropes tightened and my blood began to clot, Rosy grew impatient.

She reached into a chest filled with ancient artifacts and pulled out a jagged, obsidian spike.

With a manic grin, she raised the spike high above her head.

"Time to keep the blood flowing, sister."

"Ah!" My scream of agony was drowned out by Snow's final, earth - shattering howl.

The world around me spun, and everything went black.

I awoke to the sensation of ice - cold water being poured over my broken body.

My wrists were raw, the wounds infected and oozing.

Rosy loomed over me, a vial of a strange, glowing liquid in her hand.

"A little something to keep you awake, sister. Enjoy."

In the depths of my pain - addled mind, I found the strength to look up at her.

"Rosy... do you know why our master didn't pass on the wizard's mantle to you?"

She froze, her eyes narrowing.

"What are you talking about?"

I managed a weak, mocking smile.

"Because the pack wizard is chosen by the lunar spirits, and they demand a long life. I divined for you once. You have less than half a moon to live."

Rosy's face contorted in a mixture of shock and rage.

"Liar!" she screamed, lunging at me.

Her hands closed around my throat, her nails digging into my skin.

As a wizard, I was forbidden from divining my own or another wizard's fate, but she didn't know that.

In her panic, she reached for a ritual staff - a long, iron - bound rod topped with a menacing, serrated blade.

"Sister, you think this is pain? Wait until I drive this through your shoulder. Your divining hand will be useless, and you'll be a broken wolf for the rest of your life!"

My eyes widened in horror as she raised the staff high.

"Please, no," I begged, my voice a hoarse whisper.

But Rosy was beyond reason.

"You love divination? I'll make sure you never do it again!"

Just as she was about to strike, a deafening howl of a newborn cub cut through the night.

A young wolf - messenger stumbled out. "The Alpha cub is born! The sacrifice is over!"

Rosy froze for a split second, her eyes wild

. But the hatred in her heart was too strong.

With a final, crazed scream, she drove the iron - bound staff into my shoulder.

The pain was instantaneous and all - consuming, and I felt my world shatter into a million pieces.