Sold To The Alpha
The Cursed Luna Chapter 39

The day after the coronation, Aaron, Charity, Justin and Hazel made their way to the clinic having been told by Doctor Nat that Lucas was well enough for visitors. Pushing open the door, Justin looked around for one of the nurses, Jessica stepped out of a nearby room and smiled when she saw the visitors. 'Alpha's, Luna's' she greeted with a bow 'Doctor Nat said you would be coming to see Lucas today, please follow me and I shall take you to his room' she said before leading the four toward the room that had previously been occupied by Justin. Pushing open the door, their eyes fell upon Lucas, the warrior was laying on the bed under the blanket, the bruises on his face had healed but he was still evidently in pain.

He looked worried he watched them enter his room, 'Alpha's Luna's' he asked hesitantly 'to what do I owe the honour of a visit from yourselves?'

Justin pulled over two chairs beside the bed and motioned for the two Luna's to each take a seat, the Alpha's standing behind their mates protectively.

'Lucas' started Justin authoritatively 'Luna Charity would like to ask you some questions, You will answer all of them completely and politely' he said, making it clear that there was no choice in the matter.

Lucas swallowed and nodded his head slowly, 'Alpha?' he asked nervously 'May I say something before Luna Charity asks her questions?'

Justin stared at him for a moment perplexed before waving his hand for the patient to continue.

'Alpha Justin, Luna Charity, I wish to convey my sincere apologies for the treatment you each received at my hands. I would love to say the elders made me do it, but that would be a lie and I refuse to sully my pack by lying to my Alpha' he started. 'Your pack?' asked Charity surprised

Lucas nodded 'If Alpha Justin and Luna Hazel are willing to give me a chance, I would be honoured to be park of their pack, I want to become someone that my pack can be proud of, someone I can be proud of' he said sadly looking at his fingers.

'I did what I did to you out of jealousy Alpha' he continued looking directly at Justin as he spoke, 'I loved Hazel, was waiting for her to be auctioned and when you appeared and we found out you were her mate I knew she would never truly be mine even if I won her. I thought if I could get you too reject her that maybe she would love me too' he said humbly. 'I realise now that this would never have happened, the Luna is your other half, seeing what you did for her, I hope that one day I will replace the same level of love, I wish to replace my real mate and experience the powerful connection that you and the Luna share. he finished.

Justin stared at the broken warrior for a few minutes before stepping around the Luna's chairs and holding out his hand to Lucas who took it hesitantly, 'I know what it is like to love someone but not be able to have them' he said softly, 'I was lucky, the Goddess gave her back to me, there is a mate out there for you Lucas and I will happily help you replace her, I am also willing to give you a chance to redeem yourself in our pack' he added as he shook the warriors hand, 'BUT if you so much as breathe at my mate again I will kill you on the spot' he growled.

Lucas chuckled as he released Justin's hand, 'Yes Alpha, the Luna is yours, I am in search of my missing half, I wish only to serve my pack, protect my Alpha and Luna, and become the best version of myself that I can be. A warrior told me not so long ago that an Alpha could help me do that' he said smiling, his body relaxing slightly.

'That warrior was a bloody genius' replied Justin laughing.

Turning to Charity, Lucas rested his gaze on her face, 'Now Luna, what would you like to ask me? I will answer to the best of my abilities' he said with a small grin. Charity straightened up in her chair, 'Lucas, please will you tell me about the sorceress?' she asked

Lucas smiled, 'I'm glad you have a seat because its a bit of a story' he admitted.

'Many many years ago, long before my grand fathers, grandfathers, grand father was born Oakridge was a pack, a formidable pack, known for its strength, The Alpha was feared by other packs but he didn't use his power to control, happy to work along side other packs, create alliances. His Beta felt that he was too soft, he wanted Oakridge to be the most powerful pack in the country, with the biggest territory, when the Alpha refused to consider the attacking of other packs, the Beta began to conspire against him. He recruited members from within the pack, rogues and other small packs that had ruthless agenda's.

After much planning the Beta began to enact his plan, his supporters taking out the guards and moving stealth like into the village, hiding in the shadows awaiting the signal. They advanced on the pack house, but the Alpha was forewarned by a traitor in the enemies midst, he and his warriors were awaiting them and a bloody battle raged. Days passed, bodies littered the grounds, the ground had turned red from the rivers of blood before a truce was called. All the leaders including the Alpha and the Beta were dead, the pack mourned and no-one wanted to fill the shoes of the beloved Alpha, so a decision was made, to live Alphaless!'

Lucas looked around at his breathless audience for a moment before he continued, 'A Committee was selected by the remaining members, chosen for their knowledge, strength and abilities, the men would go down to the village below trying to replace mates, as so many she-wolves had perished in the war, the human males didn't like their women coming with us, many a bloody fight ensued always ending the same way. Human male dead on the floor, Wolf and woman returning to Oakridge. I don't know if any were forced or if all came willingly, but a few found their real mates within the village. The villagers decided to attack the clan try and wipe them out, protect their females I assume, it ended badly for the village but showed the Clan just how much they needed some form of protection.

One day a female entered the village, she was barefoot, her dress torn as if she had been travelling for a while, the village took her in, cared for her, as repayment for their hospitality she told them she had knowledge of the magical arts, made a deal with the elders. In return for their Clan's protection, they had to agree to two things, they had to treat their women as the irreplaceable beauties that they were, they also had to protect something of hers, it was never to be opened until given to a very important person who would come to collect. When asked how they would know who this person was, she replied 'The Empress will reveal herself when she shifts into her wolf form, it will be white like new fallen snow, once she arrives, you are to treat her as the Goddess she is and give her this box'

The sorceress then set up the barrier around the village, no-one could enter except members of the Clan and those they brought through with them.

Over the decades, the Committee members returned to the Goddess and new members were sworn in, this went on for centuries until the battle was a distant memory. The story of the Sorceress was passed down from member to member, every child was educated in the recognition of the Empress when she chose to reveal herself until one Committee member started to doubt the story, decreeing it as a fallacy created by the original women of the pack after the death of the Alpha to keep the clan controlled and women above the men.

The Committee member gained support from some of the males, all fed up with awaiting some woman who was supposed to be above us all. New rules were brought in, first the right to learn was taken from women, then the right to train, then they became property to be bought. The Clan's money was kept securely by the Committee, no longer shared out with the members, everything was bought and sold by the Committee forcing the Clan into poverty and servitude. The story of the Sorceress was no longer taught, my grandfather passed it to me when I was a small boy, whispered to me in a barn away from my parents hearing, two days later our door was kicked in and my grandfather was taken away by the guards, we never saw him again.

Lucas looked back to the four leaders, all silent as he finished his tale.

Tentatively Charity asked, 'Do you know where this supposed box is Lucas?'

Lucas shook his head sadly, 'I am sorry Empress, I was never a member of the Committee, so was not privy to their secrets, but i'm sure one of the last Committee members would know.'

Charity rose from her seat, placing her hand lightly on Lucas' arm 'Thank you Lucas, I appreciate your help' she said before turning to lead the way out of the room.

Heading back to the Pack House, Charity called over to Leo who was stood nearby talking with Carmen, the two smiling happily together, 'Leo, could you go and replace one of the old Committee members for me please and bring him to the Pack House dining room?' she asked Bowing his head, Leo replied 'of course Luna I will go immediately!

'I'll go with you' Carmen interjected smiling 'I'm sure that I heard that Gabriel had moved in with his daughter and her husband, i'll show you which house is theirs' as she grabbed his hand and led him off between the buildings. Seating themselves at one of the tables, the four leaders waited for Leo to return, twenty minutes later a light knock on the door indicated his arrival. Entering the room, he bowed his head to each of the seated figureheads before opening the door wide and allowing the old man to enter.

Shuffling in, the grey haired man took a seat opposite, eyeing the leaders suspiciously.

'We expect manners from our pack members' snarled Justin angrily, making the old man jump slightly, 'A refusal to bow to a leader of any pack is seen as a direct challenge to their status, are you challenging Alpha Aaron or Myself Gabriel?' Justin inquired icily. 'N n n no Alpha' stuttered Gabriel, quickly bowing his head to each of them a slight fear emanating from him as he shrunk into himself under their gaze, the cocky boisterous leader thy had met weeks before long gone.

Nodding approvingly Justin addressed him again, 'Luna Charity would like to ask you some questions, you will answer her honestly and with as much detail as possible, am I clear?' he asked quietly, his tone radiating with his power. 'Yes Alpha' Gabriel whispered before raising his eyes to Charity, 'What would you like to ask me Empress?'

Charity cleared her throat, 'There is a box hidden within this village, a box that belongs to me' she stated firmly as Gabriel paled at her words, 'Where is it Gabriel and why was it not given to me when I first revealed myself as the White Wolf?' she asked. Gabriel swallowed loudly, his eyes darting from one leader to the next, 'uh, um, uh' he stuttered, unsure how to answer, 'I may have forgotten it Empress?' he said questioningly,

'I very much doubt you forgot it Gabriel' bristled Justin, 'The protection of that box has been the purpose of the pack for centuries!' he growled as Gabriel cowered.

'I thought it would be useful if I held on to it' he admitted hanging his head defeated.

'Where is it Gabriel' demanded Charity, her voice low but her Luna tone evident.

Gabriel slowly rose from his seat, walking to the panelled wall that separated the dining room from the grand staircase on the other side. Gently pushing against one of the square wooden panes, there was a small click before the panel moved back a few millimetres and slid to the side revealing a safe built into the recess behind. Putting in an eight digit number, he turned the large handle and pulled the door toward him, lifting out a small ornate wooden box, that looked hand carved, carrying it carefully over to the table he placed in front of Charity before stepping back.

'Thank you Gabriel, you may go' Justin ordered, watching as the old man shuffled his way back to the door, shutting it quietly behind him, leaving the four alone again.

Charity ran her hands over the carvings, awed by the intricacy, before she slowly lifted the lid to expose the black velvet lining. Nestled within was a black silk fabric scrap, wrapped loosely around the hidden content, peeling back the folds Charity's face became confused as she stared down at the secret that had been left for her, turning to Aaron she saw her confusion mirrored in his face, 'I don't understand' she said returning her gaze to the box.