Chapter 92 - Their Cursed

Gentry

Gen,

I love you. You should know that first. I should not have left how I did. I hurt you when you were already hurting. I need you to know that I love you and I am sorry. I should have come back, but I couldn’t bring myself to do that until I found a way to break the curse and stop Voldigoad. I knew that a part of you would never forgive me if something happened to Remi because we couldn’t stop him.

I have a plan, a reckless one, but a plan, nonetheless. I just need some time. I know you are feeling the effects of our separation, and I am too. But when this is all over, we will be so much stronger. For now, I need you to believe in me, believe that I am coming back to you. I am Gen. You haven’t lost me.

I need you to be strong. I need you to fight the weakness you feel so that we can help break the curse and stop the warlock when I come back. I need you to survive for our baby. Don’t stop reading. Yes, baby.

With the help of an old friend, I placed an enchantment on my womb. Our baby is paused right now. It won’t grow any larger for the time being. It is in a magical stasis until it is safe for them to come into the world and meet us.

I want you to know that I will understand if you wish to be rid of our bond when I return. None of this has been fair to you, just as the curse is not fair to Remi. I hope this will not be your choice, but I will understand if it is.

All my love - Your Sam

I couldn’t even begin to process everything that was happening in this one letter. Where would I even start? My eyes kept going back to that one word - baby. She is pregnant. I am going to have a pup; I am going to be a father. She hasn’t left me; she is coming back. And she is going to carry my pup. She is asking me to be strong; I will do anything for her and my pup.

I didn’t notice the three pairs of eyes on me as I sat there staring at her letter, committing every word to memory. Remi was the first to say anything. “Gentry, are you okay?”

I looked at her sitting next to the twins. She held something in her hand. Finally, I noticed my cheek was wet. Dashing the stray tears from it, I gave her a small smile. “Yea, I’m okay. What’s that?” I asked her. I needed more time with this information before I shared it with my best friends and Remi.

“Sammy left it for me. It is supposed to help protect me in case…” her voice got a little tight as she trailed off.

Calder

I lay awake with Remi soundly sleeping tucked into my side. I haven’t been able to sleep all night. Remi felt off all day yesterday. When we came back from our search last night, Gentry disappeared without a word. None of us asked him what was in the letter. Remi had been distant until we got in bed, and I pulled her close. Once I held her for a while, she drifted off to sleep, but I wasn’t able to fall asleep.

Sammy’s letter worried me a bit. She didn’t give many details about her plan, and she could be putting herself in danger. Gentry would never forgive us if his mate died trying to help ours. I let out a long sigh and looked over to the clock. It was still a bit early to wake Remi and head to breakfast. With my free arm, I reached over to the nightstand and grabbed my cellphone. When I flicked it open, I was interested to see a message from my father.

My mood dropped further, seeing a Council meeting being held today, and they were expecting us in attendance with our mate. The Council summoning us with Remi didn’t sit well with me. So far, they have not been supportive of our decision to make Remi the Luna alongside us. I hoped that with my parents' support and Remi being marked, many of them would give up their opposition.

I assumed Cullen had not seen this message yet because he was still training. “What’s wrong?” said my little mate next to me. I hadn’t noticed her pushing herself up to look at me.

“Nothing,” I tried to tell her.

“Calder, what’s wrong?” she asked softly. Her eyes implored me to tell her.

“The Council would like to see us today with you, I admitted. Her eyes flickered with concern. “Hopefully, it isn’t anything to be concerned about.” My attempt to comfort her was shallow at best.

“They don’t want me to be Luna, do they?” She asked.

“Some are not convinced yet.”

“What if they say we can’t be mates?” Her lip quivered. I dropped my phone and crushed her to me.

“They will never tell me who can or cannot be my mate. You are my mate Remi. I do not care how many of them are against it; you will be my Luna, and I will settle for nothing less.” I kissed the top of her head, trying to calm her worries. We were both quiet for a minute.

“Do you think it would be different if I weren’t cursed?” she whispered.

“Probably,” I told her the truth. If her family wasn’t cursed, then she would have grown up in the pack; she would not be learning about werewolf life as an adult. We probably would have found her years ago when she came of age, even if it were not right away. Then, there wouldn’t be doubt surrounding her as a member of our race and pack. “The Moon Goddess made Cullen and me your mates. She knew we could break this curse and free you. And she knew you would be our perfect Luna. If the Council wants to ignore one of the most sacred bonds we have, then maybe Cullen and I should move to dismiss them.”

-

Remi sat between Cullen and me, fidgeting nervously. Gentry sat across from us, and both of my parents sat at the head of the table. My mother gave us a warm smile, and I could only assume she was here for Remi’s defense. This was clearly going to be about her, but I was confused at the timing.

“Alpha,” the Head Elder addressed my father. “Thank you for joining us today. The Elder Council has decided it is time to address the issue of your sons’ mate.” Remi was exuding anxious energy, and it was making it difficult to keep myself calm. I reached under the table and rested my hand on her knee, hoping it would make her feel more secure.

My father stood. “What could need to be addressed, specifically?” he asked the room.

“The girl still carries a curse, correct?” the Head Elder questioned.

To his credit, my father didn’t falter. “Yes, for the moment.”

“And she has yet to mark either of her mates?” the Head Elder continued pointedly.

“Why do the affairs of our mate bond concern you or affect our ability to lead this pack?” Cullen shot from his seat.

“This council has concerns about this she-wolf becoming Luna,” another Elder chimed in.

“Remi,” I growled. “You will address her with her name.” My temper was rising. When she first arrived, they wanted us to ship her back over the Boundary and reject her. Now they were pushing the issue once more.

“The girl had only shifted for the first time a few nights ago. She is ignorant of our laws and customs. She has not even completed the bonding process with her mates,” the Head Elder continued. “And this is all ignoring the fact that she is cursed. None of these are good indicators for the future of our pack.”

I looked down at Remi, who was pale, and I could see tears beginning to form in her eyes. I could feel her fear through our bond, and I knew exactly what she was afraid of.

“Remi has been working diligently with my Luna to become knowledgeable about all things concerning our ways,” my father informed them. My mother stood up next to him.

“Remi is a very bright girl. Her adaptation to life in the Supernatural Realm has been nearly seamless. She is studying earnestly and represented the pack as the future Luna gracefully at the recent Summit,” my mother praised her. She looked over to us, giving Remi a warm smile. “I am proud to be passing the title to a more than worthy girl.”

“A few weeks of education cannot change an upbringing in the Ordinary Realm,” another Elder argued.

Cullen and I both stood now, glaring at the council around us. “This is not a matter up for discussion. If this council is going to go against our mate, then they are going against the Moon Goddess,” Cullen growled.

“Remi is our fated mate for a reason! My brother is right. If you wish to go against her as the next Luna of this pack, then you are going against the Moon Goddess,” I followed his words.

“Boys!” my father rebuked.

“No!” It was my turn to growl. “This council’s purpose is to help advise and guide the leadership of the pack; it is not to dictate fate!” I stared down at the members of the Council seated around the tables, daring them to defy us.

Finally, Elder Hershel stood and faced us with a calm expression. “Calder, Cullen, I do not speak for the entire Council, but I would like to express my views on the matter. Taking into the accounts of the current Alpha and Luna, who seemed to have nothing but praise for your mate, no matter how unconventional her upbringing was, I believe we should not stand in the way of Miss Remi taking the Luna title.” Some of my anger began to subside at his words. He paused briefly before continuing. “But, I do not believe it to be a preposterous request to ask that the curse situation be handled before she is formally accepted as Luna of Blue Moon. There is conflicting information between prophecy and the evidence you have brought forward about exactly what the girl’s fate is. It is not unreasonable for this Council to be concerned for the welfare of the pack should the prophecy come true.”

“A plan is in place,” Cullen stated. Elder Hershel nodded.

“Would you care to elaborate?” he asked.

“No,” I said. “It will be handled. Once it is, my parents will be stepping down as Alpha and Luna.”

“We will allow you time to handle the curse, but if you and your brother cannot give us sufficient proof that this girl proves no threat to this pack, this council will take further action,” the Head Elder retorted.

“What further action would that be?” Cullen seethed.

“A Luna is traditionally the mate of the Alpha. But seeing as you have already mated and marked the girl, we may see it necessary to install a Luna of our choosing,” the Head Elder threatened.

“That is enough,” my father stepped in. “This meeting is through. Elder Xavier, I will expect you in my office immediately.” My father turned and stormed from the room, my mother striding confidently behind him. I looked around the room as members of the council reacted to my father’s dismissal. I could not believe those words were just spoken.

“We’re leaving, now,” Cullen linked me. My attention snapped to him. Remi was standing between us, but her face was cast down to the ground. Cullen grabbed her hand, and we all followed my father’s lead from the room. Gentry was around the table and next to us almost instantly. An awkward, tense silence stretched between us as Cullen led us up to his office. Gentry left at the door with only a nod.

“How dare they?” I began as I closed the door behind us. I stopped quickly when my eyes fell on Remi. She was looking at me with round eyes and wet cheeks. I closed the distance between us as Cullen also realized how upset our mate was. I grabbed her face in my hands and tilted it up, so she was looking into my eyes. “It isn’t happening.” Her lip quivered, and it looked like more tears were getting ready to fall.

“I’m s-sorry,” she whispered.

“There is nothing to be sorry for,” I told her.