C3 ~Trouble in Paradise~

"Seven more days!" Anna shrieks as she leaps into Stirling's arm. "I can't wait to be Luna!" She flings her head back and smiles at him big.

"I don't see why we have to wait!" He expresses his disagreement. Grabbing his hair in frustration, "Waiting until Halloween is cutting it close!"

A woman's sweet voice makes a clearing noise, "I don't believe in the curse, it's more like a tale that we tell children."

Stirling's face goes straight, "So why...."

His voice is cut off by a faint whisper, "Sterling..." He looks around the room in concern.

"What is it?" Asks a worried Anna.

"You look like you've seen a ghost!" laughs his stepmother.

Anna loops her hand in his and smiles up at him, "It's romantic to have faith enough in our love that it will break the curse!"

His mouth opens to speak but no words come out. He hears the whisper again, "Sterling..."

"I'll be right back!" He demands as he brushes Anna's hand off of him and brushes passed his stepmother.

"Sterling.." The whisper sounds urgent and he chases it down the hall. "Sterling..." He pauses outside his grandfather's room.

The door swings open and he's yanked into the room. "Tell. Him!" The whispers demand.

His grandfather's face, neck, and body is shaking. He grabs Sterling's hands. His shake causes Stirling to shake, "I'm so sorry!"

Sterling tries to calm his grandfather, "What's wrong?"

His grandfather's voice is strong but trembling, "My mate was a witch.."

Sterling gasps, "No!"

His grandfather cries, "She was magnificent!" His voice gets caught in his throat. He's never seen his grandfather so upset and to call a witch was amazing. Well, that's out of character for him.

"She was the princess of the witches.." He takes a deep breath, "I denied her for not being a wolf."

Sterling gasps, "That's painful!" His grandfather nods, "You're right."His eyes welt, "I beat her.."

Sterling stops his grandfather, "You what?" The confusion is evident in his voice.

"I beat her.." He cries out and speaks in between heavy breaths, "I hit. I kicked, I spit, and denied her!"

Sterling's heart drops, "How could you?"

His grandfather recollects himself, "She wasn't good enough. Only wolves shall marry wolves!"

His grandfather gets close to his face, "The true curse is that you would be my pride and joy." He places a hand on his grandson's shoulder, "I'd love you and be proud and then you would mate to a human!"

Sterlings mouth drops, "Mate to a human?"

His grandfather nods, "Yes, a human. You shall marry a human or become a wolf forever."

Sterling is filled with emotions, "I thought I just had to get married before Halloween or become a beast forever?"

He shakes his head, "You marry a human or become a beast!"

Sterling is confused, "So why haven't we found her?"

His grandfather's eyes turn cold, "You shall not marry a human!"

Sterling half-heartedly laughs but the fierceness in his grandpa's eyes stops him, "What are you saying?"

His grandfather uses his alpha voice, "You will take one for the team and become a beast forever!"

Sterling is feeling abandoned, agitated, and disappointed in his grandfather, "How could you sacrifice your own grandson?"

He pulls away from his grandpa, "You say you love me.."

His grandpa slaps him across the face, "Stop crying like a baby!"

His fist clenched and he stormed out of the room. Ignoring his grandpa yelling at him, "Don't you walk away from me. You better get back over here!"

"Run..." The whisper is clear as day. He chases it down the hall as it starts out loud but fades, "RUN. Run.. run!"

The voices lead him to the gate and he stops.

His stepmother's voice comes behind him, "What are you doing?"

He shrugs, "I needed some air..."

Her sarcasm is apparent and her worry is sarcastic, "What is wrong, love?"

"Did you know that if I don't marry a human I will be a beast forever?" He asks.

"Not just any human it must be your mate..." She doesn't seem concerned.

"So you knew?" He turns to her in confusion and agitation.

"Of course, that's why you need to get married before you become a beast.." She proceeds to say.

He cuts her off, "What's the point?"

"If we are mated, and you turn into a beast, I might be able to calm you?" Anna's worried voice comes from behind him.

"You knew too?" He asks.

She nods, "Yes, but you can't marry a human and this is the best chance to tame the beast."

She walks up behind him and wraps her delicate hands around him, "It's not an idea but just because you can't find your mate doesn't mean you should be alone forever!"

Her embrace comforts him. His stepmother ruins it, "You won't be able to rule and your dad won't live forever.."

Anna stops her and finishes, "When the time is right we will have a baby..."

His wolf snaps and he goes into a sudden and painful transformation. The two ladies step back in horror as his wolf growls and nips and acts like he has rabies. The whisper comes from the woods, "Sterling!" His wolf runs into the woods, in search of answers.