C11 Chapter 10. Cursed

10. Cursed

Everyone was taken aback when they looked at me, or rather my eyes.

I looked at my brother again, who had analyzed everything at this point.

"Why do you look terrified of me, Lance?" I inquired.

"Astrid," he said, frowning.

"Lance," I called him.

"What is happening to you, my love?" he tried to approach me but was stopped by a group of people.

"Let me go. She's my sister," Lance cautioned.

They didn't stop him any further, allowing him to approach me.

"What's wrong with me, Lance?" I inquired.

I knew there was something that everyone else could see, but I couldn't. My entire body was stinging, especially my eyes, as if a volcano were erupting from them.

"She is a witch!"

"She's been cast under a spell!"

"She carries something terrible within her" "she is cursed" I could hear people passing judgment on me.

"Astrid, we have to leave from here," Lance said as he shielded me from everyone's gaze and led me away from the scene.

"What happened, Lance?" "Why does everyone appear to be terrified of me?" I managed to tell him I was on the verge of passing out.

"Would you like me to tell you the truth?" he inquired.

"Of course I do, and I just want to hear the truth, nothing else," I answered sternly.

He groaned as he stroked his temple.

"I can't pinpoint a specific color, but there was an ombré of colors swirling in your eyes, shifting hues. when I first noticed they were red with a hue of orange encircling an outer area, and then the orange part dissolved in your iris switching colors to blue and then purple." I am still terrified of you, as any rational person would be, but I am your brother, and I know you would not harm me in any way. "Didn't you see any difference?"

"No, I simply felt a stinging sensation within my eyes, and that was it," I shook my head when he finished narrating what had just happened to me.

"Astrid, what happened to you?" I inquired, concerned.

"I don't know, Lance, it wasn't like I was seeing things in a different light; everything felt normal except for the rising rage inside me," I moaned. "Is there anything else you want to tell me?" I asked him again.

"Yes, several nerves in your thoracic outlet popped out, and I could feel a surge of blood coming through it, and those nerves throbbed until we were out of there," he explained.

I was taken aback, and I was horrified at what was happening to me. I could only imagine a terrifying self scaring everyone around me.

"Astrid, you're shivering," Lance said as he shook my shoulders.

I didn't realize everything was taking a physical toll on me, and even if I focused on the infinity of logical dimensions, I couldn't pinpoint what had just happened to me.

"What if I'm actually under a spell, Lance?" I inquired about my brother.

"Hey, nothing of the sort happened, okay?" You're fine, and we'll prove to everyone that you're not under any stupid spell. We don't know what it is, but we'll figure it out. For now, forget about any of these things." Lance grabbed me and rubbed my back, trying to calm me down.

"Thank you, Lance. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't been there," I murmured as tears streamed down my cheeks.

"Astrid, what have I promised you, I will defend you from everything, and I will do precisely that. I will murder that Edward for putting you through everything," Lance began to move back, rage visible in his eyes.

"No, Lance, I think they're right, I don't deserve to be a luna, and I think the moon goddess made a mistake pairing me with him," I said.

"I don't want to cause any more havoc in anyone's life."

But, Astrid, he injured you, and he deserves to know that he can't get away with mocking in front of everyone." I understand he was frustrated. Lance dislikes it when others stop him or question his decisions.

"I don't want to change anyone's mind; I'm okay the way I am, and I don't want to sever ties with anyone, and I don't want to bring up this subject again," I shook my head.

He furrowed his brow. "But," he interjected.

"No, but I'm tired, so let's get this over with," I said, smiling.

"You really are something, Astrid," he said as he kissed my forehead and hugged me to his chest.

We arrived home, and Skylar was nowhere to be found. I went to his room and gently knocked on the door.

"Astrid, leave me alone!" he shouted.

That's the thing about Sky: he's the happiest when he's in a good mood, but you don't want to mess with him when he's in a bad one. Furthermore, my brothers are the most protective and understanding. Still, when they are in a bad mood, they end up blaming me for everything, so in situations like these, it is better if I leave them alone, and by the end of the day, they will return to their usual selves, and everything will return to its place.

I went to my bed and fell asleep. Just as I was drifting off to sleep, the main door slammed shut with force.

I went to open it since I assumed it was locked, but my parents were already inside.

They gazed at me with malice in their eyes.

Mom hauled me into the center of the living room, clutching my hair tightly in her fingers.

I winced in pain, but she wouldn't let me go.

"Please, Mom, leave me alone," I implored.

"You bought us shame once more. Didn't I tell you to stay in the corner? Why did you show up then?" Mom inquired.

"It was hurting me, Mom. What else could I do?" and I'm not sure what happened to me there," I explained my actions.

"I knew you were something bad, so I wasn't taking you anyplace with us," Mom gritted her teeth.

It was difficult to comprehend that the same mother who gave birth to me believes I am wicked; nevertheless, I am beginning to understand that I am the root of her troubles; otherwise, why would she despise me?

I didn't respond; instead, I just kept my head down, accepting whatever came my way.

"You are unfit for anything; all you know is burdening yourself with your existence," dad stated.

Dad was always a guy of few words, and whatever he spoke would pierce into my soul, exacerbating the harm that had already been done.

"So, starting tomorrow, you're going to come to the pack in the early morning, and I'll make arrangements for you to serve the alpha and his family, though I highly doubt they or anyone else for that matter will accept you under them," Mom said.

I glanced at her for the first time that night, and it was the first time I had dared to look at her.

"Mom, but I already earn money working as a waitress," I remarked, tears welling up in my eyes.

"You can quit that because I'm sure news has spread across the pack that you're nasty, and by now, I'm sure no one wants you," Mom scoffed.

Even if her remarks were venomous, she had a point, and I had no other way to earn than what mum suggested.

"Be ready in the morning, and I've already spoken with Alpha Brad. You can start working tomorrow," Mom grumbled and walked away.

I was relieved that I had gotten away so quickly.

The next day, no questions were asked, and I was instructed to begin dusting the items.

It was time for college, and I needed to ask someone for permission to leave.

I was wandering about looking for someone. I wasn't familiar with the packhouse, so I'm sure I could easily get lost in it.

I was going around when I came across Edward's room and couldn't help but peek inside when I noticed the door was open. I wished I hadn't done it because I saw Edward kissing Charlotte as soon as I did.

I sighed and exited the room.

When I saw Alpha, I asked if I could go to college, but he replied my work wasn't finished yet.

"Could I please finish it when I return?" I asked.

"Do you think you'll have time for that?" He inquired.

"I'll be okay," I said coldly.

"Okay, but I can't stand laziness, and your parents had asked me to keep you here because no one else would," his remarks didn't bother me because he was a stranger, and only my family had this effect on me.

Like every time, I wondered why my mother acted the way she did. Is there something about me that she is aware of but is hiding from me?

I sighed and proceeded to my classes.