Blood Of The Cursed

by BrittanyAnn Robinson

  He leaned his forehead against mine. This boy is the most amazing thing ever. I got so lucky.

  “Thank you for giving me those things too. I love you, Rhett Jameson.”

  I gave him a passionate kiss. Not caring that my parents were watching. They were both smiling like idiots anyway, they’ve been through this.

  “I can’t wait to meet our baby Phoenix.” I said putting my hands on my belly.

  Rhett stopped and looked at me. “That was my dad’s name. How’d you know, Scar?”

  “Dreams, baby. You dream a lot. And I’ve seen your dreams the last couple of nights. Your dad has been in them. I heard your mother call out his name a few times. It just seemed perfect to me. Is that okay with you?” I said, hoping I didn’t cross any lines.

  He smiled and kissed me on the forehead. “It’s perfect.”

  My mom and dad just sat back and watched us, gleaming. My dad got up, walked over to the fireplace mantle and grabbed his special box of cigars. He only smokes them on special occasions. He took two out and handed one to Rhett. Rhett’s face lit up like a kid on the Fourth of July. He’s so precious. I can only hope that Phoenix looks exactly like his father. I want a mini Rhett. My heart is so full. My dad put his arm around Rhett’s shoulders with their lit cigars and walked out to the back porch.

  My mom still beaming, looked at me. “Hunny, you’re going to be an amazing mother. I can’t wait to hold him. Just wait until we tell the pack tomorrow. They’re going to go crazy! They all miss you.” she said with a sad look.

  “I’m sorr…” I stopped talking when I saw the way Rhett looked as he hung up the phone.

  “Finn just called. There’s been another attack, Scarlett. Close to home. The Raven’s Nest Coven was attacked. Rabid wolves. We have to go. Now.” He said with anger.

  “Scarlett, Rhett, you guys follow behind me. That coven has helped both of our territories since before I was born. That’s a long time in case you aren’t aware. Let’s go. Layla darling, please stay here and keep an eye on things. Alert the pack. Stay safe. I love you.” My dad said with heavy command.

  Rhett grabbed my hand and led me out to the car. We waited for my dad to pull down the driveway before we followed.

  “How bad is it, Rhett?” My voice cracked with worry.

  “Bad. Three wolves attacked the High Priestess, Amora Night’s house while they were having a gathering. Only her and her sister made it out alive.” he said with regret.

  “Oh my god, Rhett! We have to get to Amora. We have to do something.” I urged.

  “No. You don’t have to do anything. If those rabid wolves are still around, I don’t want you anywhere near that place, Scarlett. I told you. I won’t risk you and the baby.” he gave no room for argument.

  I nodded and stared out the window. It was a short drive to Amora’s house. Amora’s house was just past Cornell, but not quite to Iron territory. Her house sat back in the woods. Hidden from the road. We pulled up the drive and parked in front of her house. Amora and her sister Alice were standing on their porch steps, holding each other. They were mourning their dead coven sisters. It was heartbreaking. I felt for them, deeply.

  “I called ahead to Finn and Jackson. Dakota, your dad’s beta is here as well. And from the looks of it, so is Vlad. If you plan on getting out of the car, you need to stay by my side. Do not wander off. Understood?” he asked seriously.

  “You understand that your child is inside of me, correct? I am not the child. So don’t you fucking talk to me like one. You can ask me to do something, but alpha or not, you will not speak to me like that.” I said angrily.

  “I’m sorry, I’m just stressed out and worried. For my sake, please stay by me and out of harm's way.” Rhett said.

  We got out of the Jeep and he grabbed my hand. We walked up to Amora and Alice. Finn and Jackson were digging graves for the fallen sisters. It was a sad night.

  “Thank you all for coming out and helping us. We greatly appreciate it. We could have dealt with everyone on our own, but we are exhausted and weak.” she said regretfully.

  “Please don’t be sorry for anything, Amora. This is a tragedy and we will do whatever we can to help you.” I tried to say it as meaningful as possible. They need all the love and understanding they can get right now.

  She continued to hold her weeping sister. Rhett let go of my hand, walking into the house to help grab the sister's bodies, and bury them alongside one another. It was hard watching them carry the lifeless bodies out of the house, wrapped in special blankets. The guys set them carefully in their graves.

  Amora caught me watching and she gave a slight smile. “We will bless our fallen sisters before they are completely buried. We will send them to the afterlife with all their crystals and spell cast belongings. I know these are unfortunate circumstances, but I wanted to congratulate you on your pregnancy. It’s a blessing in these dark times. And there are many more coming. I want you to know that Sybil is a good friend of mine. She’s been in touch with me. Especially about you.” she said while staring off in the distance.

  “What did she say about me, Amora? If there’s something I need to know, please tell me. There’s so much going on and I…”

  I was cut short by being thrown back by a powerful force. What the fuck was that? I looked up, Amora’s eyes were solid white, and looking pissed off as hell. Did she do that with her powers?

  “Run Scarlett, run now!” that’s when all hell broke loose. I could hear the snarling, and the screaming, and the fighting. Now I understand why Amora used her powers to push me aside. I was being lunged at by a rabid wolf. Holy fucking shit. This isn’t happening. Not only were there rabid wolves but vampires! We were surrounded.

  “Vlad, your vampires have been compromised by the virus. They must have been attacked while out searching for the wolves. This is chaos! Scarlett, get in Rhett’s Jeep. Right now. The rest of us have this handled!” My dad screamed.

  I saw Rhett battling a rabid wolf. Amora and Alice were also taking on the second wolf. Vlad was taking out his own vampires with speed that matched our own, if not faster. Incredible strength as well. Jackson and Finn were dealing with the third rabid wolf and a vampire. I needed to help someone. I couldn’t sit here and do nothing. It makes me feel pathetic. I can still fight with a baby in my belly.

  I heard Rhett yell “Scarlett! Get your fucking ass in my Jeep and drive off. I will kick your ass if you don’t listen to me.” he continued to fight off the wolf.

  Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. What do I do? I can’t leave and watch the ones I love die, but I can’t allow my child to be harmed either. Fuck!

  All of a sudden I felt a pair of strong hands on me. My fight or flight response kicked in and I started fighting. I finally got turned around and it ended up being Dakota, dad’s beta. Phew, that was fucking close. I damn near had a heart attack.

  I warned you, Scarlett. If you didn’t want to listen then I was going to take matters into my own hands. I love you. So does your dad, but we aren’t taking chances. Now go the fuck home!

  Rhett screamed through our mate bond. Ugh! Dakota grabbed my arm and dragged me to Rhett’s Jeep. He flung the door open and threw me in the driver’s seat, throwing the keys at me.

  “Scarlett, start the car and go home. Please just listen for once.” Dakota slammed the door and ran off to help the rest of them.

  I started the car and started to turn around in the driveway. Out the window, I saw Amora and her sister kill the first rabid wolf together. Vlad had all but one vampire killed, the rest lay on the ground as ashes. I noticed that Finn and Jackson had killed the vampire but were still dealing with the rabid wolf. Rhett was beating the shit out of the third rabid wolf, and throughout all the turmoil, I realized I hadn’t seen my dad fighting. Where was he? I slammed on the brakes. I flung the door open and ran out, searching frantically for my dad. When I finally spotted him, he was laying at the woodline, where the wolves must have attacked from. He must have been attacked first, he was bleed
ing everywhere. No! I have to save him. That’s my dad! I need him to stay alive.

  I ran as fast as I could, dodging the fighting. Getting yelled at the whole way. I made it to my dad, he was laying on his side unconscious. No. Please be okay. I listened for a heartbeat. It was there, but it was faint. I rolled him on his back, and I put my hands on his chest and envisioned every broken bone snapping back into place. Every fiber of his being sewn back together. He started to heal, slowly. My hands started to get warm, he was going to be okay.

  “Scarlett leave now! What are you doing? Get back to safety!” Yelled Rhett. He took his eyes off of the wolf for one second, leaving an opening for the rabid wolf to attack. The wolf lunged at Rhett, hitting him right in his chest, sending him flying. I heard a yelp next to me, Finn and Jackson finally killed the second rabid wolf. I got up and ran towards the wolf, I jumped high in the air so that I could come down on him and break his back with a heavy blow. He was faster. He turned around and ran full speed at me. Hitting me right in the midsection, taking me to the ground. I held his neck, trying to avoid a lethal bite. He was snapping and snarling, leaking drool all over me. Blood with it, I wanted to puke. Finn and Jackson ran over to me and yanked him off. Dakota ran to help try and subdue the wolf. I just lay there. My ribs hurt, my stomach hurt. My hips and back hurt. I should shift so I heal better. I couldn’t shift, so I just continued to lay there.

  “Scarlett!!!” Rhett yelled as he got up and noticed I was on the ground.

  He ran up to me, bending down, looking furious and concerned at the same time.

  “I’m okay. Just in pain. I think the baby is fine too.” I said trying to calm him.

  “Why can’t you fucking listen for once. What if you got bit, Scar. What the fuck.” he said angrily.

  He was so mad he just walked away to help the guys contain the rabid wolf. They needed to take it alive. Amora and Alice ran to my side, helping me up.

  “Please go check on my dad, he’s over there on the ground, where Vlad is kneeling over him. Please. I tried my best to heal him.” I said trying to catch my breath.

  I limped to the porch stairs and sat down, I could feel my body healing slowly, I just need to breathe. I had the wind knocked out of me. At least they got their living rabid wolf. They can study and learn about it. They managed to tie the wolf’s mouth shut and knock him out. They hogtied his feet and threw him in the back of Jackson’s truck. The girls and Vlad managed to get my dad up to his feet. Thank goodness. He’ll be okay. The rest of the guys walked up to me, making sure I was okay. Rhett sat down next to me and pulled me close.

  “You have no idea how angry I am with you right now, Scarlett. And I’m going to leave it at that.” he said staring at the ground.

  Finn and Jackson took off in the truck back to my dad’s house. Vlad had disappeared. Creepy mother fucker right there, how he always just disappears like that. Amora took her sister in the house to relax, Dakota and my dad rode home together, my dad was still out of it. Rhett grabbed my hand and I started walking behind him to the jeep, he was giving me the silent treatment. All of a sudden I felt a sharp pain in my lower stomach. Oh no, please be okay. The pain became stronger and stronger. I couldn’t handle it anymore and doubled over, collapsing to my knees, holding my stomach.

  “Rhett, somethings wrong! Please, get me home. Fast!” he turned around in a panic. He scooped me up off the ground and took me to the jeep. After gently but quickly setting me in the passenger’s seat, he ran around and got in the driver’s side. He tore out of the drive and onto the road. At this point the pain was so bad, I thought I was going to die.

  “I’m so sorry!” I screamed. I couldn’t heal whatever was wrong with me, I wasn’t healing. I was freaking out. Rhett kept his eyes on the road and kept his hands off of me. He couldn’t do anything. He tried to reassure me that I’d be okay, but I tuned him out.

  I was doubled over in the seat, my hand still holding my stomach. All of a sudden I felt a warm wetness between my legs. It just kept coming out. I put a hand between my legs and pulled it out to look at it. Blood. Lots of it. All I could do was stare in morbid terror.

  “Rhett, the baby!” I screamed. He stomped on the gas, we were doing about 120 mph at that point. We got home in twenty minutes. He had to carry me inside, I was losing so much blood that I was losing consciousness, I could see shadows and various lights. I knew we were in the house. But I couldn’t see or feel anything, I’m pretty sure I heard Rhett yell for the pack healer. She was on her way to the house. Rhett was in such a frantic panic, I thought he was going to tear down the house, I could feel everything he was feeling through our bond. I’ve never felt him feel so...angry. He’s angry with me. What have I done?

  Some more shuffling noises, more frantic voices. I couldn’t make anything out, I still had no idea if I was in our room or on the couch. I felt hands on me and a small warmth lit up my belly. But it felt cold at the same time. The pain was pulsating and wouldn’t stop, I couldn’t handle it anymore. I lost consciousness.

  7

  It’s been twenty-four hours since Scarlett lost consciousness. Twenty four hours since she lost the baby, I’m furious and I’m hurt. I can’t think. Why can't she learn to just fucking listen to me? Why is it so hard for her. I sat on the edge of the bed, watching her sleep. Hoping she will wake any minute. The pack and her family have done nothing but help. The pack healer said her uterus tore when the wolf hit her, causing her to lose the baby and bleed out. Thankfully she was able to stop the bleeding and heal the uterus, but it was too late for our son.

  A tear ran down my cheek. I feel like my whole world just got ripped away from me. A moan escaped Scarlett's mouth just then.

  I grabbed her hand and brushed her hair out of her face. She slowly started to come to. Her eyes fluttered open. Her eyes were normally bright and blue. But now they're dark and grey. She just stared at me.

  "The baby?" She asked.

  "Gone." I said with sorrow in my voice

  She looked away from me and closed her eyes. She started sobbing. She let go of my hand and covered her face with her own hands, sobs and screams of pain filled the room. I could feel the atmosphere in the pack turn dull and hurt. They could hear her, and they mourned with us. All I could do was watch her. I want so badly to crawl into bed with her and hold her, but something held me back.

  "Scar. Please tell me why you couldn't have just driven away like you were asked. I love that you're such a strong individual. But sometimes you just need to do what is asked. Just to listen at least once. Our baby is gone. It could have been prevented. I love you, Scar. But you've broken my heart." Tears threatened to fall, so I got up and walked away. I feel like shit about it but I had to. I walked out of the room and shut the door behind me.

  Something hit the door as I shut it, and then a very painful scream followed after that. Her pain and grief hit me like a train, It almost knocked me off my feet. I walked downstairs and into my office. I grabbed my head from the pain, anger just kept building. I grabbed my chair and threw it at the wall. Leaving a hole. I punched my desk over and over again. I kept yelling until my throat hurt and my voice was raw. I threw my laptop, everything that I could get my hands on. Finn rushed in, nearly taking out the door. He stood there in shock.

  "Dude. Rhett. Stop, please. You're scaring everyone. I know you're hurting man. I can feel it. We all can. And we can also feel Scarlett's pain. She's hurting too, and she's all alone. You should go comfort her." He said with sad eyes

  "Go comfort her? Where was she when I wanted her to comfort me by leaving because it was too dangerous for her and our child? Where the fuck was she, Finn!? In the fucking middle of the fight. Our baby is gone and she almost went with him. She makes me wish I never met her." I said angrily.

  Finn stepped closer to me with caution. He finally just walked over and gave me a big hug. He patted my back. He let go and looked at me. Man to man.

  "You know who she is, man. It's what she does. She loves so deepl
y that she'd risk her life to save and protect the ones she loves. She's strong because of that. She's strong because she cares." Finn said with truth.

  "But she protected the wrong people this time. Because of her selfishness, she ran into danger, and our child died because of it. She knew she could have gotten hurt and losing the baby was a result. And she chances it anyway. I don't know if I can forgive that, Finn." I said with a harsh tone

  All of a sudden Finn's eyes got big and I instantly knew why. He turned around and moved out of her way so we had a full view of each other. She looked like death. Her skin was as white as the printer paper I had thrown around the room. Her eyes were sunk in and dark. Her cheeks sunk in and her bones protruded. She looked skinny and sick, I can't believe she's standing. Hurt and anger plastered her face.

  "I lost him too. Not just you. I felt the pain as he was ripped from my body. I made the choice to save my dad because it's all I've ever known. I made the choice to try and save my mate because living in a world without him wouldn't be living for me. I'd just be existing. And you want to stand there and throw a fucking tantrum like a child. Try and make me feel like my hurt and my pain is invalid because I didn't listen to the big bad alpha. Well, fuck you, Rhett. You don't love me. You're a spiteful bastard and I wish I never met you." She said with so much anger it worried me.

  I didn’t know what to say to her. I just watched her. She walked into the office until she was standing in front of me. Looking up at me with eyes that were void of the Scarlett I knew and loved. Before I even knew what was happening, she clocked me in the jaw, sending me back. She hit me so hard I’m positive my jaw broke. I recovered from the hit and I just stood there. In shock. What is happening to us?

  “Scar…” I tried to say something but she cut me off.

  “Don’t. You’ve said enough. Fuck you.” She stood in front of me, closing her eyes, she was in thought. Without reading her mind, I tried to figure out what she was thinking. Then it hit me.