SONIA’S POV

They both looked at me like I was speaking gibberish, or I had simply lost my mind. Ramon’s brow furrowed deeply, a mix of amusement and disbelief crossing his face. Blane’s expression shifted from confusion to mild skepticism, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied me.

I knew what I was saying. Today was the first time since I was given that home, I was able to look at the land and not shudder. Something told me that was made possible because of the tell signs of the full moon. It had neutralised the effect of the cursed land, making it easier on the sight. The pull was still there, faint but persistent, like a whisper I couldn’t quite ignore.

"It’s cursed?" He chuckled. The sound was low, almost disbelieving, but there was a glint of curiosity in his eyes.

"What are you talking about, Sonia?" Blane laughed. The amusement in his voice stung more than I expected.

They were both laughing at me. I wasn’t crazy, they were. Just because they couldn’t sense the things I could sense didn’t mean I was insane. The land carried an old, bitter grief, like smoke that refused to dissipate.

"Yes, it’s cursed. The land was cursed by someone still grieving. You have to appeal to it if you want it to become fertile again. I would do it, but I don’t like curses. They creep me out and scare me to my bones." I found my voice again as I explained in detail. My hands twisted together in my lap, the fabric of my dress damp from earlier sweat.

"You’re serious, Sonia?" Ramon cocked a brow. He looked both amused and intrigued. I couldn’t blame him. Maybe if I couldn’t sense things, I would think whoever said the same thing I just said was crazy too.

"I am. It’s a cursed land."

"You keep saying it’s a cursed land, but you’ve not given any evidence to back up your claims. Am I supposed to just take your word for it? What’s going on here?" Ramon’s head rotated in wonder, his gaze sharpening as he studied me.

I wished there was someone else who could help back up my claim. How could I provide real and substantial evidence of what I knew was true? I had to think of something. There had to be a way to prove it. Sadly, I knew almost nothing about curses.

From all the healing books I managed to sneak in from my pack’s library, I purposely skipped past the ones that talked about curses. There was something just ancient and binding about them. We were in modern times, and idealistically, things like that shouldn’t exist anymore.

"I don’t know. I just know nothing could ever grow in that land until the curse is lifted."

"I’m going to take your words as slander until you can prove them. Do you know how we punish slanderers in this pack?" Ramon’s voice dropped, carrying that dangerous edge I knew too well.

My heart thundered immediately after hearing that question. Why did they have to be punished for every sin? I had seen how traitors were treated. I wondered what the cousin of traitors, slanderers, would get as punishment.

"No," I shook my head slowly.

"Trust me, you don’t want to know. I agree with the alpha. Give us solid proof, and we’ll be compelled to believe you." Blane’s tone was more measured, but still firm.

I summoned enough courage to throw a quick glance at Blane. He was acting very differently. As if to prove a point to the alpha, he was indeed loyal to him. It reminded me of the old Blane. The one who did everything the alpha asked, because he didn’t know that his position as the beta gave him some right to at least vet some of the alpha’s decisions.

"You heard him, Sonia. I want solid proof, or you’ll find out what happens to slanderers. You may leave now," Ramon said.

I didn’t wait to be addressed twice. I already felt sick to my stomach. For me to find solid proof, I had to go into the land. The thought of venturing into that cursed ground was enough to bring tears to my eyes.

But there was nothing I could say that would dissuade the alpha. This was why I loved working in the clinic. If I was there, I wouldn’t be stuck in cursed land recovery duties.

I had made it to the door when I heard my name. Turning my head around, my eyes went to Ramon’s.

"Give me proof before the full moon."

"I—" I held myself back from protesting. It would only fall on deaf ears. He was the alpha, and I was his captured slave. "Yes, Alpha."

I hurried out of the room, shutting the door behind me with a soft click. The hallway felt longer than usual, the weight of his command pressing down on my shoulders. I had barely made it out of the quarters when two guards accosted me just at the exit door.

"Hey, you’re wearing the same thing as the girl who—" the guard paused talking on seeing my face.

"Isn’t she Sonia?" The other guard questioned the one who had gone mute.

"She is. I guess we can’t hold her back. She must have gone to see the alpha," the one who asked answered his own question. The other just nodded in agreement.

"Can I please leave now? I have an urgent assignment to run for the alpha."

"Please do."

They both stepped out of my path, and I went out of the quarters. My head was in dark clouds, and my thoughts heavy as I walked to my house. Nothing happening around me had my attention. I was too concerned with how I was supposed to bring proof about the land being cursed before the full moon.

I looked at the sky. Judging by the intensity of the sun, after it had cleared off the morning’s mystery, it was easy to calculate the date of the full moon. In two days time. Just two days. So I had two days before I would be punished for being a slanderer. My body shuddered just at the thought.

Light and multiple footsteps walked past me. "That’s her. Sonia from Silverpaw. She’s so beautiful, but why does she look so messy?"

I could hear them gossiping about me, but I was too occupied in my mind to check for their faces. They were right after all. I was a mess. A total mess. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

"I heard she’s supposed to be the—"

"Shhh! Don’t say that! If the alpha hears you, you’re toast."

That caught my attention, and it almost made me cackle like a witch. Funny how if things were normal, I would be the Luna of this pack. Well, I was grateful I wasn’t.

There were so many curses that needed to be broken. What no one knew was the barren land was just one of many curses. In no distant time, there would be doom and gloom.