Chapter 10: Angry Males

Cursed.

The single word made her head spin. Adeline couldn't understand how one simple word could affect her so much, but it somehow did.

You're cursed.

I'm cursed. Adeline repeated in her mind. It didn't feel real to her. She didn't know very much about the other supernatural species, but as far as she knew, curses were illegal in every realm; so how the hell was she cursed?

"What?" She asked, her voice soft and hesitant. Maybe she had misheard Sasha; hell, maybe this was all just a dream that she had to wake up from. This couldn't be real, it just couldn't be.

"You're cursed," Sasha repeated. The Oracle's voice was soft and sad; Sasha was just as affected as Adeline was. Oracles had a kind of rare magic that Adeline's mind just simply couldn't comprehend. Oracles could look into the soul and mind of a person by just touching their temples, they could feel very strong emotions, even from other people, and they could heal minor injuries; but only the most powerful of their kind, could do what they were so well known for.

"How?" Adeline's body went slack with shock. All these years of pain and loneliness and anger, was because of a spell? "How is there a spell?"

Sasha's shoulders lifted and fell in defeat. The well known, all-powerful Oracle, didn't even know the answer.

A low growl rumbled in the background. Adeline wasn't paying enough attention to know who the owner of the sound was, but she followed the deep growl with her own. Her animalistic sound stirred something deep inside of her mind. Just like a wave of heat flowing over cold flesh, she could feel the beast awakening. She knew that if she didn't get the wolfsbane soon; the monster would try to take over. Adeline didn't like the beast ever taking over, but since an Oracle was on the premises, and her parents were downstairs in the basement, she risked the chance of actually killing people.

Many.... Many people. She repeated in her mind.

"What's wrong?" The Oracle asked, suddenly. Adeline's eyes scanned the woman's body as she felt the monster rise, pushing at her mental restraints. It was awakening much too quickly; it was getting bolder.

"Wolfsbane. I need wolfsbane." Adeline forced out through clenched teeth. Sasha's eyes went wide and her mouth formed an 'o'. The room seemed to drop into confusion. No one knew what to do, or how to help. Adeline needed her parents; they knew what to do.

"My parents, they know where the vials are," Adeline said. Closing her eyes, she imagined a huge, stone wall in her mind. The wall was blocking the beast from taking over, and it was protecting her from the pain. Adeline felt the Beast reside slightly, obviously shocked by the sudden mental barrier Adeline had built up. She almost smiled at the little victory; she had caught the beast off guard. Even that tiny achievement seemed to lift some of the weight that always sat on her chest.

"Umm," Sasha looked around frantically, before pointing at Darius, Trace, Finnian, and her mate. "They'll come with me while I get the Alphas. You stay here, okay?" At that, Sasha's mouth lifted into a smile.

Haha. Adeline thought dryly. Very funny. It's not like I can go anywhere.

The Oracle spun around, grabbed her mate by the hand, and started in the direction of the door; but just before she walked through the exit, she looked over her shoulder with bright, determined eyes. "I will find whoever did this to you."

All Adeline could do was stare at the empty space that was just occupied by Sasha. Adeline didn't know how to feel. Why did the Oracle care?

The sound of a door opening, then closing drew Adeline out of her thoughts. Looking up from tops of her feet, her eyes widened as familiar black eyes met her.

"Hey," Clyde, the Beta of the Southern Pack, said. He was leaning against the wall with his hands tucked into the pockets of his jeans. Clyde was wearing a nicely fitted black t-shirt that seemed to mold to his muscles and broad chest, and he had heavy black biker boots on his feet. Adeline grew up with the Canis, but she couldn't help but notice how handsome he was. She used to think he was kind of cute, but now, all of those feelings were gone. The wolf she hadn't even talked to yet, somehow suppressed all of those feelings. Finnian, the Beta of the Western Pack, had caught her eye.

Stop it, Adeline! She snarled in her mind. You have no time, or interest, for boys! Adeline told herself that with a seething passion. She couldn't get herself associated with the opposite sex, especially when the beast was becoming more bold and forceful. If she found her mate in the next few months and the beast was still present, Adeline would have to protect him from herself. She wouldn't allow the beast to hurt the other half of her soul, no matter the consequences.

"How are you feelin'?" Clyde asked, his deep voice gruff with emotion.

Like I've been strapped down to a bed for hours and waiting to be injected with wolfsbane so that the beast doesn't awaken and kill everyone. But other than that, I'm fine. Adeline thought bitterly.

"Just by looking at your face, I know my answer," Clyde said, his dark eyes sparkling with a silent humor. The wolf's full lips twitched in amusement as Adeline glared at him. Adeline looked away from the Beta, her eyes gluing to the white tile floor.

"What do you want?" She asked. Adeline wanted to be alone, and since the Oracle and the others were getting the vile, they'd be back any moment, with her parents.

Clyde shrugged his large shoulders, then pushed off of the wall. Adeline watched as the male approached the bed, her eyes narrowing as his steps brought him closer to her.

"You look like crap," The Beta mused as he walked closer, his strides purposeful and confident. The male's fists were clenched at his sides, his head was held high, and his chest was puffed out in self-confidence. Clyde's eyes seemed to darken the closer he got to Adeline, but something in her made her hold his gaze. He didn't intimidate her.

Adeline gave him a dry look. "You don't need to tell me things I already know."

Stopping right beside Adeline, Clyde towered over her. His eyes were focused on her face, but he wouldn't look into her eyes.

"Clyde?" Adeline asked, hesitantly. She felt the beast in her mind, watching Clyde with curiosity and something else. That something else was something Adeline couldn't place.

Adeline and Clyde jumped as the door swung open and new scents came swirling in. The Beta of the Southern Pack turned around and stepped away from Adeline.

"What are you doing in here, Clyde?" Adeline heard her father ask. His voice was kind and gentle.

Adeline could hear the smile in Clyde's voice. "I was just checking in on her; I thought that maybe she needed someone to talk to while she waited."

A deep, low growl met her ears. Clyde made his way over to the door, but when he passed Finnian, the growl grew louder and more fierce. The Betas glared at each other, their eyes glowed and their bodies puffed out with testosterone. For a moment, Adeline was certain that a fight was going to break out, but instead, Clyde ducked his head and slipped passed the large male.

Finnian stared at the open door for a moment, his dark brown eyes glowing; but once he could no longer see the Southern Beta, his eyes tore away from the spot and settled on Adeline.

If a fight were to break out between the two males, Adeline was almost certain that the Southern Pack wouldn't have a Beta any longer.