Bride of the Cursed Alpha - Chapter 159: Chapter 159

Matt POV
The whole place was alive with excitement. The air was abuzz with the anticipation of my first shift since I was an alpha bear and was going to take up my father’s position one day. My father had been hinting that he would soon give me Uncle Magnus’s pack, the Everflame pack, to take care of.
The entire pack’s eyes were on me. Along with me were other young pups who were to shift on the same day. Seth, my friend who would also be my Beta, and Jace, one of my close school friends. Tulip, my girlfriend, had shifted two months ago, but she stayed by side, swooning over me and saying how she couldn’t wait to see my bear. She hoped that I would be her mate. Even I hoped for it because then all my frustration would die. At least, I would be able to live peacefully.
My parents stood by my side, their pride and joy radiating off of them. But me—I felt a weight pressing down on me, and I couldn’t even put my finger on it. Just yesterday, my school results came out. I had topped the class with ease, and was looking forward to going to college.
My thoughts snapped when I heard excited whispers from the pack about how my bear would be. Everyone except me was excited. Why the fuck did I feel so disconnected? Veles, help me.
“Matt,” Tulip called me as she locked her arm on mine. “Why are you looking so irritated? I will shift with you,” she cooed. “And keep you company.”
“Yeah!” Seth added, patting my shoulder heavily with his huge paw. “I’m excited as hell! I will be right there.”
I smiled and looked at Jace. He also looked nervous. When our gazes met, he nodded tightly.
I rolled my shoulders, focusing past my tension. The power I had inside was waiting to be unleashed. And it was only going wilder by the minute. Suddenly, the air shifted, and I knew the shift was inevitable.
The pain hit me first. It was sharp and excruciating. All my bones felt like they were being ripped apart, stretched and twisted, with no control. The power surged inside me, unstoppable, and I could feel the bear inside me trying to claw out. I thought I might lose control of myself. But then the pain eased, and an overwhelming sense of freedom washed over me. The world shifted, and my senses exploded. The air felt different, every sound was amplified, and the earth below me felt like never before.
When I was standing on my fours, I heard people gasping.
“What a beautiful golden-brown bear!”
“Veles! How majestic and grand!”
“Look at his fur—its like glowing in the sunlight.”
“Mark me, please,” a girl rasped, and others giggled.
I turned to look at Tam—sorry, my parents. They had also shifted and were smaller than me. I think I stood at over six feet, because my father was six feet. The pack fell silent, bowing to me in respect. A few meters away, Seth and Jace also shifted. Their bears were black and brown. They looked at me and inclined their necks in submission. Tulip also shifted into her black bear.
‘Glad to finally meet you, Matt,’ a voice sounded in my mind. I jerked in surprise. My bear chuckled. ‘I am Torben.’
I was breathless, feeling super excited for the first time in long. ‘Hey, Torben!’
‘Ready for the run?’ he asked as he pawed the earth behind him.
‘Yes!’
My parents came to me. Their eyes were full of pride. My father nodded at me while my mom came and licked me. My bear let out a low grunt that sounded like a chuckle. My father’s voice sounded in my head and it was amazing. ‘Go for a run, Matt.’
Other bears surrounded me, especially the she-bears, eager to make their presence known. They milled around me, eyes glinting with interest. Some even made subtle gestures of presenting themselves with submissive postures. Veles, it was suffocating. I should have felt happy, but why did it disgust me. Tulip was growling at all of them. Inside, Torben growled at all of them in frustration, a low rumble that vibrated through his chest.
Unable to take it any longer, he broke free, darting into the forest. My parents followed me along with Tulip, Seth and Jace and a few pack members.
My bear reveled in freedom and power. As he ran, earth thundered beneath his paws. Wind rustled through his fur. With each step, the weight of frustration lifted, leaving only the raw joy of the run. I felt like I was finally free.
I don’t know when but my parents and other pack members returned some time. Seth and Tulip were with me. Jace stopped somewhere as well.
Tulip kept up to me as Seth followed us. She would nudge me or try to play with me, but somehow Torben was refusing to open up to her.
‘She’s a good friend,’ I urged him.
‘I don’t care,’ he replied rudely.
‘She may be my future mate,’ I argued, chastising him softly.
‘I don’t want her to be my mate,’ Torben replied roughly.
After that I became silent. My internal struggle was supposed to end with my shift. It only multiplied. Before I knew it, I was running faster than both Seth and Tulip. It was like Torben had taken complete control over me. I let him. It was my first shift, and my father had asked me to let my bear feel the entire pack because it was his territory.
I don’t know how or when, but a few hours later, just before dawn, shockingly I found myself standing in the backyard of my home. I hadn’t meant to end up here, but somehow, I had. Disoriented, I shook my head, trying to clear the fog settled over my mind. Torben came to a standstill, frozen at his spot, his eyes on a small figure sleeping on the couch covered in a blanket.
Tamara.
He let out a low growl, his interest at its peak.
‘Let’s go back,’ I said to him. Otherwise he would wake her up. I was scared that she would be afraid of him and run away. ‘Please, don’t disturb her!’ Mom had said that he could be feral and attack her. Anxiety knotted in my mind. ‘Torben, let us go!’ But Torben only took a step forward, sniffing the air.
Suddenly, to my chagrin, Tamara woke up. She immediately jumped out of her couch, and rubbed her eyes. When she opened them, they were wide and curious as she looked at Torben. In front of him, she looked so small, so innocent. Her hair was looking like spun sun rays around her face even in the dark of the night. All eight years old looked at me with sweet innocence, mesmerized, that made me both flustered and irritated.
“Is that you, Matt?” she asked. She walked to my bear and reached out her hand to touch him.
Without a warning, a growl rumbled deep in my throat. Torben took a step back. He didn’t want her too close. I hoped that she would take the warning and run inside, but little Tamara smiled as she tilted her head up to look into Torben’s eyes. Her face lit up. The moment I felt that warmth, my growl grew stronger.
‘You are going to hurt her!’ I growled inside, forcing Torben to leave. Suddenly, he turned and ran. Away from her. Away from the pull. I had to get out of here because I hated this situation.