Chapter 1 Curse Mate

• Aphrodite's Point of View
• “Make sure to finish it all! Don't leave anything behind because Alpha Henry will be furious if he sees you didn't finish your food! You don't want ten lashes on your back, don't you?" The guard threw my plate food, causing some of it to spill, and then tossed the water bottle in front of me.
• "Right! It's Princess Hera's birthday today so Luna and Alpha are in a good mood. Be nice today, or you might get more than ten whip," added one of his companions.
• I looked at the food in front of me, grimacing at the raw meat they gave me.
• I raised my gaze to them and spoke softly, "How am I supposed to eat this? You didn't even cook it... I might get a stomachache if I eat it raw."
• The guard's face quickly changed. "Aren't you a monster? Monsters are eating all the food that can fill their stomach. Don't be so picky!"
• I stared at them with begging eyes. However, they quickly turned away. "Let's go and leave. That monster might curse us. Tsk! This is the reason Alpha Henry and Luna locked her up! She might end up killing us."
• "W-wait, please! I can't eat this raw meat," I said, tears welling up. "Can't you give me food from Hera's party... after all, she's my twin and it's my birthday too. Perhaps, I can also go to the party."
• "Don't be delusional, monster! Princess Hera doesn't have a monster twin," the guard shouted angrily. "And besides, the Alpha King will be attending. What will he say about the Dark Moon pack if he sees you? That we have a hidden monster?"
• I clenched my fists and hung my head in the bitterness of the pain I was feeling.
• I'm not a monster. I'm not a curse.
• I am Aphrodite Celeste, daughter of the Alpha and Luna of the Dark Moon pack, exiled from the pack because they believed I am a cursed werewolf. I was seven years old when they started locking me up in a silver cage. I have a twin, but the treatment between us is vastly different.
• She was living inside the mansion while I was here, with no blanket, no clothes, nothing at all. Whenever they gave me food, it was often raw, close to spoiling, or sometimes they wouldn't even give me food at all.
• I was already nineteen years old now, but there was still no change in their treatment towards me. In fact, it had worsened because when I had leftovers from my food, even just crumbs, they would whip me as punishment.
• They believed I was a curse and would bring bad luck to the entire pack because of my eyes. The left one was green and the other was violet.
• I held my eyes, caressed them, and began to wonder what I looked like. Since I was a child, I had never seen myself in the mirror. Everyone feared me... and not a single member of our pack had ever been my friend.
• In the midst of my thoughts, the door to the room where I was imprisoned suddenly opened again.
• As I slowly raised my head, the air seemed to evaporate, leaving my throat parched, when my gaze locked with a man.
• His eyes, void of color, were like endless abysses, piercing and fixated on mine.
• In that moment, an eerie stillness engulfed us, as if the world held its breath. It was the first time someone had dared to meet my eyes directly, without flinching, as though unafraid of the depths they might uncover.
• Nonetheless, I was surprised to see who was behind the man. My mom and dad. Their eyes were cold and angry, but their lips were smiling.
• "Alpha Zeus, this is Aphrodite," my mother said with a smile as she walked towards my cage. "If you hadn't insisted on seeing her, I wouldn't have allowed you to because it might not end well for you. You know... she is a curse."
• My father, Alpha Henry chuckled and nodded, agreeing with what my mom said. "You know, when she was younger, she almost killed her playmate. We didn't know how she did it but when her playmate came home, she had many wounds and was terrified."
• "F-father, I told you before that she just hurt herself. I had nothing to do with it—"
• He immediately cut off my explanation. "Shut up! How will you explain the near-death of Freya from fever because you slept next to her one night?!"
• It was just a coincidence... It just so happened that she got sick on the day we slept next to each other.
• I closed my mouth and chose to stay silent because I was afraid that if I angered him further, I wouldn't just receive ten whipping from his hands. However, in the midst of my silence, the man in front of me suddenly spoke again.
• "Don't you think that there are things that just happen by coincidence? There are times when things align so we connect them to something that has nothing to do with it," the man said coldly, looking at the food in front of me.
• Upon seeing the raw meat in front of me, I felt embarrassed for the first time. My heart raced at the thought that he might have a negative impression of me.
• "Alpha Zeus, this child is a curse. And I'm not sure if your suggestion to buy her from us is a good idea," my father carefully said.
• My eyes widened quickly and I looked at the three of them in surprise. "W-what do you mean buy? What are you planning to do?"
• My father's eyes narrowed at me. "Aphrodite, if it were up to me, I would sell you to anyone because I am afraid of the curse you might bring to our pack, but be thankful that I still have some mercy left for you! But because Alpha Zeus wants to buy you, why would I refuse?"
• My mother smiled broadly, held my father's arm, and spoke with a smile, "Your father is right, Aphrodite. Alpha Zeus is the Alpha King. Wouldn't it be disrespectful if we didn't grant his wish? And besides, you've wanted to see the outside world for a long time, right? If you go with him, it's like your dream has come true."
• The thought of experiencing the outside world made my heart skip a beat. Nonetheless, as I gazed into Alpha Zeus's eyes, watching them gradually change to a fiery red, my excitement was swiftly overtaken by fear.
• I was about to protest and beg not to be given to this stranger. But it was too late as another man entered.
• "Henry and Jenny, I invite you outside to sign the contract for the sale of Aphrodite Celeste. An agreement to prove this deal," the man said professionally.
• My mom, dad, and the man went to leave without waiting for me to speak.
• The room was enveloped in a thick silence as I found myself alone with Alpha Zeus. My throat felt constricted as I met his unwavering gaze, causing me to eventually break eye contact. However, as I glanced back at him, I was taken aback when he spoke, sending a shiver down my spine.
• "Once the contract is sealed, you will be mine. You might break free from this silver confinement, but my grasp will never release you," he uttered each syllable with an icy tone. His gaze burned crimson as he added, "You are destined to be the Alpha King's cursed mate."