Page 89 of Cursed Bonds: An Alpha's Destiny

When Langston flipped the breaker and over half the lights flashed back to life, I squinted at the sudden brightness. Instantly, the crowd peppered me with questions.

“Where’s the witch?”

“Explain this curse.”

“What the hell is going on, Jace?”

“Enough!” I shouted.

They instantly hushed. Now they stopped? That fast? I could have shut them up when Kirsten was up here. I hadn’t defended her. The thought sent an agonizing spike through my chest. I’d been too enraged at Stephanie and Eren to worry about the way my pack was treating her. I was the alpha. One word from me would have ended it.

The hurt I’d seen in her eyes, the way she’d turned her back on me? All because I’d been too pissed off to bother protecting my mate. What fucking good was I if I couldn’t even do that, couldn’t even do the only thing a mate was supposed to do? Shame washed over me.

It was time to put an end to this. Set it all on the table. Now and forever.

“Dorothy Holly,” I said, raising my voice so everyone could hear, “was a witch who lived in the far reaches of our pack lands over a hundred years ago. It was before our lands had extended farther toward Scottsdale, and she lived there in peace. After my parents died, the night of the ceremony that proclaimed me as alpha, I took off into the forest in a fit of despair and stumbled upon her.” I gritted my teeth. “In my drunken state, I tried to steal her magic.”

Surprised murmurs erupted, and Langston shouted them down. “Quiet! Let your alpha speak.”

When they had settled again, I continued. “She cursed me for my impropriety. And from that day forward, I was stricken to suffer a life without a mate, and without the ability to form a romantic bond with any woman. Dorothy was Kirsten’s great-grandmother.”

Silence.

“I had my suspicions and reservations about Kirsten at first,” I went on. “From the day Dorothy cursed me until the day I met Kirsten, I loathed witches. Cursed the very idea of them, because of what they’d done to me. What they’d taken from me. But once I got to know Kirsten, to understand her? My mind changed. Kirsten would never hurt a soul. I know what she is to me, and I know what my wolf recognizes. She is my fated mate.”

This time, the voices rose in gasps, surprised curses, shouts of dismay. Even Langston’s massive form couldn’t calm the crowd.

But I could. Unlike when they were shouting at Kirsten, I thought bitterly as I raised my hand. The pack calmed once more.

“I, and my wolf, have chosen this woman. Fate chose her for me, and I accept. If I can get her to forgive me, I will make her my mate.” I pointed out at the crowd, and all my rage poured into my words. “I am not the only one who needs to seek forgiveness. My pack needs to seek her forgiveness as well.”

I stared out at them, seeing the looks of shame start to come over faces, eyes unwilling to meet mine, shuffling feet, red cheeks. They knew what they’d done.

Lory Shelton raised her hand. “Jace? May I speak?”

With a nod, I gave her my blessing. Others nearby turned or craned their necks to see her.

“I’ve gotten to know Kirsten a bit. I’d like to call her a friend, maybe. Or someone on the way to being a friend. All I can say is…” She took a deep breath. “I was ashamed of my pack for what they did. But I’m more ashamed of myself for not speaking up, shouting them down when they were hurling accusations at her.”

You and me both, I thought.

“She’s never been anything but kind to me. Kirsten is a wonderful person from what I’ve seen, and I think she would be a great match for Jace.”

“She is,” Shayna added, stepping forward. “You all know me. I may be mated to another pack’s alpha now, but I grew up here. Was born and raised in this town. You know I don’t lie. I’ve seen a change in my brother since he met Kirsten. I’ve spoken to her a few times. She is exactly what he needs. I’m with Lory.” She planted her hands on her hips and cast a disgusted look over the whole crowd. “You should all be fucking ashamed of yourselves.”

More and more people spoke out in defense of Kirsten. Mira Clayton, a cashier at the grocery store, spoke of how kind she was. Debbie Langley, a server at the diner, said the same. As more and more people who’d interacted with Kirsten spoke in her favor, the only thing I wished for was that Kirsten was here to hear this.

Finally, I raised my hand for silence. “I chose her as my mate. There will be no vote. In this, my word is law. I ask for no approval. The only thing I ask is that you trust your alpha. Do you trust your alpha?” I asked, raising my voice to a shout.

A moment’s hesitation, then fists began to rise into the air.

“Stone,” one voice called out, and others answered him.

“Stone.”

“Stone!”

“Stone, Stone, Stone, Stone, Stone…”

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