Chapter Two- Curse Activated

Allura glanced around as she approached the gate. No one in sight. Perfect, she thought as she raced across the bridge and toward the woods. She ran deeper into the forest. She didn't want to be seen transforming if she was a wifewolf now. She could see the fading sunlight though the gaps in the branches and felt herself inwardly trembling. Any minute now, the sun would vanish and she would learn if she had really and truly been cursed. She was, for most part, certain she had, but part of her was doubtful, wanting to believe Keith that it was a ruse.

The sky flared as the sun's rays dipped below the horizon and her surroundings grew dark. She gasped as a pulse went through her and she fell to her hands and knees. She panted in pain and looked down to see gray fur growing on her hands and her fingers shrinking away to form paws while her nails became concealed claws. She gasped loudly as she felt the same thing happening to her feet.

I was right. I was cursed as a wifewolf! Allura saw the fur spread up her arms which stiffened into forelegs. She felt the fur race over her body, changing to a wolf body as it did so. She was soon standing on four paws with a furry strong torso. She knew she had to look strange as her head was still human, albeit, a fur-covered one.

She then felt what had to be a tail pushing out behind her and when she opened her mouth to cry out in pain, a whine emerged instead. She threw a paw up to her mouth at the sound and felt her jaws pushing out. She dropped her paw and crossed her eyes to see that her nose was large and black and merging with her upper jaw to form a muzzle of sharp curse-causing teeth. Her ears burned and elongated before resting atop of her head and her eyes turned gold and intense before she tilted her head back and howled. She then waited to think evil thoughts and to think like an animal but after waiting a long while, she still thought like herself. She opened her muzzle to laugh in relief, but all that came out was a rapid series of barks.

She snapped her jaws shut. I can't talk! I'm just making wolf sounds. Well, this is inconvenient. Although, it's not like I could go home. I'll be executed even if I explain that I'm not evil or a dangerous beast. I just turn into a wolf every night. She looked down at her front paws and flexed one to reveal the claws. She relaxed them, attempted to walk, stumbled, and tumbled to the ground. She heaved herself to her paws and tried again. This time, she succeeded in actually coordinating all four limbs so she could walk. She progressed to a fast walk and trotting, but when she tried to run, her limbs got tangled up and she crashed to the ground. She got up and shook herself out. Running with four legs is a bit tricky, but I will get the hang of it. After all, I will need to hunt for food as I'll be living here from now on.

Allura then sank to the ground as the full impact of what had happened hit her. She buried her muzzle between her forelegs and she whimpered and whined as she couldn't sob, but tears did streak her cheeks.

**Hello? Are you okay?**

Allura looked up at hearing words under the soft barks. She saw a gray wolf looking at her with concern in his gold eyes. She slowly shook her head.

**You must be new. I never forget a scent.**

She bristled a little at his comment and gave an annoyed growl.

**Hey, no insult intended. Every werewolf and wifewolf has a unique scent and I remember each one. Yours is new to me.**

She blinked at this and barked softly to ask how he's talking. The male grinned and his tail swished. **I was born a werewolf so wolf speak came naturally to me. However, the alpha can bestow wolf speak to turned ones. I could take you to him, if you like.**

The alpha? Allura thought. Then…this werewolf lives in the secret werewolf village. I'll go with him. The village sounds like a safer place than the woods. She rose to her paws and nodded to him.

**Great. Oh, I'm Lance by the way,** Lance said as he led the way through the woods.

Allura barked, asking Lance about being a born werewolf but Lance laughed in a barking manner. **Whoa, there. Wait until you can use wolf speak, then we can talk.**

Lance looked back quickly at Allura before following a path he knew well. He felt lucky to have encountered such a pretty wifewolf while enjoying a walk as he did his search detail. The alpha often assigned search detail to Lance as the werewolf had a sharper nose than was typical for a werewolf. Lance didn't normally find any new or stray werewolves as all of his kind lived in the villager. Most were born like him while others were turned usually because they were outcasts living alone in the forest. Only his kind could pass through the enchanted barrier that protected and concealed the village. A human could only pass through if a werewolf or wifewolf held the hand of the human.

Allura followed Lance, grateful to have encountered him; otherwise she would be forced to live in the wild and in fear of humans discovering she was a wifewolf. She saw a shimmering up ahead and Lance stopped in front of it. He turned to her. ** This is the enchanted barrier that keeps our village concealed from humans. Only we can see the shimmer as well as pass through it. In order for a human to find and pass it, he or she would need to hold the hand of a werewolf or wifewolf. Of course, leading a human into our village is not a good idea.** He tilted his head. **Let's go.** He walked through the shimmer and disappeared. Allura hesitated for a moment before following.

A pleasant warm tickling sensation washed over her and when she opened her eyes, she saw an amazing sight. It was a normal-looking village but instead of people, there were wolves. They were all gray-furred and gold-eyed like her but were different sizes, shapes, and ages. She saw little pups chasing each other and yipping with joy. There were adults watching the pups and younger adults talking to one another. Lance was to her left and when she looked at him, he jerked his head for her to follow him which she gladly did so.

Her presence did not go unnoticed. She saw the others looking at her, noses flaring as she passed, taking in her scent. She slunk low to the ground, ears pinned back and her tail between her legs. She felt very much the outsider and it caused her self-confidence to abandon her.

**Alpha, I found a newly-turned wifewolf!** Lance called as he and Allura entered a house with a gold star pinned above the doorway.

**A new one?** came a young male voice before a young wolf came into the candlelight. **We have not turned a human for months.**

**I don't know her and everyone knows I don't forget a scent.**

**That is true.** He looked at the cowering princess with gentle eyes. **Don't be afraid. You are among your own kind now.** He walked over to her, put a paw over her head, moved it back and forth while howling in a singsong way. A spiral of light came from his paw and it swirled around her ears and muzzle before entering her throat.

**You can now use wolf speak. Talk to us.**

**Who are you? I mean, I know you're the alpha, but what's your name?* Allura's tail came out and swished at being able to talk again.

**My name is Pidge. And you are?**

**I'm Allura.**

Her answer made Pidge gasp while Lance took a submissive position. **As in Princess Allura?** Pidge asked.

**Yes.**

**Who bit you? I'll give that wolf a talking to,** Pidge growled, clearly angry at the thought of his kind biting royalty.

**No one. My jealous cousin laid a curse on me hours ago. She wants to marry my fiancée.**

**I'm sorry to hear that and for what you lost. Allura…would you like to live with me and lead the village as its second alpha?**

**Second alpha?**

**You're a leader. It makes sense that you should have a leader role. It also insures that a leader will always be present in the village.**

**That all does make sense. All right. I accept.**

**Welcome to the pack, second alpha.**