Madeline Freeman - Soul Cursed

Thank you Steven Novak for the fabulous cover.

Thanks to Leah at Invisible Ink Editing for your assistance in polishing this novel.

When the world seems set against you, it can feel like you're cursed.

After narrowly escaping death, Ava is back at the enclaveon a lockdown imposed by the werewolf convocation. With Kiara in the wind, they want to keep Avas special venom from being used to create more hybrids.

At least thats what they tell her.

When Dagny, an oracle who sees the future, has a vision of a pack of hybrids murdering countless humans, the convocation plans to kill Ava to keep the event from coming to pass.

Ava runs, hoping to escape her fatebut destiny is not easily thwarted. She wants nothing more than to live out her days with her half Jackher literal soulmate, and the person she loves more than anything. But every step she takes moves her farther from him.

Fate has a plan, but it may not be what Ava bargains for.

War is coming. Can Ava stop it before its too late?

With each passing day, the enclave feels more like a prison.

I pace back and forth in the meeting house, each step marking time before the next search party returns. What I wouldnt give to be out looking myselfto be doing somethingbut its out of the question. Tamara and Edgar, my constant companions, make sure of that. The two of them sit in folding chairs along the wall, taking turns staring at me. Im not sure how they know when to switch, since they dont speak.

Its Tamaras turn now. Her steely blue eyes follow my progress, her plain face a mask of indifference. Beside her, Edgar bends over his phone, attention fixed on the glowing screen. I know better than to attempt to start a conversation with either of them. I learned very earlyon day onethat the two have no interest in talking to me.

This is day ten.

The meeting house door swings open, bringing with it a gust of balmy air. Angela casts a wary glance at my companions as she crosses to me. Her brown hair is tied back in a high ponytail, errant tendrils fanning out around her face. A sheen of sweat shines on her forehead.

No luck. She pours herself a glass of water from the pitcher I set out and gulps it down.

Im prepared for her report, but it still hits me like a physical blow. Did you cover the entire area?

She cocks an eyebrow as she brings a second glass of water to her lips. Of course she did.

Where could they be? The question is more for me than her. Ive had parties searching around the clock for the last week, but we havent been able to locate more than a handful of the people Kiara was holding prisoner. A few were cause for celebrationformer members of the pack who had left and now wanted to return. But no matter where we look, we cant find the one person we need.

Angela sets the glass back on the table. I know Im not scheduled to go back out for twelve hours, but I figure after a solid eight for sleep, Ill be good to go again.

I shake my head. You dont have to do that.

I want to. Duncan, too. We talked about it on the way back. Angelas lips twitch. The three of us were good friends for a long time. Well do anything to help her.

I reach for her hand and squeeze it. Nine hours, I say. Spend one of them with Mel.

Angela nods before bounding toward the door. I watch her, wishing I possessed a measure of her exuberance. All I feel is empty.

Without a word to my guards, I head for the door. Theyre on my heels in an instant.

The day is bright. Birds sing, and there isnt a cloud in the sky. But its as if Im enveloped by some kind of bubble thats keeping the sunshine from reaching me.

I head down the meeting house hill. The next pair isnt scheduled to check in for a couple of hours, and the familiar pang of hunger gnaws at my insides. As much as I wish I could streak off into the woods and find something to sate me, I know better. Tamara and Edgar have made it very clear what I am and am not allowed to do, and running off without them is strictly prohibited.

Ava!

The voice calls my name when Im halfway down the road to my destination. Drew jogs toward me, and Tamara and Edgar stop a polite distance away. They dont extend such courtesy to many people, but Ive never had to ask why Drew is among them: hes the head of the convocation, and his high-ranking role in werewolf leadership affords him some perks.

He has an athletes build, and Ive caught more than one of the packs females watching him with unveiled interest since his arrival. Although he appears to be in his late twenties, his dark brown eyes have a timelessness that makes his true age difficult to pinpoint.

I was hoping to have a word with you, Drew says as he comes to a stop a few feet from me.

I offer a tight-lipped smile. Im not exactly difficult to find.

Were you checking in with one of your search parties?

I dont like the way he says it. Although his tone is lightpleasant, evenhis subtle emphasis on the word your pricks my skin like a needle. Yes.

His eyebrows twitch like hes waiting for me to go on, but when its clear Im not going to offer any more details, he takes a step closer. How long are you going to pursue this?

My response comes without hesitation. As long as it takes.

He sighs. His face softens. He almost looks like a friend preparing to deliver disappointing newsexcept hes not my friend. You need to call it off. Youre wasting manpower that could be better used searching for Kiara.

I shake my head and take a step back. Youve got more than half of the pack working for you, plus the convocation and members from a half dozen nearby packs. If its manpower you need, use your connections to spread the word to more alphas. Im not giving up until we find him.

Drew crosses his arms over his chest. Why? Why is this so important to you?

I glance down the dirt road that circles the enclave. In about five hundred feet, it forks off to the left. Down that much smaller path, nestled between two hulking pine trees, is the cabin where Mel has been languishing in the week and a half since her return. If we dont find her half soon, shell die.

Drews shoes crunch against the gravel as he steps toward me. She held a vendetta against you for taking her spot in the pack hierarchy. She stabbed you, outed you as Jacks halfnot once, but twice. She tried to kill him to take over this pack. And shes the one who put the bounty on you.

None of this information is news to me, but each detail stings. I cant argue with him. Mel did all those things. But despite our history, and despite the fact that Im not her direct sire, I still feel an overwhelming desire to save her. So, what? I just give up?

He presses his lips together and is silent for a long moment. Its hard enough protecting one hybrid.