Cursed: The Complete Series, #1-3 (Cursed, #1-3)

by Claire Farrell

I usually went along with everything they said, but I needed to start standing up for myself.

“What’s the worst that could happen?” And so far, she had been right. Nothing bad had come from me standing up for myself. Better do it more often,

We made an odd trio. He was the brainy nerd, she was the kooky outsider, and I was, well, I was a bit of a non-entity. I was invisible. Joey

Double history on a Monday morning was a punishment from God.

Some things even your best friend wouldn’t understand.

I had never really had a type, but he made the butterflies in my stomach flutter extra fast.

I didn’t have the guts to start a conversation with him. Knowing me, my mouth would dry up, I’d stutter something nonsensical, and probably trip and fall into a bin for good measure.

“So, what is it then? Do you lot feel all big and brave when you pick on someone? Safety in numbers and all that. One girl, who’s obviously younger than you all, isn’t going to do much against six of you, is she? That how you get your kicks? Pathetic. Sad pack of sheep,” I said, wanting to throw something.

“I’d rather be a freak than have to put other people down to feel good about myself.”

She smiled at me broadly, making me feel totally at ease, which was a rarity for me.

“No, thanks. I’d rather sit here next to my sister. You know, one of them. I’d introduce you, but I think you’ve already met,” he called back, even louder than Dawn.

“Perdita is much better.” He held my gaze as his eyes seemed to pierce into mine, and all of a sudden, I found it hard to breathe. My lips parted of their own accord. I couldn’t even look away. I felt as though I was being hypnotised. I forgot the others were sitting there and just stared back at him, my stomach fluttering all over the place. My skin tingled with goose bumps,

I didn’t have much of an identity, but at least I didn’t share one with anyone else.

“Well, cheer up then. You don’t look as pretty when you’re miserable.”

you looked so cute when you were all outraged at me that I couldn’t help it.”

“Obviously I think you’re cuter when you’re not thinking about physically harming me.” I tried not to laugh at that but failed miserably. He leaned a little closer and lowered his voice to a whisper. “By the way, you shouldn’t worry about your hair. It suits you like that.”

One minute he was overly familiar with me, the next he was running off.

“But Perdita, you’re meant to be. It’s not because I want it. It’s destiny. You like him, and he likes you.”

I realised I didn’t know her as well as I had always thought—she didn’t value our friendship at all. I’d watched her ‘punish’ people for years. I just didn’t think I would end up getting the same treatment.

Watching everyone have a good time together made me ache inside. I wanted to go home. Parties were no fun for people like me. I felt too awkward and out of place. Too afraid of making a fool of myself.

Cú is Nathan’s dog, but as soon as he saw you, you became his number one. He protected you, even against Nathan. He knows it’s you.”

His family didn’t understand him at all. Amelia kept calling him a coward, but really, he had too much heart. Too much lost and still to lose.

In his arms, I felt as if I belonged there. But the world was waiting for us to return,

Everything was changing so fast that I felt as if I couldn’t catch my breath. Nathan. Werewolf. His family. Werewolves. Me. His soul mate? It sounded like something out of a cheesy novel, but there I was, living it.

I thought he would blame me. I thought he might even hate me for letting the whole thing begin. And worse, for missing the chance to help his grandmother. I thought a lot of things, but they all faded away when he held me.

You helped me, you kept Amelia safe, and you saved my grandfather’s life. You could have been killed, Perdita. Do you understand that? We brought this with us, and you could have been the one who got hurt.” He stroked my cheek gently, and somehow it unleashed everything I was feeling.

It wasn’t long ago that some of my biggest worries had been if my dad would allow me to go to a party, or if my best friend was still my best friend. I would have given anything for those kinds of problems again.

her. I could stand up to him, but the only thing that worked with him was violence, and there had been way too much of that in my life already.

I wasn’t good at getting through to people. I couldn’t even manage to get my own girlfriend to really talk to me.

“When have I ever embarrassed you?” Dad looked as if butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth.

I should have been able to make my own decisions. I should have been able to go to my girlfriend when she needed me.

“What’s she like then?” “Perfect,” I said without thinking.

“You don’t get it. It’s as if she was made for me. Think of everything you would want in a girl, and it’s all there in your mate. I want to be around her every second of the day. This is killing me, man. Killing. Me. I should be with her. It’s our family who screwed up her life.”

Dad always wanted the best for me, and I kept trying to run away from him. Watching him lie there, unmoving, made me reconsider everything. I had a lifetime to explore a relationship with Nathan—if the curse didn’t finish me off first—but I wouldn’t have as long with Dad, and I wished I had made the most of my time with him.

I was too used to the danger to be in shock.

“One day this is going to be how we wake up every morning. Together.”

There was too much violence in the air, too much in the voices of my family members. But violence was all we had. Violence was the only way to protect our loved ones. And that sucked most of all.

The thought of her made my heart swell. I was falling in love with her, with the person I already knew I would someday love without limits, and it was for her that I would keep myself safe.

A broken heart was a better outcome than death.

He was one of the few who were as good on the inside as they were on the outside.

Even before she knew he cared, she was all he cared about.

Watching them gravitate toward each other was kind of beautiful,

Werewolves. Always needing girls to solve their problems.

Why did life have to be so complicated in normal ways when it was already so complicated in a dozen abnormal ways?

He could cleanse her of the darkness within her, and she could help him stand up for the things he truly wanted.

I wondered if our relationship was similar to one between sisters, and I thought of Kali and Drina. Yep, pretty much exactly what it would be like.

“Perdita? Nobody’s perfect. But she was perfect for me. She was always herself, never trying to show off or be anyone else. You get what you see, and with our life, that’s a great thing.”

I can’t stop drawing him. Even when I’m not thinking about him, out he pops from the end of my pencil. It’s annoying, that’s all.”

“I can’t. I don’t want to. I need to forget about this year, do whatever Dad wants, and when the time comes, go where I need to be.”

Her family was the light I was desperate to touch, despite knowing it would eventually burn me to ash. They were the only people who knew what I had done and didn’t judge me for it. I couldn’t find peace elsewhere.