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My eye twitched. I hadn’t been around anyone who called Mine… well, her name besides us, but something about it ticked me off. She was mine, and the whole nickname was going to be an issue I stuffed deep down because I knew it was just a name.

“We got her nest ready, and her arm is good,” Ellie answered for us.

“Mine can speak for herself.” I shut the door behind us and set the box on the counter.

“If we are talking about technicalities, she cannot. She can write for herself and sometimes sign for herself, but she cannot speak for herself,” Ellie shot back.

It irritated me, but Mine laughed, so I let it go. Mine also grabbed a notebook and wrote something to Vaila.

“Yes, I brought that too.” Vaila dug into the box, searching for something.

“What are you talking about?” I leered over her, waiting for her to find whatever she was looking for.

“It wasn’t just you and Cy hounding me for things. Mine texted me through Ellie and asked for some things too.”

“And what are those things?”

“Birth control, because apparently you two didn’t think to ask for that, and a salve for her arm to help it heal.”

“Oh, yeah, that definitely slipped our minds.” Cy chuckled. “Good thinking, Mine. I don’t think any of us are ready for that adventure just yet. It’s already a little crazy around here.”

I let Cy speak for the both of us, but truthfully, I wouldn’t mind it. Mine wasn’t ready, so I wouldn’t pressure her, but it hadn’t crossed my mind as an issue.

“Here it is,” Vaila said, pulling out a tray of a few small vials. “You take one when you notice a heat coming on, but wait as long as you can. It will last for ten days to cover you through the heat. These will be good for a year. And here are the suppressants.” Vaila paused while taking out a bottle of pills. “Take one every day. It works like Human birth control in a way. It will prevent heats until you’re ready. One might not come immediately after stopping, but it also might, so be ready. We also don’t know how you fully work, so please take them correctly and hope they have the same potency for you as others. If they don’t seem to work at first, take another. Just don’t go too crazy with them.

“Now, the thing you’ve been really waiting for!” Vaila started pulling an array of items out of the box, setting them on the counter.

There was a jar of insects, some others that looked like ash and spices, and I didn’t know what else.

“The cure for the curse has to be fresh, plus I need some of your blood to make it.” I cringed, not wanting to see Mine bleed again, but we had to go through with it. “Well, let’s get started!”

I had been watching Vaila the entire time, waiting to see a tell of some kind, but nothing ever showed, and relief washed over me. Vaila was exactly who she had always been, and I was thankful for her help.

She got to work on the cure, working at warp speed in the kitchen, boiling the concoction up with a few drops of Mine’s blood mixed in. It looked like disgusting goop, and I was not envious of Mine who would have to consume it.

“Now, you’ll only have to take a mouthful of this, but you’ll have to hold it in there for a full minute before swallowing. I won’t lie. It’s revolting, and you will be tempted to spit it out. A minute will feel like a lifetime, but once it’s over, that’s it. The curse will slowly dissipate over the next few days, and you’ll be bad luck free.” Vaila continued to stir it, and the color changed from a dark blue to purple, then nearly black.

“I’m so sorry, Mine.” Ellie looked over Vaila’s shoulder and nearly gagged. “I’m out. Good luck. I’m locking myself in my room with some headphones on. I will not hear gagging, thanks.” Ellie practically ran away with our laughter trailing behind her.

“It’s almost done. Are you ready?” Vaila asked Mine, who stepped up beside her with a sharp nod.

This curse had caused her so much pain, and I knew she would get through this to have it gone for good. I couldn’t say the same for myself, but my Alpha father died from nothing related to a curse, and my Omega father and sister were perfectly healthy but dramatic in many areas.

“Open up.” Vaila held out a large spoon full of the jelly-like black goop to Mine, who frowned, then took the whole thing in her mouth. Vaila started a timer and said, “One minute, starting now.”

Time ticked by, and Mine looked like she wanted to throw it all up. I didn’t blame her, but she held strong, and after the minute was up, she swallowed before coughing and gagging. I passed her some lemonade we had left on the counter, and she chugged it down.

Mine signed, Done? I translated, and Vaila nodded with a smile on her lips.

“Done.” Vaila clapped her hands together with a mischievous grin. “Now, tell me how this whole mate thing has been going. I’ve been dying to hear the gossip, and Ellie refused to tell me anything.”

Mine cringed, but Vaila didn’t see. I was about to tell her we wouldn’t be getting into it, but Mine grabbed her notebook and gave her all the details or lack thereof.

“Oh, well, going slow, then?” Vaila looked around at all of us, and we shrugged in unison.

“And?” Cy asked, crossing her arms. “Did you think we were going to pressure her into anything? We aren’t horny monsters, Vaila.”

“That’s not what I meant, and you know it. Neither of you ever took things slow—” Vaila’s words were cut off by Mine’s fist slamming into her nose.