Chapter 43

Book:MATED TO THE BLOOD ALPHA Published:2024-6-3

Esmeralda
Greeted with unusual darkness, my hands travelled on the wall, flicking the switch, allowing light to flood the room gradually.
I released a sigh that I didn’t know I was holding from my lungs, relieved at the emptiness of the room.
To the Moon goddess, I hated dark places, but no matter where I went, darkness accompanied me. It doesn’t leave me out of its sneaky plans.
As well as Phoebe.
I cannot escape from them. No matter how hard I tried.
I muttered a brief prayer to the Moon goddess for sparing my miserable life from death, but I knew sooner or later, it would come for me.
If it doesn’t come as a result of Phoebe’s persistent haunts, it would come as a result of Vanessa’s hatred.
Worst of all. My mate’s cold treatment would trigger my death.
So many people that wanted me dead.
Urgh!
Death.
I was so close to it tonight. I could feel its presence summoning me. Its aura filled my nose and its long dark hands stretched to take me to the other side.
Fuck!
I should have taken its hand and followed its lead. But I fought.
I fought hard for my life.
What miserable life was there to fight about? A life that would be taken sooner or later for me?
A life full of tears and sorrows and unfulfilled wishes?
What a waste of time.
Shaking with fear, I grabbed the pink comforter and lay on a pink chaise that rested on a wall. I needed to sleep, my body itched for it, but fear cloaked me, vanishing sleep from my eyes.
After muttering a few words of encouragement, I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath, waiting for sleep to overwhelm me but I found myself snapping my eyes open at intervals, afraid that Phoebe was watching me with a wide grin on her face.
The imagination sent shivers down my spine, making me take a loud gulp.
It is not real, it is just an imagination and she is not here. She is already taken care of. I muttered to myself repeatedly before shutting my eyes waiting for the long arms of sleep.
But fear had other plans for me. Its craftiness played vivid images in my head and at once, I saw it.
Those burning hazel eyes spitting raw hatred glared at me in fury, watching me as I slept. Like a guardian angel, watching the human it was assigned to. Except that guardian angels’ eyes were full of love and compassion.
And her lips?
Her lips wouldn’t stop singing. Like a mother singing her child’s favourite lullaby. Except Phoebe’s was filled with the cruellest words of what she would do to me.
Unable to take it, my eyes flung open, scanning the room for Phoebe’s presence. Satisfied by her absence, I expelled air, relief filling me.
Great!
Now I wasn’t able to sleep. Thanks to Phoebe.
Even in her absence, she still haunts me and it felt so real.
I stirred on the chaise, searching for a suitable position, but a scream jerked me, making me crash to the floor.
What the fuck was that?!
My brows knitted in confusion and my heart raced a thousand times at the sound of the feminine voice that filled the air.
Who was that?
Why the sudden scream?
What was happening?
Releasing myself from the grip of shock that froze me to a spot, I laid on the chaise, grabbing the comforter and covering myself from head to toe.
Not tonight. I wasn’t ready for this.
Aaah!
Another scream tore, shaking the whole house with its high pitch.
While it sounded terrifying it sounded familiar.
I recognized that scream. The scream of pain and torture. The sound that I could never forget in a hurry.
I and whoever was screaming shared a thing in common.
Pain.
Aargh!
It sounded again. Except for this time, it was mixed with agony.
Pain and agony.
Though it sounded distant, it was loud and clear. Whoever was screaming was in so much pain and agony.
But why was she screaming?
Who was inflicting pain on her?
From the sound of her voice, she was young.
What were they doing to her?
What did she do?
What is wrong with this place?
“Get away from me,” She yelled before releasing a deafening scream that ached my ears.
I was sure I wasn’t the only one that heard her screams.
Does she need help?
Should I go out to help her?
With jelly legs, I walked to the door, placing my ear on the wall as my wolf hearing was low.
My ears caught the sounds of chains.
Shackles.
She was struggling to be free from her shackles.
My eyes met my wrists and my ankles, the faded pink mark reminded me of the days I was shackled behind my cell.
The days I was a slave. An object of ridicule.
Those days were over. At least, I wasn’t shackled in the Blood Moon Pack.
The sound of hurrying footsteps jerked me from my reverie and I leaned closer to the wall to get a glimpse of the direction of the footsteps.
But the footsteps were away from my bedroom.
I stood still, straining my ears for another scream, but when I was met with none. Minutes passed by, and still, no scream was heard.
Probably, they had attended to her.
I hope she was alright.
Turning to the direction of the bed to get a good night’s sleep, I was met with a pair of hazel eyes that stared at me in fury.
It belonged to no other person than Phoebe.
Glueing to a spot as I was weakened by fear, my body trembled under her cold hard stare, making me wish I could disappear.
Maybe the death I tried desperately to avoid has come to take me home.
“You think you can run away from me?” She sneered.
She sounded so real.
“Leave me alone, Phoebe,” I screamed. My breathing became heavy.
“Unfortunately, I have come to take you,” She took daring steps toward me, watching me keenly like a predator, watching its meal.
“Leave me alone,” I whispered when I found my voice, “You are not real,”
“Let’s see about that,” She strode toward me, dangling a chain in her hand, “Remember this?” She asked, grinning wickedly.
“No. Stop,” I screamed, struggling to run away from her firm grip but I was frozen in fear.
Aaah!
An agonizing scream tore from my lips as the silver chain made its way to my bare skin, burning it.
“Please,” I sobbed, but no amount of my tears would melt her ice cold heart.
Slowly, my burnt skin crashed on the floor, jerking violently. It was becoming difficult to breathe and my heartbeat accelerated at an unusual pace.
It’s happening.
Breathe, Esmeralda.
But I couldn’t.
Breathless in fear as panic and anxiety washed through me, my hand found my chest again, hitting it repeatedly but it was useless.
My panic attack was resurfacing.
My vision became blurred with dizziness and the last thing I remembered was a figure dashing into the room and yelling my name desperately before my body shut down, succumbing to inner peace.