Esmeralda
I woke up with a start when I felt a pair of hard, rough hands grab me, shaking me to my core.
The scent of sandalwood citrus and warm honey hit my nostrils at once, almost suffocating me. I tossed, turning away from the source of the scent, but the aura blasted everywhere, leaving me no room for escape.
The aura was so familiar, so strong, so deadly, so dominating.
But then was the anger.
I couldn’t miss the heat that it produced as it rolled in waves.
Raw anger filled the room and so was the aura.
I shifted, turning away from the source, as an uncomfortable feeling settled in me, but it was everywhere.
The aura was everywhere.
I could feel it blasting from every angle as it consumed me, almost restricting my airflow.
What was going on?
I tossed again, struggling to get hold of myself, but then it dawned on me…
I was on top of a bed, a very soft one, in a very familiar room.
The room was familiar, I could feel that I had been there before.
But where was I?
A loud growl caused my eyes to snap open. A decision I regretted immediately.
At first, everything was blurry, but I could see a figure before me, watching me keenly.
Who could that be?
Blinking a few times as I regained my vision, my eyes met with Alpha Kade’s angry green ones, looking down at me with a deep frown plastered on his face.
Was I in trouble?
What did I do this time?
Gasps escaped my lips as I hurriedly shifted away from him, seeking refuge in the duvet.
What was I doing in his room? On his bed?
And why was he glaring at me like he wanted to kill me? What was happening?!
Several questions filled me. Several unanswered questions.
Except, I knew the answer.
My eyes widened in horror as memories flashed in my head.
Memories of my disobedience. And a failed mission.
I had gone into the North wing.
Not only that, I had attempted to free his prisoner!
Fuck!
I was screwed, I knew it.
“….. you are as good as dead…” Jade’s words formed in my head, except this time, I could feel some amount of mockery in her voice.
I had failed.
I had just one thing to do and I failed woefully.
Jade was right, she tried to warn me, but I didn’t listen.
Now I was as good as dead.
Not only was I dead, but my mission was also left unaccomplished and the girl will forever be locked in the wing with no one to save her.
I fucked up. I fucked up big time and now I was going to pay for it. I knew Alpha Kade wouldn’t hesitate to punish me and lock me behind the wing to rot.
But would he? I was his mate.
Would he hurt his mate?
A feeling of uncertainty surged through me, as I badly wanted to believe he wouldn’t punish me.
Alpha Kade was unpredictable.
Still avoiding his penetrative gaze, my eyes swept across the room, the room I used to clean. But I was now in it, laying on the bed.
A mixed feeling washed through me, I didn’t know whether to be sad or to be happy that I was on my mate’s bed.
Snap out of it, Esmeralda! You are in trouble!
I was in big trouble.
But I would be in more trouble when I remembered how angry Selene would be if she waited for me in vain.
I disturbed her sleep and caused her trouble.
What if she searched for me and in the process, she got caught?!
Fuck!
I always cause people trouble. And myself.
Guilt filled me when Jade’s face formed in my head.
How would she feel when she finds out I tried to escape without telling her?
How would she feel when she tells me everything as a friend does, but I kept a big secret from her?
How would she feel when she learns that I got caught?
And Madam Dora? After treating me like her daughter?
They would hate me, no doubt.
Those warm eyes of theirs would be replaced with angry ones. And their soothing voices would be stern.
They would call me all manner of names. They would call me selfish.
But it wasn’t my fault.
I hope they won’t be mad at me. I wish they would still like me and consider me as one of them again.
Nobody liked me for long
They always hate me for a reason. Except for Selene.
A groan sent me back to reality, almost making me shiver with fear.
I was dead. I knew it.
I shut my eyes, letting out soft whimpers as my head ached terribly from the way I fell and hit my head on a hard object before passing out.
Silence stretched in the room for uncomfortable minutes as I was glued to a spot, unable to meet his blazing gaze.
Despite the pain I felt in my joints as a result of sitting in an uncomfortable position for a long time, I didn’t dare make a move.
I felt my body go numb under his blazing stare. His look was so intense, it almost burnt me.
His eyes were like fire, about to consume me.
If looks could kill I would be dead.
I had violated his rule. No doubt, I would be punished. I had no one to save me.
No one.
Except I pray to the Moon goddess to hasten my death and make it less painful.
“I need answers!” His baritone voice sounded like the voice of many men, echoing in my head, increasing my headache.
I flinched as he got closer to me. His harsh breath fanned my face. He smelt of alcohol and danger.
Was he drinking because of what I had done?
I was in deep trouble. No one could save me.
“Huh?” I feigned ignorance, pretending I didn’t hear what he said to delay my punishment.
It was only a matter of minutes before I said goodbye to the world.
“Don’t play with me!” He yelled, making me jerk in fright, “I need answers. Why did you enter the North wing when I had forbidden it for anyone to enter? Why did you disobey me?”
“Uhm,” I started without knowing what excuse to give, “I am sorry. I swear it wasn’t intentional,” I pleaded, hoping it would crack a bit of ice in his heart.
“Stop it!” He growled, banging the bed frame with his fist, making me jump in fright. I scurried away from him, burrowing further into the bed.
I shook like a leaf under his hard stare.
I was scared. I had never expected him to be this mad.
He was scary. Everything about him was scaring me to death.
He was mad! I could feel it in my bones.
But at the same time, he was fighting hard.
Fighting to keep himself still. It was like he was at war with himself.
One minute he was blinded with anger and the other minute, his eyes flashed with emotion, with a green ring forming around them.
His wolf was trying to calm him.
“Stop pleading because you didn’t think of the consequences before you disobeyed me. You better help yourself by spilling answers or so help me,” He bared his teeth at me allowing his canines to seep through.
Unable to hide my fright, screams tore from my lips as I watched his claws rip the duvet as his claws dug through them.
He wasn’t going to use his claws on me, was he?
Sucking a deep breath to be calm, I tried to recall what made me enter the North wing, “Because someone was trapped in there,”
I watched his expression change for a while. It wasn’t hard, neither was it soft.
That was a good one for a start.
You trapped someone in there, you asshole! I screamed within me, as anger surged within me, replacing the previous fear.
“How did you know someone was in there?” He asked, narrowing his gaze at me before going briefly quiet, “Oh my goodness, you’ve been there before. You’ve been to the wing before yesterday,”
Yesterday?!
I passed out and woke up the next day! Incredible!
“Why did you do it?” His deep voice jerked me back to life.
Why did I do it?
Why did I offer to help?
I needed a good reason.
Think!
That was it!
“I heard this strange scream one night and I traced it to the wing. Another time, when you told me to get out of your room, I collided with the door and decided to open it. That was when she told me to help her,”
“And you decided to be her saviour? Superhero Esmeralda to the rescue,” He scoffed, a generous amount of mockery was evident in his voice.
“I was just concerned that she was tied like an animal,” I challenged, surprised at my new audacity.
Strange.
“Stop it..”
“I know you chained her. I know she is your prisoner, why did you do it? What did she do? It is not fair. She just wants to be out, let her be free,” I screamed, channeling my anger toward him, “You are a monster. You derive happiness in stealing people’s joy and keeping them hostage,”
“Silence!” He growled. And at the sound of his voice, everything went still.
“You have no idea what is going on. You don’t get to judge without knowing the full story,”
“There is no full story, you are just a bad person,” I said, pointing a finger at his face.
My heart broke as the image of the almost lifeless girl appeared in my head.
She looked like a shadow.
The girl was a ghost of herself, shut up in the wing for almost all her life while he was walking around freely like nothing happened like she never existed.
He should be the one trapped in there, not her.
I didn’t care if he was the most feared Alpha, I was going to say my mind. He can do whatever he wants to do to me.
“That’s it. Shut up and get out. Get out of my room before I do something stupid,” He yelled, destroying everything in his way as he was blinded by anger.
His anger was oozing out of him this time that even his wolf couldn’t get hold of him.
That was the last straw before I pushed past him and ran as fast as my slim legs could carry me.
I wanted to be far away from this monster. From Alpha Kade.
But my feet caught pieces of glass laying on the floor and a loud yelp tore from my lips as I staggered, almost crashing on the floor.
“Wait,” He called, coming close to me, as he saw blood oozing from my injured foot.
“Leave me alone!” I yelled, limping on my foot.
I didn’t want to go close to a monster who finds joy in hurting people and feeling good about it.
I wanted to be out of his house and out of his life.
Ignoring his calls, I dashed out of his room, letting my legs take me to anywhere far from him.