KEILAH
“I stood frozen, disbelief etched into every fibre of my being as his warm embrace enveloped me. My heart, previously a frantic drummer in a panic, now orchestrated a softer, steadier rhythm. It was an unfamiliar sensation-a shift from terror to an inexplicable calmness. Despite the knowledge of his formidable abilities, his arms felt like a sanctuary, a refuge from the chaos that raged outside.
In that moment, surrounded by his embrace, I marvelled at the unexpected twist in our encounter. Fear, once an unrelenting captor, now surrendered to an overwhelming sense of solace and protection. His arms, like an impenetrable fortress, shielded me from the harshness of the world.
As I nestled against him, his heartbeat became my melody, a soothing symphony that drowned out the clamour of my anxieties. Each steady thud was a reassurance, a whisper that echoed safety and trust in this unlikely sanctuary.”
I closed my eyes and allowed myself to fully immerse in the moment, relishing the warmth and solace his hug provided. The racing of my heart gradually subsided, and in its place, a soothing calm settled over me. It was a feeling I’ve ever experienced in my life, a respite from the chaos and uncertainty that had plagued my days.
As I listened to the steady rhythm of his beating heart, I felt a connection that transcended words. It was a language of its own sense of understanding and acceptance.
As I held him tightly lost in embrace, he suddenly pulled away and gave me a lingering, expressionless stare. His face changed back to its familiar, hardened expression, and then unexpectedly, he pushed me down. I winced in pain as a piece of broken glass cut through my hand. l gasped in shock as I felt the sting of the broken glass slicing through my hand. Shock and pain intermingled, the sharp sting spreading like wildfire through my arm, momentarily arresting my senses. As I glanced up at him, seeking some semblance of reasoning in his gaze, I found none.
His gaze remained cold and distant, as if a switch had been flipped within him. The warmth and tenderness I had seen just moments ago had vanished, replaced by an unsettling detachment.
Struggling to regain my composure, I pushed myself up from the floor, blood trickling from the wound in my hand. Fear crept into my thoughts, intertwining with the pain. What had caused this sudden change in him? Was it something I had done?
“Get out of my room,” he said, avoiding eye contact. He pulled out his phone and dialled a number, calling someone named Dahlia. “She’s in my quarters. Come pick her up and take her in the car.”
I was left feeling perplexed. What was that all about? Why did he hug me, only to hurt me once again?
He walked towards the huge glass window and opened it, exhaling the air that flowed in. Then, he entered what appeared to be a bathroom and slammed the door shut behind him.
I gathered myself and left the room, still bewildered by what had just transpired.
Shortly afterwards, a woman I recognized approached me, urgently instructing me to come with her.
She guided me into a specific room filled with various medical supplies. Taking out some ointment and a bandage, she proceeded to cleanse my wound. Curiosity got the better of me, and I couldn’t help but ask, “Are you his sister, bodyguard?” Rather than answering, she chose to remain silent and instead
grasped my hand, leading me through this mansion’s strikingly expansive corridors and down into the basement, where an array of sleek, black cars were neatly lined up.
She led me towards one of them and opened the passenger door for me. Wait here. Alpha will be here shortly. She said and then walked away, leaving me with a flurry of questions racing through my mind.
As I settled into the comfortable leather seat, the driver’s door opened, revealing him. My heart started pounding.
With that, he swiftly got into the driver’s seat and started the engine. The car purred to life, and we smoothly pulled out of the underground garage.
As we sped through these dense forests, my curiosity burned stronger than ever. I couldn’t help but steal glance at him through the rearview mirror, searching for answers in his expression. He seemed focused, his eyes fixed on the road ahead.
Unable to contain myself any longer, I mustered up the courage to speak. “Where are you taking me? He glanced at me briefly before returning his attention to the road.
After a long and silent drive, the town centre came into view. I desperately tried to come up with a plan. Panic washed over me, clouding my thoughts and making it difficult to think clearly. I weighed the options in my mind- should I risk opening the door and face the consequences, or should I continue to comply and hope for an opportunity to escape?
The town centre grew closer, and I could see people bustling about on the sidewalks. My mind raced, searching for an escape route.
But before I could act on this tempting thought, he finally broke the silence, his voice devoid of any emotion. “Don’t even think about it,” he warned, his tone sending a chill down my spine. “I know everything about you, your aunt, and your friend. If you try anything stupid, they won’t be safe.
I was shocked and stared at him in disbelief. How did he know what I was thinking? My shock deepened when I noticed that my home address was programmed into the car’s GPS. I was too shocked to even open my mouth to ask him about it.
“I know everything about you, your aunt, and your friend. If you try anything stupid, I will rip each of their throats out before your eyes. He said, distracting me from the shock of seeing my address in his car.
His words struck a nerve, and a mix of fear and anger welled up inside me. How could he have such intimate knowledge of my life? Was he bluffing, or had he been watching me for far longer than I could have ever imagined?
I glanced at him, searching for any sign of deception or malice. His eyes bore into mine, filled with a chilling intensity that sent shivers down my spine. It was clear that he meant every word he said.
Due to this unavoidable chaos you brought to my pack, it won’t be easy for you to leave my house. Therefore, I will allow you to spend a night with your family. Just make sure you don’t dare to mention anything about us to them. If you do, that would be the end of your lives. He menacingly threatened me before hurling something in my direction. To my surprise, it was my phone.
My fingers trembled as I fumbled for my phone, disbelief washing over me as the screen lit up, displaying a full battery icon. “How did you…” I began, but my words were halted as he abruptly returned his focus to the road, cutting off my question.
Distracted by the puzzling state of my phone, I scrolled through the messages, stumbling upon a conversation with my aunt that seemed unfamiliar. I’ll be out of town for a while for some work. Don’t worry about me, it read. A chill ran down my spine. When had I penned these words? The uncertainty gnawed at my thoughts.
His sudden halt jolted me from my reverie. Glancing away from the phone, I realized we had stopped in front of my house. “Are you sure I can leave?” I hesitated, a flicker of uncertainty dancing in my voice.
“You don’t want to,” he retorted sharply, his eyes urging me to depart.
“No, that’s not what I meant,” I rushed to clarify, feeling a sudden unease creeping in.
His head snapped around, a silent command to exit. Reluctantly, I complied, stepping out into the uncertain stillness. “I’m keeping an eye on you. Be careful with whatever you say.” He added.
Keilah…” Cora’s voice reverberated, cutting through Ralph’s menacing words and drawing my attention away from him. I turned and saw my best friend standing at the doorstep, clutching a trash bag. Emotions surged within me, and tears welled up as I beheld her. Dropping the bag, she rushed over and enveloped me in a tight embrace. I held onto her, tears streaming down my face uncontrollably. “Girlfriend, I missed you so much,” I choked out amid sobs, momentarily forgetting I’d left the car door open.
Lost in the embrace, a sudden loud car horn startled us, causing us to spring apart. “Oh my God, who’s that jerk?” Cora’s voice cut through the tension as she peered through the open car door. “Bro, that was so rude! Are you trying to give us a heart attack?” Her tone was sharp and direct.
I instinctively pulled her away. “Let’s go inside. I want to see my aunt,” I urged, my focus on getting her away from the confrontation that was brewing in her mind. I couldn’t risk her facing off with him; he’s so capable of snapping her in half.
Forcibly guiding her towards the house, I could sense her thoughts lingering on confronting the guy in the car. But I couldn’t let her near him – he exudes danger.
As we approached the doorstep, my anticipation mingled with worry, expecting my aunt to greet me with a pale face and a worried expression. Instead, she emerged with a bright smile, looking healthier than I had dared to hope. I moved in for a hug, only to have it abruptly cut short, leaving me surprised.
“What are you doing here?” Her confusion matched mine. “I heard you’d be out of town for a month.”
I blinked, utterly perplexed. “What are you talking about?”
“You texted me that you won’t be coming back,” she explained, concern furrowing her brow. “After that text, I called you multiple times, but a man answered, saying you won’t be back until next month.”
My mind raced, connecting the dots. “Aunt, describe the man’s voice,” I pressed urgently.
“It was raspy, yet calm and rough,” she recalled.
My gaze darted back to Ralph in the car. Could he have been the one who sent that misleading message to my aunt and answered my phone?