KEILAH
“As if sensing my gaze, Ralph abruptly lifted his head from what seemed to be his phone, catching my eyes. The suspense was suffocating, but I couldn’t tear my gaze away. Conflicting emotions warred within me-should I approach him and seek clarification, or should I let it go and immerse myself in the warmth of my family inside the house? The struggle raged within me until I resolved to approach him.
“Give me a moment, Aunt,” I murmured as I retraced my steps toward Ralph’s car. As I neared his car, my heart pounded against my ribcage, threatening to break free. Standing by the driver’s side, I waited for him to lower the window, but he remained unmoved, aware of my unspoken need.
Unwilling to relent, I circled to the back passenger side, thankful the door hadn’t been locked. I slid in, sat, and closed the door.
“There’s something I need to ask, if you don’t mind,” I began, my voice quivering slightly. Despite his silence, I persisted. “Ralph,” I ventured, striving to maintain composure, “did you by chance send my aunt any message using my phone, furthermore answered my phone?
The air crackled with unspoken tension, each second feeling stretched to its limit, waiting for his response.”
“Did you want me to tell her you were in a house full of wolves that wouldn’t let you leave alive?” His words were blunt, cutting through the tension. I fell silent, his question lingering heavily in the confined space of the car.
“Why did you do that?” I managed to ask, my voice tinged with confusion. ” it seemed like you were concerned but-”
“Stop talking and get out of my car,” his curt interruption sliced through my words, his tone final and unyielding.
The silence that followed Ralph’s command was deafening. I could see his eyes from the back view holding an icy resolve that sent shivers down my spine.
I hesitated, grappling with the intensity of his demand.
“Ralph-”
His hand slammed against the steering wheel, the sudden noise making me flinch. He grasped the wheel so tightly that his knuckles whitened, his jaw clenched in a fierce grip.
“If you value your life, never dare to utter my name with your revolting mouth again,” he seethed. “Now, get out.”
I didn’t dare argue further. With a heavy heart and a mind racing with questions, I fumbled for the door handle, my fingers trembling as I pushed the door open. As I closed the door, the weight of his words hung in the air like an ominous cloud. Confusion mingled with a growing sense of unease questions. Am I that disgusting to him?
I hid my emotions and returned to my aunt and Cora. They were already inside, peering through the window and too focused to notice me. I quietly approached them to see what had captured their attention. They were both staring directly at Ralph in the car. Reacting, I hurriedly closed the window blinds, startling them.
“What do you think you’re doing?” I asked, my voice tinged with panic. They both regarded me with quizzical, probing stares before simultaneously asking, “Is he your boyfriend?” Their question hit me like a sudden blow to the chest, causing me to choke on my saliva.
“He’s hot as hell, but he’s a jerk to be your boyfriend,” Cora blurted out. I choked even more at her comment.
“In my opinion, he seemed fine. He looked like a good guy,” my aunt added, intensifying my discomfort.
I rushed into the kitchen, hearing their footsteps trailing behind me. I grabbed a glass of water and quickly downed it before slamming the empty glass on the kitchen island, making them jump back. I turned to face them, feeling the need to express myself. “I came here to enjoy quality time with my family, not to talk about him. I would appreciate it if you didn’t ask me about him,” I said flatly.
“Alright, I’ll save it for later,” Cora replied, pulling me in for another hug.
Aunt pulled me away from Cora and retreated to her room. A ripple of tension ran through me. Once settled, she turned to face me, her expression a mix of concern and curiosity. “Is there something going on that I should know about?” she inquired, her gaze fixed on me.
I braced myself, trying to maintain composure.
“Nothing’s wrong, Aunt,” I began, my voice betraying a hint of unease. I needed to be careful with my words. Any slip-up could raise suspicions. “The job’s challenging, and the rules are overwhelming. But it’s not about that, it’s…”I hesitated, trying to find the right words. “I missed you terribly, and not being able to talk freely, it got to me.”
She gave me a sceptical look before questioning, “Why do I feel like you’re lying to me? Did you quit or get fired?” I pressed my lips together, trying to maintain composure. “No, Aunt, none of that,” I replied, trying to sound more assured. “I was granted a night off to visit my family, and I seized the chance. I’ll be heading back tomorrow.” I scooted closer to her and wrapped my hands around her body. “You’re the only family I have, and being far away from you makes me feel sick.”
Her gentle touch as she caressed me brought a sense of tranquillity, comforting the turmoil within me. Her touch was a balm to my broken soul, a familiar embrace that brought a sense of solace. As her hand glided over my back, her touch seemed to ease the knots of worry and fear that had been tying me up.
“I know it’s hard for you, being so far away,” she murmured, her voice filled with empathy. “But you have to remember that you’re not alone. We may be apart physically, but our hearts are always connected. Whatever you’re facing, I know you can overcome it. That’s how strong and bold you are, honey. Just like your mother was.
As tears threatened to spill at her words, I fought the urge to break down. Before they escaped, Cora’s furious voice pierced the house, prompting a swift retreat. With hidden tears, I dashed away, wiping them away before joining my best friend, who wore a visibly perturbed expression.
Hey, girlfriend, what’s up? You seem off,” I asked as I approached her.
“I’m okay, girlfriend, just feeling a bit overwhelmed by Ethan lately. He’s been suffocating, not giving me much space to breathe,” she sighed.
“Did something happen? What did he say?” I inquired. “Let’s not talk about that crap and talk about you. I really missed you, you know.” she said, shifting the conversation.
So, tell me. What’s up with that handsome dude? Who’s he? She asked. He’s just a work mate who drove me here. I replied. She raised her brows, not buying it. What’s up with them? Can’t they just take what I tell them? I self asked. Before she could bombard me with more questions, Aunt called us for dinner.
After enjoying a delightful dinner, we gathered to watch a short movie. After the movie, we engaged in lively conversation until my aunt decided to call it a night. During my alone time with my best friend, she received a phone call and politely excused herself. As she left the house, I couldn’t help but wonder if the call had something to do with her husband.
I quickly reached for my laptop, opened it, and searched everything about werewolves, alphas, and mates on Google.
Unfortunately, the search didn’t provide a clear picture. However, I did understand that alphas are the leaders of their packs, the strongest and most respected. With a heavy heart, I keyed in another search query: “What is a mate in the Werewolf world?” My heart skipped a beat as an avalanche of revelations cascaded before me. The second article I clicked on nearly compelled a scream to escape my lips. “Mates are like soulmates. Each werewolf has a mate, chosen by the moon goddess, their god,” I read aloud, my voice trembling. The implications hit me like a sledgehammer.
Panic surged through me. Was I chosen by their god to be Ralph’s mate? The very idea felt like an invisible shackle tightening around me. “What is this supposed to mean?”
Does this mean I’m tethered to that creep? I thought out loud, feeling overwhelmed. I slammed the laptop shut and staggered to my bed, my legs trembling beneath me. I knelt down in prayer, my voice quivering. “Dear Werewolf God, I don’t know who you are or why you chose me, but I humbly ask you to separate me from him. I don’t want to be his mate. Please give him another-
My prayer was interrupted by the commotion outside. At first, I almost dismissed it until Cora’s distressed voice pierced through the chaos. Reacting on instinct, I bolted out of the house.
“Get off me, Ethan!” Cora’s plea cut through the air as Ethan’s alcohol-laden breath reached me from a distance. “Do whatever you want, but I’m not divorcing you. I won’t let you go,” he declared, attempting to force a kiss on Cora, his movements aggressive and invasive. I dashed over and tried to intervene, but Ethan forcefully pushed me away. “I won’t let you harass my friend before me, you piece of trash,” I vowed, delivering a sharp stomp to his foot. He grimaced in pain, staggering back and releasing Cora. “You motherfucking bitch,” he cursed at me.
Before I could reclaim Cora and usher her back inside, Ethan grabbed hold of my hair, yanking me backwards. Dizziness clouded my senses as he twisted me around and delivered a harsh slap to my face. I stumbled, expecting to fall, but a strong hand steadied me. I recognized the scent and knew it was Ralph.
Had he been here the whole time? I wondered.
As Cora hurried to my side, Ralph’s gaze locked onto Ethan, his expression thunderous. Handing me over to Cora, he moved swiftly, seizing Ethan by the neck
effortlessly. “The next time I see you lay a finger on what’s mine, I’ll fucking kill you and your bloodline,” he growled, his voice a dangerous snarl.