KEILAH
As I struggled to rise, the sting of pain seared through me. Dahlia, the silent girl I had come to know is close to Ralph, rushed over with concern etched on her face. “Did Benita hurt you?” she inquired, glancing in the direction of their departure. She reached out and took my hand gently.
“Is her name Benita?” I asked.
“Come on, I’Il take you to your room,” she said, leading me through the hushed winding corridors of this house. Why is it so quiet here? I hope your alpha didn’t order you to close me up here. I asked worriedly.
Before she could answer me, her phone chimed with a message. She opened it and asked for a few minutes. Before I could ask where she was going, she had already turned away. Within seconds, I spotted the man who had brought me to Ralph’s people, the ones who had nearly killed me with their wolf claws. I couldn’t forget the devilish smile he had when he found me in that cramped room with that high-heeled woman( Benita)by his side. Ralph was dangerous, but this guy seemed even worse. Just as I was about to hide, two of their leaders caught my attention. They followed him into one of the hallways.
“Those guys are up to no good.”
My heart thundered in my chest, a blend of fear and unyielding curiosity urging me forward. Following their fleeting figures, I quickened my pace down the hall, only to find it deserted. “Where did they vanish to?” I muttered to myself, scanning the empty corridor for any sign of their presence. Just as I contemplated delving deeper for them, Dahlia’s voice echoed behind me, halting my pursuit.
I hurried over to meet her. She furrowed her brows but didn’t ask me anything, but instead urged me to follow her.
“Dahlia, can I ask you something?” I inquired.
She stopped walking and turned to face me.
“Listen, I know you’re the alpha’s mate, and I respect that, but let’s not pretend we’re friends here. I’m simply following Alpha’s orders. So, let’s not indulge in conversations or questions. Please understand.”
Confused by her abrupt change in demeanour, I couldn’t help but question, Why are you suddenly being rude? I thought we were friends. Do you have a problem with me too?” I asked, feeling hurt.
“I don’t have a problem with you, but we aren’t friends. No offence,” she replied.
I sighed in surrender. As that high-heeled woman had said, no one is on my side in this house. I am on my own. The only person I have to get close to is Ralph. Yet, even the thought of approaching him filled me with trepidation.
After turning right and left in the corridors, she led me to a certain door, the solitary room on this side of the mansion. She gestured for me to enter.
As I stepped inside, the space revealed itself-spacious but sparsely furnished with only a bed and a wardrobe.
“This is going to be your room from now on,” she stated.
I turned to her, baffled. “The room isn’t bad, but why isolate me up here? I didn’t see any other rooms on our way here. Does this mean I’ll be the only one-”
“If you’re worried that the pack will attack you, they won’t. No one is allowed to come up here,” she said, cutting me off.
”Yes, that’s a concern, but my question is, I’m Ralph’s mate and will be spending some good time in this mansion, so why would you choose this room for me?” I asked.
“You will ask him yourself,” she replied curtly.
The kitchen is downstairs. From the last staircase step, you’ll see a closed room and a library, and next is the kitchen. You’re free to make your own food whenever you’re hungry,” she said, and then turned to leave. She turned to face me, her expression softening slightly. “Alpha has his reasons,” she said
cryptically. “But I assure you, this room is the safest for you.” After saying that, she left, closing the door softly.
Huh, what’s with her? One minute, she’s soft, and another minute, she’s rude. Why is she confusing me?
Nevertheless, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of curiosity. What reasons could Ralph, that handsome creepy asshole possibly have for choosing this room for me? I decided to take a tour of my new room.
It was spacious and filled with an air of tranquillity.
As I approached the window, I noticed how dark it got. The forest was too thick from the night to even see anything from my point of view. It was so quiet out there and peaceful. Unnerving, though.
Lost in my thoughts, I almost missed the insistent ringing of my phone. Snapping back to reality, I went for it. A smile flickered across my face at the sight of Cora’s name flashing on the screen. “Girlfriend, what’s up?” I greeted, but there was an unsettling silence at the other end.
“Cora, are you there?” I asked, a tinge of concern creeping into my voice. I double-checked the phone to see if it was disconnected, but the line was still open.
“Hello, Cora, is something wrong? Is Aunt okay?” I inquired, feeling a sudden surge of worry gnawing at me.
“G-girlfriend, I didn’t want to worry you, but things have spiralled out of my control,” she finally spoke, her voice trembling with unease.
“What happened, Cora? Is my aunt sick?” I fired off questions, my agitation growing with each passing moment.
“The police took her away,” she uttered, the words landing like a heavy blow.
“The police? Why? What’s going on?” I demanded, my mind reeling with confusion.
“It was Ethan. He filed a report with clear evidence on who he thinks is your boyfriend, saying he tried to kill him last night.” He thinks your aunt knows where you and your boyfriend are.
Alright, cora, tell me you’re with my aunt now. How is she now? Isn’t she shocked? How is her health now? I asked, panic surging in.
Keilah, I am at the hospital. Ethan made it hard for me to leave. I’m sorry…
I couldn’t wait for her apology. I disconnected the call and dialled my aunt’s number. The call went through, but there was no answer.
I need to get out of here. Should I let Ralph know? No, I can’t. If I tell him, he’d never allow me to leave. I’ll handle it myself.
I stormed out, running through the hallways towards the kitchen, following Dahlia’s directions. From there, I will be able to see the exit door.
I successfully reached their kitchen, and sure enough, the exit door was right in front of me. As I walked past their kitchen, I paused for a moment, astonished by how massive and spacious it looked. Is this guy secretly a billionaire? Wait, I haven’t seen anyone around? At this time, people must be in the kitchen preparing meals. Don’t they eat dinner? Or… maybe Dahlia told them I would be coming, and they left it all for me because they didn’t want to breathe the same air with me. Whatever the case may be, I’m grateful for the opportunity.
I dashed towards the door, my heart pounding in my chest. As I turned the handle, I pushed it open with deliberate slowness, almost afraid of what I might find beyond but was surprised to find no one outside. What’s happening, I expected to see some people outside at least. It’s too early for everyone to be asleep. Could they possibly be in another wolfy meeting. I wondered.
As I stepped outside, the chilly night air enveloped me, sending shivers down my spine. The mansion’s driveway stretched ahead, illuminated only by the dim glow of the lights. The gate stood tall at the end of the driveway. As I cautiously treaded forward, my senses heightened, attuned to any sign of movement or presence. With each step, I couldn’t help but glance over my shoulder, half-expecting to see someone emerge from the shadows behind me.
Reaching the gate, I hesitated, my hand hovering over the latch. There was a peculiar sensation in the air-a foreboding sense that something wasn’t quite right. I decided to dismiss the thought and decided to focus on getting to my aunt.
With a steady breath, I gripped the latch and pushed the gate open, its hinges creaking softly in protest. Beyond it, lay a winding path leading me to my aunt.
Ralph and your people, I am not running away. I’m just going to get my aunt out of the police and then will come back. With those words, I quickly hailed a taxi and strode down the road, keeping pace until the cab arrived at my side.
The stillness around me was oppressive, yet an undeniable sensation of being watched pricked at my skin. I anxiously swept my eyes across the towering trees whose long shadows draped the path. The gentle rustle of leaves and sporadic owl calls only deepened the unsettling sense of isolation that cocooned me. Fatigue weighed on my limbs, urging me to stop, but the fear of Ralph finding me pushed me forward. Has he noticed my absence yet? I bet not. I would’ve seen his car chasing after me.
My thoughts scattered abruptly as something leapt from the trees, materializing before me. My shriek tore through the silence as I stumbled backwards. A black wolf stood, its presence both familiar and unnerving. Yet, in a chilling twist of reality, the creature contorted, emitting a bone-chilling series of cracks, morphing into Ralph, bare and unclad.
I stood rooted in disbelief, frozen by the abrupt transformation. He advanced toward me with an unsettling rage, wordless and ferocious. A blow struck my face, the force sending me reeling into darkness.