KEILAH
After uttering those enigmatic words, Dahlia’s eyes reverted to their usual state. With a gentle yet firm grip, she led me to sit beside her on the bed. Despite my lingering apprehension, a sense of trust began to settle within me; somehow, I instinctively knew she wouldn’t harm me. Yet, my curiosity burned brighter than my caution, prompting me to interrupt her silence.
“Who are you, truly?” I inquired, meeting her gaze.
Dahlia’s expression softened, her tone tinged with a hint of urgency.
“Whatever happened just now, whatever you witnessed… it must remain between us. You must promise not to breathe a word of it to anyone-especially the alpha.
“If you wish to keep this secret from him,” I countered, “then you must reveal your true nature to me. Back there, you seemed… otherworldly. As if you hosted a presence from beyond our reality. And those words you spoke earlier… what significance do they hold?”
Dahlia’s eyes held a mix of resignation and reluctance, as if she were torn between divulging the truth and keeping her secrets guarded. Finally, after a heavy sigh that seemed to carry the weight of centuries, she began to speak.
“I am Gaia Emberheart,” she began, her voice low yet steady. “What you see is merely a fraction of who I truly am. There exists within me forces beyond mortal comprehension, threads of destiny that weave through realms both seen and unseen.”
I interrupted her, lifting a hand to halt her explanation. “Hold on a moment,” I interjected, my confusion evident. “I’m sorry, but I’m having trouble following. Can you simplify things for me?”
Dahlia paused, her expression softening as she adjusted her explanation to meet my understanding. “In simpler terms,” she began, her tone more measured now, “I am both a werewolf and witch, but not just an average witch. I hail from a long-forgotten clan, banished from the supernatural realms decades ago. They believe us to be extinct, but our legacy lives within me.”
I remained silent, my gaze fixed on her, struggling to comprehend the gravity of her words. Despite my efforts, my mind struggled to grasp the full extent of what she was saying. Given my recent exposure to the supernatural, I couldn’t entirely fault myself for my narrow-mindedness.
“And with the baby forming…” I prompted softly, “what exactly did you mean by that?”
“You’re going to have a child with the alpha,” she replied calmly, her words sending shockwaves through me.
My jaw dropped in disbelief. “What did you just say?”
“In a matter of weeks, your pregnancy will become visible,” she continued, her gaze drifting down to my stomach.
Instinctively, I crossed my arms over my abdomen, my body recoiling at the notion as I shot up from my seat. “That’s absurd! I can’t be pregnant with him. He’s not even human,” I protested, eyeing her with a mixture of confusion and incredulity, as if she had suddenly lost her mind.
But she met my gaze unwaveringly. “You can’t change what’s already happened,” she insisted.
“You don’t understand,” I pleaded, desperation creeping into my voice. “That man… he… he raped me. I can not bear a child conceived in such a manner. I don’t want to resent my child.”
What happened happened. You can’t change it. She insisted, making me furious.
I exhaled a heavy sigh and shifted my gaze towards her. “Listen,” I began, my tone weighted with resignation, “I’ll pretend this conversation never happened. I won’t take you seriously. After all, you and Ralph are practically one entity. Who’s to say he didn’t influence you to speak to me this way?” With a gentle yet firm tone, I added, “Good luck next time.” With that, I made to leave.
Before I could take another step, Dahlia’s firm grip closed around my hand, pulling me back with unexpected strength. Reluctantly, I allowed her to guide me to the edge of the bed, where I sank down, overwhelmed by her urgency.
As I settled onto the bed, a torrent of images flooded my mind-a chilling montage of violence and brutality. It was a visceral flashback, vivid and terrifying, revealing the savage attack orchestrated by Ralph’s people in their monstrous wolf forms. I recoiled at the scenes playing out before me, feeling the raw fear and helplessness all over again.
In the memory, Ralph carried me in his massive hands, his demeanour shifting from human to beast as he tended to my wounds with an eerie tenderness. The next frame showed him carrying me upstairs to his room, tearing away my torn clothes before enveloping me in covers. Then, a jarring transition-the sight of him killing one of his own pack members, all because of me.
Before I could process the onslaught of memories, they vanished, leaving me stunned and motionless, grappling with the reality of what I had witnessed.
“Do you believe me now?” Dahlia’s voice snapped me back to the present.
“What did I just see?” I stammered, still trying to make sense of it all. “When did that happen? Why couldn’t I remember any of it?”
“Because I erased it from your mind,” Dahlia explained calmly. “I knew it would torment you, but I needed you to understand the truth.”
“Why?” My voice trembled with confusion and fear.
“I just wanted to make you believe what I said to you,” she replied softly, her gaze filled with concern.
With trembling legs, I hastily made my way out of the room and collapsed onto the stairs, overwhelmed by the weight of what I had experienced.
As I sat on the stairs, my mind raced, trying to process the disturbing revelations that had been forcibly thrust upon me. Each memory was like a jagged piece of a puzzle, fitting together to form a picture I wasn’t sure I wanted to see.
Dahlia joined me, but distantly. I’m sorry,” she murmured, her voice tinged with regret. “I didn’t mean to overwhelm you like that. But you left me no choice.”
I looked at her, searching for answers in her steady gaze. “Why did you erase those memories in the first place?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. But before she could respond, I shifted the subject. “Anyway, never mind. Can you lend me your phone? Mine is broken. I need to talk to Ralph,” I requested, extending my hand.
Dahlia hesitated for a moment, her expression betraying a flicker of uncertainty before finally surrendering her phone. “Don’t worry,” I reassured her, sensing her apprehension. “It has nothing to do with your secret. You have my word. I won’t breathe a word of it,” I promised, hoping to ease her concerns. With a faint nod, she relented, and I swiftly navigated to her contacts, finding Ralph’s name at the top of the list.
The call connected, and each ring felt like a drumbeat in my heart until Ralph’s voice broke through the static.
“What’s the matter, Dahlia? Is everything alright?” His voice held concern, but beneath it lay a subtle undercurrent of exhaustion that didn’t escape my notice, stirring a newfound concern within me. what the hell. Why am I all of a sudden concerned for him? I wondered.
“It’s me, not Dahlia,” I said to him, my tone serious, urgency seeping through each word. “Where are you? We need to talk.” Silence lingered on the other end, stretching into an uneasy void. “Hello?” I prompted when his response failed to reach my ears.
As the silence persisted, a knot of worry tightened in my chest. Dahlia exchanged a fleeting glance with me, her eyes betraying an apprehension. Ralph’s prolonged silence was unnerving, like a harbinger of impending trouble.
Finally, a heavy exhale crackled through the line, laden with weariness.
“Pass the phone to Dahlia,” he said, his tone weary and devoid of patience. “You didn’t answer my question,” I interjected, but he cut me off with a curt dismissal. “I’m in no mood to argue with you. Hand Dahlia the phone.”
With a resigned sigh, I passed the phone to Dahlia. After a few terse exchanges of “yeses” and “okays,” she hung up and turned to me. “Go get ready. Alpha sent for you,” she said briskly.
Without hesitation, I dashed upstairs and changed into comfortable blue jeans, slipping into a loose black shirt and my favourite hoodie. As I emerged from my room, Dahlia was waiting by the door. She moved with purpose, reaching into her pocket and retrieving a dark red thread. With swift motions, she pulled up my hoodie sleeve and tied the thread around my wrist before tucking the sleeves back down.
“What is that for?” I asked, curiosity piqued by her actions.
“For your own protection,” she replied curtly, her words carrying an air of solemnity. “Now head out. The car is waiting for you.”
With a nod of acknowledgement, I stepped out and stood in front of this stunning mansion. Ignoring the curious glances directed my way, I paused, allowing myself a moment to draw in a deep breath, releasing a tension I hadn’t realized I’d been holding.
Despite the fact that I was about to meet Ralph, the devil himself, I couldn’t help but tag on a smile of relief, knowing I will be away from this house that had turned into a hellish place for a while. As I climbed into the waiting car, the thread around my wrist silently reminded me of Dahlia’s unspoken promise to keep me safe during the tumultuous journey that lay ahead. I hope we don’t collide into a bunch of bloody wolves. I glanced at my driver, who seemed too massive to be defeated by an ambush of wolves. lt would be such a waste if he failed, considering his impressive muscles. Letting out a heavy sigh, I leaned back and closed my eyes, contemplating what to say to Ralph when I saw him.
Abruptly, the deep resonance of my driver’s voice broke through, his deep voice jolting me from my reverie, bringing an abrupt end to what I had hoped would be a moment of respite. “We have arrived,” Startled, I realized we were parked in front of my house.