KEILAH
I observed Ralph’s handsome face intently, waiting with patience as he wrestled with the words, his reluctance palpable in the furrow of his brow. As he struggled to find the words, I felt the urge to reassure him, to let him know that he needn’t share if it caused him distress, but curiosity was gnawing at me. I needed to understand the source of his deep-seated aversion towards humans, even if extracting the truth caused him evident anguish.
With a heavy sigh, he closed his eyes briefly, gathering the courage to delve into the depths of his pain, to expose the raw wound that had festered within him for so long.
“My hatred for humans…” he started, his voice trembling slightly. “It’s rooted in the betrayal I witnessed, the betrayal that shattered my world and tore my heart asunder.”
“It was my mother,” he confessed, and I could feel the bitterness of his words. “She was everything to me, the light in my darkness, the one who showed me love and kindness in a world filled with cruelty.”
A pained expression crossed his features.
“But she fell in love and placed her trust in a human. A man she believed to be her confidant, her ally. And in return, he betrayed her, betrayed us.”
“I was just a child when I found her.” Alone, broken, life slipping away from her grasp, all because of the treachery of one human.”
I stared at him, my eyes welled up with tears of how he must’ve felt at that age. I don’t know, but I feel like there is still more to that he told me.
So… I began, being as much careful with my words. I cleared my throat. What happened to him? Did he run away? I asked.
He looked at me steadily. He did. But I looked for him and made him pay for it. He said and paused before continuing, I burned him alive.
A shiver ran down my spine, the chilling finality of his words freezing me in place. The stark brutality of his actions painted a grim picture of the depths of his resolve, leaving me stunned and speechless. Inwardly, I scolded myself for my naivety. How could I be shocked by such a confession? That is who he is.
Before I could gather my thoughts to respond, he rose abruptly, his presence looming over me like a specter of admonition.
“How could you be so dumb to invite the vampire inside?” His voice shifted, turning menacing. “Something could’ve happened to you. Well, something already did,” he added with a weighty tone.
“I’m completely human, Mr. Alpha, in case you’ve forgotten,” I retorted. “How was I supposed to know he was a vampire?”
“He was a stranger to you. If something like that happens, I expect you to call someone you’re familiar with,” he growled, his frustration palpable.
“Are you scolding me?” I ventured, feeling a mix of confusion and irritation.
He pressed his hand against his forehead, rubbing his temples in frustration. “Of course, I am scolding you,” he sighed heavily. “Not because you were foolish, but because you let a man in your bedroom while you were almost naked.”
“Okay,” I replied slowly, attempting to navigate the tense atmosphere. “So, how do I explain this? Are you… jealous because another man saw my nudity?”
He paused, his expression cold before slightly changing to softening. “Maybe a little,” he confessed, “but mostly, I’m worried about your safety.”
I nodded in understanding, acknowledging his concern. “I promise I’ll be more careful next time,” I assured him, meaning every word.
He touched my shoulder, and I felt a surge of electricity coursing through me, sending a cascade of sparkles dancing across my skin. It was a brief moment, but it left me feeling strangely breathless, as if I had just been touched by something beyond comprehension. With a nod of acknowledgement, he turned and headed out, leaving me feeling dazed and uncertain.
Lost in my thoughts, I barely noticed when Dahlia and the old woman entered the room, their presence pulling me back to reality. They closed the door behind them, exchanging worried glances as they took in my bewildered expression.
Dahlia approached me, her expression etched with concern. “Are you alright?” she asked softly, her hand landing gently on my arm, offering a comforting touch. Did Alpha refuse?
“I didn’t have the chance to ask him,” I replied, a tinge of urgency lacing my words. “I’ll go right away.”
Before I could make a move to leave, the old woman’s grasp on my hand halted me, surprising me with its unexpected strength. I quickly pried my hand away, catching a glimpse of her fleeting expression of surprise before it vanished behind a mask of composure.
“Ralph is heading out for some business,” she informed me calmly. “Dahlia and I will take you.”
Turning to Dahlia, I silently conveyed my confusion with a questioning look. Her explanation flowed smoothly, unravelling the tangled threads of the situation with ease.
“Your aunt called on her phone because she couldn’t reach yours,” Dahlia explained, her words a gentle unravelling of misunderstanding. “It seemed you didn’t give her enough explanation about whatever happened before you left, and she wanted to come over here. She was worried about you.”
Surprise widened my eyes as her words sank in, a realization dawning upon me. Before I could respond, the old woman intervened with a decisive directive.
“Go and get ready,” she instructed, her tone firm yet caring. “The moment Ralph leaves, we’ll head out.”
As I headed out of the room to get ready for our departure, I nearly stumbled upon Zac, who seemed to materialize out of nowhere. Intent on ignoring him, I attempted to sidestep his path, but he blocked my way with an air of arrogant confidence.
“Where’re you rushing off to my brother’s beautiful mate?” he asked in a sniggering tone, his voice laced with a hint of mockery. His eyes bore into mine, challenging me to divulge my intentions.
I swallowed back a retort, unwilling to engage in his games. But his demeanour shifted suddenly, his expression turning cold as ice as he posed a more serious question.
“Did you get any information about Ralph?” he asked, his voice devoid of its earlier mockery.
“I don’t have anything to tell you,” I replied evenly, my voice firm despite the uncertainty swirling within me. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have other matters to attend to.” I took a step back, attempting to extricate myself from his presence. But before I could move away, his hand shot out, gripping my arm firmly, pulling me back with an unexpected force.
I winced at the sudden contact, my eyes flickering with a mixture of surprise and irritation.
As his lips parted, presumably to speak, a sharp voice cut through the tension like a knife. “Get your hands off her!” Dahlia’s voice snapped from behind me, her tone sharp and commanding.
Zac released me abruptly, his demeanour shifting once more as he turned his eyes on Dahlia’s approach. Her presence seemed to inject a wave of clarity into the charged atmosphere, her gaze piercing through the veil of confusion that enveloped me.
Dahlia’s eyes bore into Zac with a cold intensity, sending a shiver down my spine as I caught a glimpse of the unspoken questions lurking within their depths.
“Put her out of your games, Zac,” she declared, her voice laced with a steely resolve that brooked no argument. Her words hung in the air, a silent warning echoing through the corridor.
Zac’s expression hardened as he met Dahlia’s gaze, a flicker of anger dancing in his eyes before he relented, his shoulders slumping slightly. With a curt nod, he stepped aside, allowing me to pass without further interference. As I walked away, the weight of Dahlia’s words lingered in the air, a reminder of the tangled web of secrets that surrounded them. Could there be something going on between them?
***
As we all sat in the car, heading back to my place, the old woman who sat behind me turned to me. “Did I do something wrong to you, child?” she asked, her voice tentative.
I glanced briefly at Dahlia and the man driving before replying, “Should I say it here?”
Her gaze followed mine, drifting between Dahlia and the driver, then back to me. “Let me guess,” she said, her voice tinged with concern, “Are you still upset because it was me you’re stuck with us?”
I shook my head. “Initially, maybe, but it goes deeper than that. It’s about you and your son. Mostly, it’s about you. I know your secret,” I said, meeting her gaze.
Confusion clouded her features. “I don’t understand. What do you mean?” she asked, clearly taken aback.
“You’re faking your illness. You’re never sick,” I stated bluntly.
The old woman stared at me in silence, her expression unreadable. “How did you find out?” she finally asked, still in shock.
“That’s not important now. What matters is that I know. But what I don’t understand is why you’re lying to Ralph. You and your son-” Before I could finish, I noticed Dahlia exchanging a glance with the driver out of the corner of my eye.
“Wait a minute,” I interjected, a surge of agitation rising within me. “Are you two aware of this? Wow. So, Dahlia, you’re in on this, too? I get the picture now, I knew something was off between you and zac.” I said, my agitation mounting. “Is Ralph really safe with you guys? I hope you’re not planning on poisoning him.”
The tension in the car was palpable as my words hung in the air, waiting for a response. Instead, they just kept silent. Don’t jump to conclusions. They chimed in unison, their voices devoid of any emotion.
Bewildered by their reaction, I hesitated, trying to process their words. But before I could say anything further, the car abruptly came to a stop, cutting off our conversation midstream.
Dahlia’s voice broke the silence, her question abrupt, “Do you have a thread on?”
Confusion knitted my brow. “A thread?” I repeated, perplexed.
“Yes, I have it. I replied. “What happened?” I inquired further, sensing the gravity in her tone.
Dahlia affirmed, her gaze intense. “I smell vampires around.”
My heart skipped a beat as her words sank in. Vampires? But before I could make sense of what she had just said, the driver chimed in, his voice tinged with alarm, “That’s Alpha’s car. What is Alpha doing here?”
I followed their gaze, realizing we were already in our neighbourhood, my house looming in the distance. A big, sleek black car stood parked just across from it. Without hesitation, I opened the door and stepped out, heading toward my house, Dahlia rushing beside me, her senses keenly alert.
Knocking at the door, it swung open, revealing my aunt. I expected to be met with a myriad of emotions from my aunt, only to be taken aback by her excitement. “What a surprise, honey! I’m glad you’re here,” she exclaimed, pulling me into a tight hug before eagerly ushering me inside. I stood rooted to the spot, stunned by what greeted my eyes. Ralph and Damien.