KEILAH
I hesitated, clutching the thread tightly. “This?” I asked, my voice wary. “What do you want with it?”
The woman’s eyes softened, but urgency lingered in her gaze. “It’s a key,” she explained, her voice gentle yet insistent. “Without it, I can not help you fully. Trust me, Keilah.”
The fact that she knew my name without an introduction should have alarmed me, but instead, it brought a strange sense of reassurance. Still, I couldn’t ignore the nagging doubt that lingered. “How do I know I can trust you?”
She stepped closer, the mist of the shower parting around her like a curtain. “Because I am the only one who can see the threads that bind your destiny to Ralph’s. And because I want to help you untangle the mess Dahlia has made.”
I took a deep breath, weighing my options. Finally, I unwrapped the thread from my wrist and held it out to her. Her fingers brushed through mine
A relieved smile crossed her face as she tied it around her wrist, and the transparency vanished, revealing her full, stunning form. Her eyes, a mesmerizing shade of deep emerald, held a mysterious allure, drawing me in. Her long, soft hair cascaded down her shoulders like a silken waterfall, shimmering in the light. Her graceful and elegant form was a testament to her ethereal beauty. As she began to speak, I found myself lost in her radiance, unable to tear my gaze away from the enchanting vision before me, her true beauty finally unveiled.
“Are you listening to me?” she said, bringing me back to reality.
“Huh?” I stammered, turning to her. “So,” I continued, “how are you going to help me?”
“You need to reconnect with the essence of who Ralph is,” she explained. “Not just the memories, but the soul beneath. His true self is buried deep, but it can be awakened with the right triggers.”
“How?” I asked, desperation creeping into my voice. “How do I reach him?”
“By reminding him of your shared moments, your love, and the life growing inside you,” she replied, her eyes glowing with a mysterious light. “And by confronting those who seek to keep you apart.”
As she told me this, I felt a wave of despair wash over me. “There were no happy moments between Ralph and me that could help with this situation. We were never in love,” I said. “We were just starting to build our feelings when everything fell apart. None of the love or shared memories would do. Unless you want me to remind him of the bad memories between us, which are mostly mine and wouldn’t work. Please, tell me something else.”
The woman sighed, her expression thoughtful. “It’s true that happy memories can be powerful triggers,” she said. “But sometimes, it’s the pain and struggle that forge the strongest connections. Ralph needs to remember the depth of his emotions, even if they were painful.”
I shook my head, frustrated. “But he was never really there. He always kept himself distant with hate, and I was the one who suffered. How can I use that to reach him?”
Her gaze softened, and she reached out to touch my shoulder. “Your pain is a testament to what you feel for him, Keilah.
“So, what do I need to do?”
Before she could reply, Isabella’s voice echoed through the room. “Are you done with the bathroom, child?”
Before I could respond, I noticed a shift in the woman’s expression, as if her mind had been triggered by something dark. “Take me to Damien, NOW,” she said urgently, her eyes fixed on the door where Isabella’s voice had come from.
I stood there, confused. “Damien? Why?”
Her gaze snapped back to me. “Just get dressed. I need to talk to him.”
“Okay, I get it. But why? Do you know him? And why do I have to come with you?” I asked.
“Because I can’t go anywhere without you by my side.”
I turned off the water, dried myself, and dressed in the clothes Isabella had provided. As I stepped out of the bathroom, the woman followed closely behind. Isabella was waiting with a cup of tea.
“Feeling better?” she asked, her eyes studying me closely. Surprisingly, she didn’t inquire about the woman standing behind me, indicating that I was the only one who could see her.
I nodded, taking the cup from her. “Yes, thank you.”
“Good,” she said with a satisfied smile. “Now, let’s talk.”
As I brought the cup to take a sip, the woman snapped, startling me that the cup slipped from my hands and crashed to the floor, splattering hot liquid everywhere.
“Don’t accept anything from that woman, not even getting near her!” she exclaimed sharply, her voice cutting through the air.
Isabella’s eyes widened in shock and concern.
“Are you okay? Are you hurt?” She asked, stepping forward.
Confused and scared, I stammered, “Let’s talk later. I’m not feeling well. I need to go out for some fresh air.” Without waiting for her reply, I rushed out of the room, not looking back until I reached the bottom of the stairs.
“What in the holy heavens was all that about, stranger?” I asked her, my heart still pounding.
“It’s not safe for me to explain here,” she replied urgently. “You’ll understand everything once we reach Damien.”
“Alright, we’re going,” I said, feeling lost. “But how am I supposed to take you there when I don’t even know where he resides?”
As her next words formed, “I’ll lead the way,” a thunderous growl from Ralph stopped me in my tracks, making my heart jolt. “Stop right there,” he commanded. I turned to see him at the top of the stairs. And just as swiftly, he appeared before me, his imposing figure causing my heart to race. He fixed his intense gaze on me.
“Wow, he’s even hotter than I imagined,” the woman beside me murmured.
“Who were you talking to, and why are you still here? Didn’t whoever brought you here not tell you humans are not allowed here? Did they not tell you what I do to humans?” he asked, his voice edged with danger.
I blinked, taken aback but then remembered he wasn’t in his damn right mind. I stepped closer to him. So close that I could feel his heartbeat. “To answer your first question, I wasn’t talking to anyone. And as for your second question, this is my home. And I’m not just any human. I’m your mat-”
Before I could finish, Benita dashed towards us, forcefully separating us with her body and knocking me aside as she intertwined her hand around his arm.
“You rushed out so suddenly, leaving me in the bathroom alone. Is everything alright?” She asked him. Even though I knew she’s lying, I couldn’t shake the twinge of jealousy coursing through me.
I looked between her and Ralph, feeling a surge of conflicting emotions before turning away towards the exit. However, as I neared the door, a strong resolve came over me. I spun back towards them , their hands still intertwined. With a forceful gesture, I forcefully untangled their hands.
“That’s better,” I declared firmly, giving Ralph one last intense glare before heading out without looking back.
“She’s a bitch just like her mother,” the woman beside me muttered disdainfully. I shot a glance.
As I stumbled out of the house, my heart was pounding as if it would burst from my chest. The sight of Benita clinging to Ralph-my mate-her hand possessively wrapped around his arm, was seared into my mind. Each step I took made my chest tighten painfully. The morning air did nothing to soothe the burning ache within me.
“Calm yourself down, woman. That hot alpha is yours alone,” said the woman beside me.
“I know that,” I replied.
“Then why are you boiling over?”
“Can’t you see? He doesn’t recognize me. He doesn’t even know that I am carrying his child.”
“That’s why I’m here-to help you get him back.”
As I continued towards the small gate, I noticed everyone moving back and forth as if they were preparing for something. I wondered what was happening. Turning to the woman beside me, I asked,
“Are we going through the forest or using a taxi?”
“Of course a taxi,” she replied, “but we need to get out of this pack’s territory first for me to recognize the surroundings leading to Damien’s estate.”
I gave her a long glare. “Are you serious right now?” I asked.
“Don’t look at me like that. I’ve never been in this pack before,” she said. “Using a taxi means we need money, which neither you nor I have right now. I retorted. Wait here, I’ll go find a way to steal Ralph’s card.”
As I turned to head back inside, Jay approached me. “Are you going somewhere?” he asked.
I was about to tell him to mind his business, but then I saw him as an opportunity for a free ride. “Yes, I’m heading out but got no money.”
“Don’t go anywhere and wait here. I’ll go get the car. I will take you wherever you’re going,” he said before leaving.
“I like him. He’s such a handsome young man,” the woman remarked.
I turned to her. “Can you tell me your name, please?”
“Deirdre,” she replied.
“Alright, Deirdre. What did you mean when you said Benita is a bitch just like her mother? Do you know who her mother is?” I asked.
Her face turned grave. “Her mother is Isabella.”
She turned and faced me with a deadly glare. I recoiled a bit, feeling a chill run down my spine.
“You and your mate should stay away from that woman and her son,” she said.
“Okay, but why? Give me a reason. What did she do?” I asked, my voice trembling.
“She killed both your mate’s mother and yours.”