KEILAH
My heart skipped a beat. “Excuse me, what? What did you say?” I whispered, barely able to believe the words. Her expression hardened as she nodded solemnly.
Before I could process this revelation, Jay pulled up in a sleek black car. “Ready to go?” he asked, smiling warmly.
I nodded, trying to compose myself. “Yes, thank you, Jay. I’ll sit in the back if you don’t mind,” I said, wanting to sit near Deirdre for more information about what she’d just said.
“Of course,” Jay replied.
As we got into the car, Jay started the engine, and we began to drive away from the pack house.
“Where to?” Jay asked, glancing at me in the rearview mirror.
“You need to drive away from the pack’s territory first,” I said, trying to sound casual. “After that, I’ll be able to remember which way to Damien’s property.”
Jay’s grip on the steering wheel tightened, and he screeched the car to a sudden stop. He turned towards me, his eyes wide with shock. “Damien? You’re going to meet Damien?”
“Yes,” I replied cautiously. “Is there a problem?”
Jay’s expression darkened as he looked at me intently. “Don’t you remember that he once kidnapped you and everything he did to Alpha? And you’re telling me he’s the same person you’re going to meet?”
I swallowed hard, the weight of his words settling heavily. “I remember, Jay. But things have changed. I need to talk to him, find out something.” Despite everything that’s happened between us, he’s the only person I can trust now. I’m sure he won’t hurt me this time.
Jay’s jaw clenched as he processed my words. “I don’t like this,” he muttered, resuming our drive-through. “But if you think it’s necessary, I’ll go along with it. Just promise me you’ll be careful.”
I nodded, feeling a mixture of relief and apprehension. “I will. Thank you, Jay.”
I turned to Deirdre to ask for more information, but she cut me off. “Not until we see Damien.”
We drove in silence for a while, the tension in the car palpable. Finally, a high, castle-like building came into view. Within minutes, Jay pulled the car to a stop.
Jay turned to me, his eyes serious. “Is Damien expecting you?”
I shook my head, feeling a knot tighten in my stomach. “No.”
Jay’s expression darkened. “If that’s the case, don’t leave my side.”
As we exited the car and moved toward the entrance, a sudden whirl of wind swirled around us. In an instant, vampires appeared, blocking our path with their fangs bared. I let out a piercing, short scream and recoiled in fear. Jay immediately shifted into his wolf form, positioning himself protectively in front of me. His fur bristled as he crouched, ready to attack if necessary, a low growl rumbling from deep within his chest.
The vampires sneered. “What are you two doing here?” one of them asked.
Jay’s response was another menacing growl. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves, and stepped closer to Jay, finding some comfort in his massive wolf’s presence despite the danger we were facing. “I’m here to see Damien,” I said, my voice wavering slightly. “Please tell him I need to speak to him.”
The vampires exchanged glances, their expressions hardening. “He doesn’t see just anyone, especially a human like you.” The other one hissed. “What makes you think he’ll make an exception for you?”
I swallowed hard, trying to keep my composure. “It’s important. Tell him it’s Keilah.”
For a tense moment, the vampires remained unmoving, their eyes fixed on us. Finally, one of them nodded begrudgingly. “Wait here,” he said before disappearing into the air.
Jay’s growl softened slightly, but he remained vigilant, his eyes never leaving the remaining vampire. We stood there in uneasy silence, the air thick with tension. After what felt like an eternity, the vampire returned.
“He will see you,” he said reluctantly. “Follow me.”
Jay shifted back into his human form but remained close by my side. As I moved to follow the vampire, I noticed something missing-Deirdre. “Where is she?” I blurted out.
“Who?” Jay asked, his brow furrowing slightly.
“Deirdre…” I began but stopped myself, realizing how odd it might sound to mention someone who he couldn’t even see in the first place. “Nothing,” I said quickly, scanning the area in vain for any sign of her.
“Get moving, human,” the vampire snarled impatiently, gesturing for us to follow.
We trailed behind the vampire as he led us inside. The atmosphere was oppressive and foreboding, sending a chill down my spine. Despite a vague sense of familiarity, everything seemed like a blur, as if I couldn’t quite focus on my surroundings.
“Now, where is this woman?” I muttered under my breath, frustration mounting. “Bringing me here and then deciding to disappear…” Jay shot me a concerned glance but remained silent. My mind raced with thoughts of what I would say to Damien about my sudden, unexpected arrival.
As we approached a large, ornate door, the vampire stopped and turned to us. “This is it,” he said. “Behave yourselves, or you’ll regret it.”
With a push, the door swung open, revealing a grand room where Damien awaited-but he wasn’t alone. Standing close to him, tears streaming down her cheeks, was Deirdre. A wave of confusion washed over me. How did she get in here?
As we entered fully, I froze upon seeing that he had another companion with him-Dahlia.
“Dahlia…” both Jay and I exclaimed simultaneously, our voices filled with surprise.
As I moved toward Damien, my eyes flicked briefly to Dahlia, who stood there with a hurt expression. She glanced at me awkwardly, her betrayal of Ralph still fresh in my mind. Despite her pained look, I couldn’t find it in me to be bothered by her presence. She had chosen to side with Benita and Zac, and seeing her here only deepened my distrust. I turned away from her gaze, steeling myself against the emotions threatening to overwhelm me. I always thought she was my friend, but I think I was wrong.
Deirdre came and stood in front of me. “Tell Damien I am here,” she said, the urgency in her voice palpable.
“What was so important that brought you all the way here to talk about?” Damien asked.
I looked at Deirdre, who was urging me repeatedly to tell him about her presence. “Can we talk just the two of-” I couldn’t even finish when Dahlia and Jay walked out, closing the door behind them.
“I came with a woman named Deirdre,” I said.
“What did you just say?” Damien’s voice cut through the tension like a knife.
“I came with a woman named Deirdre,” I repeated, my voice steadier than I felt. “She said she wanted to speak to you, and she’s standing next-”
Damien moved like a windstorm, closing the distance between us in an instant. His hand wrapped around my neck, lifting me off the ground as he seethed, “Who told you about that name?”
I struggled to breathe, my vision blurring as I tried to explain. “I-she-” I gasped, but his grip tightened, his fury palpable.
Deirdre was freaking out, her voice a desperate plea as anything she’s saying would be of any help, “Damien, listen to me! Please, let her go!”
Damien’s eyes were wild as he growled at me, “Did Ralph send you here to mess with my mind?”
“Ralph… didn’t send me… I swear! She… she appeared… in the bathroom… said she wanted to… talk to you…”
Damien’s grip tightened momentarily before he finally released me, dropping me to the ground. I coughed and gasped for air, my hands clutching my throat. “She’s standing… right beside you… You have to believe me…” I pleaded, my voice hoarse.
Damien turned, his eyes searching the space beside him, his breath ragged and his fury still simmering just below the surface.
I clutched my stomach tightly, feeling a sharp pain beneath it as I looked up at Deirdre with tears in my eyes. “Woman, say something that will make him believe me,” I snapped at her.
Deirdre stepped closer to Damien, her voice low but steady. “Tell him to wear the Verdant Veil,” she said quietly, “and he will see me.”
I repeated her words, my voice shaking as I looked at Damien. He staggered backwards, his expression taken aback.
“The Verdant Veil…”he muttered, almost to himself. He turned to look at me, his eyes wide with a dawning realization.
Without saying another word, he disappeared into thin air. It wasn’t long before he reappeared, clutching what appeared to be a small, greenish orb ring in his palm. His gaze was fixed on it for a moment, his hand trembling slightly before he slowly raised his eyes towards me and then into the empty space. With a deep breath, he slid the ring onto his index finger. Deidre stepped in front of him.
I watched as Damien stumbled slightly, his eyes fixed on Deirdre as if he could now see her now. “Can you see her now?” I asked, my voice trembling with anticipation, but he seemed to ignore me. Instead, he moved forward and pulled Deirdre into his arms, embracing her tightly.
As they held each other, murmuring words of how much they missed one another, a realization struck me like a thunderbolt. Could Deirdre be Damien’s dead wife? I asked myself, my heart racing with a mix of astonishment and a flood of emotions.