Cara’s POV
Gasps and whispers filled the room, and I felt Emily’s grip tighten on my arm. “Cara?” she whispered, her voice trembling. “What is he talking about? Who are you?”
I tried to speak, to say something, but nothing came out. My mind was blank, my body frozen. Every single eye was on me, waiting, judging, and I didn’t know where to start or how to explain myself.
“Go on,” Garreth urged, his eyes locked onto mine, daring me to move. “The stage is yours.”
I shook my head, my legs refusing to move. “No… this isn’t right,” I whispered. “This isn’t who I am…”
But deep down, I knew it was useless. He had found me. They all knew now. And there was no going back.
Emily’s eyes were wide with shock, tears welling up. “Was it all a facade, a lie, Cara… was our friendship just a ploy to get my brother to like you? Please…”
I took a shaky breath, my heart breaking into pieces. “I… I wanted to tell you,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “But I was afraid. I’m so sorry… it was real, Emily.”
Before I could say more, Garreth clapped his hands, and his warriors moved in, surrounding me. “Take her,” he ordered. “We have a long journey ahead of us.”
I had no choice. Desperation surged through me, and I tapped into the dormant power that flowed in my veins, the power I had kept hidden for so long. I didn’t care anymore about the consequences or the fact that unleashing this power would only draw more enemies toward me. I could feel the change in my eyes, the surge of strength, and the raw energy that accompanied my special bloodline.
Everything happened in an instant. The warriors charging toward me seemed to be moving in slow motion. With my enhanced speed and strength, I dodged the first, slammed into the second, and sent the third sprawling with a single kick. It was exhilarating yet terrifying as my body moved with a fluidity that was unnatural. I could feel the eyes of everyone in the hall on me, their shock and fear palpable, but I had no time to care.
My only thought was escape. Escape from this nightmare, from Garreth, from Brian, from everything.
I raced toward the exit, adrenaline pumping through me, when suddenly Garreth’s voice sliced through the air. “If you run, this wonderful sisters won’t have life again.”
My feet skidded to a halt, my heart pounding in my ears. I turned, my heightened senses allowing me to see them even from a distance. Emma and Emily were being held by two warriors, knives pressed against their throats.
“Noo!!,” Alexander yelled, rushing toward them,
“Honored guest, what is the meaning of this”
Alexander shouted, rushing up from his seat, but a shing sound rang out throughout the hall, accompanied by the cry of pain of Alexander.
Garreth had casually cut off Alexander’s hands without blinking.
“You don’t dare question the words of the master,” Garreth said with chilling calmness, never taking his eyes off me. “Now, where were we?”
I was terrified at what i saw, alexander was painfully clutching his hand that had been cut by Garreth.
“Let them go, you sick bastard!” I shouted, frustration and desperation blending in my voice.
Garreth laughed. “Hahaha, Cara, I expected this from you. But you must decide your fantasy of freedom or the precious lives of these two girls.”
I looked around. Everyone had backed away, leaving a wide berth around me. Their eyes bore into me with fear, disgust, and rejection. It was the same look I’d seen countless times before, the look that told me I didn’t belong.
Emma and Emily looked at me with fear in their eyes. I could see the sheer horror etched on their face. i sighed in defeat, if I had a choice I wouldn’t have decided to dump this on the two girls.
no way I will bring catastrophe to their pack, at least they accepted me until now.
Alexander was being held down by Garreth warriors, and Garreth himself, the perpetrator of all this, sat on the lush seat prepared for him. Sipping his wine.
Emma and Emily’s eyes were wide with terror. “Please…” Emily whispered, her voice cracking.
My gaze shifted to Alexander. He was being held down, blood dripping from his wounded hand. He avoided my eyes, and I could see guilt etched on his face.
I took a deep breath, forcing down my panic. “I surrender,” I said, and the warriors immediately surrounded me.
“Let them go,” I demanded, my voice steady despite the fear gnawing at me.
“Yes, my Luna,” Garreth replied mockingly. He snapped his fingers, and the warriors released the sisters.
“One more thing,” I said, my heart pounding.
“Anything you ask for, my Luna,” he sneered, clearly enjoying this twisted game.
“You will leave the sisters and everyone in this pack alone. They were only kind to me. If not for them, I wouldn’t be alive today,” I demanded, trying to sound as authoritative as possible, despite the quiver in my voice.
Garreth stared at me, a slow, dangerous smile spreading across his face. “Or if not, you could have been found a long time ago, My Luna,” he replied, his voice dripping with menace.
The air in the hall had changed. What was once a vibrant, joyful celebration was now a place of dread and fear. Every eye was on me, and I could feel the weight of their judgment, their hate, and their loathing.
Tears welled up in my eyes as I turned to the sisters. “Emily, Emma, I’m… I’m sorry…” But before I could finish, Garreth’s impatient voice cut through. “We need to leave. Now.”
A surge of anger washed over me, more intense than anything I had ever felt. “I… I command you as your Luna-to-be, leave them alone!” I shouted, my voice echoing through the hall.
Garreth’s eyes narrowed, but for a moment, just a brief moment, I saw hesitation or fear in his eyes. Then, he laughed, a dark, hollow sound. “As you wish, My Luna. But you will follow me now, and you will come back peacefully.”
My heart sank as the reality of my situation hit me. I nodded, defeated, and Garreth snapped his fingers, ordering his warriors to move.
“One last thing,” he said, stopping me. “You’re not allowed to take anything with you.”
I clenched my fists, biting back my tears, and turned toward Alexander. He was still avoiding my gaze, guilt, and regret etched on his face. Slowly, I approached him, ignoring the murmurs from the crowd. Without saying a word, I reached out and took his wounded hand, ignoring the blood. Summoning a small flicker of my power, and following what i learned from debby, i let the last dissipating power guide my movement, healing the wound.
“Why? How…?” he whispered, short of words finally looking at me, his eyes filled with confusion.
“You betrayed me,” I said weakly, my voice barely above a whisper, trying to hold back my tears from falling.
I turned away from him before he could say anything and followed Garreth, not looking back as I left the hall. The shocked faces of everyone, even Garreth’s, burned into my mind as I took my first step toward a fate I couldn’t escape.
Back to Brian’s pack.