Chapter 7

My heart was pounding.

I tried to process the guard’s words. It didn't make any sense. How did Derrick find me? It had barely been twenty-four hours.

I fearfully glanced at Cian, expecting a flash of something on his face - concern, worry, anything.

But he looked unusually calm, stable; as if everything was fine. Why wasn't he worried? My life was in danger and he just stood there, unmoved. Then it dawned on me. Maybe my safety didn't matter as much as he made it sound. Maybe I was expecting too much from a total stranger.

"Cian?" I called out, my voice barely above a whisper. My unsteady breathing was loud, and I could hear it. I'm sure he could hear it too. 

"What's.....going on? You said I would be....... safe here." I stuttered.

"You are." He met my gaze. I saw a flash of confidence and anger in them. 

"How then did Derrick find me?" My shaky voice made it obvious I was terrified. He had to know something about it- anything.

 "You are safe." He repeated, slower this time as if trying to convince himself that I wasn't in any form of danger. I knew I was, and I was sure he knew it too.

He turned to the guard. "Handle the intruder. Make sure word gets to Derrick that his mission had completely failed." 

The guard nodded and left, he was going to take care of it. But the unease, the fright I was feeling, ......they refused to go away.

I hated myself for secretly trusting a total stranger. Maybe it was time to really run away, run for my life.

The awkward silence and tension that filled the room afterward sent shivers down my spine. Cian was hiding something from me and I needed to find out what. 

"How did Derrick find me, Cian? I mean, I know he would have found me eventually because of his powers and all but how did he find me that quickly? Is there something I should know?" My voice was fluctuating - steady and shaky at the same time.

Cian, calm as ever, responded, "Why are you even asking? He's not going to reach you. Not unless I allow it." 

"Are you serious right now? I'm asking because my freaking life is in danger!!"

It didn't make sense, his actions, his attitude. 

....................................................

He kept his gaze on me as if trying to read my mind, but he didn't say a word. He walked towards the door. 

"You're ignoring me....again!!" I was losing my mind.

He paused and glanced back, then walked towards me. Speedily. What was he doing? He was coming at a fast pace. At every step he made forward, I took a step back, then my back hit the wall. 

I whimpered. 

He came closer. Too close, I could feel his warm breath against my skin as the scent of his cologne begged me to move an inch closer because that was all that separated our bodies from colliding.

He ran his hands through my hair, briefly. Then tucked it behind my ears. 

What was he doing? Why did his touch feel so..... comfortable....so soothing...?

"Look at me." He said, his eyes not leaving mine even once as he caressed my chin. Gently. "I'm sorry I don't have answers to your questions and it's making me freak out. And I don't know if this helps, but I would never let anyone hurt you, even if it's the last thing I do." He said, gently letting go of me, then he started walking away.

I sighed. Alphas will always be Alphas. But he made my heart race. No one had ever made me feel as safe as he did. Ever. And that terrified me more than anything.

"Come with me, there's something I want to show you." He gestured towards the door as he walked out. 

..............

His sudden switch from being all too close to me to being cold in a few seconds impressed me. I swallowed hard as I quietly walked beside him through the narrow hallway, my heart pounding at every step. 

Then he stopped at a big wooden door and pushed it open. 

My eyes widened with shock. 

There was a man - bounded by chains. Bruised and obviously in a lot of pain. 

I gasped - I knew him. He was one of Derrick's warriors, and he was present when Derrick asked me to be left for dead. My blood ran cold. 

Flashbacks from that heart-wrenching moment ran back in like a nightmare that would never go away. I stole a glance at Cian. He had the same expression he had back in that room - blank, unmoved, cold.

The warrior lifted his battered face and locked eyes with me.

I trembled.

"Please," he begged, his voice filled with desperation. "I have something you need to know. Alpha Derrick is furious. He thought ...........you were dead, but now that he knows you survived, he’s obsessed with......finding you. Freya is hiding something from Derrick, and the Beta, Liam, has been acting strange....." 

I shut my eyes in anger. I wanted him to stop.

"Derrick is sending warriors to search for you. You're  being hunted and....."

"Just stop!" I yelled with teary eyes. Each stupid reveal of his were things I already knew, things that almost cost me my life. Things that wanted me dead and gone.

Things that called for just one solution - revenge.

In a flash, all my hurt turned to a mixture of fear and anger. I desperately wanted to make Freya burn, and make Derrick beg me for his life. But what I wasn't sure of was if I was ready for war, yet.

Cian watched me closely. “This is your chance, Layla. Are you still willing to take it?"

I swallowed hard. I wasn't ready. I thought my revenge was going to be slow and calculated, but Derrick’s urgency was forcing me to decide now. Change of plans. I was ready.

"No pressure. I think you should think about it carefully. But remember, time is not on our side." Cian said in a slow tone as we walked out of the room. "Come." He added.

It was barely two minutes before I heard the loud growl of pain of the captured warrior. Dark silence followed. He had just been killed. 

"Where are we going?" I inquired. 

"My underground chamber."

I stayed quiet until we got there. It had a large door - old and wooden, a total contrast to the rest of the building - luxurious and new. 

Old walls, Old sofas,  old desks, old chandeliers, and the tiny sound of the burning of cedar wood filled the thick air. It felt abandoned, and maybe there was something that made him treat the place the way he did.

"What is this place and......what are we doing here?"

I noticed his gaze fixed on something behind me. I frowned. Something was off. Cian made me feel safe, but I couldn't trust him completely. Then he gestured towards someone behind me, his calm look intact. 

The tension built and I  sensed uneasiness in the air…I  turned around.

Before I could react, a wounded prisoner was brought in, covered in blood. He was another warrior from Derrick's pack. A messenger.  

"Alpha Derrick offers a bargain." He managed to say, coughing. "if you hand over Layla, Alpha Derrick will not wage war on your pack." 

Cian stood there. Silent. 

His silence didn't mean much... He liked to be silent in times like this. I knew he was going to refuse anyway.  He had vowed to protect me...

Then, I felt a sting of discomfort when the silence prolonged. What was going on in his head?

He cleared his throat. "I accept…" he started.  "on one condition." He added. 

The glass cup I had picked up earlier to drink water slipped from my fingers. 

Crash!