Chapter Six: Caught In Between

Lila's POV 

Judith shifting into a werewolf wasn’t something I thought I’d witness in my lifetime. And to think her wolf was very strong too because she already took down three of those wolves. I scrambled behind a tree, hiding myself away from the fight scene. Judith fighting against six men was a lot for her, even though she was able to take down three of them, the other three managed to hit her as well, rendering her injured and weak. 

I felt a sharp pain in my scalp as a hand grabbed my hair from behind, I let out a heart-wrenching scream before turning to see there was another one; they were seven, not six. 

“Let me go!” I yelped in pain. My vision was immediately blinded by the hot tears that was getting ready to stream down any moment from now.

“If you don’t want to die with your friend over there, stop resisting and follow me obediently.” The wolf that held my hair sneered. I could feel his hot breath on my neck, I felt even more disgusted. The pain in my scalp was intense. I couldn't hold back the tears anymore, I let them fall freely as I let out a painful moan.

He released my hair and grabbed my hand instead. I felt the pain ease slowly.

I nodded in obedience as I sniffled.

Rejecting me was not enough? He's trying to make my life a living hell as well. 

Was he trying to kill me? Why?

My heart ached at the thought, I couldn’t believe I'd wished he would like me and accept me as I am. What a dreamer I was.

 “Let my friend go, then I’ll go with you.” I tried to bargain with him. After all, it's me Dominic wants, there's no need to drag innocent people into this. I didn't want things to get more messy than they already were.

“Don’t go with them Lila, they are rogues. You have no idea what they plan to do with you.” Judith warned weakly as she wrapped her hands tightly on her stomach where she'd been injured.

 She had shifted back after getting injured but she was surrounded by the rogues who had also shifted back. She was clearly outnumbered, if this continued she would end up dead in no time.

There's no way I'm letting anyone die because of me, I couldn't possibly live with that.

“I know who sent them, don’t worry about me.” I assured her, but deep down I knew I was probably heading towards death. The thought of dying sent shivers down my spine, but I managed to stay composed.

“Who sent them?” A voice asked from behind me.

It was very cold and authoritative. It was also very familiar, which was very strange. Out of curiosity I turned and it was him! Dominic! I didn’t know why, but I felt a sense of relief.

I must be crazy to feel safe around someone who'd sent people to kill, but I couldn't help it. 

“You.” I accused with a frown. Why was he pretending? He should own up to his actions and stop acting cowardly. Cowardice is definitely not one of the qualities of an Alpha.

His eyes dropped, almost like he was hurt by my accusation but it disappeared immediately, as if it was never there. Now replaced with a cold demeanor. It happened so fast, or maybe I was just hallucinating.

“Get your filthy hands off her this instant!” Dominic growled loudly, his eyes instantly changing to gold. I was confused. Didn't he send them?

Who’re these people?

“You don't give the orders around here.” The wolf holding me retorted with a sneer. I winced as I felt him tighten his grip on my wrist, it was too painful. I felt like it was only a matter of time before he crushed my wrist.

Dominic saw this and his eyes darkened, still gold but a darker shade. I've never seen anything like it before. It was as if his reaction was as a response to my pain. I must be imagining things, right? How could he possibly be affected by my pain?

“You asked for it.” Dominic higlighted, and before I knew it, he moved swiftly, like lightening. He grabbed the rogue’s throat, and I heard a snap. This happened in a matter of seconds.

The moment his cold body dropped to the ground, I staggered backwards, but Dominic grabbed my waist, preventing me from falling.

“Are you hurt?” he pushed back the strands of hair that fell on my face behind my ear. I flinched as his cold hand brushed gently against my tender skin. It made me feel things I didn't understand, thing's I've never felt before.

His eyes were now back to normal. His eyes held worry and I started to wonder if I was hallucinating again. Maybe I was too shocked and was seeing things as a result.

His face was only a few inches away from mine. Taking an upclose look at him, he's really handsome. I couldn't help but admire his perfect facial features. I was tempted to reach out and touch his perfectly curved jawline but I restrained myself. What's wrong with me?

He cleared his throat, jolting me back to reality. My cheeks flushed in embarrassment.

I hurriedly removed his hands from my waist, as I tried to regain my balance. I saw what looked like a glint of hurt in his eyes, I quickly looked away.

“I’m fine, thank you,” I said, feeling bad for thinking he was behind the attack. You wouldn't blame me, I got a letter that was supposedly from him, how was I supposed to know it was a set up?

It's not like I asked him to save me. I'm no longer his mate. My death shouldn't be a problem to him or his pack.

But I just couldn't help feeling guilty.

Jonathan already dealt with the other rogues. He found Judith’s clothes and handed them back to her. But somehow I felt something strange was happening between them, then again I may just be overthinking or seeing things.

“I left one alive so we can question him back at the pack. The cars should be here soon.” Jonathan informed and bowed afterwards. 

“Are you okay?” Dominic directed his question at Judith.

“Yes, Alpha,” Judith replied, bowing her head too. I wonder why she’s giving him so much respect when they just met. 

“Which pack do you belong to?” Dominic asked Judith.

“Blackwood pack,” Judith said, and I watched as her wounds disappeared like they were never there. My eyes widened in disbelief. 

“Which fami…”

“How did you do that?” I panicked, pointing to Judith’s wounds which had now completely disappeared, all the bruises she sustained during the fight were gone. It was terrifying.

Judith being a werewolf will forever be a shock to me. You meet people everyday, you never know what they really are until they show you. You see only what people let you see.

“You shouldn’t cut the Alpha off when he’s speaking,” Jonathan warned his eyes narrowed as he spoke.

I didn't even realize what I'd done until he warned me.

“Sorry, I’m just curious about her wounds disappearing. You know I’m a nurse.” I smiled sheepishly at Jonathan. I didn’t know I had that side of me—trying to use a kitten-face-like look to get what I wanted.

“Werewolves have the ability to heal ten times faster than humans, it’s one of the divine gifts we have.” Dominic explained to me, his voice calm and steady. 

“Then can you use your ability to heal other people’s wounds ‘cause I’m injured, and…”

“Where?” Dominic’s eyes lit with horror as he held my shoulders, turning me around to see where I got injured. 

I raised my top up to reveal my lower back, “It happened when I was pushed against the tree.” I explained 

“Those bastards!” Dominic let out an angry growl. I was sure the wound wasn’t deep, but I didn’t feel even the slightest at that moment. He was going to touch the wound, but he retrieved his hands before he could. And somehow I felt down because I wanted him to touch it. 

“We don’t have the ability to heal others, but the pack doctor is good, I’ll make sure you get treated when we get to the pack.” He assured, still maintaining his distance.

“You should come with us until we figure out who they are working for.” Jonathan said to Judith. His tone was almost pleading, his eyes holding the kind of emotion I’d seen in Dominic’s eyes before. 

Shortly, four cars arrived, and we started walking towards the cars them. 

“Do we really have to go with you guys?” Judith asked, feeling skeptical about going. 

“Blackwood is your home too, is there a special reason why you don’t want to go back home?” Dominic questioned further.

Judith seemed reluctant to answer, “I don’t know what’s going on with Lila, but I can't. She's your mate. Whatever is going on, I really don’t want to be dragged into it.” 

I wasn’t really surprised by what she said, since we were not very close—just colleagues at work. But what I was surprised about was the way she rubbed one hand over an arm while talking. She only did that when she was lying. I've seen her do it a lot of times.

What's she hiding this time?

Jonathan and Dominic locked eyes on each other for a while, “We are yet to find out why these people are after Lila, it’s not safe for you both to be out here. You have to come with us—it’s an order.” Dominic’s last word carried so much authority and finality.

Judith bowed her head, “Yes, Alpha. Please permit me to go take care of some stuff tonight. I’ll be at the pack first thing tomorrow morning.” She pleaded. I guess there was something about the alpha’s tone that made her obey against her wish. 

“My Beta has to go with you then,” Dominic said, his eyes drifting from Judith to Jonathan.

Judith nodded, agreeing to his terms. 

I watched as they entered one of the cars. I waved them goodbye as the car slowly moved out of sight.

I felt a wave of loneliness was over me after Judith left. She's the only one I knew, I felt so out of place now. Going back to the pack where I was rejected, what an irony!

Dominic opened the door to a black SUV’s back seat for me, and just as I was about to enter, an arrow shot passed me, hitting the tree close to the car. I flinched. Dominic instinctively drew me to himself as he shielded me with his body. 

I thought this was over for today. What's this? Round two? I wrapped my hands tightly around him, I was scared for my life.

“Here, Alpha.” One of his pack members handed him a letter attached to the arrow.

“It's a message.” He added.

I raised my head which was buried in his chest to see what this so-called message was. The message that almost cost me my head.

“Give us the elemental and your pack will be safe.”

What the hell is an elemental and who the fuck sends such a vague warning???