Chapter 10: Fear

Claudia 

I stomped the bedroom in anger as Marcellus was trying to eat his lunch and take his drug fur that afternoon. 

"Why do you have to kill her?" I yelled at him. He didn't look up at him, I could feel the depth of his pain as he ate slowly. "I am not talking to myself Marcel. Was I wrong to tell you your life was in danger?" 

"No you were not, Claudia. But you should get use to this by now. Not everyone wants me alive, and it is only a matter of time before death finally catches up with me until then, I need to send out a warning." There was this peace that enveloped me when he spoke of himself. It was very clear that he doesn't want to die but the sins of those before him has caused this for him. I really want to sympathize with him but there was so little I can do when he took rash decisions without thinking. 

"I understand you want to give a statement. Don't you think you should spend your last days, trying to ease the life of your pack other than terrifying then with new bodies every day? Dead bodies, Marcel." I didn't expect him to understand, he has lived a life of terror and at the same time, forced his authority. It was the same attitude that his brother has. Do all Alpha breed act like that? Like they were on top of the world. Without rational thought. I didn't know what I fear the most, my bond with him or the fact he is spiraling. 

"Someone here is trying to kill me. In case you are not aware, some people are not happy about your presence here. The reason I wanted our bond to be a secret, you'd be an easier target. Besides, I am yet to know the powers you possess that makes you help in the way that you do. You might not believe it, but I don't want anything bad to happen to you." He sighed. His dark hair became unraveled, blocking half of his dark eyes. I was still not happy with him, for imprinting on me in the way that he did. He shouldn't have, and it doesn't soften my attitude towards him… He tried to stand up but failed miserably, I gave him his cane. "I am going to freshen up. Do you want to join me?" He smirked. 

"Be careful. I don't think we are there yet." I left the room. He was only using me for the ease he feels, because of what I do for him. Still very visible as his wife, I am invisible as his mate. That was the secret that Nyx was talking about. I didn't want to reveal because I was yet to trust her but still every fiber of my bone it seems that I could be able to. I didn't want to know at all what secrets that I might be harboring. Or what my body was keeping from me, all I knew was that if I wanted to survive this place, I had to have someone close to me. All my life o have felt betrayal and there was nothing worse than the pain I feel. The pain I had grown up with. Nothing else made sense. Nothing else. I sighed, holding the door closed for a while as my back rested in tension. What do I get to do around here? There than being a glorified wife of an Alpha king whose life span has been cut short. I was still looking for a natural remedy to lighten the pain slowly. His pain, that's all I think about. How do I help? Why am I even doing this? We were yet to consummate our marriage, as much I felt the need to be closer to him, I don't feel a thing other than the fear of going mad is he dies? It doesn't make sense, does it? That I would subject my fate to that of man. I held my trembling hands together as I felt the breeze in the garden. I studied the journal my mom left for me, trying to go in search of the herbs that might help reduce Marcel's pain. They didn't have every one here but a very good amount of them are being planted in the Pack's garden. As I gathered the crops, footsteps were approaching me. Something in me stirred, like a pack of trouble. 

"Weakling?!" His voice was just as gruff as his brother's but rough, nothing soothing about it. Nothing but disdain and disgust. He was the one representing his brother when they had put me up as a political vessel between two packs. I breathed staring at him, without saying a word. I thinned my lips trying to mask the pain. Did he see I wasn't really doing a very good job? "You can't just wander in here like it's your wretched house?"

"Maybe you have forgotten, Darius. I will try to jog your memory. I am married to your brother. Spell it out with me...'brother'" before I could say another word, he was already standing with me face to face, anger dancing at the rim of his eyes. He slapped me turning my face to the opposite side. 

"Weren't you taught manners were you came from?" My vision was blurry as I tried to hold back the tears the same way I welcomed them. "Oh I forgot, your father is a pathetic loser and his relevance doesn't matter anymore. This would be the last time you will talk when I am talking..." He pointed his index finger at me, sending out a warning. 

"You have no right to treat me like I'm your property to own." 

"You are right. You are not mine to own but since my brother has refused to reach you manners, I would do the job for him... Moreover, since he is so sick there is only so much he can do." He smirked. I could feel this darkness hovering him, I just couldn't feel it. I could see it like a force etched on his shadow. There was no way to tell if it was delibrate or he was just as cursed as his brother. I wanted to speak but each of his words chipped away my confidence and it seemed I had no words left. There was nothing to say, he would always be a force I refused to reckon with. "You are the the weakest link in our chain and as a powerful family. I can't wait for the day that you are being sent to the forgotten realm, maybe a slave establishment, where you will never return." 

Marcellus was right, when he dies the only room that would exist for me is one where I am not alive. The pain, the terror. "That's not true. You don't have the right to do that."

"Trust me, my stupid brother might be the Alpha, but I am the one with more ropes here than you realize. Trust me, If I want you dead this instant, you are. I heard what you did for Marcel? How you helped soothe his pain, but I am going to send this warning just once. Anytime, he is in pain. Let the pain drive him to his madness, if I hear that you helped him whatsoever, you will be gone sooner than you realize." I couldn't breathe. I tried to think of what he had just said, as he walked into the distance opposite to me. He wants his brother to die? That could only mean one thing? He is behind the attack? Maybe, there was no way of knowing that since I reserved my question out of fear for my life. Honestly, I think my life only got more dangerous and there was no way to stop what was going on. I might be in more danger than Marcel. No one wants here, now that they see what I can do. They want me gone. 

How can I bring this up to Marcel without thinking that I am conspiring against his family? Would he believe me? If Darius was talking this way? Only the heavens know how many more are wanting the same thing towards his brother? His mom, dad? Even his small court of elders? There was no way of knowing the extent of this threat. I couldn't stay here. I needed to take time off and use the same time to look for those herbs. I hesitated but there was no way I would stand idly by and watch Marcel either away. Even if I am being used, at least I got to save him.

A maid came closer to me as mind wandered far. "Elder Nyx is around the pack, and she has requested your presence."

I nodded... I knew that I was going to get sooner, I wasn't in the mood to see anyone. I needed to get those herbs before sunset, then it would be too late to go into the woods. 

I took a journeyed through the woods. This location was a bit of a mystery to me, but I enjoyed the walk into nature for the time being. Away from the watchful eyes and prying thoughts gathering around me. I heard whistling sounds, invisible footsteps, leaving its marks closer. I might be a weakling but my senses works just fine. Pain. Anger. Anguish. Danger. 

Before I could turn to the direction, hands covered my mouth. Masked men surrounded me, carrying me from my feet and my shoulders. I tried to fight, but my grasps towards reality becomes more faint. 

I tried to speak, scream but nothing. 

"Marcel..." He was the last one on my mind before I was thrown into darkness.