Chapter 5

It had been three days since I had been kidnapped, three days since I had been made to stay in the Drakor pack house and three days since I had seen Chase. I wondered if I was the reason he had avoided the pack house since Monday. A small part of me hoped I was the reason but the larger more rational part knew there had to be a better reason.

Nevertheless, I had been stuck in this same room I had woken up to on day one with its now familiar hole in the wall. I had come back here and not left it since the moment Ron threatened to kill me. The shock of that moment had worn off hours after his threat and was replaced with hurt and slight fear.

Ron and Henry brought up meals for me to make sure I didn’t starve to death and each time they came, I found their sober expression insufferable. Henry no longer smiled and Ron would not meet my eyes. Clothes and a stack of novels were given to me but I wasn’t touched by their thoughtfulness and the noir thrillers were agonizingly dull.

I tried to keep my thoughts from straying to Chase but sometimes they did. How could I keep my thoughts away from those whiskey eyes that had me utterly ensnared. He had drawn me in then proceeded to hurt me so much. Just thinking about him hurt, like there was a tight vise around my heart squeezing painfully.

Reeling myself back to my miserable present, I stared out of the window at the sky washed in purple as the sun made its descent. A heavy sigh escaped me and I found myself wishing for a phone to save me from boredom. Sometime between the fire and my abduction, I had lost my phone so if I wasn’t killed soon, I would probably lose my mind first.

My stomach growled and on cue, footsteps sounded, followed by a sharp knock on my door before it was pushed open. My brows rose, this was the first time Ron had entered without waiting for my permission.

“I could have been naked.” I deadpanned. He stopped with the dainty food tray in his huge hands to quickly scan me only to find that I was fully clothed. Redness coloured his cheeks and he turned away, set the tray down then turned to leave.

I stared at him, amazed that this ruthless werewolf could talk so casually about killing but blushed at the mere mention of nudity.

Ron paused in his retreat turning to look me in the eyes. My brows climbed even higher.

“I wasn’t going to kill you.” He muttered. It was the softest I had heard him speak and although his face held no expression, he sounded sincere. He repeated himself as though he wanted to make sure I understood him.

“I wasn’t going to kill you, Maya.” He sighed. “That day, I was only trying to protect you.”

“Protect me by promising to off me?” I asked incredulously.

“I promised to off you?” He asked, looking hopelessly confused.

“I mean, you threatened to freaking kill me!” I cried in exasperation.

At my words, he averted his eyes, seeming ashamed. “That’s the thing,” He cleared his throat nervously. “I didn’t mean I was going to kill you. In fact, doing that would be like signing my own death wish and mailing it to Chase. What I meant was that you staying in our territory, preferably here at the pack house was the only way for you to avoid getting killed. While you’re here, we can ensure that you are safe.”

I gawked at him. Sceptical, I said “Ron, I’m literally just a bartender with too many problems. There is no reason for anyone to go through the hassle of killing me.

His expression grew dark as he replied. “You might think that but right now if you walk out of here and go back to Lunagrove, you will be dead before you can ask why.”

My blood chilled at his solemnity. “Who wants me dead? Why on earth do they want me dead?”

Ron looked away from me and shoved his hands in his pockets.

“When Chase returns, he’ll give you all the answers you need” He said.

My stomach flipped at the mention of his return then I remembered his coldness towards me before he left.

“If he’ll even come near me.” I scoffed bitterly.

Ron considered me with eyes that bore into me but said nothing.

To fill up the silence, I spoke up again. “Why did you choose now to explain? It’s been days.” I was curious.

The gentle giant shrugged. “I felt like you needed to know. I had no idea you would take my words that way until Henry told me I sounded like a crazy, murderous bastard.” No arguments there.

“Also,” He continued. “you’re going to be alone tonight since there’s an event going on in town. Everyone who stays in the pack house will be attending and except for those guarding the house on the outside, you’ll pretty much be alone.”

“Well, you could have just locked me in here like you have done the past three days.” I offered, sarcasm dripping from my words.

Ron looked at me as if I was stupid as he spoke slowly. “Maya, your room door was never locked, you just chose to not come out.”

I stared blankly at him. Now I thought about it, not once had I heard the sound of a lock. Why had I kept myself stuck in here like a hermit?

“Oh.” I muttered, embarrassed.

“Though I guess when someone threatens to kill you, you don’t exactly go around exploring their home.” Ron tried to comfort me good-naturedly.

“Yeah.” A small smile played on my lips. Our conversation made me feel a bit better. “Thanks for clearing the air, Ron. Go have a good time tonight, don’t worry, I won’t leave and run towards my doom.” My gut told me to trust him so I did.

***

A crash from downstairs woke me up with a start. It was pitch black outside and the digital clock by my bed read 11:14 pm.

Ron had left a couple of hours ago along with everyone else, as far as I knew, I was supposed to be alone till tomorrow morning.

I threw back the covers to go investigate when Ron’s words from this evening played back in my head along with alarm signals.

Someone wanted me dead. Was it possible that they knew where I was and had managed to get into the pack house? Had they found out that I was going to be alone tonight?

My skin prickled at the stillness of the house while my hyperactive imagination did what it did best—cook up a hundred ways my unknown killer could send me to the other side .

Something shattered loudly and I jumped out of my skin in fright. Could someone truly have infiltrated the feared Drakor pack house? It was unlikely.

I paced for a moment then charged out of my room and headed downstairs before I could change my mind. Immediately, I was hit with the strong smell of alcohol which confused me more.

Going against everything I had learned from horror movies I called out into the darkness.

“Ron? Henry?”

From where I presumed was the kitchen, I heard a loud bang then muttered curses. Gingerly, I moved towards the sound, my pulse pounding loudly in my ears.

In the kitchen, I flicked on the light and stopped short at the figure standing next to the refrigerator.

“Chase?”