chapter 5

Felza's POV 

Sitting in the peace of our new rooms, I still felt the sting from the slap I left o Rhys's cheek. The echo of my smack appeared to mix with the weight of my sadness in my head. 

Rhys's estate was beautiful and opulent. The surroundings was filled with beautiful flowers and plants yet the loneliness and quietness of the place made it very cold and unwelcoming.

It felt to many of Rhys people that I was the heartbeat of a wealthy Alpha who was also very handsome and most of the girls dream man, but though all I got was the stifling quiet of betrayal and hopelessness, I had hoped for comfort or warmth. 

My own thoughts returned to my people, my clan. The people that watched and protected me while I was growing. Helped and teamed to evade external attacks many years ago and sustain the clan from external aggression. Their faces in the throng caught me as frozen in agony, disbelief and disappointment. 

Their exchanges of eyes suggested sadness. Watching me wed someone they knew was so merciless and cold must have crushed them. The very same man claiming me as his partner right now.

 "Felza, I have to talk to you," Like a knife, Rhys's voice broke through the quiet. His voice was directive, but it also carried a coldness that made my skin crawl. Turning to meet him, I tried to control my feelings. 

" About what?" Trying to hide the venom in my voice, I asked. " About our future," he replied, crossing his arms. Given our bound as friends, we should talk about our plans today. The door opened suddenly with great force just as he began to talk. I turned to find a tall, arresting woman with dark hair walking into the room exuding unsaid strength. Her eyes fixed on Rhys, mixed with both familiarity and wrath. 

"Rhys," she called in a voice like ice. I have to talk to you. now. Rhys's face turned into an angry mask.

“Victoria. What are you doing right now?” He asked furiously.

"Just making sure the truth doesn't stay buried," she answered, staring at me. 

“You really must be Felza, Victoria is my name. Rhys's former friend.” My heart skipped a beat. Victoria kept coming back to me and I shivered with warning. Her want was what? Why was she in here right now? As Victoria moved towards me, her eyelids closed. Felza, I am not here to stir disturbance. 

“I'm here to present a means of escape.” She said and I blinked, unable to believe my ears.

 "A way out?" I asked, confused. 

" Why would you help me?" I asked, knowing no one could be fully trusted at this point.

"Because Rhys is not who you think he is," She replied, catching me off guard and my gaze traveled to Rhys who was standing behind her. 

“He keeps secrets. Dark secrets he has kept buried.” She continued and  the look on Rhys's face became more rigid. 

" Victoria, avoid this mansion henceforth. We are in this together and we're happily married now,” He said and I chuckled inwardly.

"Between you and your dishonest ways!" Victoria rebuked him, not backing down. 

"I know the kind of man you really are." The strain in the room seemed to be rising. 

"What are you talking about?" I insisted. 

"What's this secret?” Victoria drew in a long breath.

"Rhys created rivals. hostile adversaries. He has a past full of slaughter and treachery. I cannot stand by and let you thread over the same ground I did.” Victoria claimed. Her comments carried an incredible weight. 

‘Could Rhys be as dark as Victoria advised?’ Though I wanted to believe differently, Victoria's eyes told volumes about her trepidation.

 "What would you like from me?" Feeling overwhelmed, I enquired.

"I want to help you escape". Get back in touch with Chris. Should you decide to turn Rhys down, he has no claim over you. The whole idea of running back to Chris made me feel guilty as much as hopeful. Given all that had transpired, could I truly give up on Rhys? Rhys moved forward before I could answer, his face contorted with wrath. "I sensed things was not quite right. You believe you could just waltz back into my life and cause havoc.”

Victoria was not flinching. "I'm not in town for a reunion. Here I am to fix things. Rhys turned to me and narrowed his gaze. “Felza, I would like your opinion. Are you going to keep by your vows or pay attention to her lies?” The decision was intolerable in weight. Driven into a web of doubt, I looked between Rhys and Victoria. My brain flew, attempting to separate what was manipulation from what was true.

The resentment of Rhys was very obvious. “Choose, Felza. Are you behind or with me?” Victoria looked directly at me, desperate. "Don't let him write your future. You are free to make decisions.” 

The tension was so strong it felt as though a knife would be able to cut it. As I struggled with to make a decision before me, the room appeared to shut in around me. 

“if truly what Victoria was saying was right why did she still hang around the vicinity. Why didn’t she just elope for her life’s sake and why did Rhys slow his rage when she was near.“ I muttered. 

A lot of things were going on that I needed clarifications about. I wondered why of all clans and people Rhys chose me. It was very unclear. I had to understand what exactly was going on in the background. It was a now-or-never option Victoria had given me. I wasn’t intending to blow it off but I had to think carefully and pragmatically if I was going to survive. 

Stuck in the web of confusion, the tension became unbearable as I looked from Rhys to Victoria. The air in the atmosphere suddenly felt heavy and all I could think of was to elope. My legs suddenly acted faster than my mind as my gaze moved towards the door. I ran out of the room the next moment without pausing for a moment to spare them a glance.