At The Wrong Place

They reached her room where Tabitha set the tray down on a stool. 

"Thank you, Tabitha." Sheera smiled. 

"Oh. It's nothing. If you need anything, you can just check me out in the maids quarters." She replied and headed for the door, but suddenly stopped in front of it. 

"By the way, you are so beautiful," Her eyes crinkled at the corners as she said. 

Sheera's heart warmed up. She dipped her head, and finally, Tabitha left the room. 

***†*†

Sheera spent the rest of the day alone in her room.

For hours, she remained in bed, tossing and wondering if her life would remain so boring.

How much she missed her family! She missed the mornings when she went hunting with her mother and sister. She missed fighting and making up with Naya. What she wouldn't do to get back to them. But this was probably for the best. At least, Naya wouldn't have to suffer.

It was almost evening when she decided to go for another stroll. She felt imprisoned being in the room alone.

As she walked, she considered the fact that it's been two days already. Two days of being in the Fortress, yet the Alpha was yet to send for her. Was he that uninterested? If he was, wasn't it only right to send her back to her family?

Maybe she was too dirty for him. Or too unworthy to be in his presence. Perhaps, he hated her that much.

Considering how vast the Fortress was, Sheera doubted she'd be able to cover every part of it. But she walked as far as she could.

She enjoyed how busy and beautiful the place looked. Sunlight dappled through the leaves, casting playful patterns on the ground. Maids flitted about like fireflies, each carrying something with them. The Keepers patrolled with a quiet vigilance, their polished weapons glinting in the sun.

Sheera walked pass a row of women selling fruits. The fruits called out to her, but sadly, she didn't have any coins on her.

She continued feeding her eyes, a small smile on her lips until she found an area that didn't seem to have anyone in it.

Sheera was about turning around to leave when she heard a bloodcurdling scream. She gasped and turned in the direction of the voice, her eyes going wide open in fear. What was that?

It came again, laced with raw agony, sending shivers down her spine.

Every fiber of her being screamed at her to flee, yet an unseen force held her rooted to the spot. She darted her eyes around, the heat pricking her skin forming beads of sweat on her brow. Her heart pounded a frantic rhythm against her ribs.

Hesitantly, she crept forward, her steps muffled by the thick layer of dust beneath her worn leather boots. She found the building she was certain the sound had come from. It was a storage building, its window's narrow slits overlooking the bustling marketplace. 

The windows were far too high for her reach, forcing her to clamber onto a nearby weathered stone bench.

"You are running out of time, Geri. Why did Alpha Laycoan send you here? Why were you spying for him?" Sheera heard someone ask.

Lifting her head ever so slowly, she was able to have a look into the room. 

The interior was crammed with crates and barrels, casting long, menacing shadows. There were so many keepers around. Sheera's pupils dilated into wide circles when she found the Alpha.

The Alpha! 

He was right there!

It was all she could do not to gasp. What was going on?

She found a man on his knees, his hands chained to his back. He was badly bruised up to the extent his eyes were barely opening.

"This is the last time I shall ask this question," The keeper in front of him said. "Why are you here? What does Laycoan want?"

The man on his knees coughed out blood. When he opened his mouth to speak, his words came out choked.

"I swear it!" He cried. "I... I didn't have a specific mission. Alpha Laycoan just wanted me here in case he'd ever need me to do something. I swear it. Please, don't kill me."

A white-hot spike of agony plunged through Sheera's heart, shattering it into a million shards. He looked so pitiful.

It became worst when the Alpha drew out a sword strapped to the side of one of the Keepers. 

The man's eyes widened in abject terror. 

"Please, Alpha," he rasped, his words choked with blood. "I  deeply regret it. I swear, I haven't brought any harm to the Pack. I have children..." Those were the last words he could get out before the Cyrin Sword sliced thought the air and landed on his neck, cutting his head off.

The breath caught in Sheera's throat as her heart crumbled within her, leaving behind a crushing emptiness. Terror flared in her eyes, widening them to impossible proportions. By the hunts! He killed him!

A furrow plowed its way across her brows as a tear coursed down her cheek. Before she could stop it from happening, a sob left her throat.

The attention of everyone in the room shifted to the window. With a gasp, she flung herself off the weathered stone, the descent a blur. 

Landing with a thud on the uneven cobbles, she spun on her heel, her eyes widening in sheer panic. 

However, as she turned, she came in contact with a man she hadn't seen in the room. 

The air seemed to abandon her lungs as a jolt of raw fear surged through her. The man before her wasn't dressed like one of the Keepers. His uniform stood out from the standard Keeper's uniform, hinting at a higher rank. He had a scar on his left cheek, close to his ear, earning him a savage air.

Before Sheera could gather any words in her head, she heard footsteps. Her soul nearly left her body as her head processed who it was going to be. 

Her fears were confirmed when the Alpha along with some Keepers showed up. Sheera was sure her heart stopped beating.