Help!
1052 Words
Andrea
I looked up to see someone walk in, or more like, saunter in. Every movement from her was contained with a measure of elegance and grace. My lips parted as she stopped short upon seeing me, her blue eyed gaze flickering from myself to the two men, each on either side of me. I couldn’t help but feel a strange piercing gaze on me, one that emanated disdain, cutting off whatever words I could ever bring myself to say.
Kael rose to his feet.
“Dahlia. What are you doing here?” He asked. My body froze. Was that… fondness I detected in his voice?
“Kael,” her lips quivered into a smile, one that lit up her expression. “I came to find you. I heard you’ve caused quite the commotion.”
“Ah… that,” he chuckled, and I swallowed, discomfort rising. My wolf was incensed.
It was true though; Kael was clearly fond of this woman.
Who was she?
I glanced at her again, seeing her red hair coiffed into an elegant ponytail, every bit of her exuding confidence.
When she caught me staring, she smirked slightly.
“Who’s the girl?” She asked. “I see the Alpha King of the North is also in the room. My apologies for not greeting properly,” she lowered her gaze, bowing softly. When she straightened, Ronan’s chuckle rang out.
It was a response, dark and uninviting unlike Kael’s.
“It’s good you know to respect your betters. You’re learning, albeit a bit slow.”
Roman clearly was displeased.
“Ronan. That’s enough.” Kael sighed, sounding exasperated, as though this had happened many times before. Then he addressed Dahlia, “Since you’ve arrived, you may stay for a bit. But I won’t have you disturbing the peace.”
“You angered Alpha Garrett, from the rumors,” Dahlia crossed her arms. “Is it because of this girl? How true are what they say?”
My body jolted, a sense of unease coursing. The fork in my hand clattered to the floor, causing everyone to look at me.
I stood, shakily, unable to stifle the embarrassment. My cheeks flushed and I avoided all their gazes. Kael’s eyes were full of concern, Ronan’s more probing and forceful, but the worst was Dahlia’s, who bore a look akin to pity and some hint of schadenfreude.
“I… I feel unwell…” I could only murmur, stumbling backwards. The chair caught my shins, sending a sharp pain through my leg. Suddenly a hand grasped my arm, and I flinched, pulling it away.
Silence enveloped the room as I panted, tears prickling my eyes once more.
I felt terrible.
How could I explain myself? How had I become the cause of so much trouble?
Kael’s voice came through, low and comforting.
“Perhaps you should get more rest, Andrea.”
I nodded, not bothering to look up. All I could do was stumble out of the dining hall, nearly hitting my face against the wall as I turned a corner. I fled, panic and anger and shame reverberating through my body.
Behind me, a chorus of voices rang out.
“Why are you here, Dahlia? Be honest or your beloved Alpha King of the South wouldn’t be able to save you,” that was Ronan, his voice laced with fury and a hint of provocation.
“I have no idea what you mean, your highness. I have the right to be here,” Dahlia’s tone was soft, unhurried.
I heard Kael begin to speak but I couldn't hear exactly what was said, for I was already too far away. By the time I entered the bedroom, a chill had enveloped me, rendering me numb and speechless.
Cassie, who was wiping down the windowsill, suddenly stood and looked at me.
“Are you okay, miss?” Cassie asked tentatively, and I stiffly nodded. But then, my heart swelled with emotion, and I shook my head.
“I don’t understand what’s going on,” my voice came out hoarse, choked with unshed tears.
Cassie fell silent briefly but seemed to understand. She reached for me but I took a step back, pressing against the door.
Pausing, she took a step forward, raising both hands.
“I won’t hurt you, miss. I just want you to get some rest. If you could trust me,” she implored, her voice tingling with sorrow.
It was an assurance I didn't know what to do about.
Back then in the dining hall, from that instant Dahlia mentioned Garrett… All I could remember was the many ways I had endured and suffered. From verbal attacks to punishments, I had been reduced to nothing but a mere slave.
I had lost my dignity, my right to be regarded.
Softly, warm hands guided me to sit on the edge of the bed, and Cassie’s voice was soft as she began to hum a lullaby.
I endured it with gritted teeth for a few seconds, until somehow my mind began to unfurl, making the panic fade away. Her song’s melody pierced through the dark shadows in my heart, and I released the breath I didn’t know I was holding.
“Feel better?” She asked, after what felt like an hour of singing. She brushed my hair, a comforting gesture. I nodded, my eyes heavy and lidded as she continued in her ministrations.
“Thank you,” I said, a lump forming in my throat.
She said something but I didn’t hear, for what followed next was my slipping into unconsciousness, dizzy with wandering thoughts and dreams.
I didn’t know how long I lay there but in one spark of an instant I felt my wolf, Sapphire, stir within me.
‘Danger.’
This had only ever happened whenever I would be ambushed by one of Garett’s ploys.
My chest heaved as I jerked my eyes open, gasping out. My body burned, my lungs constricted.
A scent, cloying and piercing, choked my very breath.
I stood, blindly scattering objects on the ground, aiming to reach for the door.
Then, I felt it, someone behind me. Terror wouldn’t let me look back to see who it was.
“Help,” my voice croaked, and I began to bang on the door in the darkness.
- Writer
