CHAPTER 5
1374 Words
Talia
The room was clouded by a gnawing silence, heat searing upon my spine. I forced a blank expression, but my fingers curled, hidden as my nails biting into the skin of my palm
The woman's scrutinizing gaze lingered on me. Waiting.
I had no choice. I just needed to buy more time.
"There's no truth to that," I finally said, bolstering my voice. "Just a rumor."
Silence.
"Is that so? Forgive my rudeness." She apologized.
Then she tilted her head, glancing at other members at the table before returning her gaze to me. "But since we can't be sure, you should take in. Before the wedding."
The air in my lungs turned to stone.
My chest clenched.
No.
The word screamed through my skull, but I swallowed it. My nails dug deeper, sharp pain anchoring me. I didn't move.
"That won't be necessary."
Too fast. Too sharp.
A mistake.
The shift was immediate.
Every gaze snapped to me. Watching. Waiting.
Carson's chuckle slid through the tension, smooth and slow. "Why can't that happen?" He smiled.
I met his eyes. "It's against the Hayes pack's traditions." My voice was calm—a controlled calmness. My pulse hammered. "We don't allow it before the ceremony."
The woman opened her mouth—
Carson didn't let her speak.
"That's enough."
His tone stayed light, almost amused, but the weight behind it settled over the room like a blade. "She'll bear an heir after the wedding. There's no need to break her family's laws."
Silence.
Then—reluctant nods. A shift in posture. A flicker of unease. No one dared to press further.
I had just lied to a room full of wolves who could tear me apart any second. Had risked Lisa's life on the chance they'd let it slide. But what other choice did I have?
Even if they found out the truth later, even if they decided to investigate, I might've bought us some time. Time to figure out how to escape. Because if I had told the truth, neither Lisa nor I would have made it out of this room alive.
It was the right choice. I knew that.
Even so, my heart didn't slow.
Carson stood. Took my hand. Walked me out.
The air outside hit my skin, but my lungs stayed tight. My legs moved, but my mind reeled.
His grip didn't loosen. "I didn't do that for you," Carson said, his fingers pressing just a little too tight.
Our eyes met.
"You should know I'm quite familiar with your family's rules. I have never heard of anything like that." He continued.
The faint sense of relief evaporated, and my inside began to burn again.
"But doubting Mr. Samuel isn't something I can do, at least not yet. He's a wise man and he knows best not to cross me." A pause. "You have three months to take in."
My breath caught in my throat, the hollow between collar bones deepening.
Carson turned around and headed outside, while I trailed behind him.
Outside I met Seth waiting in the hallway.
"Take both of her to her rooms," Carson ordered.
Seth nodded, his smirk lingers by as he gestured for us to follow.
"Without another word, I followed Seth.
Because no matter how much I wanted to run— I knew better than to show weakness here.
……….
The next morning, my heels clipped against the floor, as fast as they could.
I was not in my right mind last night. I couldn't even remember how I had fallen asleep or woken up.
The only thing I remember was what able to pick up in front of the meeting yesterday—A power struggle hummed beneath every word and gaze
Carson was the alpha but not uncontested.
Was it the other man? The one who looked like a slightly older and leaner version of Carson.
They were related what was his name again?
Sebastian. The name resurfaced
The tension between both men was thick enough to scoop with a spoon.
I hoped I wouldn't get dragged into this.
I tapped my fingers against my lap.
Was this why Carson agreed to this marriage?
A desperate attempt to solidify his rule with an alliance. Even though the Hayes name was slowly losing it's value. My father still held weight in the world of wolves.
The old man wasn't built like a wall for nothing.
I scoffed under my breath. My life had officially turned into a political game. One that had started before I even became a player. I had just been handed my piece.
But was I a player or just one of the pieces?
Finally, I ran into Lisa and Seth after taking a turn in the hall
I stiffened my gaze
"Good morning, how was your night?" Seth asked
"Good, thank you." I walked up to both of them
"Assume you slept well, we made the room match the information your father provided us with."
"Yes, I did."
Seth hummed as stepped aside revealing Lisa behind him.
"She wanted to see you."
Lisa didn't wait for permission— she rushed at me, relief etched into every line of her face.
Seth gave a small nod before stepping back. "I'll leave you both to it." Before he vanished from my sight.
Lisa exhaled "What happened?" Her eyes darted around my face like she expected to see bruises or something. "I heard from Seth, that you were forced by Carson to attend a meeting. What did they ask you? Are you okay?"
I leaned back rubbing my temple. I don't know. But we are in trouble, I have to produce an heir in the next three months I could tell he needs an heir to solidify his position as the alpha.
"How?" Lisa asked
I told her everything.
How the woman—whoever she was—had pressed me. How I had lied. How Carson had ended it before anyone could pick at the cracks in my performance.
Lisa's mouth parted, but no sound came out. She dragged a hand through her hair, fingers tangling at the roots. "Talia…"
I murmured, half to myself. "Carson—he's not uncontested. If he starts digging into me, into my past…"
Lisa's expression lost its light. "They will find out about your curse."
"Yes, and that will be the end of me. The end of you. And the end of the entire Hayes pack."
Even though they were my own words they sent down a chill through my spine. We had to find the witch. Fast, the faster the better
We were standing on a ticking bomb.
The room fell silent for a while as we both processed our thoughts.
Lisa raised her head. "But the thing is, the Alderwood aren't the only dangerous people in New Orleans."
"Huh?" My gaze sliced to her.
"There's something else here, A pack of rogues. Halflings that roam around from territory to territory."
I frowned "Rogues you mean—"
"Under the leadership of an abnormality." Lisa's voice grew quieter. A ghost of a man. A wolf that shouldn't exist."
A chill ran down my spine.
"A halfling strong enough to destroy an entire pack single-handedly. Even the human authorities have a bounty on his head. Some call him a walking calamity."
A few years ago he walked in and out of our pack. Only your dad remained of all the people who approached him."
My mouth went dry. "What's his name?"
Only a few know but your dad referred to him as
Zane
"Zane Cresswell"
A strange weight settled in my stomach.
"No one knows what he looks like," she continued. "He goes around hunting wolves. Devouring them."
The room felt smaller.
"He was spotted in New Orleans a few days ago,"
"We have to avoid coming in contact with him at all costs. I don't know why but your father said for no reason are you to come across him."
A sudden chill ran down my spine despite the cold hallway.
My dad? Just is their relationship? Did my dad make a deal in exchange for this life back then?
I couldn't help but feel like this wasn't the last time I was going here that name.
- Writer
