Luna Lilian; Heart Of The Pack

Chapter 6

-LILIAN-

The murmurs flowed in, the silent atmosphere now a turmoil of emotions. They all had sympathy written on their faces, and I could tell from their gaze that I was in for something deep.

Margaret grabbed my hand abruptly, dragging me away from the lingering gazes that refused not to settle on me. She rasped as we got to the garden, patting her chest as she regained her respiration.

"Did he?" She grabbed my hand, turning it almost immediately to reveal my wrist. "Oh no."

I stared at her, unaware of what was happening. She let my hand fall, tears flowing down her eyes like she had begun to mourn someone precious to her. They all had that look on their faces, and that made me curious.

Without hesitation, I flicked my wrist, taking a look at the golden crest he had placed on it. It was a seal mark where the wolf was about to bite its own claws, a replica of the wolf Liege prisoners' symbol.

"He asked you to become his personal maiden, right?" Margaret finally spoke up after a long while of silence.

"I had no choice."

She stared at me, holding back the tears that had gathered in her eyes. After regaining her strength, she walked back into the Lycans' lair, taking to the maidens' kitchen.

With each step I took, my head replaced the bloody scene that had taken place before I accepted the crest. I shuddered as it began to cloud my mind, the chills running down my spine.

"Make your choice." His voice played in my head.

He had walked towards me, his aura nerve-wracking as always, with his footsteps that sounded like the drums of doom. I thought it would end, or it would all just be a dream, but it wasn't.

"You have five seconds." He grabbed me by the neck, lifting me into the air while he watched me struggle. I kicked, beating his arm with all my strength, but I doubt he blinked even once beneath that mask.

"4…" he raised his head, his skeleton mask making my chest ache from the tremors it went

"2…" His grip on my neck tightened.

It looked like the end for me, my eyes flashing before my eyes as I remembered the bad things that had happened to me. What's the best bet, live or die, suffer or wilt away under the moon's fool glory…

"I want to live, I want to be better…"

I fell to the ground, coughing up blood while my back arched against the floor. There was nothing to appeal to, and the yearnings of my heart slowly soured as I thought of the choice I had just made.

"You may take your leave but with a tight warning." He placed his index finger on my chin, positioning my head in a way that I could see the intricate designs of the mask, the blood rolling down the sockets, and the dark bliss that shot out with each wording. "You have only one chance to prove yourself; a mistake will cost you your life, and a slight betrayal will cost you your soul."

If I hadn't seen how terrifying his mask was, I would have claimed it was an understatement. A light with not a hint of light, a meager scent of affection, or a resentment for murder. In a word, he was the big boss of this lair.

"Are you alright?" A soft voice disrupted me from my thoughts.

I scanned the environment, lowering my head to see a little girl. The little girl was beautiful; her auburn hair curled into a ponytail made her look cute, but it wasn't quite perfection because of the rags on her.

"Hello, little one." I bent to greet the little girl.

"Why are you crying, Auntie?" She said in a soft tone.

It was then I realized the stream of tears on my cheeks. I wiped them off quickly, putting on a fake smile to cheer the little girl on.

"Was it the bad wolf?" She questioned.

"Bad wolf?" I asked, a little curious.

"My mom said there's a bad wolf who always wears a mask on his face. He's really dangerous, so I run whenever I see him. Did you run also?" She asked.

I could tell she meant the big boss, who I had now been enslaved to. The Alpha of the Lair, who had not an ounce of pity for anyone, no matter their position.

"There is no bad wolf, little girl. He just finds it hard owning up to himself. I'm sure your mummy just wanted you to enjoy playing inside." I let out.

There was no point in telling the girl that he was a bad wolf. Her mother would be killed if she spoke like this before him; I had to save her with these words.

"So he isn't bad?" She asked.

I placed my hand on her head, slowly patting her head. "He is a good wolf."

She looked at me, a smile appearing on her face. I took her by the hand, leading her to the marketplace that Margaret had told me about some moments before we were called in. I didn't have money with me, but I had a feeling I could get something, which was so wild of me.

Fortunately for me, a vendor was able to get me three beautiful gowns for the little girl, but then I couldn't help but realize the sympathy in his eyes when he saw the mark on my wrist. "I hope you survive." Where were the words on his lips?

"Thank you for the cloth, miss…" The little girl let out a smile as I handed the dresses to her.

"Now go take a bath and put on your new clothes. I hope you like them." A smile appeared on my lips as she hugged me. At this point I felt like a true mother, picturing beautiful scenarios of what I would have done for my child if the heavens had turned the tides in my favor.

"And who is this child?" A deep voice crawled into my ears, my stomach slowly turning into knots.