Chapter Eleven
1245 Words
Claire's pov
My knuckles became white as my grasp on the tray tightened. Cole was already moving across the room, weaving through the crowd, his gaze still locked on me.
I winced as he gripped my arm, his nails digging into my skin. "What are you doing down here?" he asked, his voice was sharp enough to cut glass.
"And how did you get out of the room?"
My pulse raced.
The tray nearly slipped from my grasp, but I tightened my hold instinctively, fingertips digging into its polished edges.
What do I tell him? I can't tell him Kimberly let me out or else she'd be in trouble.
I forced myself to remain calm.
"Your mother found me," I said, my voice steady.
His brows knitted.
"What?"
"Evelyn was looking for you," I explained quickly. "She found me in your room."
I hope he buys it and doesn't suspect anything.
His eyes narrowed.
"And? What did you tell her?"
"She questioned why I was there."
For the first time, uncertainty flickered across his features.
"What did you tell her?"
I swallowed. "I-I told her that I came to fetch your dirty laundry and you mistakenly locked it forgetting that I was there."
The anger vanished. A smile spread across his face.
The frantic hammering in my chest eventually slowed, each beat less desperate than the last.
His hand lifted to pat my cheek. "You did good."
The gesture made my stomach twist. I fought the urge to step away.
"I'll reward you tonight," he said, sounding pleased.
My blood ran cold. Reward me how? By inflicting pain onto me?
I glanced toward the guests surrounding us. "I should get back to work."
His eyes remained fixed on me.
"If Cassandra sees me standing here and doing nothing, she'll make a fuss."
For a moment, I thought he'd refuse but
Then he nodded.
"Fine," he said and leaned closer.
"But don't forget what I said."
"I won't," I said before walking away.
The moment I stepped away, I released the breath I'd been holding.
Kimberly rushed to my side.
"What did he want?"
"He wanted to know how I got out of his room," I said, glancing around.
Her face paled. "And what did you tell him?"
"Don't worry I didn't mention your name. I came up with a lie and he bought it."
"Okay," she murmured, letting out a deep breath. "I'm going to tend to the guests I'll come to you when it's time to leave."
I nodded.
We spent the next half hour serving drinks while waiting for the perfect opportunity. Every passing second felt like an eternity.
My gaze kept moving across the room where Cole stood chatting to Ethan and a few other unfamiliar faces. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves except for Emily. She was sulking as usual.
"It's time," Kimberly whispered, standing beside me.
I glanced around the ballroom one last time. Everyone was wrapped up in their own world. It was a perfect distraction, no one would even realize we were gone.
"Let's go," I whispered, my heart pounded violently against my ribs as I pushed forward, refusing to let fear win.
Carefully, Kimberly and I set our trays onto a nearby table and turned toward the exit.
I'm doing this, I'm really going to do this. I'm going to be free, free of Michael and everyone that made my life miserable.
My heart raced as we slipped through the crowd.
BANG!
A deafening gunshot erupted through the ballroom. Screams filled the air instantly.
The music stopped, glasses shattered against the marble floor.
I froze.
Kimberly grabbed my arm.
"What was that?" she asked, her eyes widened with horror.
Before I could answer another gunshot rang out and chaos exploded around us.
_____________________________________________________
Adrian's pov
The grand doors to the ballroom burst open with a deafening crash.
BANG!
I pulled the trigger without hesitation.
The gunshot echoed through the ballroom, silencing the music and laughter in an instant.
Screams erupted, guests scattered in every direction.
Champagne glasses shattered against marble floors as women clutched their gowns and men rushed to shield the women.
My warriors flooded into the hall behind me, weapons raised and expressions merciless.
Panic spread like wildfire.
I stepped over broken glass, my boots striking the polished floor with deliberate calm.
No one dared stand in my way. People moved aside instinctively.
Fear hung thick in the air because
they knew exactly who I was and what I'm capable of.
I stopped several meters away from the man I'd spent weeks imagining killing.
Michael. The smile on his face had disappeared, his eyes widened slightly before narrowing.
"Adrian."
The ballroom fell deathly silent.
"What are you doing here?" Michael growled.
"Why else would I be here Michael?" I spoke with icy calmness. "To avenge my mate," I added.
Whispers rippled through the crowd.
Michael's expression hardened.
"You remember her? Don't you?" I asked, my voice trembled with barely controlled rage. "The woman you murdered."
Gasps echoed throughout the room.
Disbelief spread across the guests' faces as their gazes shifted toward Michael.
"You killed her," I said, my voice carrying through the ballroom. "You took her from me."
Michael's jaw clenched, his fingers curled into fists at his sides as he glared at me.
I tilted my head slightly, smirking.
"And now..."
I slowly raised my gun.
"...I'm going to take everything from you."
The room erupted into chaos again. My men behind me were ready to fire, their guns already raised, aiming at Michael and his family.
"You're not welcome here," Ethan sneered, stepping infront of me. "And you're crazy to accuse my father of killing you're mate."
Before I could reply to him a
scent hit me. Citrus and Wildflowers.
It wrapped around my senses, sinking beneath my skin and straight into my soul.
My eyes scanned the room. Searching for the person who the scent belonged to until my gaze landed on a petite woman with long chestnut hair and emerald green eyes.
My wolf surged violently inside me.
Mate, my wolf roared.
I froze. The world around me disappeared.
The word slammed into me with the force of a bullet.
Her emerald eyes widened in horror as they locked onto mine.
Every instinct inside me demanded I go to her.
No. I can't do this, not again.
Was the moon goddess playing some sick joke? To send me another mate? And what's worse is she's from Michael's pack.
I would never accept this bond nor would I ever accept her as my mate.
I tore my gaze away from her. I refused to acknowledge the pull tightening around my chest.
My grip tightened around my gun.
I looked back at Michael. A smile spread across my face.
"Tell me, Michael," I said, grabbing his youngest daughter and aiming the gun at her.
The girl let out a frightened scream as The barrel of my gun settled against her forehead.
The ballroom held its breath. Michael's face drained of color.
"What are you doing?" he snarled.
I tilted my head.
"Which one of your children should I kill first?"
His daughter burst into tears.
"Father!"
I smiled wider.
"What do you think?" I asked conversationally.
I glanced toward Michael.
"Should I start with her?" I pressed the gun harder against his daughter's head.
"Or perhaps I should make you watch while I destroy your entire bloodline."
The room remained frozen in horror.
- Writer
