The Ultimatum
1511 Words
Kaira
~
I flinched at Cassian’s words, especially how he had directed them, while trying to keep calm.
“What… King, King Cassian? I just can’t…”
I didn’t even finish my words before Cassian charged at me, hands pressing against my neck, not hard enough to hurt, but enough to make a point. “Like I said earlier, little she-wolf, you don’t have a choice here. This is your ultimatum.
“Take it or leave.”
I swallowed, my eyes fell on Cassian’s tight grip on my neck, sweat beads formed on my forehead. As I had realized the severity of the situation, one wrong move, and it might end badly for me.
“Okay—okay!” I finally agreed, too weak to keep fighting a losing battle.
“Good girl.” He chuckled, giving my face two light pats before standing to his feet.
He looked down at me, his eyes bore no emotions, but they weren’t his usual cold glare anymore.
“I'd be shocked if he doesn’t question me about the mess you made,” he said, with disgust laced in his voice.
I kept my eyes down, unable to meet his. My King… surely King Eryx would ask me the reason for rejecting his offer and the broken porcelain. What do I tell him?
Cassian raised a brow at me. “Do I have to tell you everything?”
“But…?”
He pointed at the broken mess by the side, then his hair. “Now you ask me about what to do? Yet I didn’t tell you to hit me.”
My face flushed with embarrassment. I did that out of pure instinct, reflex. I thought you were going to harm me, so I… not that I wasn’t happy it happened. I thought.
He rolled his eyes at me so hard he made it look like his eyes would fall. “That’s up to you. Fix your messes.” He turned and strode towards the door, but stopped at his tracks.
“You should hurry and come downstairs before my brother runs this building down. He can be very… extra,” he warned. And left the room.
The moment Cassian left, I broke down, letting out every emotion I had hidden in front of him.
Tears spilled uncontrollably from my eyes. What did I do to deserve this? I checked out. Once I find a light at the end of the tunnel, something or someone snatches it away.
“Why do things keep happening like this?” I asked, voice breaking.
And those great werewolves spoke about some Goddess being above watching us, but today just proved I was right. I was alone in this cruel world, and there’s no such thing as a supreme being watching over me.
I stood, wiped my tears with the back of my palms. I made a promise to you, Kim and I. No Alpha will ever see me break. Never!
I don’t care what happens. As long as I enroll in Cromwell academy, nothing else matters.
***************
Later that day, Eryx had still not returned to the room. Blood was still smeared in my clothes because of the little push and pull with Cassian.
I couldn’t go out like this. Eryx might get suspicious, and then I would be put in a tight corner.
So I walked over to the bed, the moment I spotted the shopping bag Eryx brought for me. I rummaged through it, pulling what was inside… A purple gown with a bow.
My eyes watered, Eryx had gone out of his way to get me this? Now I was about to reject his offer because of his stupid brother.
I should be grateful to Eryx. After all, he was the one to take me out of Ashmount.
No Kaira, you need to stop feeling this way. This is the price you've got to pay for your goals.
“I'm sorry, Eryx,” I whispered into the empty room before hurrying off with the clothes, to the bathroom.
After a few minutes of fumbling with what I would say, when I faced Eryx, I finally left the hotel room.
As I walked out, my eyes didn’t see the woman approaching from the left corridor and collided into her.
“Owf!”
I winced from the impact, sending both the silk flying and falling, the woman tumbling with a hard bump.
“Oh my God, I’m so sorry,” I said quickly, crouching down to help after regaining composure.
“No, it’s okay,” she replied, sounding a bit distracted.
She snatched one of the robes from my hands, the moment I picked it up, her gaze darting nervously around the hallway.
As I stood, I caught her muttering under her breath. “Goddess, I need to hide, before that scary man on a rampage tears this place apart.”
I frowned, not clearly getting what she meant. A scary man?
“What scary man?” I asked with piqued curiosity.
The woman froze, with widened eyes and glanced towards the elevator.
“There’s an Alpha downstairs,” she whispered, speaking more to herself. “I think he’s looking for a certain girl.”
My stomach dropped.
“And?”
“Until he finds her, the hotel’s in lockdown.”
“What?”
“Yes. Yes.” She nodded frantically. That’s why I need to hide. You should hide too, that man scares me.”
Something cold as dread settled in my chest. “Eryx…” it had to be him.
“And the hotel manager—”
“What about the manager?” I pressed.
The woman’s eyes widened further. “Didn’t you hear what I said?” She grabbed my wrist. Not hard enough to hurt, or leave a mark—but enough to stop me.
“You should stay in your room till everything is settled.”
I shook my head in disapproval. “I think I can help. Please, just tell me where he is.”
Before she could react, a deafening growl echoed through the building, it jolted me off balance, while the walls vibrated. The woman fidgeted, fear flashed across her face. “Whatever you do, Miss, don’t go downstairs.”
“Run!” she yelled, already disappearing around the corner.
“Wait!” I called after her. My voice trailed off, as she disappeared around the corner. I wanted to run after her, but I needed to find Eryx before he did something he would regret.
My heart pounded at my ribcage. I ran towards the staircase, taking two stairs at a time, just to be there on time, so I ignored the burn in my legs.
Every terrible possibility of what if, spiraled through my mind. Eryx wasn’t known for losing control, but what if he did and then that man…
Which meant if he had…
Someone had pushed him too far. And that someone was me and his brother Cassian.
The second I reached the lower floor, I was met with a horrifying sight.
Employees huddled against the wall, clearly fearing for their lives. While some guests peeked from the doorways. And in the center of it all stood Eryx.
My breath caught a heavy lump in my throat when I spotted his blood-soaked hands, knuckles smeared with blood that wasn’t his. Even his wolf’s claws were out. In one hand, he held a terrified man several inches from the ground, with bruises coated on his face.
A few feet away, Aven and Cassian sat completely unbothered. As if they were watching entertainment instead of witnessing a public execution of an innocent man.
Cassian caught my eye and gave me a quick wink, ready for the bigger drama about to unfold.
Bastard. I cursed inwardly.
Eryx’s deadly voice broke me out of my thoughts. “Do you know what happens when people lie to me?”
The hotel manager shook violently, clearly about to faint from shock.
“P-Please…”
“I came to this hotel with a girl, and then she disappeared the moment I stepped my foot outside the room.” Eryx’s grip tightened. “And somehow no one knows anything.”
“I swear…”
“The CCTV cameras show nothing useful.” His eyes narrowed with malicious intent, “And somehow you expect me to believe you aren’t hiding something from me?”
The man’s face was drained of color.
No wonder Eryx was called the Silent Death, even I was scared of the length his rage could reach. This version of him was terrifying.
“I’ll give you one last chance to try again,” Eryx said coldly.” Or I’ll—”
“Stop. I’m right here.” The words left my mouth before I could stop them. I couldn’t let another man suffer my sins.
Every head turned the moment I spoke, all eyes now on me.
Eryx froze. I walked straight to him and placed my hand over his, unbothered, it was stained with blood. “Don’t.”
- Writer
