Chapter 6 /-selene-/ "Oh shit!" I exclaimed when I opened my eyes. This wasn't the hall. I was in my room, but the bigger problem was how did I get there? "Do you always cry yourself to sleep in an open place?" A voice asked. I jumped up in fear and almost choked as my head swam in dizziness. I didn't know someone was in the room. So much for being a wolf; I couldn't even perceive scents. "Easy," the familiar voice said gently. It was my buyer. Kaelen. I had learnt of his name that day in the auction room. "I...uhm...I'm so sorry. I didn't know when..." He scoffed. "Sorry for what exactly? Have you no idea that you could be putting yourself in more danger by doing that?" Doing what? I thought to myself. Was my concoction really that terrible? "I can fix it," I said hurriedly and flung my legs off the bed. "Where are you going to? I'm not done talking." I stiffened. I couldn't afford to get into the bad books of the one person who didn't treat me like trash. He stood from where he sat and strode towards the door as if he anticipated my next move. "Now listen carefully, you are not allowed to leave this room today, except if the king demands your presence, which I doubt will happen, and..." "What?" "Why?" "Maybe if you had allowed me to finish, you would hear why." His eyes held no emotions as he spoke this time; I couldn't help but wonder what and where I had gone wrong. "You've got four weeks, haven't you? But you've made a big mess of the first day. I will accompany you to the forest tomorrow so that you can get new herbs; for now, sit your ass inside this room; the pack is under attack." My jaw fell. Attack? Who dared attack the RavenCrest pack? "I will have you killed myself if you dare step out of this room." He paused for a moment, then pointed at a covered bowl on the table. "Eat up. Your stomach is empty." With that, he left, shutting the door behind him. I inhaled deeply. Why was he being so nice? I wasn't sure that I would be like that if I were in his shoes, I admitted to myself. Not long after I had settled to eat, someone knocked. At first, it was calm, but after I ignored it the first time, it became louder and even more persistent till I was forced to open it. SMACK! The slap cut across my face the moment I opened the door. I winced in pain but managed to still stand on both feet. I had gotten used to such treatment, but this slap stung more than any I had ever received. I stood before the masked beta trembling. "How dare you!" He growled. "I'm sorry," I whispered, though I had no idea what I was apologising for. "Did you hear that the pack is under attack?" He snarled. I shook my head in response. "Yes, I did." "Get outside now. You are to guard the pack's entrance." "What!" My eyes widened in horror. Guarding the pack's entrance was for those with wolves like him. I didn't even have a wolf. I can't even raise a sword and... "Now!" He ordered. I didn't move. I was more scared of Kaelen. "Wings, huh? You've grown wings?" "I was ordered to stay here; I will be killed if I move." "Whose orders?" he asked. "Kaelen", I answered immediately. "Then get moving, because if I say it one more time, I won't give you the pleasure of blinking before you die." I swallowed the invisible lump that had formed in my throat and stood rooted on the spot. "You...." He was still speaking when we heard a loud noise from outside. Someone had fallen. "Be useful," he muttered and dragged me out. "Please, I can't. I don't know what..." "Choose one. Would you rather die by my hands or that of Kaelen?" My breath came in shallow gasps now. So much hatred is coming from someone I never did anything to. "I will go," I muttered and turned in the direction of the pack's entrance. "Make sure you are not seen. Four weeks is a long time to stay around you." I stopped dead in my tracks. He just wanted me killed, but that wasn't why I stopped. I stopped because I heard him loud and clear despite the fact that he had murmured those words. Has the moon goddess finally decided to have mercy on me? I continued walking to the entrance as though I was carrying death on my shoulders. Of course it was death, because not even the strongest warriors stood at the entrance in times like this. My legs shook as I walked, but I knew better than to stop. Soon I began to hear screams tear through the air. It was chaos. Warriors ran in different directions; they didn't even have the time to shift. Whatever pack was against them had carefully planned this. "Move!" A warrior stumbled past me with his hand covering his eyes and blood dripping through his fingers. I almost turned back, but the beta's words rang deeply in my head. I was already close to the entrance; there was no need to turn back. Finally, I found myself standing at the entrance of the RavenCrest. The sight before me was horrifying. They were already circled by dirty-looking beasts that looked like they were hungry for blood. I shut my eyes tight and waited for death, but then a thought flashed through my mind. Thorne! Does he know what's happening? And how would he protect himself since he was blind? "No, I have to do something," I muttered and turned to run back, but the worst happened. "Argh!" I screamed in pain when one of those dirty-looking wolves dug its claw on my shoulders, just inches away from my neck. I fell on my knees, screaming in pain. My cry must have sounded melodious to that creature, maybe, because he dug the other one deeper than he had done the first one. I let out another scream in pain as blood covered one part of my body. He pulled his claw and attempted to dig it into my skin again when I heard a loud, scary growl. Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!