I felt my jaw tighten as anger surged inside me, yet I made an effort to remain composed. The room was filled with tension, making every breath and heartbeat feel heavy and foreboding. The threat that was right in front of us seemed to overshadow the soft humming of the fridge and the far-off chirping of crickets.
"You've made two mistakes tonight," I spat, my voice brimming with disdain. The beast within me was urging me to attack, to tear these intruders apart. But I fought against it, harnessing every ounce of control I had to avoid exposing my true nature. "First, you've trespassed into my home uninvited. And second, you've threatened someone under my protection. If you value your lives, leave now while you still have a chance."
The leader, whose menacing scars only served to highlight the threat he posed, tilted his head slightly, the corners of his lips curling up into a smug smile. His sharp and analytical gaze fell on my eyes. I felt angry, like an animal on a rampage, yet I refused to give in just yet.
He chuckled and said, "You're brave, Lord Tristan. I can see the fire in your eyes. But bravery will not save you tonight."
Cecile's grip on my arm tightened as if sensing the change in me—the wolf rising beneath the skin. I swallowed hard, trying to keep it in check.
This was getting harder than it had ever been after all these years of staying under the radar.
At that moment, despite the intense tension in the room, a subtle but undeniable sparkle appeared in my eyes. A glimmer of red reflected in my eyes, revealing a glimpse of the inner beast I possessed. Despite my best efforts to conceal it, I was unable to disguise my true identity.
The leader maintained a cold and calculating gaze without wavering. He appeared amused by the challenge I put forth, judging by the glint in his eyes. However, it was evident that he acknowledged the underlying power of my words. "Hold," he commanded, lifting his hand to halt his approaching minions. "This is not the appropriate time. He is more than he appears to be."
The men lowered their weapons and kept their eyes on me, but they unquestioningly obeyed their leader. Although I had emerged victorious in this battle, the war was still far from being concluded.
As the leader was about to leave, he glanced at Cecile once again. His lingering gaze sent a chill down my spine. He seemed to have some knowledge. Something I was not aware of yet. His lips curled into a sinister smile, confirming my suspicions—he had discovered something.
Cecile instinctively placed her hand over her belly, causing the leader's grin to widen. He quickly looked back at me, conveying an unspoken message. "It appears that we have stumbled upon more than what we initially expected this evening."
What does that even mean?
There was an unmistakable strangeness in the air. I glanced at Cecile, who was motionless, and it became clear that she had also detected it. She gazed at me, her eyes wide, while her fingers remained tightly gripping her tummy.
"We will depart for now, but rest assured, this is merely the beginning," he cautioned, keeping an ever-present gaze fixed upon Cecile's midsection.
Without uttering another word, he motioned to his men, who vanished into a cloud of smoke. In an instant, they were gone, as if they had never been there at all. The darkness lifted, revealing an empty room. The only evidence of their visit was the splintered door and the lingering scent of their dark balls, which released the gas they must have used to cloak their escape.
I felt a wave of relief as my body slumped. The knife fell to the floor, symbolizing the gravity of the situation. I held Cecile tightly in my arms, providing a protective embrace that promised safety.
"I'm so sorry you had to witness that," I whispered into her hair, my voice shaky.
She was trembling; the ordeal had shaken her to the core. "They... they knew," she whispered, her voice quivering.
They knew? What's that supposed to mean?
Sigh!
I couldn't pry further at the moment; she had been in danger because she was with me, and how they had known she was here was still a mystery I was willing to uncover in due time.
I nodded, my eyes scanning the room—every shadow, every corner—ensuring we were truly alone. "We'll figure it out. Together."
The hum of electricity followed a sudden beeping that filled the room. The lights flickered back on, revealing the room in its entirety.
The door burst open, and my guards rushed in, weapons drawn, their faces etched with concern and confusion. "My Lord, we tried to reach you. The elevator was disabled during the power outage."
"It's over," I said curtly, dismissing them with a wave of my hand. "But increase security. Double the guards on every floor and review the security footage."
"Yes, my Lord," they replied in unison before exiting the room.
As the door closed behind them, leaving Cecile and me alone, I looked down at her, my eyes searching hers for some semblance of understanding, some sign that she was alright. But what I found shook me to the core—a mixture of relief, confusion, and a trace of something darker, something I couldn't quite identify.
"Are you okay?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
She nodded, her eyes still wide with the shock of what had just happened. "I think so."
I hugged her tightly, taking a deep breath to savor the scent of her and to reassure myself that she was still here, still mine.
But as I held her, the leader's parting words echoed ominously in my mind. This was far from over, and the dread settling over me was suffocating. I could feel it—a storm was coming, and we were right at the heart of it.