KIERAN
As the grip of the guards tightened around my arms, I fought the urge to scream and fight back. My feet barely kept up as I was hauled along the dim corridors. My heart was hammered with a mixture of disbelief and fear.
Just as we reached the top of the stairs heading down the the dungeon, Shemei burst through the guards surrounding me, raising his hand and bringing them to a halt. "Wait!" He ordered, his dark eyes accessing me for a few seconds before he walked past me.
My head fomllowed his movement. He walked back to Shaun and alpha Dante who were behind the guards. "Let's not be hasty," he spoke, his voice firm and calm. "This might not be the best decision, given she has what we need," he added.
I sighed, a feeling of hope coursing through my veins. Shemei glanced at me briefly before commencing his conversation with them. His voice reduced, making it impossible for me to hear what they were discussing.
From the looks of things, Shaun seemed to be the only one against whatever they were discussing. His reactions and facial expressions were of disapproval and most times, disgust. My heart skipped a beat when they all stopped talking and turned to me.
"Leave," Shaun ordered the guards. They stood at their spot until the guards were gone, then he walked up to me, leaning closer to my face until I could feel his breath on my skin. "Fine…but she's not leaving my site," he said, his gaze drilling into me.
I tried to look away, but his index was firmly placed on my jaw, keeping it in place until he withdrew. I managed to catch my breath the moment he pulled away, my body ached from the grip of the guards.
"Let's give her some space and see if something resurfaces," Shemei broke the silence. "I suggest she stays with you, alpha Shaun, in your chambers," Shemei added.
"No way am I letting her stay in my room with that little life which belongs to another man sprawling in her," Shaun fired. My hand rested on my stomach instantly and clutched onto it. The baby. Another mystery added to my life.
"Your Beta has a point, Shaun," his father supported Shemei. "We might not know the truth now, but she's our best shot at unlocking it," he said, walking up to Shaun's position with his gaze on me.
I looked away, pretending like I wasn't listening to them as I squeezed my arms together. Shaun scowled, glancing between me, his father and Shemei. He didn't want it, but his desperate was he to know about the symbol?
"Fine, but on my terms," he dropped and walked away. His father followed suit, leaving just Shemei and I. He helped me to my feet, clearing his throat and adjusting his clothes as I we stood staring at each other. The silence grew awkward until I broke it.
"Why are you helping me?" I asked, my voice still recovering from my fear.
"Let's just say not every wolf is a big, bad wolf," he replied, gesturing me to take the first step.
He left me in the hands of the servants at some point, giving some words of advice on how to stay in with Shaun without triggering him or getting him upset. Everything he said to me registered in my head like a folk song.
"How foolish of me," I muttered to myself after the thoughts of striking a deal with them flashed across my memory. How foolish I was to believe I could actually leverage my freedom with the mark on my shoulder.
*****
When I got to Shaun's room, he wasn't there. The room was dark without the lights. It somehow was secluded from receiving the rays of the sun or the moon. There was also something different about the candles which lighted up the room.
Their red color, size and the fact that they weren't melting. I took my time, scanning the room a s taking in every detail until I walked past the bathroom. It was the only path of the room that had a white light.
Fully painted in white, glass doors, white lights and glittering tiles, I suddenly developed the urge to have a shower. I took my dress of at the entrance and went in, struggled with the control for a little moment before I finally got a hold of it.
As the water ran down my body, the ache in my arms and legs reduced, my thudding brain became calm, and I felt a sense of relief course through my nerves. I took my time, washing every delicate part of my body.
When I was done, I made use of the towel provided and stepped out. My reflection on the mirror stole my attention that instant. I walked closer to it, circling my index around the mark on my shoulder.
How wasn't I able to remember anything about it?
My attention shifted to my stomach, properly covered with the towel. I unwrapped the towel from underneath my arms and placed my hand protectively on it.
"Who's your father, little one?" I murmured, goosebumps crawling up my skin as my brain tried to picture what could have occurred. I shut my eyes, letting the tears stream down.
I kept hitting rock bottom in my head, like there was something hindering me from remembering what transpired all those nights I woke up and found blood on my legs. The door creaked open, snapping me out of my thoughts instantly.
I hurriedly grabbed the towel from the floor and wrapped it around my body again, turning to face Shaun who froze at the entrance.
"I'm…I'm sorry," I stuttered, knowing fully well that I had broken one of the rules Shemei told me. I fumbled to gather my clothes. But before I could put them on, Shaun covered the gap between us, his eyes fixed on the mark on my shoulder.
My breath caught in my throat as my breath as his eyes lingered. I could feel the weight of his presence as his eyes traced the symbol. My instincts kicked to hold my towel and prevent it from falling.
But Shaun grabbed my hand right before I could get a hold of it, his gaze still fixed on shoulder . The towel fell, and I shut my eyes, struggling with my breath.
"Stay that way," he whispered, his voice low and hypnotic. His fingers hovered above my shoulder for sometime before one grazed it. I shivered, unsure if it was the atmosphere of the room or the strange intensity between us.
"I…I need to get dressed," I stuttered, opening my eyes only to see he wasn't paying any attention to me. He looked…lost. Like he was drowning in his thoughts. "Shaun," I called, my voice a little thicker.
"One second," he breathed with his head leaning closer, until it dropped on my shoulder.
*******