Chapter 8: Escape
Hailey
"Anyone that comes close to me dies." I couldn't get his words out of my mind.
As big as this mansion, one can easily get lost, but somehow, I have been able to find my way to places that didn't concern me. I have no idea what he plans to do with me, but it was clear what he thinks about me, even with his strange need to protect me from Levi, and there was absolutely nothing I could do that would free me from the chains of both of them... I am in dire danger if I cling to one, and the other doesn't want me, he is bound to me by duty, and I didn't know which one hurts more. I just want to be able to disappear from all of it.
After eavesdropping into their conversation, I could tell the amount of pain he was in. Did he have a mate before me? Was there someone close to me that he lost to fate? All of those questions lingered while I continued to listen. It seemed that I had come late into the conversation but I guess I was just scared about what he was going to find out. There was a lot to me and eve. Things I do not understand found their way into my life. I didn't ask for any of this but I didn't know what I must have done that would warrant his silent treatment and distant self. Was it because of grief, or did something else occur that he didn't seem to talk about?
Keeping me here without anybody's knowledge shows how angry he was that he was stuck with me, how ashamed he was of me. I wished he had let me go, I wasn't the type to create trouble when I am not involved. I wished he had instead of facing everything that I was here. The morning was here and quiet; walking past the hallway was like disturbing a neighbourhood in itself. I tried to find my way to the dining but I was lost yet again. I heard voices, sharp voices that indicated one person was up this early. I passed through the hallway as I saw the Elders, keeping a straight face as they spoke to Asher.
"There are rumours about that girl, and everything that concerns her just spells out trouble." Asher placed his hands on his jaw as he heard them speak. He didn't say weird and it weirdly tugged my heart. Deep in my heart, I wanted him to at least defend me long enough to dismiss any kind of accusations or death scare.
"Ric is right. There is something cursed about her lineage. Keeping her here is only going to make things worse. You should try giving her back to Levi; he would have better use of her. This kingdom has stayed in harmony and brought someone who might destroy everything we've built." Asher was quiet, and I could feel his conflict. News about me has reached places that I couldn't even testify to. I didn't know anyone here. I had been in the forbidden mountains all my life, and there was no connection to me tied anywhere; it was strange that these people knew a lot about me more than I knew myself. I found that deeply unsettling. I couldn't breathe long enough to know that someone might be watching me.
"We are only based on assumptions and you too know how well I hate assumptions. For now, I just want news about her contained. I don't want anyone to know she is here. At least before we gather enough facts about her. I was drawn to his calm demeanour more than I should fear for my own life... I scolded myself internally as I got hold of myself.
If some Elders are part of this rumour then the only place I thought I was going to be safe was not safe for me. There was only so much protection that Asher could do. I could wake up with a fear for my life. I didn't wait around to find out what was said next, I knew I had to leave this place before I ended up dead myself.
There was nothing left to do here, even when my mind kept wandering into what Asher had told me before. I was not to leave the premises but I knew better than to stay here when everyone had a notion about me. I couldn't live with that. It was still the early hours of dawn, and the servants were still scanty, which meant they were all occupied with work and were busy. The guards were busy training, and I knew this was my chance to move out of there without being noticed. I followed through the back of the mansion into the woods and made a run for it. Something charged inside me that made even escaping seamless. As an omega, my senses are naturally faint, and I needed to keep my strength up and my senses on high alert if I was going to make it out of there alive. I heard some branches rustling, I paused to see if I was being followed but before I could turn, I saw three men before me. I looked at the tattoos on their skin and it was clear whose men they were. Levi.
I could tell they were rogues, which begged the question: what was an early appointed Alpha going with rogues this early in his office? It was strange and bizarre...
"Look who we have here? A very beautiful maid who ran away from her alpha." I wanted to believe that they knew what they were talking about, which made me more scared that they had to make such statements.
"Were you waiting for me here all along?"
The bigger one spoke with a devilish grin. "Why do you think you are so important?" The other wolf who had been staring, suddenly smiled, moving closer to the big one, whispering something in his ear.
"So that's why you asked? It seemed Levi had put a bounty on your head and would do anything to get to you." He grinned even more. I didn't think Levi would still be hunting for me even after what Asher had said to him. I know Asher was the Lycan king, but the two were strong-headed and would get hurt pretty soon. I didn't anyone to destroy themselves on my account.
"It seems we have a lot of money if we bring you to him. " They came closer. I tried to run, but they were too quick to grab me. "Let me fucking go!"
"Shut up, you weasel!" My arms were already sore.
My eyes were pinned to the ground as they dropped me hard on the floor, gasping in fear. "You heard the lady, leave her alone." By the soles of his feet, I could tell who it was.
"Who the fuck are you? Keep working and let us do our job. You can join us and we might give you a big cut after we are paid." I got up immediately and rushed to hide at Asher's back.
"That's good. Who were you delivering her to?" He asked them, feigning ignorance.
"Alpha Levi." He gave a half nod. He was so fast, snapping the big wolf's neck before we could blink. The remaining two tried to fight him off but Asher ripped the heart of one in a minute, leaving the last one at his mercy...
"I would keep you alive so you'd tell Levi this. If I find any of his minions on my territory again, I will make sure that I deliver him a gift he would dread..." Before Asher could say another word, the rogue ran off, like a child who had seen a ghost. Asher walked ahead without giving me any head start or even making eye contact. I could tell that he was very angry, my wolf kept nagging in my head.
We passed through a secret tunnel and reached an opening with the castle in sight... I quickly trained behind him as we got to the entrance. The guards greeted him, and he ignored them, spilling orders. Before I could catch on to what they were saying, the guards grabbed me.
"What the hell! Asher! What the hell is this?" He stared at me, his impression was dark and had a hint of disrespect. He felt disrespected when I asked him that question but I could care less.
"You are going to be locked in a room so you wouldn't run off again that's exactly what this is. After all, you are my prisoner."
"You have no right to treat me this way or act this way."
He narrowed his eyes at me. "I can act the way I want with you!" He yelled, making me flinch. "I tried to be nice; I gave you a fucking job and told you not to leave the premises and yet you defied me?! I didn't have to be nice to you, but I extended that to you, and you go behind my back and do the opposite. You are going to stay in that locked room, so you'd to learn what happens when you defy my orders..." He glanced at the guard, as tears were threatening to fall. "Lock her up, she has training tomorrow. That would be enough time to ponder on her actions."
They dragged me in silence and I had no idea what was going to befall me in the hands of Asher