CHAPTER 5: HELD HOSTAGE/ AT CROSSROADS

CLARA

"What?? How??" I asked in fear, my eyes almost bulging out of his sockets. Rhys gaze darkened and I knew there was much trouble.

"Stay right here and don't go out for any reason." He warned me, holding on to my arms as he shook me slightly.

"Why? What's going on?" I asked, searching for answers in his eyes but all I could see was determination and worries.

"I would explain later but for now! Stay here and don't leave!!" He warned again as my body tensed up in fright. I nodded , clutching my chest tightly, my heart was literally pounding in it's ribcage.

He gave me a light peck on the forehead and then he began leaving but paused as soon as he got to the door.

"Don't open up for anyone, trust no one!!" He said and I nodded, and like that, he turned and left.

I rushed to lock up as I ran my hands through my whole body. I was feeling chilly and his expression made me more terrified.

"What the hell was going on?" I asked rhetorically as I sat at a corner, making sure not to make too much sound.

The artery was spacious and had several windows on the walls. I rushed over to one to see if I could get a view of what was going on. The only thing I could see were soldiers trooping out in their large numbers, their swords and other weapons in their hands.

Is this war? I asked myself like a naive human I was. I suddenly remembered Gennieve telling me that invasions and attacks from neighboring packs do occur and when this happens, it springs up war.

But what might be the cause of the dispute?

Soon, the soldiers disappeared out of sight and I couldn't see a single soul any longer.

I mouthpalmed when I remembered she said some pack members might get maimed or lose their life while fighting.

My body shook with fear as I curled up in a corner, hugging me kneels to my chest tightly as I stared around with an horrified expression.

This wasn't the peace and quiet life I had planned off when I arrived here. I had fufilled the things I came here for. The first was to get over my ex- Charles and I have successfully achieved that, using Rhys. The second was to relax and live a peaceful life, I was this close to achieving it but my first goal ruined it all.

The last was to gather more inspirations for my upcoming gallery show and that was going smoothly.

As I thought, shaking my head in pity. I suddenly remembered what got me upset earlier as I reminced on it.

Killian came to inform me that Rhys seeked my presence in the artery. On my way there, I lost the directions he gave and roamed around for a while. Then, I saw a lady nearby and decided to ask if she could just direct me to the artery.

"Hey." I said as I approached her. She glanced up at me and her face squeezed into a contorted frown as she eyed me before letting out a loud hiss that almost made me go deaf.

So mean!!

"What?....I just wanted to ask for directions, it's ok to just snub rather than act mean." I said and she stopped whatever she was doing as she glared at me.

"You think I'm acting mean huh!!" The lady said and I nodded.

"Oh! Yes....ignoring would have been better, why the cold treatment like I just offended you or something?" I asked, placing my hands on my waist.

"Seems like you're too dumb to realise what you've done." She blurted out and I squinted my gaze.

"I don’t get you, what have I done? What did I do to you?" I asked, I was confused about what she meant.

"How can a mere human come into our pack and thinks she can rule over us? How can that be possible? How are we sure Alpha Rhys isn't being hypnotized by you." She ranted, staring at me with so much hate and disgust.

"Watch what you say!! I'm not hyponitising anyone. Alpha Rhys is doing this in his right sense of mind." I said through gritted teeth.

"Humph....i don't trust you!" She said as she rolled her eyes at me.

"I see!" I said, like I just realised something as that piqued on her interest. "You're jealous of me, do you want this Luna post so much that you just hate on me for no reason?" I asked and she scoffed loudly.

"Jealous of you? In your dreams, how can I be jealous of a mere human like you?" She asked sarcastically.

"Then stop making it obvious because your cold treatment towards me says otherwise, besides you shouldn't envy a MERE HUMAN like me." I said, placing emphasis on "mere human." I flipped my hair angrily before sashaying away. An habit I had come to learn from Gennieve!

I was really upset!! How could she be so mean? Somehow, I got back on tracks with the directions Killian gave and I arrived at the artery. I didn't feel like bringing the matter up so I just had to hide it from Rhys and just behaved like I wasn't just insulted few minutes ago.

A rushed knock on the door threw me out of my thoughts as I shivered in fear, my eyes darting as my heart raced madly.

"Lady Clara!! Open up!!" The person screamed from outside. It sounded exactly like Killian's voice. I dragged myself up as I went to peep through the window. Truly, it was Killian, it instilled hope in my a little. I had someone to protect me now and I wouldn't feel this scared.

But as I reached for the door knob, I paused as Rhys warning statement echoed loudly in my ears.

"Don't open up for anyone, trust no one!!" I withdrew my hands sharply as I went back to the window to peep to be sure it was Killian.

It was Killian!!

"Alpha Rhys sent me to look after you!!" He said from outside. How thoughtful of him to know I was terrified and would eventually need a company!! I thought as I reached for the door and unlocked it.

Killian came in at once, in his hands was a knife. Then slowly, his face began to change to another different person entirely , I stared at him horrifically. It was like I was going to pass out as he gripped me by the neck from behind, placing the knife very close to my neck as he began leading me out.

We got to what I would call the battle ground and the man holding me let out a loud scream.

"Heyyyyy!!" He yelled and as soon as Rhys saw me, his eyes widened in shock as he let go of the guy he was punching with his fist and began running towards me.

"Stay back!" The man yelled, pushing the knife more closer to my throat as my breath hitched. Tears came to the brim of my eyes. No doubt, I was scared!! Was this how my life was going to end?

Rhys halted on his tracks at once, breathing heavily, his fist clenched. Everyone had stopped fighting as they stood , watching the scene.

"I see you love your little missy so much. Now, give us what we ask for and I would let her go unhurt." The man said with a smirk.

"What you're asking for cannot be granted. That staff is a symbol and it holds the strength of our ancestors, we can't let it go." Rhys explained.

"Then your little missy here dies." He muttered and even though I had no idea of the staff they were talking about. I knew it was an important asset of the pack and they wouldn't want to give it out possibly just because of me.

My eyes closed in surrender, already accepting my fate.

"Stop!!" Rhys yelled.

"The staff or your little missy dies!!" His voice echoed darkly.