web of secrets

Amara Eldwood

“I don't know what you're talking about! I didn't do anything!” I screamed back despite myself, unable to stop the defensiveness edging my voice.

Dante’s hooded eyes narrowed before he shoved the badge in my face.

Confusion made my brows fork when I realized it was from my old pack. A badge only worn by one of the high elders and the wall guards.

Had Adrian somehow been part of this scheme?!

Had he been killed by the infinity soldiers? 

My heart felt like it had been ripped right out of my chest until then dark Alpha shoved the badge right up on my forehead, almost searing the damned thing into my skin before I staggered back.

“You want to tell me you don't know what the hell this is? You dragged those soldiers here didn't you? Let them follow your trail right to us like fucking target practice!” He bellowed, making me screw my eyes shut until then walls had stopped rattling.

What on earth was he talking about? How could he think so lowly of a maiden he barely knew?

One that was supposedly his mate?!

“I warned my brothers. I fucking told them! I open my pack to you and you repay me with this?” 

His dark brows had deepened into a V on his tan skin, and a shudder rippled through my body at how low his voice had gotten.

The room suddenly felt too small when I met his eyes and the current that had been lingering in the air zapped right through my body. 

“I’ve done nothing—” I started, my jaw trembling when he cut me off.

“Again with the fucking lies!” 

His deafening roar made my stomach sink, and I forced my head down to keep from staring into his eyes.

“You might be a shadow reject, Amara Eldwood, but over here in Infinity we value character.” He spat acidly, his words stabbing into my heart like an ice pick until I staggered back in horror, fighting to keep tears from streaming down my cheeks.

How could he speak to me like that? 

Without any idea of the shit I’ve been through? Of everything that Kiernan and the Shadow elders put me through?

I’d been abandoned by my own mother for moon’s sake! 

“Well I'm so fucking sorry that I couldn't look over my shoulder to make sure I wasn't being stalked when I was wounded and running for my life!” I screamed tearfully, my hands shaking before I clamped them over my lips.

The Alpha’s face was unreadable, but the temperature in the room had dropped until it was almost freezing.

“Listen to me carefully, Eldwood,” Dante sneered, stalking toward me until my back was flat against the icy wood walls.

“I-I” 

My knees buckled and it was all I could do to keep myself standing when he leaned in close enough that I could see the harsh iron-gray color of his pupils.

 His chest pressed firmly against mine and a gasp fluttered from my parted lips when I felt his long black claws snag threateningly in my hair.

“This pathetic, damsel in distress act of yours might have been able to fool the cowards in your pack, but your bullshit isn't going to fly here.” He growled, his lips so close to mine that I could have risen to my tiptoes to kiss him.

My stomach curled into anxious knots before he shoved me off, looking as disgusted as he could manage.

He thought my hopelessness was an act? 

I tried to ignore the tugging in my chest that started when he closed the distance between us.

“I-I appreciate everything your pack has done for me, Your Highness, but I had nothing to do with the attack—” I panted, jutting my chin stubbornly when he threw me a sly look, the Shadows badge crumpling even more in his clenched fist.

Like he wished it was my neck there instead.

“I’ll find a way to pay you back, you have my word—” I tried again, shrinking away from him when only silence stretched between us.

I didn't have my wolf yet, but I didn't need another soul inside me to know the infinity servants were crunches at the shadowed entrance like rats, digging for any bit of juicy gossip they could find.

Word of my embarrassment and of Dante’s suspicion would spread in the pack by morning, and I would have freaking Mabel to thank for it!

Blasted hells, as if I didn't have enough on my back already?

The Alpha’s barrel chest heaved once…and then twice, before he threw his head back to let out a deep laugh.

His wolf-cut black hair fell over the sides of his angular face when he stared back at me, stopping just so that he towered above me.

Of all the Alphas i’d seen the other night, I never wanted to admit to myself that he was the one who scared me the most.

“That’s the funniest thing I've ever heard, Eldwood. Tell me, how exactly do you intend to pay me back, for the six thousand dead soldiers lying in my fortress square?” He breathed, and a chill ran down my spine.

Every nerve in my body screamed for me to escape…to fly out the window…do something, anything to escape the malice sticking to his hard body like a tornado.

I opened and closed my mouth wordlessly, staring at his heaving chest instead of meeting his eyes for what felt like an eternity.

“Your word doesn’t mean dogshit, Eldwood. The next time you cause trouble for my pack, I will kill you myself.” He threatened, making a sob choke in my throat before he turned on his heels.

“Must you be so cruel? What did I ever do to you people? All you’ve done since you WELCOMED me into your fortress is treat me with nothing but disdain!” I screamed, unable to stop the words from tumbling out of my mouth.

Something flashed in his eyes, and the luxurious wood-walled room suddenly felt too small when he half-turned to face me.

His dark hair fell over one sharp blue eye when he half-turned to face me, cocking his head.

“Excuse me?”

I opened my mouth to reply but the words had frozen in my throat.

I pulled my dress tighter against my body, feeling goosebumps race over my flesh.

Bloody hell, why did it feel like he could burn a hole through the silk just by looking at me the way he was.

“What the fuck did you just say to me?” Dante hissed again, and I struggled to control my breathing.

My sweaty palms gripped the marble counter of the vanity beside me until my knuckles turned white.

“I’m saying I would appreciate you treating me with respect—” 

“You want respect, shadow, you're going to have to earn it. If you can't do that then by all means take your chances with The Darkness…see how long you’ll last.” He deadpanned, voice devoid of emotion as he turned fully to face me, making the cramping in my chest worse.

Shadows shifted at the door, but the dark Alpha didn't so much as flinch, his gaze on my face unwavering.

Don't cry, Mara…whatever you do, DO NOT CRY in front of the insanely hot asshole!

Was he always so intense? What would it take for him to like me?

“Blasted hells, Mara, its just like you to fall for the assholes,” I cursed inwardly, before the shadows spoke.

“Dante? Everything alright in here?” Caius’ hard body appeared in the doorway but the caution in his voice was unmistakable.

My spine straightened but my lips stubbornly refused to move until my gaze flickered back to the Alpha’s icy blue glare.

“From now on, you will do as I say. Eat when I say so, jump when I say jump, or Goddess help me, I will make sure you regret walking through those gates.” one sharp claw poked the space Infront of my eye before I straightened, the wind whooshing through the windows so hard that the glass rattled in the wooden pane. 

My lips parted in surprise and I blinked back tears, trying to swallow the ball that had grown thorns where it lodged in my throat.

“You will remain in your room and not blight my people with your presence unless I order it, understand?” Dante deadpanned, his malice clear as day as he stared down his nose at me.

It was straight and perfect, just like the rest of him.

Why did knowing his hate hurt me so deeply? 

“Do you understand?” The dark-haired Alpha spat, snapping me out of my reverie when he leaned down so that his face was only inches away from mine.

“Y-Yes of course,” I managed, holding my breath until he straightened.

“Find her a new room. And have some of our men stationed outside to shoot if she tries to escape.” Dante’s snappy bark made fear clutch at my heart but I kept my face indifferent, forcing my raging heart to quieten.

Surely he didn't mean to kill me, did he?

Those heavily-lashed eyes shot to the blond man’s face before he turned to disappear down the hallway until his heavy footfalls faded to silence.

“Are you alright?” Ronan’s paper-thin voice made tears brew in my eyes.

There was something about his tone that just turned on the water works.

Caius’ feet clapped loudly on the floors before I could say anything else and I was instantly besotted by his intense gray eyes.

“Why don't you head back and check in with him? We’ll be good here,” he breathed, shooting Ronan a look that I couldn't decipher until he shrugged, walking out before I could say anything else.

Only the roaring of flames filled the now quiet room before I lowered my head, refusing to let him see my tears.

“Mabel? Come on in, I saw you hanging around back there!” He called over his shoulder and for the umpteenth time this night, I wished for the ground to open up beneath my feet and swallow me whole.

Silence stretched for a beat before the cream of the door hanging off its hinges echoed and the bitch’s hatted-head boobed through.

Wispy strands of raven-black hair had fallen free from the bun where she tied the hair down at the back of her neck, giving her oblong face an exasperated look.

“Your Highness? You called?” Her shy demeanor was nothing like the witchery she had put up with me.

Hell, I hadn't even known the bitch was capable of a smile so wide as she stared solely at Caius.

“Find the guest a change of clothes and have the nurses come down to look at her wounds again. Some of them have started bleeding,” Caius’s stormy gray eyes found mine thoughtfully as he finished, and I nodded my thanks, unable to say anything else.

Pain stabbed through my body freely now, as if it had needed a remainder after the horror of facing Dante.

“I’ll be out of your hairs in no time, I promise,” I muttered weakly, stiffening when his fingers reached for me. 

Our eyes met when he paused halfway and I noted the faraway look that filled them until he inhaled sharply, dropping his hand and stepping away before it could reach me.

I couldn't disguise the pang of loss I felt with the distance he put between us, but I forced a sad smile to my lips instead…top much and he would think I was psychotic.

“You’re not bothering anyone, Shadow. Come to me or speak with Ronan if you need anything,” 

His voice was even, but I could still sense his distrust hanging between us like a stubborn storm cloud on a sunny day.

Did their caution have anything to do with Leila?

I bit my tongue before I could ask.

“What concern is it of yours, Mara? It doesn't matter anymore, nothing matters anymore. You know what you must do now.” Mother’s calm voice echoed in my head before I shook myself, rising from the trance.

“Of course,” I said instead, my lips forming a thin hard smile when he said nothing else.

I could feel the tears building inside me, barely held back by the damn walls I had built in my chest.

Not now...not yet.

“Look, Eldwood, I’m sorry about his attitude, alright? Its, well…its hard for him to trust anyone anymore,” Caius explained, but I only nodded, tearing my eyes away from the hard ridges of his abdomen that I could see through the thick spandex shirt he was wearing.

I was sorry about a lot of things too. Like how I never got to say goodbye to my mother after she turned away to let me be killed in Shadow Pack.

Sorry that my mate didn't want me and I was a worthless excuse for a wolf.

Sorry that I would be leaving the Infinity Fortress…tonight.