3 - Why did you lie?

IRA’S POV

The sounds of bones cracking and men shifting filled the air as a war broke out in the King’s court.

My fellow slaves who were assigned with the duty to serve the guests ran helter-skelter, looking for a way of escape. The newly elected King transformed immediately, becoming a fearsome black wolf with fiery red eyes.

In a moment, I was dropped to the floor by the guards, who were suddenly tasked with the duty of protecting the Alpha King. I got up from the floor and looked around; everyone seemed busy.

“Let me out!” my wolf demanded, wanting to defend her mate. I didn’t care.

Khanos would never turn away from a fight. She strived for opportunities to show off her skills and wouldn’t flick an eye about joining the fight if she could.

Thankfully, I took a generous amount of my herbs before coming here, which gave me an advantage. It made me weak, but it gave me the one thing I needed - control.

Unlike before, I wasn’t controlled by my wolf or her insatiable needs,

Which meant I could get out of here and find somewhere else to lay low until the entire thing blew over - whether she liked it or not.

I shut my wolf out of my mind and skillfully navigated through the chaos in the courtroom.

In times like this, I was grateful for my five-foot height. Partially because it gave me an advantage and helped me go inconspicuous for the most part of the time, and also because it gave me a lot more advantage when it came down to defending myself.

Everyone easily looked over a small, wolfless, low-class-level slave.

I pushed through the fight, legs aching, but I pushed regardless until I got to a broken window. I jumped through the window and entered the hallways, rushing out of the palace.

“You there!” I heard a voice bellow from the other end of the hallway. It was a guard from earlier. “Come here!” he roared.

This was it, the moment of freedom. I turned around, against his orders, and ran like my life depended on it - because it actually did.

I ran through the hallway, making my way through the darned palace while my wolf did everything to make me go back to our mate. I shut her out, using every bit of strength and the knowledge gathered from years of running away.

Eventually, I broke into the servants’ quarters, with guards hot on my trail. The area buzzed with young girls and boys dressed in the uniform as they all ran into the quarters for their lives.

I easily mixed with the people. However, no one was willing to take me into their rooms. I looked behind me, and the guard, who I perceived to be one of the head guards, directed people to search the entire place.

Why was he so persistent?

Just when I thought it was over, a hand dragged me into one of the rooms and placed me behind closed doors, placing a hand over my mouth. My first instinct was to fight back, but she immediately stepped away with her hands up.

“Relax,” the brown-skinned girl whispered, taking a look through a small window.

She turned around and said with a hasty tone, “You need to hide. Elias will search this entire place to find you.”

I blinked confusedly as she dragged me towards a small wardrobe. “Get in,” she urged, but I was rooted in my spot.

“Elias?” I asked, and she looked over my head like she didn’t have time.

“The Alpha King’s guard,” she said hastily. “I’ll tell you all about him, but first, you need to hide.”

The next second, hands pounded on the front door, and she pushed me into the wardrobe, shutting the door slowly. I sat in the dark and empty wardrobe, heart beating fast and wondering how I got into this situation.

I heard the door open and feet stomp into the room. “Where is she?!” a voice roared, and I heard the young lady wince.

“I don’t know what you are talking about. I worked in the kitchen today,” she said to the men, who seemed to have trouble believing or treating her well.

“Show me,” one demanded, and for the next few seconds, we were shrouded in silence, until I heard the gruff voice of the intruder speak.

“Lock your doors and do not step out until you are told,” he ordered, and the next second, I heard footsteps and the door slammed shut.

I remained in the dark until the wardrobe door squeaked open and she urged me to step out. I walked out of the wardrobe with my thoughts all over the place.

Why? Why did she help me? Who is she? My instincts shot up like an antenna as I tried to detect something wrong but couldn’t find a thing - which unsettled me.

“That was Elias,” she said to me. “He is the head of the King’s guards.”

“If he is out here looking for you, it means only one thing.” I listened to her speak while trying to figure her out. “You are wanted by the King.”

I tried to mask the shock on my face and failed terribly.

“My name is Tamara,” she said, stretching her hand for a shake.

I didn’t move. I didn’t trust her.

“Why?” I asked off the bat, waiting for an answer, an explanation.

I wasn’t foolish enough to think that people did good just for the sake of it. I’d thought that and paid the hard way. Never again.

“What?”

“Why did you lie?” I gritted, uncomfortable with her stare.

“You mean why did I help you?” she retorted, but I didn’t say a word to her.

“Because I like you,” she said when I maintained a blank stare. “And I’d hate to be in your situation,” she added when I didn’t move.

“And unless you intend to go out there and get caught by Elias and his troop of men, I think the word should be thank you,” she said with a fire in her eyes.

I stared at her for a minute and decided I liked her.

“Ira,” I muttered, and she smiled.

“That’s a great start,” Tamara said. “I don’t know why the Alpha King is interested in you, but I know you need to get out of here, and I have just the perfect plan.”