Chapter six: The voices aloud

Layla POV

The smoke was getting too chafing for me to handle; it felt as if I was being burnt in a hot cauldron. The more I tried to breathe, the more suffocating it became. It didn't help that someone had their hands clamped shut over my mouth, holding me back from making any sound. 

I tried to make out where I was, but everywhere was pitch black. The only thing I could hear was muffled voices. I tried to speak, but the person holding me back wouldn't let me. I tried to turn to see their face, but instead of seeing a stranger, all I was met with was a faceless figure, their stark white eyes staring back at me. Fear engulfed me. I tried to move away, but instead of letting me go, their hold tightened on me, cutting off my air supply.

"… I think I have had enough patience with you. The Pack doesn't deserve to have a weakling as an Alpha…" My eyes snapped toward the sound of the voice, but I couldn't see anyone.

"…You weren't chosen by the Moon goddess. The throne doesn't belong to you. I should have known that my best friend, and Beta was going to be an usurper…” 

I strained my ears, trying to figure out who were talking, but I couldn't recognize the voices. I knew I should stay quiet, but something in me was begging for the doors to be opened as their voices continued echoing through it to my ears.

"… It isn't anything personal, Alpha. The rightful ruler is here, and the prophecy must not be fulfilled. Everyone would want to protect their family, right? And that is exactly what I am doing…"

 I thrashed around when I heard the word prophecy. Could this be Bastian? He said the exact same thing before he pushed me off that roof.

I could hear one of them scoff before he spoke. 

"… the prophecy doesn't mean anything. Our families have been friends for thousands of generations. Don't let the words of a seer make you commit a grievous mistake. This is a treasonous act, and I will pardon you if you tell your men to stand back now…”

The other one sighed, then replied. 

“… I have come too far to go back. If I don't do this, then your daughter will be..." 

I strained my ears further, trying to learn what the prophecy was all about, when I was suddenly pulled out of the darkness by someone throwing water harshly on my face.

I sat up, breathing heavily, finally taking in my surroundings. The bright light coming from the room made me squint my eyes. This wasn't my room back in Alpha Bastian's house at all. I panicked immediately. 

Where was I? Wasn't I supposed to be dead? I checked my body, expecting to see bruises and cuts, but there was nothing like that. It felt as if I had been made new.

"Well, would you look at that? Sleeping Beauty has finally woken up. I was actually on my way to find a prince charming to give you a kiss to wake you up." 

I turned to the person talking. My brows furrowed when I saw how he was glaring at me.

"That's enough, Ian. I told you to wake her up, not to treat her like a murderous criminal,” someone else whom I hadn’t noticed standing on the other side of the room said.

Turning to him, I couldn't hold back my gasp when I saw who it was. I slapped my face continuously, trying to wake myself up from the dream. Why was he here? Could he be in cahoots with Alpha Bastian?

"I'm sorry for the way my Beta treated you. He isn't the most friendly,” he spoke again. “Here, I brought breakfast. I guess you must be hungry after the incident."

I looked at him, then backed away a little even as I was still on the bed. "Why am I here? Did Alpha Bastian send you?" I asked, skeptical. Afterall, no one did good for no reason, especially towards me.

The Beta who had poured water on me scoffed.

"How dare you mention that name here?! Don't you know in whose presence you are standing?" Beta Ian growled at me, trying to intimidate me.

"Enough, Ian!" He scolded.

I said nothing, just took advantage of their quiet confrontation to slip out of the bed. Taking the butter knife that was placed on the breakfast tray, I made my way toward the window. I didn't care how high the building was; I was getting out of here. I had already gotten one leg out when I was yanked back.

"What the hell do you think you're doing? Are you trying to get yourself killed?" 

I kicked the Alpha away, making him release his hold on me as I pointed the knife at him.

"Hey, calm down. Let's not do anything hasty. Don't you remember me? We met at the fundraising event hosted by your ex-fiancé,” he said.

"I don't care. All Alphas are the same. Let me go or I will slit your neck," I fumed, gritting my teeth.

The Alpha raised his hands, trying to show me that he meant no harm.

"I'm Alpha Aaron Castell. If you would just listen to me, I'm the one who helped you. My workers found you. Trust me, Layla, I will..."

"… Lies!" 

I flinched when I heard the loud voice in my head. I turned the knife away from Alpha Aaron, trying to figure out if there were shadows lurking around.

"Who said that?" I asked, looking around.

Alpha Aaron, and his Beta glanced at each other, wondering who I was talking to.

"Said what? Layla, are you okay?" Alpha Aaron tried to get closer. I took a step back, pointing the knife back at him.

"Don't come any closer. I'm warning you." 

I hated the way he was looking at me, as if I were something broken.

"… Kill him, Layla! Slit his throat! Show him that you aren't weak. Do it now!" 

I clutched my head at the burning sensation. My hold on the knife tightening. For a moment, I saw Alpha Bastian's smirking face. I charged at him, aiming to stab him for betraying me.

"Stop, Layla! What's wrong?" 

Alpha Aaron's voice snapped me out of whatever trance I was stuck in. I felt the voice retreat a little. Out of shock, I dropped the knife. This wasn't me. Why would I want to kill someone I barely knew?

It was as if I was truly just waking up now. "How did I end up here?” I finally asked, addressing the question that had been gnawing at the back of my mind. “The last time I remembered, I was at Crimson Moon Pack.”

"My employees found you lying in a pool of blood in front of my building,” Alpha Aaron said as he held my hand gently. I felt myself calming down, but that didn't stop me from checking for bruises on my body.

"That's impossible. How did I survive that fall?"

"You didn't," He said. Taking a deep breath, Alpha Aaron stared pointedly at me. "You were dead when we found you."