Chapter Four: Leaving Home

 

"The kind that will kill you to get to me."

The words settled over the room like a death sentence.

For a moment, all I could hear was the sound of my own breathing.

Kill me?

Three days ago, my biggest concern had been surviving my eighteenth birthday party without being forced to dance with Ethan Blackwood.

Now, apparently, I was being hunted by a mysterious Council because my father's driver happened to be the heir to a dead kingdom.

Wonderful.

"You're joking."

Neither of them laughed.

I looked from my father to Alexander and back again.

"Oh my God. You're serious."

Alexander's expression remained unreadable, but there was something in his eyes I'd never seen before.

Regret.

"I never wanted this for you."

"That's comforting," I replied weakly. "Unfortunately, it appears fate disagrees."

"Amelia—"

"No." I held up a hand. "I'm trying very hard not to panic right now, so I'd appreciate a moment."

To my surprise, Alexander actually nodded.

My father, however, looked ready to argue.

"There isn't time."

"There is absolutely time," I snapped. "I've spent eighteen years believing my life was normal. Forgive me if I need five minutes to process the fact that my mate is a secret prince with homicidal enemies."

A strange sound escaped Alexander's throat.

I turned toward him.

"Did you just laugh?"

"No."

"That was definitely a laugh."

"It wasn't."

"It absolutely was."

The corner of his mouth twitched.

"Your timing remains impressive."

My father looked between us in disbelief.

"Is this really the time?"

"No," Alexander and I answered simultaneously.

We both blinked.

"Oh, that's unsettling," I muttered.

For the briefest moment, his expression softened.

Then the memory of Lucien's words seemed to return to him.

The Council knows.

The warmth vanished instantly.

"We need to leave."

My father stiffened.

"No."

Alexander's gaze met his.

"Richard."

"I said no."

"You know I'm right."

"I spent ten years protecting her!"

"And I spent ten years keeping my enemies away from this house."

Silence.

My eyes widened.

"What do you mean?"

Neither man answered.

Again.

I was beginning to hate that.

"Can someone please explain why everyone keeps speaking in riddles?"

Alexander exhaled slowly.

"The Sterling Estate has never been random."

I frowned.

"What?"

He looked around my bedroom.

"The security system. The walls. The land itself."

Realization slowly dawned on my face.

"No."

"Your father built this estate on sacred territory."

I turned toward my father.

"You built our home on what?"

"It was the only place they couldn't find you."

My stomach dropped.

"Find me?"

"After the attack when you were eight, we realized someone wasn't simply targeting Alexander."

My blood ran cold.

"They were looking for me?"

My father said nothing.

He didn't have to.

"Oh, God."

"Your mother wanted to tell you," he admitted quietly. "I wouldn't let her."

"Why?"

"Because I wanted you to have a normal life."

I laughed bitterly.

"How's that working out for us?"

Nobody answered.

A knock suddenly echoed through the hallway.

Three sharp knocks.

Every muscle in Alexander's body immediately tensed.

"Who else is here?" he asked.

"No one."

The knocking came again.

Louder this time.

Then—

"Richard Sterling."

The voice was unfamiliar.

Deep.

Cold.

My father went pale.

"No."

Alexander's expression hardened.

"Who is that?"

My father's silence told us everything.

Another knock.

"Open the door."

"Who is it?" I whispered.

My father swallowed visibly.

"The Council."

The room fell silent.

My heart stopped.

"You're kidding."

"I wish I was."

Alexander was already moving.

"How many exits?"

"What?"

"How many exits does this room have?"

"One."

"That's unfortunate."

The knocking became pounding.

"Richard Sterling, by order of the Lunar Council, open this door immediately."

I stared at the door in horror.

"They found us already?"

Alexander's expression darkened.

"No."

"What?"

"They didn't find us."

The implication hit me immediately.

"They knew where to look."

Someone had betrayed us.

The realization seemed to strike my father at the same time because his face drained of all color.

"No..."

Another voice joined the first.

"Hand over the girl, and we'll allow the rest of you to live."

"Oh, that's reassuring," I said faintly.

"Amelia."

I looked at Alexander.

"When I tell you to run, don't argue."

I laughed nervously.

"You've met me, haven't you?"

"I'm serious."

"So am I. Running seems like an excellent idea."

To my surprise, he almost smiled.

The pounding on the door intensified.

"You have ten seconds."

Alexander turned to my father.

"Can I trust you?"

Richard Sterling looked at the man he'd spent ten years pretending to employ.

"With my life."

"Good."

The next few seconds happened so quickly I barely understood them.

Alexander stepped forward and placed his hand against the wall.

Golden light spread beneath his fingertips.

The entire room began to shake.

"What are you doing?"

"Creating an exit."

"Since when can you do that?"

He glanced over his shoulder.

"Since always."

The wall exploded outward.

I stared in disbelief.

"You can tear through walls?"

"Among other things."

"I hate that you waited ten years to mention that."

A small smile appeared on his face.

"I had my reasons."

The door behind us finally burst open.

Five men dressed in black entered the room.

Every single one of them had glowing eyes.

Well.

That couldn't be good.

"There he is," one of them said quietly.

Another looked directly at me.

"And the girl."

Alexander stepped in front of me.

"You'll leave now."

The tallest man laughed.

"Still giving orders like a king, I see."

"I wasn't asking."

The air suddenly became heavy.

I felt it immediately.

Power.

Raw and terrifying.

The men in black seemed to feel it too because their expressions changed instantly.

"Impossible."

"His power shouldn't have returned."

Returned?

Alexander ignored them.

"Take Richard and go," he said quietly.

"What?" I exclaimed.

"I'm not leaving you."

His eyes met mine.

"Amelia."

"No."

"This isn't a discussion."

"Good, because I wasn't discussing!"

Something flickered in his expression.

Then—

The tallest man smiled.

"Interesting."

"What?"

"The bond."

Every eye in the room turned toward us.

"It's already forming."

Alexander's expression darkened dangerously.

"Watch your next words carefully."

"Oh, I think I understand now."

The man laughed softly.

"The Alpha King has fallen in love."

The room went deathly silent.

I forgot how to breathe.

Alexander said nothing.

Which, somehow, was answer enough.

"Oh," the man continued. "This changes everything."

I looked at Alexander.

"You—"

"Now isn't the time."

"No, I think this is exactly the time!"

"We can discuss it later."

"Later?"

The ceiling suddenly cracked overhead.

Everyone froze.

The tallest man's smile vanished.

"That's impossible."

"What is?"

Then I heard it.

A howl.

Not one.

Hundreds.

The sound shook the entire estate.

The men in black immediately went pale.

"No."

Alexander closed his eyes briefly.

"What is happening?" I demanded.

His expression was unreadable when he opened them again.

"My people," he said quietly.

My heart skipped a beat.

"What?"

"They've come for their king."

And outside, beneath the full moon, the wolves began to howl his name.