Chapter 5

Kara

The air was sucked out of the room. All I could hear was the pounding of my heart and Caleb’s footsteps as he approached the door. Goddess, I don’t know if I can survive through this again? I know what it is like to be free. How can I go back to being cadged? I can’t. I feel the urge to run but I’m sat frozen on the spot. I feel something brush my arm, a shiver trickling down my spine. I can’t take my eyes off the door. Thud thud thud, tick tock, tick tock.

The last few sands fall from the hourglass as Caleb opens the door. In walks a man I have seen before, his dangerous aura blasting around him, and I see everyone else flinching. I can feel it, but I don’t know why it doesn’t affect me like everyone else. Is it because my wolf is wild and doesn’t like to bow down to authority? Two other men flank him; one looks similar to him with the same dangerous vibe, shorter than he is but wider as he seems to have muscles on top of muscles. The next guy behind him looks familiar and I think he came with him the last time we met.

No one speaks as an eerie silence forms between us all. I can hear a ringing in my ears as I try to calm my racing heart when his dark brown, almost black orbs focus in on me. I find my gaze hooked, unable to look away as my heart begins to race. Goddess, how am I supposed to marry this man, live with this man when his mere presence is making me feel faint? 

One of the men beside him, the larger one taps his shoulder, breaking our eye contact as I find myself able to breathe once more. I can see they are mind linking, as they are both watching me. I feel Gabriel beside me as Sabastian and Ethan head over towards the door. Aurora comes down, having put Luca to bed. They can’t see him. My nephew is rather different from other pups, with a powerful aura and bright silver eyes. It’s something we all agreed as a family we need to protect him from the other packs. At least until the time is right.

I catch Elio’s eyes looking past Aurora up the stairs, somehow; I know he can hear the other heartbeat. “Let’s talk before this happens. Rosa will bring some drinks,” Caleb offers, gesturing the men away from me. I haven’t even packed. I knew this day was coming and I haven’t packed for it. I shake my head, feeling Gabriel wrap his arms around me. What a stupid thing to be obsessing over. “Shh Ka, we will sort this out,” he whispers to me and I allow myself to relax in his embrace. I feel my wolf stir and I shove her back down, not letting her out.

I know it is cruel of me; we are one after all, but I can’t risk her coming out with my family so close, Luca upstairs and the three dangerous men, it’s not safe. What if something triggers her? I have only shifted once before and although she tries to press forward sometimes; I don’t let her. She came forward when I needed her most, endured so much to protect me, but everything has a cost.

I watch as Elio produces a document and hands it to Caleb. I see his artic blue eyes skim my way as he reads the document, the contract no doubt my father and he made a frown forms on his face. I see him scan and reread the document again, the flicker of hope I had died with it. He can’t see a way out of this. I feel the eyes of one of his men on me, looking at me curiously as I tuck my head into Gabriel’s chest to avoid him. Gabriel shifts me out of their view, but not completely. “Ka take this. I wanted a backup just in case. Call me the second you want to come home and I’ll come get you. Don’t open it now, just pack it in your bag.” He mind links me, handing me a small parcel. I have no idea how I am to get this out of here without them noticing, but I nod all the same.

This is really happening. I hear them all walk over. Caleb has a sombre expression and I steal my face, preparing for the worst. “Kara … it seems when your father made the deal not only did he seal the document with his blood he,” Caleb pauses swallowing I don’t think I have ever seen him like this, Sabastian is smoking behind him with his jaw clenched and Ethan holds onto Aurora whispering something to her. I feel my blood go cold hearing my pulse ringing in my ears. “He also took a sample of your blood as well it’s on the document. It’s a blood oath the agreement.” He finishes as I hear mum gasp, dad comforting her as she starts to cry.

My brain feels foggy. I’m not exactly sure what this means, but it’s not good. I nod hesitantly, my body moving on autopilot. “I’ll go pack then,” I say, my voice hollow as I go to head upstairs. Perhaps I can sneak out the window. It worked for my sister after all? Just as I reach the stairs Elio’s deep rich voice stops me in my tracks. “I’ll come with you, little wolf. We need to talk.”