The Silent Alarm

Midnight.

At this point, Kaelen was waiting in his luxurious penthouse in the west wing. I might almost have pictured the manner in which he would have walked about, a dark, proud deity, anticipating his broken little human plaything crawling to his doorstep, and bowing to all his perverse whims.

It was a long time he was going to wait.

I crept through the darkness of the packhouse, with my back closely against the cold stone walls. I had thrown on the beige dress of this morning and substituted it with a pair of dark leggings and a tight-fitting black sweater that I had discovered in the back of the wardrobe in my assigned room. I had to dress like a thief in case I was going to be one to-night.

My new awakened Luna senses were a huge strength. I heard the clumsy feet of the loose enforcers two passageways into the hallway and could easily avoid their paths. My sight cut through the darkness, making the pitch-black corridors clear and bright in grayscale.

Not hiding, but hunting, my inner wolf said, her old voice in my head, and she was annoyed.

I reassured her to be patient, when I felt my adrenaline bouncing. First we save the life of mother. Then we wage war.

I came to the frosted glass doors of the high security royal pharmacy. It was down at the bottom of the sublevel of the medical wing, well off the usual infirmary. No sentinels were directly stationed by this door, merely because there was no one without the privilege to approach it.

I drew the huge silver keycard used by Kaelen out of my pocket. My hands were very steady. I swiped the barcode against the smooth black reader on the wall.

Beep. Click.

The massive steel door opened with the faint hydraulic hiss of a hiss. I crept in, and the door closed behind me.

The pharmacy was freezing, air was absolutely sterile and biting. The walls were lined with rows of reinforced glass cabinets stocked with thousands of vials and medical supplies and rare herbs. The refrigeration units were the only source of light in the room, and they were soft and blue.

I rushed forward, and read the electronic markings. I did not mind the painkillers or the antibiotics. I was seeking the secret treasure of the Alpha King.

It was at the very rear of the room, in a separate cage of heavy security glass. A padlocked cabinet with the Obsidian Claw crest of the roaring wolf. The digital display at the top of it flickered mildly: Restricted. Silver-Lace Extract (Pure).

"Bingo," I whispered.

I swiped the card of Kaelen on the second scanner. The door of the glass opened.

Within it was a row of little, radiant blue bottles, neatly arranged. The undiluted cure. One of these would clear the crystallization of the lungs of my mother a whole month. Three would give us time enough to make some sort of a getaway.

I extended my hand, and my fingers clinging to the cold glass of the first vial. I slipping it around in my pocket. I grabbed a second. Then, a third.

I picked up the third vial, which lay in a metal resting dock, and a slight, snick, snick broke the silence in the room.

The metal dock had not only been supporting the vial; it was a micro-weight pressure plate.

My stomach sank down to my feet.

Their refrigeration lights flashed on the blue of a second forcefully shut off. The room went completely dark in a moment and then the emergency system was activated. The red lights were flickering on the baseboards in a low pulsing light.

The frosted glass was banged down by heavy steel blast shutters above the door, shutting the room airtight. A silent warning had been sounded. The guards would not listen to a siren, but a message was just relayed to the head enforcer of the Alpha King.

I was confined in a vault.

My chest was in a panic. I whipped and whipped round, in frantic search of an override panel, a vent, something. Shifting! my wolf! said, and demands to cut through the steel door with our bare claws.

I would not, because I were you, little human, purred a rough, grating voice in the gloomest corner of the room.

I stood motionless and the blood became ice in my veins.

The stifling smell of smouldering heaps of ash and pulverized pine needles filled the sterile atmosphere, choking and oppressive.

Two tall medical racks formed the entrance point of a gigantic figure that came forth out of the shadows. The red security lights flashing in and out revealed the hideous jagged scar along his jawline, and highlighted the dark, sadistic smirk that was stretched across his face.

Caleb.

He had not fled here, on account of the alarm. He was already indoors, awaiting in the darkness.

What do you want to do here? I insisted, my voice incredibly steady, although the horror would have drowned me. I crept softly backwards, leaning my back to the glass cabinet that was locked.

I might ask you the same, I said to myself, chuckling, as I heard the heavy combat boots of Caleb falling softly on the tiled floor, as he gradually gained upon me. His clothes were a dark tactical shirt that was tightly fitted to his big muscled chest and arms. I believe I can guess, though, upon hearing that you have the three vials of the dearest medicine that my father could afford at present, in your pocket.

He stopped just a foot away from me. He was such a big fellow he stood right in my way to the door. His golden eyes looked down to my hand, which was still tightly holding the silver keycard of Kaelen.

Caleb opened his eyes a little, and then tossed his head back and gave a bellowing, yell-like laugh that reverberated against the steel walls.

O, this is good stuff, Caleb smiled, glimpsing his long canines. He drew near, with one big hand on the glass cabinet immediately beside my head. You were playing the master key That’s Kaelen, you were playing his master key. You did not steal the King, you played him the heir You stole him through his very nose.

Get out of my way, Caleb, I cautioned, but I realized how pathetic it was. The guards will be there in less than two minutes.

They will, Caleb said approvingly, bending still nearer. The heat of his body was burning. He touched me with his free hand, and his coarse and calloused fingers followed the line of my jaw. And when they enter they will see a thieving man with stolen royal property. My father will have thee forcibly put to death by noon. thy mother before noon.

My heart sank, and my chest went up and down. My wolf was hissing, totally out of control due to the Alpha aggressiveness. Bite him. Rip his eyes out.

Unless, said Caleb, his voice an octave lower, sliding into a dark, gravelly sound, which sent goose-flesh up my spine. He followed his fingers down my neck, and paused at the jumping pulse-point at my collarbone.

"Unless what?" I breathed out.

Unless I beat the lockdown before they arrive, Caleb said, with a flash of his golden eyes, a lawless, predatory lust in the red emergency light. I have the security codes. I can unlock that door, delete the camera footage and say I was after a rogue who ran out of the medical wing.

The seed of hope spread in my breast, yet I was wiser. Alphas, such as Caleb, did not do favors.

"What's your price?" I spoke, with a voice scarcely audible.

Caleb’s sadistic smile widened. He entered wholly into my space, his massive thighs enclosing my legs, his big chest against mine. He bent his head down, his lips brushing too near my lips, his hot breath tasting of mint, and dark danger.

My perfect elder brother, my faultless older brother, believes you are his, Caleb mumbled roughly, and his hand slipped down to my waist, his fingers possessively clawing into my hips. He believes that it is his prerogative to crack you. I would like to demonstrate to him that he is mistaken.

Beyond the steel doors, the heavy, frenzied pound of battle-shoes came toward. Here were the enforcers. There were seconds to go.

You to-night, little human, promised Kaelen your submission--and your own blood is flowing, Caleb, your eyes full of blood--feral gold, gold as a wolf. Now, you will present it to me.

Pay my toll, and ask my mark, Elara, or I will walk away and have my father guards carry you to the dungeons.