Chapter 11

“Well? Seen enough?” Alexander asked Iliana who seemed frozen on the spot. “Rachel?”

Iliana was still. She felt her heart racing like never before. Everything around her disappeared, it was just her and the bloodied living bodies of Samuel and Stuart.

“Rachel?” Alexander called but got no response from her. He slowly placed his hand on her shoulder. He felt her shiver; her attention was returned.

“Alexander…” Iliana whispered. “I’m done. Let’s go.”

Iliana moved away from the bars and turned her back on her way out

“I…L…IA…NA.” The voice of Stuart crippled into Iliana’s ears. She did not stop walking but her heart stopped working. “B…E CA…RE…FUL.”

Iliana, be careful; Iliana held those words tight.

They emerged out of the catacombs and to the forest. Iliana was quiet and lost of words, Alexander was not bothered by it; he also thought the sight to be disheartening.

“Are you okay?” Alexander asked Iliana who was quiet.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.” Iliana said as she walked away into the town and to the motel. She couldn’t think of anything. Her spirit was weary and her emotions drained. She had enough for the day.

She walked into her motel room and locked the door. She leaned on the door and sat on the floor. To cry? To scream? To run away? What could be done to satisfy this…feeling? Yo go on a rampage? That’s suicide! There is nothing. Nothing.

Iliana stood from the floor and walked to her bed in hopes of sleeping and waking up to a better feeling. She found a phone on her bed. She furrowed her brows as she picked it. A letter was revealed as she lifted the phone. She picked the letter and opened it.

“Here’s a phone. Sorry about five.”

Iliana set the letter aside, her priority was the phone. She turned the phone on but had to wait for it to start up. The screen was clear, it looked new. It was doubtful to Iliana that the phone was new. As far as her knowledge goes, the town only offered used phones. However, it was something to think of later. At the moment, all she could think about was getting to Damien.

With urgency, she had recovered most of her contacts. She went to Damien’s contact but her mind had her as a halt.

“If I inform Damien, there’s no doubt he will send back ups, putting them at a risk. It could lead to a possible war between packs. The Shadow pack cannot win against the Silver Creek, we don’t stand a chance. I can’t tell Damien about anything until I get Stuart and Samuel out of their possible fates.” Iliana said to herself as she put the phone down. “What should I do?” Iliana began to think of her next move. A big move, maybe.

To and fro; up and down, Iliana was restless.

00:56am, at the peak of night, Iliana lingered on her thoughts.

2:40am, there was still nothing in sense.

4:25am, nothing.

5:20am.

“I…LI…A…NA. B…E CA…RE…FUL.”

“ILIANA! RUN AWAY!”

“TELL THEM, WE TRIED.”

Iliana jerked awake to the deafening sound of the alarm she never set on her phone and heavy knocks on her door. Tired as she was, she turned off the alarm and went to get the door.

“It has been twenty minutes…are you alright?” The masked man asked.

“No. Come in.” Iliana let the man walk it.

“Did you stay up late?”

“Does it matter?” Iliana hoarsely said as she laid back on her bed.

“Did something happen?”

Iliana saw the question coming but wished it was never asked.

“Rachel?”

“Alexander…” She sat up. “Alexander took me...to see…the captured…spies.” She heavily finished her sentence.

“How was it?”

Iliana did not want to stay on topic. “I’d rather not say. It was too much to see.”

“Oh. Soon, you won’t have to think of them.”

Soon? Iliana’s eyes lit up. Her head was set and her thoughts ran wild. “What do you mean?”

“With no knowledge out of them after trying for so long, they will be executed, publicly to the pack.”

Iliana recalled Sophia saying it as if it were a hearsay but from the mouth of an alpha, it is valid. Stuart and Samuel will be executed. Iliana’s breathing changed. Her head throbbed and her heart fell. She can’t react in front of the masked man. Her reaction would only make him think she’s a member of the pack Stuart and Samuel belong to. It would make him think she is a spy as well. Without any other option, Iliana had to suppress everything. “When will that be?” She asked.

“Next full moon. Five days from now.”

“I see.” Iliana said

“Are you alright?”

“I’m fine.”

“Then, I’ll be on my way. If you need me, my contacts there. Don’t call me, text me.”

“Sure.”

The masked man left Iliana alone. Even with him gone, the emotions Iliana felt were gone. Nearly diminished. She had a sense of what she had to do, as Alexander’s ‘proposed’ mate. Iliana saw the advantages she had to grasp. She knew the risks will be gruesome, but the rewards: hopeful.

16:34pm. Iliana for the first time, went into the Silver Creek forest alone. It was clearer to the eye m as the sun was still shining brightly. The forest had a few people in it. Her presence drew every eye to her. She pretended to be unaware of them. Her eyes caught someone she recognized. “Excuse me.” She said as she approached the person. The person turned and her eyes were pierced by his.

“Rachel. You have finally drawn visibility to yourself.” Erik was surprised to see her.

“Have you seen Alexander?” Iliana asked.

“The only time I ever see that troubled child is in meetings and other gatherings that concerns him. He’s never around. You should know where he is, aren’t you his…mate?”

“He’s just as secret to me as he is to you.” Iliana responded.

“Classic Alex. Why don’t we find him together?”

Iliana had a bad feeling. “Sure.”