Chapter 19

“Hey. Hey, what’s the matter?” The masked man asked, holding her in his arms. “Had a nightmare?”

Iliana nodded.

“Let’s head inside.” The masked man said as he held Iliana’s hand and walked into the room.

They both said in the bed, quietly. Iliana’s kept her head down.

“I lost people” Iliana managed to speak “We never had any cherished memories yet it pierces my soul to know they’ll never come back. I used to think my emotions will never be triggered but here I am…”

“Hey, it’s okay. It was only a dream.” The masked man said as he stroked her head to comfort her.

“It pains me even more knowing that I could do nothing to stop them.” Iliana rested her head on the man’s shoulder. He continued to slowly stroke her head. He felt Iliana’s warm tears touch him. It saddened him. Seeing Iliana this way touched his heart. It must’ve been a very bad dream.

A few minutes passed by and Iliana was asleep on his shoulders. He gently guided her body to lay on the bed; moving her leg from the ground to the bed, he placed her in a manner he thought was comfortable.

“Must’ve been a terrible night.” He whispered under his breath. As he was about to leave, he was stopped by Iliana who grabbed his hand.

“Don’t go. Stay. Don’t leave me.” Iliana mumbled. The man held her small hand.

“I will not leave you. I’m not going anywhere.” Iliana’s hand fell off his; she was still asleep. The masked man left Iliana to her sleep.

10:23am

13hours left.

“Catherine, we still have to find the spy.” Rajesh argued. “Who knows how much information they may have retrieved?”

“I’m not saying we should let the spy be, I’m only saying we should set our priorities. With the death of that Shadow pack member, we could have more than just the Shadow pack on our necks.” Catherine said to Rajesh sitting across the counter of the cabin with a glass of wine in his hand.

“There is no way they can win even if they try.” Rajesh said “After all, we have some things they don’t.”

“We have what they don’t, yet we have no control over it. Look at it, it is leaking.” Jacqueline entered.

“Alexander said he will find a way to keep it under control. I’ll trust him.” He poured the remaining wine into his mouth and dropped the glass on a counter.

“For how long will we trust him?!” Catherine stated. “We need to take action. We have to do something before we become victims of our own secret.”

“There is too much at stake. We haven’t even found the alleged spy and we’re about to get rid of two other spies we don’t know about.” Jacqueline mentioned. “We’ll be waging war, Rajesh.”

“Let them come.” Rajesh spoke with pride. “If the pack after us has lost it’s only foundation, we are now after them, no other pack is as capable. The execution will happen. Alexander will control this power. We will conquer. We will dominate.”

“What if we fail? What if we lose everything? What happens if Alexander does not find a way to control this power, Rajesh, what’s next? What will you do?” Jacqueline continued.

“If it happens, I’ll find a way out. In the mean time…” He grabbed the glass of wine from the counter and poured himself another drink. “What do you think of Rachel? Do you feel anything suspicious?”

Catherine let out a sigh. “There isn’t much we know about the girl. She is one of us. We don’t know much about many of us.”

“Yes, I understand that, but…don’t you find it odd that Alexander just brings her to meeting and claims her to be his mate?” Rajesh questioned.

“Well…” Jacqueline was reluctant “It was truly a surprise to us, and I believe Alexander has his reasons for keeping her hidden for a while. You should know Alexander by now, Rajesh.”

“That is exactly why I think it’s suspicious. I know Alexander all too well, even better than his brothers. I know if there’s one thing Alexander will never indulge in is having a mate.”

“I’m sure he has his reasons.” Catherine said.

“Sophia…” Rajesh called.

“Yes?” Sophia stepped into the cabin.

“I want you to do something.”

“I’m listening.”

“Find out as much as you can about Rachel. I have noticed how freely she speaks with you. Use it to your…to our advantage.”

“As you wish.” Sophia exited.

“Rajesh, I have to leave you now.” Catherine also exited.

“Good luck with everything, Rajesh.” Jacqueline joined Catherine. Rajesh was left alone.

13:46pm.

9hours left.

Iliana laid on her bed; had nowhere to go to. There was nothing she could do. All she tried was erasing her memory of what happened in the morning with Samuel and Stuart. “I’m a criminal.” She accused herself. She could not forgive herself for all that has happened. From the first time she fell a victim to that power to Stuart and Samuel accepting their fates and now…being the executioner. Iliana, from that moment, lost hope. Everything within her was weakened. She was back to how she was when Samuel was first captured but worse.

There was a sudden knock on the door. It was an unfamiliar knock. Iliana had no will to open the door. The knock continued.

“Who could that be? It’s not him.”

The knock kept on. Iliana was forced to go to the door. She slowly opened the door to Sophia.

“Sophia?”

“Rachel. How are you?”

“How did you find where I live?”

“Silver Creek isn’t a metropolis; everybody knows everybody.”

“oh.”

“Can I come in?”

Iliana thought for a second. “Sure.” Iliana let Sophia in before closing the door. Iliana observed as Sophia scanned through the room. “It’s not very comfortable but make yourself.” Iliana returned to sit on her bed. “So, what brought you?”

“I haven’t seem you prancing around town in the last two days so I decided to…come here and see if you’re alive.”

“I am alive, thank you.”

“You don’t sound alive.” Sophia pointed out.

“I’m fine. I just need to sleep more, that’s all.”

“How do you feel about tonight?”

“tonight.” “I don’t know how to feel about it. I’m only pouring a liquid into their mouths; there is no excitement in that.” Iliana said.

“I agree. Although, I must say, I’m quite jealous–I wish it was me in your place.”

“I wish so too.” Iliana spoke with a low volume and soft tone. It wasn’t hard for Sophia to read her. There was a silence.

“I should leave you.” Sophia said as she opened the door. To her surprise, she encounters the masked alpha who she hardly ever sees. They exchanged no words, Sophia went her way.

The masked man took the privilege to walk through the open door.

“Hey.” Iliana greeted as the door shut itself.

“You don’t look good.” The man observed “Thinking about that dream?”

“No. I’m just thinking of…the execution.”

“…you’ll be fine.”

“I pray.”

“It’s by eleven. I came here to tell you that the—” The masked man paused. Something felt out of place. It felt as if something…changed. His sudden break kept Iliana wondering why. The masked man walked outside. He stood as if he was looking at something very new. Iliana walked outside with him but could not understand what he was looking at.

“Are you o—”

“Hold my hand.” The man stretched his hand out. Iliana reluctantly held his hand.

She let out a gasp. Her eyes beheld something unexplainable. Something impossible. Something fast.

“What’s…happening?” Iliana was in awe.

Suddenly, the place turned darker and darker and darker. After a while, it stopped. Everything went back to normal.

“What…?” Iliana was confounded

“It’s…night.” The masked man said under his breath. Iliana ran into her room to retrieve her watch.

AWOOOOO!!!!! A howl echoed through.

23:00pm.

Time for execution.