63

CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE.

AUTHOR'S POV.

Susan was so uneasy as she moved to the room Carl described to her that she would see Jacqueline.

She kept her steps light, her breaths shallow, as she moved purposefully toward Jacqueline's hidden room.

The memory of Carl's urgent instructions through the mind-link guided her.

She had written down the description so that she wouldn't forget about it whenever she was ready to go.

Susan rounded a corner and froze when she saw Briana.

Briana was standing in her path, her arms crossed and her expression unreadable. It was like Briana was waiting for her.

The torchlight Susan was holding onto flickered and fell from her hand, casting ominous shadows across Briana's sharp features.

Susan's heart banged in her ribcage, but she forced herself to remain calm, her mind scrambling all at her day's activities for an explanation.

"Susan," Briana called, her voice cold and clipped. "Where are you sneaking off to at this hour?"

Susan hesitated, her mind racing. "I couldn't sleep," she replied, her voice carefully even. "I thought I'd take a walk to clear my head."

Briana's eyes narrowed, her gaze piercing. "A walk? At midnight? Through the west wing which leads to the castle's secret room?" She stepped closer towards Susan her tone lacing with suspicion. "You've been acting strange all day. Care to explain why?"

Susan forced a small, nervous laugh and gently picked up her fallen tough light. "Strange? I've just been tired, that's all. And the west wing is quiet. I thought it would help me think, and I never reasoned to the point that it led to the castle's secret room. I only want to think peacefully."

"Think about what?" Briana asked, her voice sharp as a blade in Susan's ears.

Briana moved even closer to Susan, her presence looming. She peeked suspiciously into Susan's eyes, which were flickering fearfully.

"You're hiding something. I can see it in your eyes." Said Briana to Susan.

Susan's palms grew damp. She needed to deflect quickly. "I've had a lot on my mind lately," She said in a tone faltering just enough to seem truthful. "The tension in the castle, the whispers of unrest... it's hard to ignore."

Briana studied her, her lips pressed into a thin line. "You expect me to believe you're wandering around, thinking about the castle's unrest?" She tilted her head. "You're up to something, and I intend to find out what."

Susan swallowed hard, her mind racing for a way out. "I'm not up to anything," She said, injecting a note of frustration into her voice. "If you don't believe me, then follow me. I'm just walking."

Briana's eyes flickered with doubt, but she stepped aside, gesturing for Susan to proceed. "Fine," she said. "Let's see where this walk of yours takes us."

Susan's stomach churned, but she nodded, forcing herself to appear nonchalant. She had thought that Briana would disagree if she proposed that she should follow, not knowing that Briana was jobless enough to be willing to fish out what Susan was planning.

Susan was not ready to give herself away. She started walking, and her steps were slow, deliberately. She had to think of a way to shake Briana off before she got too close to Jacqueline's hidden room, which was the only closest destination to them.

As they moved through the dimly lit corridors, Susan kept her breathing steady, her mind whining. 'Think, Briana, please think.' She kept on muttering to herself.

Briana followed closely, her presence was like a constant pressure to Susan.

Reaching an intersection, Susan feigned a stumble, her foot catching on the edge of a sharp turn of the wall.

She pitched forward, grabbing the wall for support. "Ugh, I'm so clumsy," She muttered, glancing back at Briana with an embarrassed smile. "Maybe this wasn't such a great idea."

Briana raised an eyebrow but didn't respond, her eyes fixed on Susan. It was clear she wasn't going to let her out of sight.

Susan straightened, her mind scrambling for another diversion. She needed to take her time, to find an opportunity to slip away.

"I think I'll just return to my room. Following you was a bad idea, just noticing." Briana suddenly relented and said to Susan calmly.

"Oh! I'm sorry to waste your time over unproductive things like taking a walk with me." Susan apologised, not ready to show it out that she was pleased.

Briana shook her head, showcasing self-pity. Then she turned around and began to head towards her room. Susan missed the smirk that Briana was displaying on her face as she walked away.

Susan heaved a sigh of relief before turning back to the route where Briana caught her, unaware that she was being followed.

However, Susan became more alert, and she would have changed her mind about going if only she hadn't left Jacqueline's unconscious self alone for days. She was not heartless enough, to leave him again for more days. So, she had to go.

Susan's heart thundered in her chest as she moved. She kept on glancing behind and taking more silent steps as she walked away.

After what felt like an eternity, the door-wall came into view.

Her steps were swift but careful, and finally, she got there. Susan's trembling fingers found the hidden latch, and with a soft click and push just like Carl had told her, the door of the hidden room swung open.

The room was dimly lit by a single lantern, its warm glow casting flickering shadows across the furnishings.

Susan's eyes immediately fell on the bed. Its covers were rumpled, but the bed was empty.

Her heart sank.

'Where is the alpha? Had he escaped, or had something far worse happened? Like kidnapping? Who kidnapped him?' She thought fearfully and made to mind-link Carl to tell him about the new development, but she couldn't.

A sound behind her made her spin around, her breath catching in her throat.

Standing in the doorway were Briana and her father, Elder Lennox. Their expressions were a mix of fury and disbelief.

Susan stood fearfully, 'But I missed her on the way. She returned to her room. Right?' Thought Susan.

It was too late for her to know she was fooled by Briana.

"Do you think it will be so easy to get rid of me? What are you doing here?" Briana demanded, her voice sharp and accusing. "And how did you find this room?"

Susan's mind raced, but there was no plausible excuse she could offer.

The weight of their piercing gazes pressed down on her, and she knew she had no choice. "The beta told me about this place," She admitted, her voice trembling. "He said the alpha was here, and I came to find him."

Elder Lennox's expression darkened, his voice low and menacing. "You dare to enter this room? Do you have any idea what you've done? By the way, didn't you say that the alpha is dead? What alpha are you talking about now?"

Susan took a step back, her pulse began to pound in her ears. She knew she was doomed, and she couldn't escape from them. They were standing by the only exit out of the room. The door.

"I... I just wanted to help. I'm sorry. I don't mean to lie to you," She said, her words spilling out in a rush, and in a bit, tears like rainfall began to drop down her eyes.

Briana's lips curled into a sneer. "You've meddled in affairs you don't understand. And now, you'll pay the price for your foolishness."

As Briana and Elder Lennox advanced toward her, Susan's heart sank. She braced herself to take all the hits they threw her way, knowing she was powerless to stop them.

But before they could reach her, the sound of the bathroom door creaking open froze everyone in their tracks.

Jacqueline emerged from the bathroom, his presence commanding and serene. He was dressed simply, his hair damp and loose around his shoulders. His sharp, unyielding gaze locked onto Briana and Elder Lennox, silencing their fury in an instant.

"Enough," Jacqueline said with his voice calm. "There will be no harm done here tonight. At least, to the maid."

Briana's mouth opened and closed, her expression shifting from anger to shock. "Jacqueline... you're here?"

Jacqueline nodded, stepping fully into the room. "I am. And I'm well aware of what's been happening in this castle. You have questions, and I have answers. But first, step away from Susan."

Elder Lennox's face was a mask of disbelief, his voice was a mere whisper when he spoke. "How is this possible? You were..."

"Gone? Dead? Forgotten?" Jacqueline's questioned and scoffed. "I'm not a wuss. I'm an alpha, and I stand to protect myself, my mate, my friends, and my people. I also stand to cast out the odds among us."

Briana began to shiver beside her father. She felt that her end was now.

"Who's there?!" Jacqueline called and guards rushed into the room.

They all bowed before their alpha in acknowledgement, "Alpha."

Jacqueline nodded, "Keep them for me." He said, nudging towards Briana and her father, elder Lennox.

"Jacqueline. Wait." Briana called out, but Jacqueline answered not to her. She was dragged away.

Jacqueline faced Susan, who still had her mouth and eyes wide open in astonishment. He smiled at her, "Where is Rosalie?"

Susan's astonishment dropped, and she bowed her head to the floor. "I'm sorry, my alpha, but she was taken."

"Taken? By who?"

"The alpha from the...." Susan was cut short by the breeze of air that swept through her.

She raised her eyes to see Jacqueline gone.

'He didn't even allow me to complete my words.'