Chapter 16 Chapter 16
ADRIANA'S POV
I hadn't seen Alpha Xander since the day in the hallway, along with Donovan. I can't say I'm sad about it.
I asked Daciana though, just to be clear if it is a normal occurrence or just a one time thing.
She said it was because he was busy with pack work and general work, mentioning he was always like that.
I felt instant relief.
I slipped into bed and could have sworn I felt someone come into the room when I was sleeping, but I couldn't be sure so I just passed it off as a dream.
I woke up the next morning, slightly feeling better and stronger.
I dressed in a simple sundress I'd found on my bed when I walked out. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out who kept it there. Then I went and had breakfast with Daciana and Donavan in the dining room, I had barely slept at all.
I'd almost tripped when I noticed him, he saw me too as soon as I entered and that made me forget about my escape.
I was too nervous and anxious, my mind racing with thoughts of Donavan's occasional glares that carried a lot of fearful prospects and messages. I barely ate anything during breakfast.
When I finally returned to my chambers and crawled into bed and without anything better to do, I fell into a deep, dreamless sleep almost immediately, my body and mind finally at rest.
I jerked up to the sound of someone knocking on my door. I groggily sat up in bed, rubbing my eyes and trying to shake off the remnants of a sleep.
"Adriana," a voice called from outside the door. "It's Daciana. Can I come in?"
"Come in," I called out, pushing the covers aside and getting out of bed.
Daciana opened the door and stepped into the room, a bright smile on her face. "You look great, I trust your nap was good?" she said, her voice cheerful.
I nodded, feeling a little self-conscious about sleeping like that. What if she feels i'm lazy?
"Yes, thank you," I said, smoothing down my rumpled clothes. "Is everything okay?" Daciana nodded, her smile never wavering.
"Yes, everything's fine," she said. "I just wanted to come and see if you'd like to take a walk with me. It's a beautiful day outside, and I thought it might do you some good to get some fresh air."
"Sure," I said, forcing my lips to lift into a smile. "That sounds nice."
Daciana grinned, her eyes sparkling.
"Great," she announced, looping her arm through mine. "Let's go."
She took my hand and pulled me out of my room. "I want to show you more of the pack. We barely went anywhere last time."
"Okay," I said, taking a deep breath and following her out the door. We walked through the corridors of the pack house, the morning sun shining through the windows.
Daciana chatted happily as we walked, telling me all about the pack and its history. I listened intently, feeling grateful for her kindness. Daciana was the only person who had been truly nice to me since I arrived at the pack. I don't want to let myself think of how my life would have been if she wasn't here. Her presence has helped me a lot.
We stepped outside into the fresh air, and I took a deep breath. Breathing in the scent of flowers and nature.
The gardens were beautiful, with rows of colorful flowers and towering trees.
"Isn't it beautiful?" Daciana mused, gesturing around at the gardens. "I always feel so much better when I'm out here."
She introduced me to some members of the pack when we started roaming the lands.
Unlike yesterday, she told me all about the history and traditions of the wolf shifters as we passed by some monuments. I was fascinated, and I found myself listening intently as she spoke.
Daciana was a wealth of knowledge, and I felt myself drawn to her warmth and kindness.
If she noticed I was distracted, she didn't make mention of it.
My head has been filled with thoughts of Aiden, and wondering if he was okay. I didn't know why I found myself worrying over him suddenly.
Maybe it had to do with me being told not to speak of him. I thought it would be easy but now I'm crippled with anxiety and guilt is eating at my insides.
I dragged him into this mess and it is so unfair.
If there was any way to help him, any way, I would do it.
"Daciana," the words just sputtered out of my mouth and since it was already out, I decided to just go for it.
I turned to her and let the words free themselves from my throat. "Have you heard anything about Aiden? Is he okay?"
I slapped myself mentally, realizing I had made a mistake and I should have clamped my mouth shut. She had asked me to not talk about him.
Daciana hesitated for a moment, and then sighed, probably disappointed. "I'm sorry, Adriana," she said. "I can't tell you anything about that. I don't really know anything about Xander's prisoners."
I nodded and swallowed, dread filling corners of my heart.
I had to see Aiden, to know if he was ok. I couldn't stop thinking about him, and wondering if he was okay. And that scared me because the thoughts were so random.
What if he was hurt?
I needed to find a way to help him.
Am I willing to risk Alpha Xander's wrath for that?
"Take me back to my room," I said sharply, turning to Daciana. I realized how it sounded and added. "I need a moment."
Daciana hesitated for a second, and then nodded. "Okay,"
I took a deep breath and followed her back to my room, determined to get to the bottom of this.
We were walking back through the gardens, our hands linked together, when we heard the sound of shouting in the distance. I turned towards the noise, my heart racing as I tried to figure out what was going on.
"What's that?" I asked, my voice shaking with fear.
Daciana's face turned grim, and she squeezed my hand tightly. "It's Xander," she said, her voice low and urgent. "Something's happened."
I felt my heart skip a beat, and I looked at Daciana with wide eyes. "What is it?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "What happened?"
Daciana hesitated, her eyes scanning the gardens as if she was looking for something. "I don't know," she said, her voice strained. "But we need to get back to your chambers. Now."
I nodded, my heart pounding in my chest. I was in too much of a hassle to sit and worry about why I'm feeling strange all of a sudden.
I followed her lead as we turned and ambled back towards my chambers, our footsteps pounding against the ground.
Xander's voice got louder as we approached, another sense of dread washed over me. This time, at the thought of seeing him when he was obviously not in a friendly mood.
I collapsed into the bed as soon as we got to my room. My breath is coming out in short gasps because of how we were pretty much running.
Daciana stood at the door, her eyes scanning the corridor as if she was expecting someone to appear.
"What's going on?" I asked, my voice shaking with fear.
Daciana turned to me, her face grim. "I don't know," she said, her voice low and urgent. "Maybe an issue with the guards or something. 'she looked like she was saying it just to make me feel better.
I watched as Daciana paced back and forth across my chambers, her face creased with worry.
She stopped her pace all of a sudden, the look of urgency in her eyes probably matched mine. She eyes flitted around the room as if she was looking for something. Then she turned to me, her face sullen.
"I need to go and check something out. I need you to stay here, and I need you to stay quiet. No matter what happens, don't leave this room." she is nodding as she speaks, the words spilling out of her mouth in a rush.
I nodded, my heart racing with fear.
"I'll be back as soon as I can," Daciana said, her voice tight. "Just stay here, and don't make any noise."
With that, she turned and left the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I sat on the bed, my mind racing with indecision.
I stood and went to my window, staring out at the beautiful gardens below and hoping it would offer the much needed distraction I wanted.
I didn't know what to do. I felt lost and alone in this foreign place but I couldn't go back home either. I know the horrors that await me will be worse than whatever I had to face here.
I stood there lost in thought for the longest time before I saw something that made my heart stop.
Aiden was being dragged out somewhere, his face contorted with pain as two buff gerd carried him around like he was nothing.
This isn't good. The thought slammed into me like a ton of bricks.
A gasp left my lips when one of them wrapped their hand around his throat and pushed his face into the ground. That pushed me to make my decision in an instant, not stopping to think about the consequences.
All I knew was, I had to help him, no matter what the cost.
I raced out of my chambers and down the corridors, my heart pounding in my chest as I tried to navigate the huge place.
I don't have a plan or a single clue what to do, I just know that I had to do something, anything.
I couldn't just sit there while Aiden was dragged off to God knows where.
I felt bad for going back on my promise to Daciana to stay in my room but a man's life was at risk. I had dragged him into this situation when he didn't deserve any of it.
The least I could do was be a decent human being and try to help him.
The thought of Aiden being locked up for something he didn't do made me feel like I couldn't breathe. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if anything happened to him.
I got to the end of the corridor and stopped, wondering where to go next. I didn't exactly know the map of the place. And I needed to be careful not to run into any of Alpha Xander's guards.
They will inform him and it will be the end of me.
I leaned against a wall, thinking of what to do when I recalled something Daciana showed me yesterday as we returned.
She'd said it was the easiest way to get in and out of the place without alerting many people, and that is exactly what I need right now.
It was a little difficult for me to find it but when I did, I easily slipped in.
The route was narrow and winding, and I was barely seeing anything since I couldn't remember how she turned the lights on.
My pulse pounded in my ears as I made my way through the passage, trying to not get lost in the dark or be found by someone.
People didn't use it but my luck wasn't exactly stellar.
Finally, I reached the outside. I took a deep breath of the fresh air. I looked around, trying to get my bearings.
I had never been outside alone before, and everything was new and unfamiliar to me. Almost too big in my eyes, or did I just feel too
small?
The gardens stretched out before me, the trees and flowers a blur of green and color. The birds sang in the distance, oblivious to the turmoil I was going through.
I turned the corner and saw Aiden and the guards heading towards a door. His face was pale, and his eyes were closed.
I felt both relief and a truckload of anxiety. While he didnt look like he was about to be killed, I wasn't sure it wasn't about to happen.
I waited for a few seconds until they were out of sight before I followed them in. It was stupid but I also couldn't stop myself.
I walked through the dark, damp corridors of the dungeon, ignoring the sense of dread in the pit of my stomach.
The air was thick with the smell of mold and rot, the sound of dripping water echoing off the walls. My legs shook with every forward
step I took
I shut whatever I was feeling down and kept going.
I had to see Aiden. Just to be sure that he is alive and well. As well as he could be in a prison but i guess it is better than being dead.
I inhaled a deep shuddering breath and continued down the corridor, my footsteps echoing off the walls before finally, I reached Aiden's cell.