Chapter 104 Who??
Who??
Milo pov
The clothes James had given me felt a little stiff against my skin, but I wore them anyway. Anything to hide the vulnerability of standing half-bare in front of him. I had changed with the shame running through me. I couldn’t believe I had actually acted without thinking, I fiddled with the hem of the clothes, so I waited for James to come back.
The door opened, and he stepped in. A quick glance was all it took, and he was already nodding his head towards the door, signaling for me to follow.
Shutting my lips, I followed obediently. We came out of the chamber, heading straight to the dining area.
My heart continued to pound throughout our walk to the dining room, but to my greatest disappointment, Damon was nowhere to be found. The food tasted bland to my mouth, but I forced it all in, as I had the premonition that I will probably need all the calories I could get for my next task, or so I thought, as James immediately headed out of the palace, going deep into the pack, while I try to keep up with his long strides.
James' silence was heavy, a wall I couldn’t stop myself from wanting to climb. My eyes kept drifting toward him, the way he clenched his sharp jaw, the way his hands stayed curled as if always ready for a fight anytime.
“What?” he snapped,
I jerked up by force, realizing I had been caught staring again. My throat bobbed up and down before I finally found my voice. “I just… I have been wondering. Where were you, all this time? Before you were infected… that night we were attacked by the two packs, you suddenly disappeared, Why? did damon sack you, and why would he call you back now?”
For a moment, James said nothing. His gaze stayed fixed ahead, and no matter what. Like a blank stone wall, I would not read his expression.
“Because he is broken. Just like you. The Alpha only drags back what is useful to him, nothing more.” The evil voice boomed in my mind, but I forced myself to ignore it, forcing my attention back to James.
James exhaled slowly, almost like he had been expecting the question. “I was gone because Damon ordered it. As for the reason why he called me back now…” His lips pressed thin. “That is for him to answer, not me.”
I frowned, not satisfied with his answer, but then I know that arguing with James was as good as wasting my precious time. What's better than making good use of the opportunity now, another question clawed its way out. “...And what about the pack? What happens to them? For days now, I haven’t given my daily blood.”
His head tilted slightly at me, eyes narrowing. “I have nothing to do with that. It is your master's orders, not mine.”
“See? He’s cutting you off just like your parents did when they didn't need you again. He doesn’t need you anymore.” The voice hissed.
I bit the inside of my cheek, fighting the unease that was creeping inside me, almost ready to spill out. In order to prevent it from happening I asked the next question that came to my head.
“Then… where is he? Damon. Why is he not coming back?”
James’ steps faltered for just a second. His jaw clenched even harder as though he would break his jaws. But when I thought he wouldn't answer, he muttered, “He is busy...” But then he hesitated, a slight pause, but it was all I needed before he continued, “That’s all you need to know.”
I wanted to press him and demand more, but the sound of shouting and people training forced me to stop whatever I wanted to say. I continued to follow him as we continued past the main training ground, deeper into the training facility.
I didn't realise how far or deep we had gone until James suddenly stopped without warning. A painful yelp escaped my lips as I had walked right into him, unceremoniously stumbling back from the force of impact, while at the same time rubbing my sore spot on my forehead.
I lifted my eyes and noticed that we had arrived at the shadows units training grounds. My heart skipped as I recognized the familiar looming door and the sigil etched across it. the infamous mark of the shadow unit, a symbol whispered about in countless rumors.
I slowed, expecting James to stop and maybe turn to go. Since he had led me here. I have heard that no one is allowed entry unless you are a member. Even the almighty commander that stood above everybody except the alpha wouldn't dare try it. Not to talk of a common beta.
“I noticed something,” James stopped, a small rare teasing smile tugging at the corner of his lips, as he gripped the handle. “You now call him by his name, that's a new development since the last time I was around.”
Heat immediately rushed to my cheeks, for a second I forgot I was supposed to be hurt and angry. “I…I don’t know what you mean.”
James chuckled, a low sound that sounded so foreign coming from him, and for the first time since I had met him, it wasn’t a grunt or a snarl, It was almost amused. “Don’t play dumb, Milo. No one calls him Damon openly, not unless they are tired of life, or too close to care about the rules.”
He glanced over his shoulder, before he turned back, to gloat over my uncomfortable self. “Except the rebel sister, and sometimes Daphne, there has only been one other person that had called him by his name…”
I swallowed, suddenly unsure if I wanted to know. But the curiosity kept on building to the point it became unbearable. The words came out before I could stop them,
“Who?”
James’ hand pressed against the door, turning it, the same time he whispered something in the wind.
“When you win the match, you will be qualified to know.”
My heart sank,
But the door had opened already and before I could ask, who, James stepped inside without hesitation, leaving me staring after him, like a lost sheep.
My breath caught in my throat. He wasn’t turning back.
And I had no choice but to follow.