Chapter 43
I rolled my eyes at his statement. "Stop with that vulnerable shit-"
I only went outside because I knew something was going on when I dreamt. I found myself outside and looking for something I don't even know what just to end up meeting Lennox.
I smacked it away and looked at him angrily.
I don't know why he says this, I clearly can't kill someone without a reason. It's just not me at all.
I glared back, not wanting to back down. No one should ever command me unless they are orders.
I scoffed at him, clearly disappointed he said those words.
I pointed towards the door.
How? I don't know. Why? I don't know. All I know is that the games will continue as if nothing happened.
This time, it'll be rushed and will not have any days apart.
They already asked me if I'm still willing to participate and play. I told them to give me time which they agreed to but they need an answer later on.
Why is this so important for them? For them to have a luna? Chaos is already here and all they care about is some petty games.
I sighed heavily as my wounds began to hurt. The anesthesia must be wearing off by now, though it should have worn off before which makes me wonder how much they injected me.
There will be a huge feast to celebrate the win of the pack against the enemy, everyone is invited to attend including me. We can wear anything we want as long as it is appropriate.
All preparations are done and it won't be long til' the feast goes on. I've been resting all day today and tonight is the time they need my answer for the games since it will be held tomorrow in the morning.
I nodded my head at her and proceeded to button my jacket. I looked at the mirror and saw myself, the cargo pants always fitted me perfectly, the white shirt underneath my jacket shows a bit as my black jacket covers most of it.
I nodded at myself and made my way to the door. It was freaking cold in every corner of this house and their damn numbness to it did nothing to help.
What about me? I rolled my eyes.
My outfit was nothing compared to what they're wearing on this feast, that's for sure. I have not seen one woman wearing something like pants or leggings.
It's either shorts or dresses and skirts. Though I don't mind the weird tradition, I felt uncomfortable where I'm the only one to wear something different.
And they say different is good.
The maid opened the double doors and bowed her head towards me, showing respect and asking for permission to leave.
I've figured that out whenever a maid attends to Sen and her needs, I've read how they act in uniform.
I thanked her and turned towards the room, she doesn't need permission to be dismissed, she can dismiss herself.
I walked away and took in the surroundings of the huge dining room full of werewolves. The lights were yellow as it reflected the brown skin of the walls.
Everyone was laughing and talking with each others as some dine wholeheartedly.
There were three huge, long tables full of foods and drinks, which is surrounded by werewolves who celebrates the victory.
Which is false.
My mood immensely dropped as I remembered what this was for. This pack knows what it's doing.
They cover up the bad things with good things, they even gaslight people into believing that mermaids are to be hunted.
They kill their own.
I took a seat once I saw an empty one, a few glanced at me as I walked past them. I shook my head in annoyance and began to fill my plate with food.
The faster I eat, the faster I get out of here.
Halfway through eating, I've noticed that everyone is beginning to get quite. I wondered why but my answer came when the doors opened.
The Alpha, Derek, and the Beta walked in, their swords at their waist, their suits clinging to them tightly as they glided in.
The atmosphere began to darken as they took a seat at the top table, where their seats are levitated.
For the leaders, but who's missing? There's four levitated chairs, but one is empty and it is beside the Alpha.
Derek cleared his throat and grabbed a glass, lifting it up in the air as he asked for the people's attention.
He says, the glass still in the air. Everyone listens tentatively as he opens his mouth once more.
Everyone raised their own glasses, cheering for Derek. They clanked and made loud noises to celebrate the return of their Beta.
They chanted as they eat, raising their glasses and swirling them and so on.
I ignored it and continued my eating. His speech was interesting to say the least. Wasn't expecting him to say something like that.
It's Derek after all. No one really knows someone better than their own self. And sometimes, they don't even know who they are.
I began to feel full, my tummy ached as a sign that it cannot take more. I sighed heavily and took one last drink from my cup.
I was about to stand up, only to be stopped by someone suddenly bowing to me.
The man left after bowing. I looked at the Alpha who was seating lazily on his seat, his legs spread as his arms were on the armchair.
To his left was his Beta, Derek as beside Derek was the other Beta. The seat a few inches from me is empty. I frowned but shook my head, dismissing the thoughts.
I cleared my throat to get his attention, only for him to pretend I wasn't there. I cleared my throat once again and he did not even flinch.
I began to feel annoyed, not by the fact that he's ignoring me. He's wasting my time, I still need to answer some questions tonight.
Debating to turn around or get his attention, I turned and began to walk away. A guard stopped in front of me and looked down on me.
I puffed my cheeks in pure annoyance as I turn back around to face him. This time, his brooding eyes were locked onto mine as I get back.
I began to sit down, only to be faced by growls around the room. I immediately sat up and looked around.
Everyone was looking at me angrily, their teeth out as they snarled and their chest vibrating as they threw growls at me.
I could see in their eyes that they see me as a threat.
My face contorted into confusion. "What?"
I looked at him annoyingly and looked at the Alpha in question. "Sit where?" I asked.
He looks at me, then pats his thighs.
My eyebrows shot up, I looked at him weirdly. I looked back at everyone and their faces were alert.
Then I snorted, followed by a chuckle and turned into a full blow laugh.
My eyes teared up as my tummy ached. "There's no way in hell." I said, holding my tummy.
I was laughing so bad that I didn't notice I was the only one laughing in the whole room, and everyone was looking at me holding my stomach like a maniac.
When I finished my laughter, I got a good look of the Alpha's face. He looked at me blankly, he caught my eyes and tapped his thighs once more.
My smile immediately fell and my fun died down. He was serious about me sitting on his thighs.
My heart thumped loudly in my ears as I felt him shift me in his legs.
My hands began to sweat as I faced the people in the table. They were not looking at me anymore, they continued eating their food and their talks.
His hand landed on my waist, he snaked it around and pulled me closer to him. I went rigid as my spine straightened in shock.
I calmed myself down, putting my hands on my own thighs and removing the thoughts in my head. I blew out a breath and answered him.
His grip on me tightened, as if I wasn't close to him, he pulled me a lot closer. "You predicted their moves, you dodged every, single, attack of werewolves and shapeshifters."
His fingers trailed up my from my waist up to the center of my stomach. I inhaled deeply, butterflies fluttered in my stomach as I watch him do it.
Why wasn't I stopping him? I don't know. It just felt... so right.
My back touched his chest as the hand around me came back and caressed my side. Ignoring it, I looked at him in my peripheral vision and spat words at him.
He pulled my both my legs with his free hand and put it on top of his thighs as I gasped in shock. I was now facing Derek as I'm sitting on one side on him, and the other was occupied with my leg.
I put my hands around his neck so I wouldn't fall, I was not balanced enough to not hold on to anything.
Recovering from the shock, I fixed my face and glared at him.
My voice held anger, but I wasn't gonna shout. We're in front of so many people, if I raise my voice they think that I'm arguing with their Alpha.
Which is what I'm doing but no one needs to know.
He growled lowly, his hold tightened as he pulls me closer to his chest. My face and his are closer than before.
I could feel his breath brush my face as my eyes threatened his own.
I faltered, I failed to hide my shock face. He tilts his head in amusement.
Oh.
I sighed in annoyance, he was dragging it. "Titus, get to the point."
I looked at him, his eyes held mine as I remembered the situation that occurred. I inhaled sharply and answered him.
I can't look people in the eye for long, it takes at least an emotion or at least ten seconds for me to look away because I feel uncomfortable.
I suddenly felt a weird feeling in my stomach and before I could stop it, I burped. I held my mouth in shock as I look at Titus in alert.
He was still holding my chin, I can't imagine how bad my burped smell when I did that in front of his goddamn face.
I could feel blood rush to my cheeks as my eyes were focused on him. I could see amusement flash in them but it was gone as fast as it came.
His questions are getting to me. I could feel my emotions getting out of hand.
If I hit someone because of frustration, it's definitely a sign that I can't control myself anymore.
His eyes hooded, then it came back after a few seconds. Someone mind-linked him and it must've ruined his mood.
Ignore the never let go of me part, the man hates me.
I happily obliged and got off of him in seconds. I turned around.
Deep down, I was a little bit hurt by what he just did.
He invited me, he entertained, sort of, but then he just disregards after getting what he wanted.
My heart sank as I walked away from him, the butterflies in my stomach disappeared in seconds.
Derek grabbed my wrist but I purposely and harshly removed it.
I had no time for his little boy antics and it was not the time for me to turn around.
I left the room with low spirits, I can feel water in my eyes. I turned around for them not to notice.
Is it just me or the man is not who I think he is?
Or was he becoming the person who I think of him as?
And I've fallen in love with that person.
How? I don't know.
Am I stupid? Yes, I am.
Does he know? No.
The night ended quickly after I came back to my room and changed.
I could hear the shuffles outside my door as people get to their own rooms or some maids cleaning the used dining room.
I paid no attention and drifted off to sleep.
When morning came, so did the maid and told me to get ready. They didn't get my answer yesterday night so they took it as a yes.
I didn't say anything and waved her away with my hand as I groaned.
After I finished getting ready, I went down and to where the games are being held at.
The Maze.
It was made of tall grass and there's a way everywhere you turn.
I hate these things.
Not only do you end up in a dead end, I'm pretty sure it's like a labyrinth in there. It's huge as hell and you won't even know where the entrance is unless you enter inside.
We all lined up and walked our way inside. There was two people up front leading us inside.
As always we were in our uniform.
We stopped as the people in front stopped too. A few seconds later, the annoying voice boomed as the speakers turned on and the sound surrounding the whole area.
They did walk away and locked the gate after the announcement. The sound of the lock rang in my ears as I turned back around to face ahead.
Here goes nothing.
The hologram appeared on top of us, the countdown began as we all held our breaths in nervousness.
The countdown paused immediately. We turned our heads toward the speakers as we wait in anticipation.
Murmurs started flowing, everyone talked to each other as their eyes were wide after hearing the news.
The second girl who spoke, suddenly caught my eyes and it widened. She looked back to her friends and whispered as if I didn't hear it.
They all turned to me and sent disgusted glares my way. I only maintained my blank face and looked at them.
I only tilted my head to annoy them more.
But the next thing I've heard wiped all the playful stuff off my face. My body went rigid, my blood went cold as I recognized the word someone said next to me.
I have keen hearing, and my understanding of other language can be comparable to someone who has been colonized.
I froze in understanding, my heart must've froze too. I know what she meant.
"Katie, I need you at the laboratory! I don't have a partner yet."
My best friend said, wearing her lab coat and her goggles as she tries to convince me to cover for her boyfriend.
I agreed because I know how sensitive she can be about science and her grade for it.
"What do I need to do?"
"Just hold this, don't let go. If that breaks, expect a full blown alert."
She pointed at the beaker that I was holding.
"Why, what is in this?"
"Just be careful." I nodded my head, holding the beaker and making sure it doesn't fall out of my hands.
"Why not just put it in your table, Makenzie?"
"Because my table is full and I might accidentally push it somewhere, so yeah. Also, it's not labeled."
"You're doing an experiment without putting on labels? Do you wanna blow the school up?"
She chuckles at me, shaking her head. "Silly, I'm Makenzie. I don't do mistakes when it comes to experimenting. Calm down."
She poured something to the erlenmeyer flask she had, it already had something in it, I just don't know what.
"What are you trying to even do?" I whispered as I came closer to what she's doing.
"Poison."
I blinked a few times, then I smacked her arm. "Don't be such a wuss, Katie. You're gonna live since you're with me."
She gave me a wink as if she wasn't doing something so dangerous.
"If you make a mistake, our lives are over." I said.
After she was done, she asked for the beaker I was holding, I gave it to her and she poured it to the flask.
"Are you done?"
"Yes, I am." She grinned proudly as she looks at what she made.
"What now?"
"We heat it up a bit." I shook my head immensely.
"I don't think that's a good idea, Z."
"What do you mean? It's a great idea. I need to heat it up girlie." I shook my head once more.
"No, I don't think you should." I hate fire, if she turns that on I'm gonna run out of this room.
"Calm down."
She bent down and turned something, a hiss came and then flames followed.
I backed away, afraid of what'll happen.
"Z..." She turned to me and smiled.
"What did you put in there?"
"Kohlenmonoxid, H2O, and aluminum."
"What's water for?"
"Liquid." She answered.
"And aluminum?"
"Solid."
"What's the other one?"
"It's gas."
My heart thumped in my chest. I wanted her to turn the thing off.
There are gases that don't explode, but A LOT of gases definitely explode once it touches heat. Now I need to know which gas this is before I bust my ass out of here.
"Obviously it is by how you tried putting it in. But what is it?"
"Well..."
"Makenzie."
"It's Carbon Monoxide."