Chapter Six

Chapter Six

Nalani felt like she had been locked in the dark cell for a long time and the more time that passed, the more uneasy she felt about being locked here. The time had given her the opportunity to think through a lot of things and she couldn't help but sigh in disappointment at herself. 

She had just dug a deep pit for herself and she couldn't be sure if she was going to get out of it with her life. Her heart hurt with anger and despair and she sniffled piteously at her current position. 

Anger at the fact that she had gotten too carried away and had let herself get caught and despair at how lonely and scared she was locked up in the cell. She thought of different scenarios that could play out the next time the Alpha came down there. He would no doubt try to get information about what had happened in the woods again and this time he had to be more prepared. 

Nalani thought she needed to have something for him this time or she would just be spelling doom for herself. Her biggest fear would go to realization. 

The Alpha would sentence her to death or completely ban her from the pack, which would make her a rogue. It would leave her vulnerable to all the supernatural beings that were looking for the next being that had no protection from any pack to attack. 

Being a member of the Oliver Moon pack came with great benefits. Although the pack was ruled by the most powerful, ruthless werewolf to exist, its members were always safe from the claws of other beings. It felt like a while now; Nalani couldn't exactly be sure because the darkness and silence could be deceiving but Cordelia was yet to come for her. She had hoped that the moment the woman realized she was gone, she would be rushing down to rescue her. 

Coderlia  had been out for the most of last night and was supposed to be back home earlier in the morning. The darkness of the space seemed to stretch out forever and it made the feeling of being locked in the room even worse. Nalani couldn't tell where one wall began and where the other ended and it felt like she was blind. 

Heavy footsteps sounded from the dungeon's hallway and her heart began to thrum heavily in her chest. The owner of those steps surely did not have any good news for her, because their steps held intent and determination none of which spelt anything good for her. She heard the lock click out of the place and while she hung her head with a bated breath, she heard the person come into the room but her hung head plus the darkness that bathed the room did not allow her to see a thing. 

Suddenly, light flooded the room and even with her head bowed her retinas still felt like they caught on fire. The light wasn't nearly as bright as normal but having spent time in complete darkness made the light almost blinding. Nalani let out a hiss, shutting her eyes as tightly as she could to prevent any more light from entering, after a while she tried again, opening her eyes slowly and when the light didn't burn her eyes, she let them roam the room. Observing the space that she had been chained in for the first time. 

The room was bare and surprisingly spacious, it was also really neat for a dungeon. She had expected to be hit by a disgusting smell once she was brought in but that wasn't the case and now taking a look around the room she could see why.

The room had been painted a light grey color and the walls had no stains, the least she would have expected was for the room to have blood stains or the sort. In all, it looked more like an empty bedroom than a dungeon. Finally her eyes landed on the Alpha's perched frame against the door and the moment she met his eyes, a slither of fear ran up her spine. 

The piercing electric blue eyes of the Alpha seemed unnatural and that was saying a lot since she never thought anything or anyone could be more  unnatural than her. The Alpha, even after a moment  remained quiet and only continued to watch her from his spot. Seemingly searching he features for something. His eyes held a certain focus in them that made her shake even in my position. 

And from her position in the middle of the room she could see the Alpha's eyes flash with anger and something else, something that she couldn't quite place in the moment. Finally he clicked his tongue, dispelling the silence that had settled in the room, before moving from his perched position by the door to walk in her direction. The Alpha came up to right in front of her face, invading her space and making her shiver with discomfort at the proximity. If she could, she would have taken the necessary steps to back out. 

"Do you have any idea the kind of trouble you're in?" He seethed slowly. The poison in his voice made her heart drop to her stomach and all the air from her lungs seemed to disappear as breathing became more difficult upon hearing the deep, husky tone the Alpha's voice had taken. 

She knew he meant business, that much was evident and she swallowed heavily, darting her tongue out to wet my dry lips but it had zero effect. Her lips only got more dry. 

The Alpha's eyes followed her movement and she watched as his eyes took on a darker shade. He remained quiet though, choosing to watch her with furrowed brows. 

"I'm going to ask for the last time Nalani and this time I need you to give me something believable." The Alpha said once more and this time she saw it—she hadn't sought for it but it was too palpable to miss.

Confliction.

That was the other emotion that ran through the Alpha's eyes.

Why? 

That was a question that Nalani was still trying to figure out herself, but he was speaking again before she could go very far. 

"What were you doing deep in the woods, over a dead body?" 

She swallowed heavily at the question. 

She had two options here; she could choose to tell the Alpha the truth about her gift and let him know that she had simply been trying to help the ghost or she could continue to lie. 

The problem with both of the options was the fact that they held trouble anyway. They both had grave consequences, but one seemed higher than the other.

"You're not telling me what I need to hear." The Alpha's voice came again breaking her train of thoughts. 

"I was simply searching for herbs when I stumbled on it, I was merely curious and wanted to find out what it was." She lied.

The Alpha squinted in her direction, the anger in his eyes even more evident. 

"I'm giving you a chance and this is what you choose to do with it?" 

His voice had taken a deeper growl and she shivered as a result. All she  wanted was to give in and confess about her gift but with her very eyes she had seen gifted elements and witches burnt to the ground or beheaded because they were considered dangerous. That was the last thing she wanted, but this other option did not seem to serve her better. 

"I-it's the truth Alpha. I got carried away with trying to figure out what it was and that was the o-only r-reason I didn't reach out for help.`` She lied again, and each time she lied, a new line of sweat broke from her forehead and rolled down to her chin, her breathing increased and even her heart skipped a bit, all these features were rock-solid for a highly sensitive Alpha as Oliver to miss on.

Oliver shifted his weight on his other leg while he focused his senses on her—she was getting a strong aura off her and he couldn't tame or name it in a breath—something that had never happened before.

"Your dress and arms are covered in dirt! When a young girl finds a dead body or what looks like a dead body in the woods they scream for help, and try to get out of the place immediately. They don't go around trying to dig it out or figure out what it could be. You're not making much sense right now." Nalani  remained silent with her head bowed and she could feel the Alpha's intense stare threatening to burn a hole through her skull. 

"You do realize that I have the power to take your life this very second and I wouldn't be questioned. If I leave this room, whatever becomes of you will be your cross to carry." 

"I had just stumbled upon the body, I swear I-I'm telling the truth." she tried again, doing her best to avoid the Alpha's eyes by hanging my head low. She heard him sneer and then finally he retreated, exiting her personal space. An action that made her breathe easier. 

A few seconds later she heard the light switch flip off and the room was bathed in darkness again. The Alpha's heavy footsteps walked out of the room and then the door was shut and locked. The moment she heard the click sound, tears began rolling down her eyes with no control.  Her wrists were very sore and her legs felt like they were cramping even when they had been left to dangle freely. 

The darkness of the room deeply rattled her and the hunger and thirst she felt caused a reeling spell to wash over her. All she wanted to do was sleep in a good bed and forget the events of these last couple of hours. Relinquishing the weariness, she let her eyes fall close and allowed the darkness take over. 

She made a resolution to suffer the consequences of her decisions soon whether or not she was prepared for it, the only thing she could do while she waited for it to come was take as much respite as the situation allowed.