CHAPTER EIGHTEEN:POWER

I hid behind the big drum of water in the kitchen, my heart racing wildly as I listened to everything the maid had said about me. What did the Alpha king want with me? I thought, my mind racing in fear. Ever since I got here, he had always been so invested in me that, for a while, I thought it was probably because he wanted to protect his son, Derek.

I stretched my hands, watching my black veins. What was I, really? They say everything happens for a reason, but I couldn't seem to believe it. My life was in shambles, and the people who betrayed me were living their best lives, while I remained hidden in a pack that I barely knew.

Enough was enough, I muttered to myself, peeping outside the courtyard leading to the maid's quarters. I will take charge of my destiny. I looked out, my ears strained, listening for movement. When I was sure the alley was clear, I crept out, crouching on my toes, my body pressed against the wall. I made sure to cover my face with my cloth, not wanting to attract attention.

"Hey, you! What are you doing here?" a guard grabbed my arm roughly, pushing me against the wall.

I trailed off as the man's eyes widened, recognizing me. "You!" he huffed, pressing his hands against my lungs.

"Stop, you're hurting me," I grasped his strong arm firmly, which was nothing compared to his strength.

"Nobody has to know," he glanced sideways. "If I kill you, I'll be doing the pack a favor by ridding it of a curse." He chuckled, his claws piercing my neck, drawing blood.

"Let me go, I promise I won't..." but I couldn't hear my voice anymore as his grip became tighter. I wriggled my body desperately, trying to free myself.

I would die, and nobody would even care or get worried. I don't want to die. I felt a tear stain my cloth as I finally decided to succumb to death's lovely embrace. My body grew limp as I shut my eyes, giving up.

Just like a whirlwind, I felt it all over my body, followed by a burning sensation. "Make it stop, make it stop!" the guard screamed aloud.

I opened my eyes in shock to find him on the floor, his knees bent in front of me, his hands wrapped around his throat. I could hear the voices around him, covered in dark smoke, whispering from ear to ear.

"Please... I don't want to die," he gagged and coughed as the strangling worsened, and I was forced to watch everything unfold.

"I... I am sorry, I don't know what to do," I felt a bile of guilt swelling around my guts.

"Just make it stop!" he screamed, coughing out blood.

I stared at the man, wide-eyed, my pulse racing faster. I was just about to kill a man.

"He deserves it," a voice spoke in my head.

"No, I don't want to kill anyone," tears poured out from my eyes.

"Of course, you wanted to. Your body revels in this kind of violence," the voices whispered again.

"No! I am not a murderer," I shook my head. "I can't kill him." I said, "Stop!"

As quickly as it came, it faded away, like it wasn't there. The guard's body lay helplessly on the floor.

"Hey, are you alright?" I ran over to him, feeling his pulse. Even when I knew I was in danger.

I breathed inwardly, "I walked away from him, covering my face as I passed the maid's quarters towards the guard's room. I needed a disguise if I was to go meet the Alpha king without someone stopping me.

"You can't meet him; he'll kill you. You're not strong enough," a voice dragged inside my head.

"I know, but I am tired of always being the first to run away in times of danger."

I stopped in my tracks. There were a lot of guards inside, changing their clothes. I bent my face, listening to their conversation.

"Hey, what do you think the Alpha king wants with Derek?" a male guard asked the other.

"I don't know; this is the first time I've seen the king this mad," they whispered in low tones to each other.

"The almighty king imprisoned his precious son!" I gasped. "The pack must be revolting."

What could Derek have possibly done for him to deserve such treatment from a man he called his father?

I tugged on my cloth tighter. The pain in my body seemed to vanish; the joint pain was no more.

"How long do I have to wait before they all leave?" My feet were already paining me.

 the last of the guards darted away with his armor in his hands. I quickly walked inside without a glance back. My heart was determined. My feet gained quicker pace as I sneaked inside, heaving deeply.

"Seriously, all this armor when you could actually use guns and suits," I grimaced at the sight of dried blood stains on one of the armors, irritating me.

"It's now or never." I moved forward into their dressing room, looking for a perfect fit to my petite figure. None were my size; they all looked twice as big as anything I had ever seen.

"I could practically get swallowed in one of these." Don't you want to know what you are? My thoughts filtered in once more.

"Okay, I pick." I pointed at the armor and chose the one on the far end of the hanger. "It looks nice." I took a guard's trousers and wore some heavy armor; its weight unsettling, pulling me under pressure.

I looked at myself in the mirror, positioning the breastplate. "Ahhh, even the sharks would be scared of me." I made a face at the mirror, smiling to myself.

"I seriously don't know what I had done to that guard or what this power was for, but the Alpha king would know." This was never meant to be easy. I straightened my poise, walking with a straight face towards the door.

Whomp! I tripped on the floor, my knee bruised and my lip too. The door was wide open as a stranger walked in casually.

"Nice outfit, but you weren't built for the armor." I faced the floor, biting my lips. This was it; I had already been caught by the king's guard.

 Everything was over. I bit my lips, willing the power to come forth to save me, but I felt empty and blank.