20
***ISBERLT***
My eyelids flutter open to the white ceiling above, and I groan as I try to sit up against the mattress—my headbanging too hard.
"I see you're awake," An unfamiliar voice comes out of nowhere— startling me, and I jump on the mattress, eyes wide as I take on the figure that presents itself before me with a soft smile gracing his lips.
Tall frame. Icy blue eyes, and broad shoulders, with a strong aura evolving around him. I note the fact that I've seen him around, maybe once or twice, which means I'm partially safe.
But on the other hand, I do not know what he wants from me; that puts me in danger.
My heart leaps when he strides towards me, before taking a seat beside me— right next to my leg, and ultimately shuffle away from him, keeping a hard face on; though my insides tremble at the thought of him being another Peter.
"You don't have to be scared of me, Isberlt," He chuckles, his tone light, and friendly, but that doesn't stop me from glaring at him as I say, "I'm not scared of you. "
He lifts his brows at me, as if challenging my words, "I can sense your emotions, so I know you're scared, but you don't have to be. I mean no harm. "
"Where's this place? Why am I here?"
I question him after a long uncomfortable silence between us, and he shrugs. "This is my room," Those words have me clutching onto my dress, and his eyes follow that movement— a soft smile taking its earlier place on his face.
"I do not mean that in a harmful way. Trust me, the last thing on my mind is to lay a hand against his woman," He chuckles, eyes glowing with a soft gleam in the dimmed light, and I cock my brows in confusion. What's he talking about? Whose woman?
When I say nothing, the man shuffles closer to me, leaning towards me, and I move backwards— heart pounding wildly against my chest. What is he trying to do?
"Stay still," He whispers, and I do that. Not because he asked that but because my head is against the headboard, and there's nowhere else to escape to.
He still his movement with his face a few inches away from mine, before bringing his hand between the space between us; indecision clear in his eyes as his hand hands in the air.
He shakes his head as if he's having an internal battle, before bringing his hand to my neck, and I shiver at the cold touch against my skin; my body relaxing when he only flattens his finger against the ripped bandage on my neck.
"There, " He smiles, and leans away; moving back into his earlier position.
"Thank you," I whisper under my breath, hand moving to the spot, and stroking against the skin.
"Don't do that, " He says, bringing me out of my daze, and I lift my brows at him. He smiles before saying, "That will only make it worse. You should have it treated once you're back at your place; I'll ask Heather to attend to you. " Why is he being so nice? Everyone here is nothing, but harsh, and violent with me. They all want to see me suffer, except Rio, and Heather. So why the hell is this mysterious man so nice? Who is he? And what does he want from me?
The aura I pick off him is strong. Too strong for a mere wolf, and that can only mean either of two things; an Alpha, or a beta.
"I found you in the hallway, you lost consciousness. "
He announces, bringing my attention back to him, and heat spread across my cheeks at the embarrassment of losing consciousness in the middle of the hallway.
"I guess it's bound to happen after what happened at the moonball party," He says, and my throat tightens at the mention of the event. It's something that makes me so fucking mad anytime I'm reminded of it. "Theodore ordered for you to be treated, but I guess you didn't get treated enough. " Theodore. He must be close to the Alpha King.
"Who are you?" I question, and he smiles before saying, "I'm Eric. Alpha Eric. " Another Alpha. I'm starting to get curious about just how many Alpha's are in this pack. As far as I know, each pack is led by only an Alpha, but this pack seems different. Judging by their extraordinarily large pack members; seem like they joined packs together to form this one.
An unusual, but a strong movement.
"And what do you want from me?"
His smile disappears after those words, and he lowers his gaze; holding mine fiercely.
"I'm curious, Isberlt Queen. What exactly do you have up your sleeves?" What is he talking about? "You know what you did to the wolves, don't you?" Not until earlier.
When I give no response, he sighs, "You claim you have no knowledge of the crime you're accused of, but I think it's more than that. " His gaze moves to the collar that rests against my neck, and I gulp down the bile that rises my throat. "I do not care about that though. That isn't the reason I brought you here, " My head snaps up to meet his gaze at those words, and he nods before saying, "I brought you here because I need your help. We need your help; the others might not want to admit it because they are either too blinded by their hatred for you, or they fail to understand you are a weapon we can use against the humans. " Logic sense. I like it.
"It's a bit of the former than the latter, but I do not care about that either. The wolves are my family, and I will not watch them suffer any further. This is why, Isberlt," He places a hand on my shoulder, and my gaze moves to the movement before moving back to meet his gaze. "You will be helping me. "
"I would have loved to help, but The Alpha King doesn't want me to; I already requested for it. " I tell him, and he chuckles. "If it's about Theodore, you don't have to worry about that. As long as you're willing to help, then the rest is assured. "
He raises, his hands going into his pant pockets. "I will call for you once you're needed, Isberlt. You can return to your room now. "
I nod, and move from the mattress, standing before him, and bowing a little as a gesture of appreciation, before attempting to move towards the door, but I halt that movement when a thought crosses my mind.
"If you don't mind me asking; can I see the wolves that were infected?"
He lifts his brows, "So you do know about the Sera?"
"It's complicated. " I'm quick to tell him, and when he says nothing but hold my gaze for long excruciating minutes that makes me uncomfortable; I shift my gaze to the space between us.
"Okay, you can see them. You should see what your humans did to the wolves. " There's an edge to his tone that sends shivers down my spine, but I say nothing as he leads me out of the room with me following behind.
He leads me through the hallway towards a darkened path I've never been before; the noise from the packhouse slowly dying down.
My heart pounds against my chest; the echoes loud in my ear as he takes steps down a stair, and I trail behind him; gaping at the sight of a tunnel not far from reach.
There's a fucking tunnel in here?! Fucking impossible!
This is fucking amazing!
"Surprised, aren't you?"
Eric turns to me with a smirk, and I scoff before nodding; unable to stop my gaping.
"That's what happens when you've got a fucking smart pants as your leader. " He's talking about Theodore. This was his idea, and I've got to say— it's a good one. For whatever reason be decided.
Eric brings out his phone, turning on his flashlight as we stop before a door, and I gulp down; mentally preparing myself for the sight that will present itself before me.
He unchains the door, dropping the chain before gesturing for me to go in, and I walk inside Witt careful steps; presented with darkness, and angry growls.
I freeze in my stand at the sound, fear creeping up my body.
They sound far, but how fucking far are they from me? They are probably chained, right?
The lights go on, with Eric trailing behind me, and I gasp as I take in the sight of the wolves.
This is the most horrifying sight I've ever seen.
They are behind cells, which I'm guessing is laced with wolfsbane because it burns as one lunges forward, wrapping his hands around the metal; only for him to scurry backwards.
I move forward as my gaze moves across the room; glares, and growls follows me.
They are more beasts than humans. More wolves than mortal as they snarl, and lunge at the cell bars with every movement I make.
Shredded pieces of clothes rest behind each one, and my eyes move across their chests that's tattered with claws, and burn wounds.
Are they... Oh my God, are they hurting themselves?
"I..." I croak, bile rising in my throat as I turn back to Eric, and he sighs before moving to stand beside me.
"They have lost all sense of rationality, and tend to be violent at times. Some of them were with mates, and the abstain from their other halves coupled with the Sera killing them inside turns them into beasts. " Pain drips off his voice wiry each word, and I sniff quietly; blinking back my tears.
A sound goes off in the air, startling me as I flinch, and Eric chuckles before lifting his phone, "It's just my phone. You don't have to be scared, they can't move past that cell. "
"And I have to go. Do you want to stay?"
He questions, and I glance back at the angry wolves before me; my body trembling in response.
"No." My response comes sharp, and curt, and Eric laughs before leading me out with their growls behind us.
I watch as he locks the door, and the last thing I catch is the bared fangs of a wolf with yellowish orbs; no trance of humanity left in them.
Doctor Zion, and the rest of them; they are going to regret this.
They will pay for everything they did.
I will make sure of that.
***
"Take care of your wounds, Isberlt."
Eric pats me to the back, before walking down the opposite direction, and I can't help the small smile that takes over my face as I watch his frame disappear.
I let out a soft sigh as I take my hand back to the bandage, knowing I should probably get it treated.
My stomach rumbles; reminding me that I've been unconscious for a whole two fucking days, and haven't had anything since I've been awake.
Turning towards the direction of the kitchen; I'm suddenly yanked back, and I let out a muffled scream against the palm that encloses over my mouth.
*Thoughts? Thoughts?!! Thoughts?!!!*