In The Eye Of The Innocent
Cleopatra's POV
I hid behind the shadows, observing, listening and gathering information. They are having internal conflicts. What do they say about a house divided against itself?
If our pack attacks now, we could be just one step away from finishing the Stone Heart Pack. I should inform Beta Jack right? But something kept tugging at my conscience not to. Could it be Renee's warning? I highly doubt that.
Maybe it has something to do with the look on Alpha Williams face when I saw him earlier. He looked…frustrated. That's my plan all along isn't it? Why do I feel like I committed a crime?
No! I will be doing the realm a favor by getting rid of him. I picked up my phone to dial beta Jack’s number but the sound behind made me freeze briefly.
I turned carefully and saw the little girl I found in the kitchen the last time. I crouched down to her level with a smile. “Hey, how are you?” I whispered with a genuine smile but she flinched. Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at me.
“Hey, what's wrong?” I asked, tugging at her shoulder gently.
“You promised. But you lied,” she muttered amidst tiny sobs.
“What do you mean? I did not lie, I'm working towards finding your brother,” I reassured her gently. That too was a lie. How did I forget?
“It's useless now. My brother is dead!” she screamed at me, hitting my hand lightly.
Her words, the look on her face struck me like a blow to the chest, sharper than any blade. Dead? No. It couldn't be true. I'd promised her.
“Dead?” Who told you that?” I whispered, my voice barely escaping my lips. Her little eyes were full of pain and betrayal. Why did I promise her that?
“I heard the others talking. They said my mom had identified his body by the mark on his ankle. They said he was…he was dumped by…”
“Hey, it's okay,” I whispered and pulled her into a hug as she cried her heart out. I felt guilty. I felt terrible. “Where's your mother?” I asked gently, pulling away from her so I could wipe her tears.
“She's in the infirmary…she was badly injured from the ambush,” she whispered in her tiny voice.
What have I done? I paused, my fingers tightening around my phone. Her tear-filled eyes bore into mine once more and I felt the weight of guilt descend on me.
“I made you a promise and I will see to it that I find whoever did this,” I said, my voice thick with uncertainty. I know that Alpha Kane had a hand in the spies here. He planted them. That means he kidnapped their loved ones, holding them as hostages in exchange for information.
Then does that mean he killed all of them for the spies' betrayal? And I aided him with that? I'm killing innocent people now?
“Why should I believe you?” she asked, sniffling.”You're no better than the other adults.”
Those words stung more than I wanted to admit. Was she right? Had I become no better than the very people I sought to destroy? No better than Alpha Williams and his ruthlessness?
I'd convinced myself that my actions were justified, that the realm would be better off without Alpha Williams, that Alpha Kane would rid the realm of all the brutal and ruthless Alphas. But now, looking into the eyes of this little girl, whose world had been shattered by my actions, I wasn't sure anymore.
My wolves tugged at my heart, making me question my actions. Have you seen any act of ruthlessness from Alpha Williams since you came here? My black wolf asked and I couldn't respond.
I haven't.
I stood up, my mind in turmoil. Was I really doing this for the greater good, or was this something far more sinister than I imagined? When did this become about proving something to myself?
What if Alpha Kane has been wrong about Alpha Williams all along? What if someone deceived him to believe that Williams is the enemy? What if Lucien was right when he said that Williams isn't my enemy?
“Listen,” I started, my voice steadying as I looked down at her. “I'm going to fix this. I'll find out who's pulling the strings and what's really going on,” I said more to myself than her.
She wiped her tears with the back of her hand, staring at me with cautious disbelief.
I turned, phone still in hand, Beta Jack's number glowing on the screen. But now, I wasn't sure if I was making the call to destroy the Stone Heart Pack or stop the whole mission so I can understand the game and who's pushing the buttons.
The vision I had about the nightmarish cell flashed across my mind once more. I steadied my breath, trying to picture the scene clearly so I can locate the exact place the cell is but I hit a blank wall instead.
Fuck.
I rounded a corner but bumped into someone, my phone slipping out of my hands.
“Fuck!” I screamed and looked up to see Renee staring at me like I had just gone crazy.
“Is everything alright?” she asked, bending down to pick up my phone.
“Of course. What could be wrong?” I asked, my expression must have told her something else because she pressed further.
“Did you hear or see anything about the ambush? Is that why you're rattled? You asked me to trust you and I'm ready to do that. Can you tell me everything or anything you know?” she probed further.
My patience was thinning at this point. I needed to concentrate and figure out what's really going on. She is hindering that in a way that pisses me off.
“No I did not. I have to go,” I said, pushing past her, my phone forgotten.
“Hey wait, where are you going?” she continued, grabbing my shoulder.
I lost control. I wasn't thinking straight, in fact I wasn't thinking at all. I grabbed the hand she placed on my shoulder and threw her to the other side of the hallway.
The sound of her body crashing into the wall shook me out of whatever it was I found myself in.
What have I done?
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
